Autoblog

Many will cringe at the idea of a diesel-powered Porsche, but since Stuttgart rolled out its first SUV, we've all had a while to get used to the idea. Although previous speculation held on to hopes that Porsche might employ a more powerful 3.2-liter oil-burner, reports now indicate that the Cayenne diesel will employ Audi's 240-horsepower 3.0-liter TDI V6.

Expect the diesel Cayenne to debut next March, following a probable launch at the 2009 Geneva auto show.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subs. req'd]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Porsche that doesn't exist.

Despite what recent spy photos might suggest, Klaus Berning insists that Porsche isn't working on a baby Cayenne. The Porsche marketing executive spoke with Auto Motor und Sport on a variety of topics, from the production of the Panamera sedan to the expansion of Porsche's worldwide dealer network.

Berning told the German pub that Porsche's board hasn't discussed a smaller SUV to slot in below the Cayenne, nor is it considering a successor to the two-door 928 based off the Panamera's FR platform. According to Berning, Porsche's resources are tapped out with the launch of its new sedan, and that development and production of another model would be too much for the automaker to handle at present. Interestingly, Berning admits that the Panamera has the potential to cannibalize Cayenne sales, so despite Porsche predicting yearly sales of the sedan to reach 20,000 units, the automaker expects that overall sales will remain around 100,000 units.

Additionally, Porsche expects to employ another 2,100 workers in the coming years, both in the manufacturing and dealer sectors. The automaker is looking to expand its reach into Russian and China, two of the world's fastest growing markets.


[Sources: Auto Motor und Sport via The Local]

It didn't take long for Porsche to set the record straight about its rumored production plans for the Cayenne in North America. Speaking with Autoweek, Porsche spokesman Albrecht Bamler, refuted a report by Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper that the automaker planned to build Cayenne's at Volkswagen's new factory in the U.S. According to Bamler, there's no need to produce Stuttgart's uber-ute here in the States, since European manufacturers supply parts and Porsche is protected against the weak dollar by currency hedging through 2013. However, Handelsblatt's report said that production of the Cayenne in the U.S. wouldn't begin until after 2015, two years after Porsche's currency hedging expires. Does that mean N.A.-built Cayennes are still a possibility? Bamler says it's too early to speculate on the next Cayenne and Porsche's production plans.

[Source: Autoweek]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Porsche Cayenne GTS.

As much as we enjoy scouring through German newspapers, something inevitably gets lost in translation. However, the title of a story in Germany's Handelsblatt ePaper is clear: Volkswagen is considering building Porsche Cayennes at its new plant in the U.S.

While VW hasn't made a decision on the plant yet, it's been confirmed that the automaker is looking at locations in Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee to produce 150,000 units annually, including the Jetta and an all-new Passat-sized sedan. How the Cayenne fits into that equation remains a mystery, but the idea that VW and Audi could shift production of its Touareg and Q7 Stateside means that building the Cayenne in the U.S. is a distinct possibility.


[Sources: Handelsbatt (Google-translated), Autoweek]

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the new Cayenne Turbo S

Porsche says that Asian and Eastern European market demand for ridiculously high performance SUVs has resulted in a new addition to the Cayenne range. After a brief respite following the introduction of the current-gen Cayenne, the Turbo S moniker returns. With it comes more power, more torque, newly-available features, and a commensurate cost of entry.

Updated engine management and a new exhaust system raise peak output to 550 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. Channeled through a 6-speed Tiptronic S gearbox, that's enough to rocket Stuttgart's new über-ute to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and give it a top speed of 174 mph. Reining in those horses becomes even easier if buyers pony up for the optional, massive ceramic composite brakes (16" front / 14.5". rear), now available on Cayenne for the fist time. Exclusive "Lava Gray" paint, the requisite badges, body-colored grille slats, 21-inch wheels, and the quad-tip exhaust help clue savvy onlookers into the fact that this is no mere Turbo. Inside, two-tone seating and a raft of gadgetry ensure that the oligarch at the wheel stays comfortable and entertained. The Cayenne Turbo S arrives in August and if you want one, bring plenty of money. It starts at €111,400. Follow the jump for Porsche's press release and the official tech specs.


[Source: Porsche]

Click above for a gallery of the updated Cayenne S Transsyberia

Last year, Porsche built a series of race-ready Cayenne S Transsyberia SUVs for use in the rally event bearing the same name. Lessons were learned, and so for the 2008 running of the Transsyberia, Porsche is offering the teams who bought the trucks last year a conversion package that features a number of upgrades. These include a new sump guard, a beefier tire package, tweaked air suspension, a shorter final drive ratio (same as the new Cayenne GTS), plus updates to the transmission programming, dynamic chassis control and traction management systems. Driving from Moscow to Mongolia is no picnic, and these upgrades should make the already-robust Cayenne S Transsyberia even better-suited to handle the rough-and-tumble 4,400-mile course. You can check out the full specs after the jump, and see last year's post on the truck's unveiling for a peek at many of the other modifications that came as part of the standard package.


[Source: Porsche]

In yet another move demonstrating that Porsche is capitulating to the greener crowd, an industry newsletter is reporting that the German automaker's executives have overcome their long-time reservations about diesel powerplants and are considering such a vehicle for their lineup by 2010.

Reportedly, Porsche is studying a diesel engine for its upscale Cayenne SUV. This would be the second non-gasoline engine for the Cayenne, as the Cayenne Hybrid is expected to turn up in 2010 as well. The diesel would be borrowed from Volkswagen, a company Porsche has significant stake in. The platform-sharing Volkswagen Touareg has offered a diesel in the States since 2006 (you know, it's the one that pulls 747s).

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req'd]

Click above for a high-resolution gallery of the 2008 Porsche Cayenne.

The Cayenne, Porsche's ultimate sport-ute, is the subject of a new recall to fix a fuel line problem. While the V8 models (including the new GTS) are unaffected, about 5,900 V6 models need to visit the Porsche doctor (a.k.a. any dealer) for repair. The recall centers on a fuel line that may be abraded by engine cladding through normal driving. Initially, a knocking sound is heard that can eventually lead to marking on the fuel line. Dealers will simply reroute the fuel line to solve the problem. No fuss, no muss.

A total of 5,573 Cayennes sold in the United States and 392 sold in Canada are covered by the recall and all are 2008 models.

[Source: Autoweek]

Click image to enlarge

Enthusiasts blanched when Porsche began producing the Cayenne SUV back in 2002, but positive reviews of the vehicle, particularly the Turbo, communicated that Porsche had clearly kept the "sport" in "sport utility." Today, the Cayenne is Porsche's top-selling vehicle and a common (if not pretty) sight on the road; an observation bolstered by the news that Cayenne number 200,000 rolled out of Leipzig this week. The milestone truck was one of the new Cayenne GTS models, finished in that red that looks particularly good on its jumbo bodywork. According to Porsche, thirty-percent of Cayennes are sold here in the US (insert soccer mom joke here), the vehicle's largest market. The Cayenne has been a resounding success for the automaker, and even if you're not a fan, remember that the profits attached to the pricey überwagen help Stuttgart keep raising the bar with its offerings on the sports car side of the biz as well.

[Source: Porsche]

click above for more high-res images of the Porsche Cayenne GTS

If you're looking to augment your garage with something more punchy than a Cayenne S, but can't afford the dilithium crystals required to power the warp engines in the delightfully obscene Cayenne Turbo, Porsche has come up with a new middle ground in the 405-horsepower Cayenne GTS. The V8 in Porsche's newest SUV is basically a massaged version of the one in the Cayenne S, but in the GTS, it can be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox for maximum entertainment. A turbo-like front end, 21-inch wheels, air suspension with PASM, and Alcantara seating designed to hold your Brooks Brothers slacks like velcro are all part of the package, too. If you want in on the party, prepare to hand the nice man at the door at least $69,300. And remember, every time you rev the engine, an RS Spyder stirs. Porsche PR after the jump.

[Source: Porsche]