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Popular Science magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW, Ford, GM, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Specialty, Tesla, Racing

Popular Science has named the winners in its Best of What's New awards, the victors coming in the categories of aerospace, automotive, engineering, entertainment, gadgets, green, hardware, health, home, recreation, security and software. The automotive category did not go wanting for lauded advancements:

Tesla Model S: the Grand Award winner for being "the standard by which all future electric vehicles will be measured."
BMW 328i: it's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets called out for being more powerful and frugal than the six-cylinder it replaces.
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta: towering power, towering top speed, 30 percent more fuel efficient than the 599 Fiorano it replaces.
Toyota RAV4 EV: the all-electric SUV accelerates better than many conventional SUVs, goes 100 mph and actually beats EPA mileage estimates.
Porsche Cayenne Diesel: 406 pound-feet of torque, 33 highway mpg, up to 800 miles from a single tank and Cayenne style, give 'em a trophy.
2013 Ford Fusion: its three flavors - standard, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid - "are the most efficient models in their classes," that latter one expected to outdo the Chevrolet Volt's EPA mileage rating.
The DeltaWing: gets kudos for being "the most efficient racecar in history."
Mercedes-Benz Magic Vision Control: a holistic solution to keeping your windshield clean and clear year-round.
General Motors' MyLink: takes the in-car computer out of the car, puts it in the driver's smartphone.
Infiniti Back-Up Collision Intervention: rear-mounted radar and sonar keep track of what's behind you and brake automatically if an obstacle is detected so you don't hit things when you back that Infiniti up.

The automotive category tied with categories like aerospace and health for the number of awards. Congratulations to all the winners, head on over to PopSci for the full details on each of them.

Popular Science magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Cayenne Diesel to get two more cylinders, albeit not in U.S.

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Porsche, Diesel

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel finally rolled out for North American buyers at the New York Auto Show earlier this month, and the oil-burning V6 that we'll be able to purchase this September musters 240 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque shifted through an eight-speed automatic. The more important numbers are 28 miles per gallon, a 740-mile range, and a 7,716-pound tow rating when you need to realign the Earth's crust.

Our friends across the water have been enjoying this model for three years already, and while we're getting used to our first taste of torquey Porsches, the Europeans appear set to receive a second helping: a new report in Car and Driver asserts that Porsche will add a V8 diesel to Euro markets "in the near future." Naturally, don't even think about it coming here.

C/D posits two options for which diesel it will get called up: the 4.2-liter diesel V8 used in the Audi A8 or possibly a brand-new diesel that Porsche could share with Bentley.

Porsche Cayenne Diesel to get two more cylinders, albeit not in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel introduces North Americans to its oil-burning performance

Michael Harley — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:29:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Performance, SUV, Porsche, Diesel, Luxury

North Americans are going to get their first taste of an oil-burning Porsche this September when the German automaker releases its 2013 Cayenne Diesel. Europeans have been enjoying the Cayenne Diesel since 2009 - it is one of the most popular engine choices for the SUV on the other side of the Pond - but its tailpipe emissions have kept it out of our grasp, until now.

The updated engine is a second-generation turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, rated at 240 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, the automaker says it will run to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 135 mph. The Cayenne Diesel is rated to tow a segment-leading 7,716 pounds and boasts a highway range of 740 miles thanks to its 28 mpg highway rating.

While Autoblog has enjoyed the European Cayenne Diesel extensively overseas (we have done 140-plus mph on the German Autobahn without breaking a sweat), North Americans are getting a new diesel-powered V6 that has been engineered to meet Tier 2 BIN5 emissions standards for our domestic marketplace - the engine utilizes a urea solution (diesel exhaust fluid, trademarked as AdBlue) to satisfy the EPA. (We expect the second-generation engine to find its way under the hood of the Volkswagen Touareg TDI in the very near future.)

Arriving later this year, the Cayenne Diesel will carry a base sticker price of $55,750, not including a $975 destination charge.

Continue reading 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel introduces North Americans to its oil-burning performance

2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel introduces North Americans to its oil-burning performance originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel offers monster torque, 28 MPG HWY

Chris Tutor — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Porsche, Volkswagen, Diesel

Porsche is getting in on the diesel craze with its first diesel-powered vehicle ever offered in the U.S. The 2013 Cayenne will be available with a turbo-diesel V6 option pumping out 240 horsepower, permanent all-wheel drive and a staggering 406 lb-ft of trailer-towing torque. That's enough power to propel the super-SUV to 60 in 7.2 seconds and 135 miles per hour on the track. That'll outrun your neighbor's base Cayenne by .2 seconds, but don't try to take on a Cayenne Turbo (0-60 in 4.4 seconds).

Porsche says the diesel's estimated fuel economy numbers are 20 city / 28 highway. The Volkswagen Touareg offers the same diesel engine but with 15 fewer horses and EPA estimates of 19/28 mpg. Bad news, however, for anyone who likes shifting their own gears. Looks like only the 8-speed Tiptronic will be available with the diesel.

While the least-expensive Cayenne will set you back at least $48,850, adding the diesel engine runs the base price up to $55,750. That's not too bad when you consider the platform-sharing Touareg TDI starts at just below $47k and runs all the way up to $59k for the Executive level VW.

Car spotters can ID the latest Cayenne variant by the "Diesel" badges behind the front wheel wells.

Check out the gallery above for more pics and scroll down for the official details from Porsche.

Continue reading 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel offers monster torque, 28 MPG HWY

2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel offers monster torque, 28 MPG HWY originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche offers 540-hp kit for Cayenne Turbo, improves Diesel's efficiency

Chris Shunk — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Porsche, Diesel, Luxury

2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche has announced changes to its 2012 Cayenne that provide more power, increased efficiency and a few options that weren't available before.

When it comes to power, the Cayenne Turbo already packs a 500-horsepower punch, but if that isn't good enough for you, Porsche is now offering a kit that boosts power to 540 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque; an improvement of 40 ponies and 37 lb-ft. That increase comes courtesy of a pair of new turbochargers with titanium-aluminum turbine wheels and engine electronics adjustments. The added power will net you a 0-62 time of 4.6 seconds (from 4.7 seconds) and a top speed of 176 miles per hour. Porsche also improved brake cooling to help stop this raging locomotive, and the optional Ceramic Composite Brakes now feature larger front discs to boost stopping power.

The diesel-powered Cayenne has also received a significant upgrade, with a cleaner diesel engine that is more powerful and efficient than before. Output has been bumped by five ponies to 245 hp, and the automaker claims the oil-burning SUV consumes only 7.2 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km. That's 39 imperial mpg, or roughly 32 mpg in U.S. mpg. The added performance also improves acceleration, with a quoted 7.6 seconds to reach 62 miles per hour, or .2 seconds quicker than the 2011 Cayenne diesel. Engine improvements include a new turbocharger, an amazing 44 pounds of weight savings (just from the diesel engine!) and a 10-percent increase in direct injection pressure.

Porsche also announced minor changes meant to improve the Cayenne Hybrid's driving characteristics and the addition of Lane Change Assist to the 2012 Panamera. There's a slew more detail changes outlined in the Porsche press release that you'll find after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche offers 540-hp kit for Cayenne Turbo, improves Diesel's efficiency

Porsche offers 540-hp kit for Cayenne Turbo, improves Diesel's efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche reconsidering diesel Cayenne for North America

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Porsche, Canada, Diesel, Luxury

2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi, Mercedes, BMW and VW offer their premium SUVs in diesel flavors, and that's got Porsche rethinking its stance re: the Cayenne. According to a Porsche PR rep in Canada, the American managers are thinking about bringing the oil-burner this way in order to fill that hole. Two years ago, Porsche tested and then confirmed a diesel Cayenne for the American market that would use Audi's 3.0 TDI. It was supposed to arrive early last year; obviously, that never happened.

We drove the Euro-spec diesel Cayenne last year, and walked away thinking it's a "no-brainer for the American market." With the new Cayenne having lost all that weight and increased its performance, a diesel engine would pull even better. And if the numbers stand, with overall diesel-vehicle sales in North America predicted to hit around 250,000 units in 2014, it could be that Porsche thinks it's a no-brainer as well.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

[Source: Times Colonist]

Report: Porsche reconsidering diesel Cayenne for North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel delivers torque and efficiency with negligible compromise

Michael Harley — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Porsche, Diesel, Quick Spins

Porsche Cayenne Diesel - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche sells no fewer than seven different Cayenne models in the U.S. All share the same unibody platform and permanent all-wheel drive system, but each is differentiated by its powerplant, brakes, suspension, and accessory list. Whether you are a blasé soccer mom or an exec hell-bent on embarrassing the dude in the sports car at the traffic light, if you're willing to write the check, Porsche has a Cayenne model with your name on it.

The selection is generous, but there is something missing from the mix. As of right now, all North American-bound models have an appetite for premium unleaded fuel. With the price of high-test wavering on the expensive side, Porsche has been diligently engineering hybrid and diesel-powered Cayenne models to significantly reduce pain at the pump.

While the automaker has announced the sale of Hybrid Cayenne next year, it's on the fence about offering the diesel model on this side of the Atlantic. Proudly showing off its latest wares, and teasing us with what we can't have, Porsche let us sample a Euro-spec Cayenne Diesel model... on our own turf.

Gallery: Quick Drive: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel delivers torque and efficiency with negligible compromise

Quick Spin: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel delivers torque and efficiency with negligible compromise originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3-liter Audi diesel confirmed for Porsche Cayenne

Noah Joseph — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Audi, Porsche

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]

3-liter Audi diesel confirmed for Porsche Cayenne originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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