Porsche Cayenne Diesel: First Drive

By Thom Blackett for Cars.com

Today’s diesel engines are equivalent to a prisoner coming up for parole. Years ago, they committed a crime against society, one with lingering effects and images not soon forgotten. After decades of banishment, they make claims of a rebirth, of adopting new ways that will benefit those on the outside. They request a second chance.

With that second chance comes conditions, and for the diesel, those include burning only ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, employing advanced emissions systems that drastically reduce the release of noxious exhaust particles, and making them available in all 50 states. Just to make everyone happy, toss in impressive performance and less of that annoying clanging sound that was prevalent in old diesel engines.

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid: First Drive

By Thom Blackett for Cars.com

For most every task in life, there are at least two methods of approach. Ask Donald Trump to build you a new home, for example, and the result will be something drastically different than what you’d get from one of Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer squads. Not necessarily better, but different, and designed for clients on opposite ends of the spectrum. The same holds true in regards to hybrid vehicles, a fact documented by the $19,800 Honda Insight and $106,035 Lexus LS 600h L.

The 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid would also fall in that latter category. Just like the original Cayenne SUV stirred the ire of Porsche purists, the development of a questionably eco-friendly SUV might shake things up again. We’ve driven it, and have some specifications that should help quell fears.

Porsche Delivers Preliminary Mileage for Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche unveiled more information about its upcoming Cayenne Hybrid SUV. The gas-electric hybrid will debut next year with a supercharged V-6 engine borrowed from Audi that pumps out 333 hp, combined with a 52-hp electric motor. The company says its 0-62 mph time is 6.8 seconds, which is roughly the same as the V-8 Cayenne S.

The bigger news is that the company says it will return combined mileage of 9 liters per 100 km, which by rough conversion is around 26 mpg. Porsche won’t, however, commit to a U.S. EPA figure. The Cayenne S gets 15 mpg, and a four-cylinder Honda Accord gets 25 mpg combined.

We’ll have to wait until next year for final mileage figures, but anything that sounds this fast with mileage this good can’t be a bad thing. Of course we’d expect the sticker to be much higher than the $59,400 price tag on the Cayenne S. 

Recall Alert: 2008 Porsche Cayenne SUVs

Porsche announced today that it will recall 2008 Cayenne SUVs equipped with a V-6 engine due to a faulty fuel line. In the U.S., the recall affects 5,573 Cayennes, while 392 are affected in Canada.

There's not anything wrong with the fuel line itself, but during driving the engine may move just enough to rub the fuel line against the engine compartment, leading to a knocking sound or damage to the fuel line.

Porsche will send notices to owners, and the fix will be handled at Porsche dealerships free of charge. The fix will take about 40 minutes to repair, the company says.

Cayenne Hybrid Could Get 30% Better Mileage

Porsche announced today that its engineering target for the upcoming Cayenne Hybrid is a 30% reduction in fuel consumption. Spokesman Bernd Harling confirmed those figures are relative to the V-6 Cayenne, which gets 16 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That means a Cayenne Hybrid could get as much as 21 mpg combined, which is somewhat competitive with 4WD luxury SUVs like the forthcoming Cadillac Escalade Hybrid (estimated 20 mpg combined) and Lexus RX 400h (25 mpg combined).

There is still no word as to when the Cayenne Hybrid will arrive or how much it will cost. Porsche says it will employ a full hybrid system capable of running on gasoline, electric power or a combination of the two; that means city mileage should see a major bump, with comparatively smaller gains on the highway. We're a bit dubious as to whether a hybrid fits the brand's sporting image, but Porsche USA president Peter Schwarzenbauer told reporters the hybrid will "retain the typical Porsche performance characteristics." 

2008 Cayenne GTS starts at $69,300

At the Chicago Auto Show this morning, Porsche announced the sport-tuned Cayenne GTS will start at $69,300. It wasn't immediately clear if that price includes Porsche's $895 destination charge.

The price represents a premium of some $11,000 over the Cayenne S, but the GTS comes standard with 21-inch wheels, Porsche's high-tech PASM suspension and the requisite bumper and side sill extensions. Add those options to the Cayenne S, and its price comes within spitting distance of the GTS.

Porsche marketing head David Pryor called the GTS "the best-handling SUV in the world" — a bold claim, but the SUV's 405-hp V-8, derived from the engine in the Cayenne S, will move it from zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds. And Porsche says it's the first V-8 SUV in America to be offered with a six-speed manual transmission — something even the mighty Cayenne Turbo doesn't do. (All the same, we suspect most GTS buyers will get the optional six-speed Tiptronic auto.)

The Cayenne GTS hits dealerships as you read this. Considering the SUV makes up a third of Porsche's North American sales, it shouldn't be too hard to find one.

Porsche Cayenne, Panamera Hybrids Coming, Eventually

Porsche rolled out its hybrid version of the Cayenne SUV at the L.A. Auto Show even though they couldn’t tell us if it was a production or a concept. Because the Cayenne Hybrid is expected for production by 2009 — definitely before the end of the decade officials told us — it doesn’t really fit the concept mode.

Other news came that the still unrevealed Porsche Panamera four-door sport sedan will get the same hybrid technology as the Cayenne. There are no official numbers for the system besides that it should reduce fuel consumption by 30% and should be able to cruise on electric power at 75 mph. We’ll keep waiting on more word of these luxury green machines.

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Porsche's Sneak Peek of Cayenne, Panamera Hybrids

Who would want a hybrid Porsche SUV? We’re not sure, but Porsche is building one just the same. The automaker says the Cayenne Hybrid will get 25% better fuel economy than the traditional Cayenne, especially in city driving. The leap will be from 14/20 mpg city/highway to 17/25 mpg on the base Cayenne, if the figures are correct.

The company also said a hybrid version of its upcoming — and still under wraps — Panamera four-door is also in the production pipeline. The timeline and price of these Porsche hybrids is still a bit ambiguous, with “the end of the decade” being the most specific info available now.

Porsche Cayenne Ambulance: 0 - 60, Stat

The pictures say it all here: Porsche has taken a Cayenne S and converted it into an emergency vehicle. The passenger slides into a very tight area, but the Cayenne’s high-speed and off-road capabilities guarantee a fast transport. On board is equipment like an EKG machine, a defibrillator and other first-aid gear.

This is the sixth specially outfitted Cayenne in Germany; others have been outfitted with equipment for fire fighting, security and other safety services.

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Porsche Cayenne News (KickingTires)

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid on the Way

Porsche’s Australian managing director has confirmed rumors that the car company known for high-performance sports car will develop a hybrid version of its popular Cayenne SUV. The Cayenne Hybrid will be developed alongside a hybrid version of the VW Touareg SUV and will supposedly boost efficiency 30%. There are also rumors that the still-unreleased Porsche Panamera sedan will get the same hybrid engine. The only word we have on availability is for Australia, and that’s 2009. We’d guess a U.S. version would be out by that time or earlier, since American sales are so vital.

[Porsche to Go Hybrid by 2009, ArabianBusiness]

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VW Plans Hybrid Touareg, Not Jetta
2008 Porsche Cayenne Photo Gallery
2008 Porsche Cayenne Gets Price, Sale Date