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.