New diesel option for Porsche Cayenne

Nov 24 2008 Peter Hayward

HAVING just taken over VW, Porsche has announced its first diesel - now there's a coincidence.

And yes, you've guessed it, the new oil burner is a 3.0-litre V6 unit with 240bhp - suspiciously close to the 3.0-litre that Audi has had in its armoury for a while.

The diesel will go into the Porsche Cayenne 4x4 to try and give it a little more in the way of green credentials.

I honestly don't know why anyone buys this vehicle, when they can have the far better looking VW Touareg, which is exactly the same car under the skin.

In fact, I'm surprised Porsche has not taken over VW just to get its hands on the amazing turbo diesel V10 from the Touareg. Watch this space.

The new Cayenne will be in showrooms in February next year, with drive through a standard Tiptronic-S automatic gearbox and emissions of 'only' 244g/km carbon dioxide.

Interior

Expect the usual Cayenne all-leather interior for your £40,000 or more, plus enough electronic devices to fly a spacecraft.

FAST FACTS

Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel

Price : £40,250

Mechanical : 240bhp, 2,967cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6spd automatic gearbox

Max speed : 150mph

0-62mph : 8.0 secs

Combined mpg : 30.4

Insurance group : 20

CO2 emissions : 244g/km

BiK rating : 35%

Warranty : 2yrs/ unlimited milage, 3yrs paint, 10yrs anti-rust

Marks : 9/10

Main rival : VW Touareg