Porsche Considering A V6 Diesel Cayenne

Porsche is pondering a new diesel variant of the Cayenne to satisfy the demand from certain customers.

Porsche’s manager of SUV Powertrains, Friedmann Heller, revealed to Top Gear earlier this week that the brand is thinking about a V6 diesel for the Cayenne.

“I can say we are considering offering a diesel Cayenne, but we are watching the demand and have to wait for the right time,” he said.

Diesels are dying but they’re not dead just yet

Why would Porsche consider such a powertrain considering the dwindling demand for diesels, particularly in Europe?

According to Heller, lots of the brand’s customers, especially those from Germany, live in rural areas and still want a diesel. This isn’t entirely surprising considering the torque outputs of diesels, low CO2 emissions and impressive range which they offer.

In February, a report was published indicating that Porsche intended on ditching all of its diesel engines. However, the German carmaker soon denied such speculation, confirming that plans call for the Cayenne, and potentially the Macan, to receive diesel power in the not too distant future.

Despite these plans, Porsche admits that diesel engines aren’t hugely important for the brand and last year, only 14 per cent of the company’s cars sold worldwide were diesel-powered.