Porsche Cayenne Diesel Coming to US This Year

Porsche is joining the ranks of Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW by offering a diesel in the US. The 2013 Porsche Cayenne will be available with the company's 3.0l turbodiesel in the US. In addition to the new model, all Cayennes in the US get a slightly revised interior with an analog clock and moved door-locking buttons. 

The Cayenne Diesel offers 240hp and 406lb-ft of torque from just 1,750rpm. Acceleration is a two-tenths faster than a standard Tiptronic Cayenne with 0-60mph coming in 7.2 seconds. Fuel economy is rated at 20mpg city and 28mpg highway, which is a big bump over the 16mpg city and 23mpg highway that you get from a base, Tiptronic Cayenne. Porsche claims that the diesel has a 740 mile range on a single tank of fuel. The diesel system does require drivers to use AdBlue fluid to reduce NOx emissions.

The truck comes only with the eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission but without the stop/start technology on the gasoline-fueled Cayenne. It comes standard with Porsche Traction Management with all-wheel drive.

To prevent accidental fueling with gasoline, the fuel neck will only accept diesel pumps. 

The Cayenne Diesel will go on sale in September for $55,570 plus a $975 destination charge. The only designation of the model will be a 'Diesel' badge on the left and right front fenders. 

The diesel will be the fifth model variation of the Cayenne in the US, which already includes the Cayenne with the 3.6l V6, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo.

It is great to see Porsche experimenting with diesel in the US. The price seems right given that a standard, Tiptronic Cayenne costs $51,200 in the US. The $4,370 premium gets buyers a longer range, better fuel economy and slightly more performance.