Porsche will launch a diesel version of the Cayenne SUV in March 2009.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to Automobilwoche, the move is a response to the high fuel consumption and CO2 emissions output of the petrol versions.
Audi will supply the 240hp V6 diesel engine and Porsche is hoping to sell more than 15,000 units a year, priced at around EUR55,000.
Porsche had planned to introduce the diesel version in January 2009, at the same time as the facelifted Boxster, but it has postponed the launch so it does not detract from the sportscar’s debut.
Automobilwoche reported that Audi had originally planned to supply fewer than 10,000 diesel engines to Porsche each year but the plan now calls for 15,000 units, underlining Porsche’s high expectations for the model.
The Cayenne is one of the major competitors for Audi’s own Q7, of which 36,169 were built last year.
