Have you seen the new diesel Cayenne? Probably not, since it’s only available in Europe. But if it ever makes the journey to the states it will sure to be a hit. Car and Driver recently test drove the vehicle and posted some awesome photo’s, full review here. The base price in Germany is $99,000.
ENGINE TYPE:
- twin-turbocharged DOHC 32-valve diesel V-8, iron block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injection
- Displacement: 252 cu in, 4134 cc
- Power: 382 hp @ 3750 rpm
- Torque: 627 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
- 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
PERFORMANCE:
- Zero to 60 mph: 5.4 sec
- Standing ¼-mile: 14.2 sec
- Top speed: 155 mph
- EPA city/highway driving: 18/28 mpg
DIESEL IS BETTER?
The immense amount of low-end torque is addictive, but the most significant benefit of this diesel may be the incredible driving range; you can go nearly twice as far on a tank of fuel compared to the gas V-8s. In the optimistic European cycle, the Cayenne S diesel is rated at a combined 28 mpg, and 25 mpg in real-world driving seems quite plausible. The latter isn’t easy to achieve in a Cayenne gasoline hybrid, especially during the prolonged high-speed runs typical in Europe. And driving this diesel is a much simpler and more natural experience. No high-pitch whine, no artificial brake feel, no sudden surges of the internal-combustion engine—just sheer output that’s easy to control and modulate.
