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8143 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:10 PM
You are in the Diesels Forum. Your Host is kcram
This one will be moving to the head of my list: With the diesels winning the big races Porsche may start using diesels in their sports cars  We have been expecting a diesel engine option for the Porsche Cayenne for a while, and it appears that March of 2009 may be the date. While Porsche purists the world over may be upset over an oil-burner underhood (or under trunk) of any Porsche model, we don't see the big deal. After all, it's not like the Cayenne, despite what Porsche would have you believe, has all that much 911 DNA in it anyway. A modern diesel engine could help Porsche meet new fuel economy regulations for a lower cost than a hybrid, and the diesel V6 engine sourced from Audi should prove plenty capable of hauling the SUV's mass-tonnage around. Though Audi's current TDI six displaces 3.0 liters and is good for 240 HP and 406 lb.-ft. of torque, rumors indicate that Porsche will be using a 3.2 liter version of this engine that makes at least 300 horses. We think that should do rather nicely. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/porsche-cayenne-i-diesel-i-arrives-in-early-0- 9/ Porsche purists will recoil in horror, but desperate times require desperate measures: The German sports carmaker is developing its first-ever diesel. With the gas-electric Cayenne Hybrid delayed until at least 2010 and fuel prices spiraling ever higher, the company needs an interim measure. The obvious answer, for the European market, at least, is a diesel. It's not so un-Porsche as you might think. The plan calls for using the 50-state-legal 3.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection V-6 from the forthcoming Audi Q7 3.0 TDI. In U.S. trim, the engine produces 221 horsepower and a very stout 406 pound-feet of torque — notably more torque than the either the direct-injection gasoline V-6 from the base-model Cayenne or the direct-injection gasoline V-8 from the Cayenne S and GTS. In testing the diesel-powered Q7, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the engine pulled very much like a gas-fed V-8, with the quick-witted six-speed Tiptronic transmission compensating for narrower rev range of the diesel V-6. It launches the Q7, all 5,100 pounds of it, from zero to 60 in about 8.4 seconds while returning a respectable 25 mpg. Considering the 3.0 TDI accounts for more than 80 percent of Audi's Q7 sales in Germany, there's little doubt Porsche will find homes for the 15,000 diesel Cayennes it plans to build each year, starting with the European market in March. Meanwhile, the Q7 3.0 TDI arrives in North America later this year. It looks to me like it will be a close call if they offer them in the USA. If Audi & VW are successful with diesels, I imagine Porsche will jump on the bandwagon. Diesel dropped in price over the last week. While gas held steady. Just 34 cents difference now in CA.
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 24, 2008 4:42 am) Good move.
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Replying to: alltorque (Jun 24, 2008 6:41 am) I think if GM really wants to knock the cover off the baseball (almost literally) in crushing another home run; they will give or support the assignment to Chevrolet Corvette to come up with a twin turbo diesel (Corvette) sports car!! This would be a high speed LONG distance tourer PAR Excellence!! I would cite what Corvette did with a poorly selling "hard top" entry level Corvette, which has morfed into one of GM's quintessential (-my take but I might be WRONG) success stories...the Z06 Corvette. Both of course would face EXTREME resistance from the ( each brands') faithful. My take is the good news if they do not like it, don't buy it. Next, it is not likely for any of those faithful to drive their current selections off a cliff. Lastly it would definitely increase each brand's reach. |
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Replying to: alltorque (Jun 24, 2008 6:41 am) Now that the V6 TDI is approved for 50 state sale I wonder if it will also show up in the Touareg and Tiguan. Or maybe the very good looking VW mini vans. We can hope we get something soon. 
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 24, 2008 8:12 am) |
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 24, 2008 8:12 am) Hmmm, let's see here, a Canadian built Chrysler Town & Country minivan with a VW logo and VW interior, and sporting an engine that was designed and built by Audi, an engine that also happens to be used in the Porsche Cayenne. I'm thinking that I'd be more than happy to buy one if/when we decide to replace one of our two minivans (both six figures showing on the odometer) with yet another minivan. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Jun 24, 2008 3:15 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 24, 2008 3:42 pm) This "alliance" goes back a lot furthher than you may think. The Dodge Omnis back in the 1980s had a VW engine. (minus the fuel-injection that VW used in their vehicles of that vintage.) |
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Replying to: roland3 (Jun 23, 2008 8:08 pm) I just read in Auto news that Dodge has tweaked the valve timing, air induction and other things and they are going to have a Ram Pick up that is a whopping 4 % better fuel economy! WHAT are the nuts??? A 3L or 3.5L Diesel with BluTech technology would give them 40% better fuel economy. You say they could not sell it in Calf and some north east states, SO WHAT. Screw them give the rest of the country what they need and quit worrying about Calf.
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Replying to: yesdiesel1 (Jun 26, 2008 7:00 pm)
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