2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel offers monster torque, 28 MPG HWY

Porsche is getting in on the diesel craze with its first diesel-powered vehicle ever offered in the U.S. The 2013 Cayenne will be available with a turbo-diesel V6 option pumping out 240 horsepower, permanent all-wheel drive and a staggering 406 lb-ft of trailer-towing torque. That's enough power to propel the super-SUV to 60 in 7.2 seconds and 135 miles per hour on the track. That'll outrun your neighbor's base Cayenne by .2 seconds, but don't try to take on a Cayenne Turbo (0-60 in 4.4 seconds).

Porsche says the diesel's estimated fuel economy numbers are 20 city / 28 highway. The Volkswagen Touareg offers the same diesel engine but with 15 fewer horses and EPA estimates of 19/28 mpg. Bad news, however, for anyone who likes shifting their own gears. Looks like only the 8-speed Tiptronic will be available with the diesel.

While the least-expensive Cayenne will set you back at least $48,850, adding the diesel engine runs the base price up to $55,750. That's not too bad when you consider the platform-sharing Touareg TDI starts at just below $47k and runs all the way up to $59k for the Executive level VW.

Car spotters can ID the latest Cayenne variant by the "Diesel" badges behind the front wheel wells.

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-...photo-4936806/

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/03/2...ue-28-mpg-hwy/

 

drool. mpg isn't that great though.