Porsche Cayenne diesel launched in India

Porsche India, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group have been a quiet operator in India. This is because all they have is high end cars or a SUV which many cannot afford to buy. However if some one does buy one of those, then he or she would be a celebrity in their own right. However it was high time that Porsche India got a diesel engine for their highest selling model in India, the Porsche Cayenne. This was recently rectified when Porsche India did  the unthinkable with the Porsche Cayenne diesel launched in India. Adding a diesel motor actually increases a product’s desirability and at the same time adds more models to its portfolio.

The only visual differentiation from the petrol powered one is the turbo diesel badge at the rear. The look of the car up front is similar to that of the Porsche 911 on stilts. It actually is quite a heavy vehicle tipping the scales at 2135 kg however one look at it and you would just scoff at those figures. This feeling is heightened once you get behind the wheel of the Porsche Cayenne diesel launched in India. The steering wheel, though devoid of steering wheel controls, is direct and quite light at city or parking speeds. This same steering wheel becomes heavy as speeds rise. On the move, one just tends to forget that the car is so heavy. It really surprises with its agility. The seats are a perfect fit in the front while at the rear, it can seat 3 more people, though with some difficulty. It is a proper 4 seater SUV and a soft roader with some capability for off-roading. However it is debatable if any one would want to get dirty in the off-road track with a Porsche Cayenne diesel. The ride is sort of jiggly at low speeds however once the speeds rise, the ride is pliant if a bit firm. The handling is similar to that of the BMW X5 and this is no mean feat. This is one amongst the few SUVs that you can corner at high speeds and still come out in one piece. Lower down the suspension settings to comfort mode and the low speed ride also becomes somewhat comfortable.

The materials used for the construction of this SUV all feel premium and aren’t a match in this class. Too many buttons on the center console however spoil the ambience and practicality. The rear passengers get to control their own DVD screens which are housed in the head rest of the front seats. They also get their own AC controls. The boot is also quite like a hatchback however the split seats add to the convenience factor. Talk of the town for the Porsche Cayenne diesel is the state of the art 3 liter V6 engine pumping out 240 Bhp and about 57 Kgm of torque. Putting all these power to the ground is the 4 wheel drive aided by the 8 speed triptronic transmission. This 4 wheel drive system however is not so advanced as the one doing duties in the petrol variant. The car moves from 0-100 kmph in 8.8 seconds and hits and electronically limited top speed of 228 kmph. The engine is quite smooth and non intrusive in nature. The cabin is also devoid of any noise and is nicely cocooned from all those ruckus outside.This car is available only in 1 variant and it is priced at Rs.60 lakhs {Ex-showroom, Delhi}.

Porsche Cayenne diesel specifications

Cubic capacity (cc): 2967
Bore x stroke (mm): 83.00 x 92.40
Compression ratio: 17.80:1
Max. power (bhp): 240 at 4300 rpm
Max. torque (lb.ft): 405 at 2200 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox with permanent four-wheel drive system.
Length (mm): 4844
Height (mm): 1706
Width (mm): 1938
Wheelbase (mm): 2894
Front track (mm): 1656
Rear track (mm): 1667
Wheels: 8.0J x 19 inch alloys
Tyres: 255/56 R18 108Y XL.
Cargo volume (litres): 1239 with the rear seats flipped down
Kerb weight (kg): 2135
Fuel tank capacity (litres): 83