Porsche’s head of sales and marketing, Klaus Berning, said that Porsche will only offer the Americans a Cayenne diesel if they overcome their reluctance to buy diesel cars. Berning said that Porsche is looking for U.S. buyers to switch to diesel cars in big number to make it economic for the company to launch a diesel car on American soil.

“We check the business case for diesel-powered cars every year,” Berning said in an interview with Automotive News. “But Porsche needs products that sell worldwide. So whether we decide to bring a diesel version or not is related to the success of diesel cars in North America because it changes the business case.”

Earlier in February an industry newsletter said that it will introduce a diesel-powered car by the middle of 2009. Porsche will most likely borrow the diesel in engine from Volkswagen rather than produce its own.

In 2010, Porsche will also offer a hybrid variant for the Cayenne SUV.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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