Diesel Porsche 'up to US'?

Porsche will only manufacture a diesel Porsche for global markets if US buyers could be persuaded to buy diesel cars in bigger numbers.

Diesel power will only be profitable for the manufacturer if US buyers switched to diesel cars in big numbers, Porsche's head of sales and marketing Klaus Berning has said.

Speaking to Automotive News Europe, Berning said "We check the business case for diesel-powered cars every year, 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."

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking earlier told Automotive News Europe that he didn't think adding diesels to the manufacturer's line-up would make sense because of the additional costs it would incur, coupled with Porsche's fairly low sales volumes.

However, Berning said it remains unclear whether the premium German manufacturers will be successful in selling diesel cars in the US in their required numbers. Many Americans reportedly still consider diesel vehicles to be noisy, dirty and slow.

Recently, there have been several media reports stating that Porsche is testing a diesel version of its Cayenne SUV for global introduction. This move will reportely allow the manufacturer to meet tougher European emissions legislation.

The manufacturer will, from 2010, market hybrid versions of its Cayenne and the upcoming Panamera sports sedan.