Confirmed back in August, today Porsche has officially announced that the Cayenne diesel got a green light and it will be available starting with February 2009. This comes as a response to market demands and to the changing regulations, especially in Europe, which will be the main market for the model. The diesel Cayenne will be powered by a 3.0 liter V6 turbo diesel engine, supplied by Audi, which will deliver 240 hp (176 kW) and max torque of 550 Nm. The fuel consumption will be 9.3 liters/100 km (25 US mpg) in the combined cycle and 244 g/km CO2 emissions.

Porsche has also announced that they’re currently working on a hybrid powertrain for the Cayenne, which will achieve a fuel economy of less than 9 liters/100 km (24 US mpg) and is scheduled to go on sale in 2009 or 2010.

As for the diesel Cayenne, like we said, it will be available starting with next February, and, equipped with the Tiptronic-S automatic gearbox will have a strating price of 47,250 Euros (almost $60,000) without taxes, in Germany.

More photos after the jump. Read More: "Porsche Cayenne diesel officially announced"

The Essen Motor Show has always been the host of some really cars, and this is one of them, the LUMMA Design CLR 550 R tuning program for the Porsche Cayenne facelift. And the first thing that pops into our eyes is the widebody kit, which features fenders extensions (makes the car 5 cm wider on each side), a special new front bumper, new turn signal unit, individual rear bumper, a more aggressive Carbon Kevlar front hood with air inducts and new side skirts. The car’s ulta aggressive look is completed by 40 mm lowering sport suspension, LUMMA’s ‘evil eye’ headlights and newly designed 23 inch LUMMA Racing 3 wheels.

Under the hood, LUMMA engineers have reprogrammed the electronics in the ECU, added LUMMA GPM (gas pedal power module) for better response of the gas pedal, red coated engine cover with Carbon inlets and a sport exhaust system. After the mods, LUMMA says the Cayenne’s GTS V8 engine delivers 20 percent more power, which means somewhere close to 500 hp.

Of course, the interior has also been modified, in cooperation with Interior Designer LMT Benrath. We’ve got bicolor leather covered interior (Carbonleather and Alcantara), highlighted by colored ornamental seams, new sport steering wheel, new multimedia system with integrated 7,5″ monitors in head rests and floor mats with LUMMA emblem embroidered.

Check out more photos after the jump. Read More: "Porsche Cayenne facelift by LUMMA Design headed for Essen Motor Show"

German tuner Edo Competition has announced a new tuning program for the Porsche Cayenne GTS, which offers more power and an improved aerodynamics kit for the German SUV. By fitting the car with new high-flow catalytic converters, performance air filter inserts and new ECU calibration, Edo managed to take the engine up to 450 hp (331 kW) and a maximum torque of 530 Nm (391 ft-lb) at 3,800 rpm. This means the Cayenne GTS goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.4 seconds an up to a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph).

Other mechanical upgrades include a new brake system with huge six-piston fixed mono-block calipers, new sport suspension system adjustable in height, compression and rebound damping (14 settings). The bodu kit includes a new hood featuring power domes and a new lower front skirt with 4 fog lights and mesh inserts, plus 22 inch forged wheels with stainless steel outer rims (can also be ordered custom painted).

Check out more photos after the jump. Read More: "450 hp Porsche Cayenne GTS by Edo Competition"

Recently, AutoBild made an interesting comparison test between the Porsche Cayenne GTS (manual transmission) and the new BMW X6 (automatic). Which one won? The title says it all. The BMW did a Nurburgring lap in 8.54,4 min, 7 seconds faster the Cayenne (9.01,9 min). Top speeds were 240,9 km/h (150 mph) for the X6 and 228,1 km/h (142 mph) for the Cayenne. Also, the X6 was 1 second faster than the Cayenne in the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration (5.7 seconds comparing to Porsche’s 6.7 seconds). If we also consider the pricings (€73,800 for the X6 and €78,034 for the Cayenne GTS) I think we have a clear winner, the BMW X6.

Read More: "BMW X6 kicks Cayenne GTS’ ass"

Yes, the “big bad wolf” of the SUVs gets a diesel engine. It is now official. Since Porsche owns a big share of VW, it was only a matter of Brand Image before they would have introduced a diesel on their models. Cayenne will get the 3.0 L V6 diesel that runs on both VW Touareg and Audi Q7. The 240hp engine could be a choice for the Panamera model, as well, although a hybrid was discussed for the 4 door Porsche saloon.

Read More: "Porsche Confirms: Diesel for Cayenne"

Volkswagen announced that it plans to open an US plant and more details about that will be made available after the final decision is made, in July. It seems that the most probable locations are Alabama, Tennessee and Michigan. This doesn’t come as a surprise at all, with the recent recession America is going through. One other thing’s interesting. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, when the plant will open, in 2010, it will also produce the next generation Porsche Cayenne.

Asked by Automotive News, VW spokesman Andreas Meurer did not deny that, actually kind of confirmed it. “When we discuss whether to build the Touareg and Q7 in the USA, we also talk about the Cayenne,” Meurer said. The new facility will build 150,000 units and the cars made there will be the Jetta and a new Passat-like sedan.

Read More: "Porsche Cayenne to be built at the new VW US plant?"

With all major German car companies launching their small SUVs, Porsche couldn’t afford to stay behind, so here are the latest spy shots of the upcoming baby Cayenne, scheduled to make debut in 2010. Codenamed Roxster (and we really hope they’ll change that), the car will try to match the Cayenne’s success, which revived Porsche back in 2002. And it’s not going to be easy, because the competition is taugh, with the BMW X3 (scheduled to be facelifted soon) and the recents Mercedes Benz GLK and Audi Q5.

Developed on the Q5 platform, the Q5 will will get its own sheetmetal and glasshouse, plus a distinct engine range. To be even more different from the Q5, the Roxster will probably be powered by Porsche’s VR6 engine and the low-end V8, producgin between 300 and 400 hp. Rumors say Porsche is also considering a diesel powerplant and even a hybrid version, in the future.

Questioned by CarMagazine, Porsche’s spokesman said: “It’s our policy not to comment on speculative spy photos […] Porsche Engineering do a lot of work for third parties – it could even be an Audi Q5 on test.”

Read More: "Baby Porsche Cayenne spied"

Some of you might remember the world’s fastest taxi we wrote about some time ago. But, while the Lamborghini Murcielago might be the fastest, it sure isn’t the most comfortable. And here are some taxis in Russia (where else?!) which really give you a comfy drive. Yeah, those are a Maybach and a Porsche Cayenne. Now, if we might say that the Cayenne is not such a surprise, who the heck would spend at least $600,000 to buy a Maybach and then turn it into a taxi. So, next time you’re in Russia and don’t want to get into a Lada cab, you might get lucky and ride into one of these, though that woul probably hurt your wallet pretty bad.

More photos after the jump.

Read More: "Now that’s a taxi!"

The Gemballa GTR700 Tornado is the German tuner’s latest tuning program for the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and either you like it, either you hate it, don’t think there’s a middle way. Besides the ultra aggressive body kit, available in different colors, customers get a 700 hp engine, 4WD, panoramic roof and multimedia package. And, because a picture is worth a thousand words, we’ll let you enjoy more photos, after the jump.

Read More: "Gemballa GTR700 Tornado based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo"

The legend says that at the beginning there was a Porsche Cayenne, who, by definition, is not the prettiest car around. And then there were Russians. Crazy Russians. Who also created the Hippie Porsche Cayenne and who decided to create this thing. Don’t know what they were thinking, but here’s the…uhm… Russian Yellow Weird Looking Porsche Cayenne.

Check out more photos after the jump.
Read More: "Weirdest Porsche Cayenne you’ve ever seen"