2009 will see the release of the Porsche Cayenne Diesel, as confirmed by Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking. Hmm, so much for the continued denial and claims that a diesel was “out of character” for the German manufacturer.

The oil-burning Cayenne has been spotted numerous times refueling at diesel pumps in Northern Sweden, so the news was hardly unexpected. Porsche has kept development costs down by utilising the same 3.0L TDI diesel V6 that features in the VW Touareg and Audi Q7 - expect around 180kWs, 300Nms of torque and 11.5L/100kms.

Porsche will go one further a year later by adding a hybrid Cayenne to the line-up. This is expected to utilise lithium-ion batteries rather than the nickel metal hydride units reportedly seeing duty in the prototype.

What’s happening over at Porsche these days? Porsche said it wouldn’t build an SUV and then gave us the Cayenne. Porsche said the Cayenne wouldn’t get a diesel and now we have confirmation that it will. Is Porsche selling out? Let us know what you think.