PORSCHE Cayenne Diesel (957) 2008-2010 Photos, engines & full specs

It was the first oil-burner Porsche in history. The European market asked for a diesel engine and the car-maker had to deliver it to keep the sale up in a struggled market affected by the world financial crisis.

When Porsche launched their first off-road model, the Cayenne, in 1997, the whole world was shocked. Nobody could believe that this could be possible. But they did it right and almost 160.000 units were sold between 2002 and 2007. And, despite all the odds, the Cayenne was a great SUV with real off-road abilities and strong performance.

But the look even if it resembled some other 911 models, it wasn't completely accepted. For the facelift, the streamlined headlights enhanced the car's look. The bumper featured the same big air-scoops to cool the engine and the brakes. The DRLs were placed underneath the headlights, and inside of the side-scoops. A new set of rear-view mirrors were installed.

The interior was almost unchanged when compared with the base, V6-gasoline Cayenne. It featured the same seats and standard audio system. It received new colors for the leather seats. The Cayenne was fitted with a power-liftgate as an option.

The engine was a carry-over from the Audi line-up, with a variable turbocharger system and a 3.0-liter displacement. It offered 240 hp and it was tuned to offer more performance. For instance, at hard accelerations, the system disengaged the AC compressor until the engine reached 2500 rpm. The Cayenne diesel was available with an option for an off-road package that added a locking rear differential an air-suspension to increase the ground clearance and a low-gear transfer box.