EVs and hybrids may be touted as the "green" cars of the present, but the dino-burning diesel engine deserves its moment in the spotlight for fuel efficiency as well. Porsche seems to agree, at least in the case of the Porsche Cayenne. The diesel-engined vehicle has been roaming the streets of Europe for a while now, and it's just been announced as the first diesel-powered vehicle produced by Porsche to enter the U.S. under their new diesel marketing plan.

The current European diesel-powered version of the Cayenne is about 88 percent more efficient than the existing 2012 Porsche Cayenne six-cylinder gasoline model sold here in the United States. It also gets a significantly better fuel rating than the U.S. model. Although the horsepower will decrease from 333hp with the V-6 engine and 47hp electric motor to about 245hp with the diesel six cylinder, we believe it's worth losing the power to get the fuel efficiency. The European version rates over 32-mpg (after conversion) in the combined cycle. While the figures do not translate perfectly, they do give us an general idea of the vehicle's adeptness.

We here at Braman Porsche have a lot to look forward to with the arrival of the diesel-powered Cayenne in less than a year, sometime in the later part of 2012.