Porsche to no longer offer diesel engines

Porsche has confirmed that it will no longer offer diesel-powered versions of any of its models, with company chief Oliver Blume saying the firm will instead intensify development of hybrid and electrified technology.

Autocar UK revealed in February that the firm had discontinued its only two diesel models, the Macan S Diesel and Panamera 4S Diesel, due to a fall in customer demand and the introduction of stricter emissions tests. At the time, the firm said that didn’t mean it had “decided to stop all diesel models” forever.

However, the firm now says it will no longer offer diesel powertrains in the future, noting they account for just 12 percent of worldwide Porsche sales in 2017.

“Porsche is not demonising diesel,” said Blume. “It is, and will remain, an important propulsion technology. We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free. Naturally we will continue to look after our existing diesel customers with the professionalism they expect.”

Porsche is gearing up to launch the Taycan electric sports car next year, and says that by 2025 “every second new Porsche vehicle could have an electric drive”, meaning a hybrid or full electric powertrain.