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| Put a Porsche in your driveway, well sort of... |
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Filed under: Etc., Porsche, Humor
If you want to see how that new Porsche is going to look in your driveway (or you just need to impress the women who frequent your favorite online dating service), our friends in Stuttgart have given us all the tools we'll need. Well, in a sense at least. Point your favorite browser here, and click on the "picture it" link on the bottom. Upload your favorite driveway shot, and then you can put either the Cayman, Boxster, 911 Coupe, or Cayenne on your own personal pavement. Once done, you can save it as a JPEG (we had to add the file extension afterwards) to share with your friends. While Porsche is kind enough to put a sports car or SUV in your driveway without charge, they won't be sending you the keys. For that, you'll still need some serious coin. [Source: Porsche]
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| In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Carrera S |
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sports/GTs, Porsche  Click above for high-res gallery of the Porsche Carrera S As we approach the 45th birthday of the Porsche 911 and the dawn of yet another generation, we've finally managed to snag one in the Autoblog Garage for a full review. The 911 is the most direct descendant of the very earliest sports cars to wear that legendary German automotive name. It still uses the same basic layout as the first Porsche, the 356 (except for prototype No.1, which was mid-engined) with a horizontally opposed engine hanging out behind the rear axle. Of course, the 911 has two more cylinders now, and these days the engines are cooled by liquid rather then air, but the basic premise remains. Even though the 911 has gone through five generations, with another refresh for 2009 arriving momentarily, it remains instantly recognizable as what it is. Even with what some may consider an archaic drivetrain layout, the 2008 Porsche Carrera S remains one of the finest sports cars in the world. Follow the jump to find out how it performed in our garage. Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Carrera S
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| Spy Shots: Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide 'Ring battle |
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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin, Porsche  To the 'Ring we go, and our companions today are -- in the apt words of World Car Fans -- "beauty and the beast." That would be the Aston Martin Rapide and the Porsche Panamera. We'll let you decide which one deserves which title. Follow the link and you'll find a large gallery of both cars in basic black, un-camo'ed and racing each other around the 'Ring to help cast your vote. In practical considerations, the Panamera looks to have the Rapide beat in all kinds of ways. For instance, it should get better gas mileage if you get the V6 or V8, and it has more trunk space with 450 liters. Aston's cars have little trunk syndrome, and the Rapide probably won't really change that. But hey, who would buy a Panamera or Rapide for practical reasons? Either way, we won't really know the state of things until the 2009 Geneva Motor Show next March when they are officially introduced. [Source: World Car Fans]
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| Swiss Missile: Sportec SP750 Porsche 997 GT2 |
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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Porsche
Porsche enthusiasts will undoubtedly count the 997-generation 911 GT2 as one of the most extreme supercars ever to roll out of Stuttgart - right up there with the 959 and the Carrera GT. But where there's speed, there's always room for more speed, and the Swiss aren't about to stay neutral on this matter. Switzerland-based Sportec has just released its latest offering: the SP750. The tuning firm is known for producing seriously fast Porsches - including the 997 Turbo-based SP580 and the record-chasing SPR1 and SP600M Cayenne - and has put some serious effort into carrying on this legacy with the new SP750. Modifications to the GT2 - already very blitzschnell in its own right - are available in four increments, starting with the 600-hp Stage 1 and topping out with the full-on 750-hp Stage 4 kit, which includes new turbos, a revised ECU, titanium con-rods, a free-flowing exhaust and new camshafts, air filter and clutch. To control all that extra power, Sportec is also offering an upgraded brake kit with six-pot calipers and 350-380mm discs, plus a retuned suspension complemented by a revised aero kit and 20-inch rims. We'd hope the huge Swiss flag on the roof, which has become a hallmark of Sportec's creations, is optional. While it may protect the car from aerial bombardment, the planes would actually have to catch the car in the first place. [Source: Sportec]
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| Spy Shots: Porsche Panamera still ugly |
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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Porsche  More spy shots of the Porsche Panamera have emerged, and in addition to wearing almost no camo, it is missing one other thing: any hint of beauty, anywhere. In fact, we can now definitively say that Porsche has one of the world's greatest ever surprises up its sleeve: the company either has a titanic makeover regimen planned for the car that will turn it into something attractive, or Porsche plans to release a truly regrettable looking vehicle. Looking like a slammed Cayenne with a fastback and front fender vents, the Panamera is caught from several angles. In our opinion, the only nice angle is the front, because you don't have to see the rest of it. Having said that, we don't doubt the car -- even if it looks like the one pictured -- will find buyers. It is a 4-door Porsche that will sport better MPG than the Cayenne, after all. But Porsche, there's still time to make the car look like this. Please, think about it. Because if it's between this car or an A7 or Rapide? Well, um... don't wait by the phone is all we're saying... Thanks for the tip, Ross! [Source: Global Motors]
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| eBay Find of the Day: 1996 Porsche 959 Speedster |
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Filed under: Aftermarket, Time Warp, Auction Action, Porsche
Not all German supercars are the same. For instance, not every Teutonic exotic bred the plethora of derivatives that the Mercedes SLR McLaren has. Case in point, the Porsche 959. There was no 722 version, no roadster and certainly no chop-top speedster. But that's where the aftermarket comes into the picture. Well, sorta. What you see here is not a 959 supercar with the roof hacked off. Nor is it an original 356, either. All it appears to be is a kit car combining the retro styling of the original Porsche with the front and rear ends of the 959. The hybrid concoction may have filled a niche for a modern throwback to the original 356 just as the first-generation Boxster was coming to market, but where that leaves this creation now is up to debate. While we can't say that the end result is a work of art, it certainly is... original. Follow the link for the auction page, where the 959 Speedster is under reserve at $5,700 with a buy-it-now price a hair under $11k. [Source: eBay via PistonHeads]
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| Porsche Cayenne Diesel finally confirmed |
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Filed under: SUVs, Green, Porsche  Various news outlets have speculated that Porsche's first-ever diesel engine would be installed in the Cayenne SUV for 2009, and now Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking has confirmed it. As previously reported, the oil-burner will be snatched from the Audi parts bin and reportedly be essentially unchanged in Porsche guise. That means 240 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque, plenty to get the hefty Cayenne out of its own way. Instead of spending development money on a Porsche-specific diesel engine, Zuffenhausen has instead invested in a hybrid system, which will also see duty in the Cayenne around 2010. By then, a lithium-ion battery will likely be ready to replace the prototype's nickel-based unit. [Source: Auto Bild via AutoblogGreen]
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| Porsche No. 1 sets out for Pebble Beach |
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Filed under: Time Warp, Sports/GTs, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows
If you're a regular Autoblog reader, you'll be familiar with the saga of Porsche's take-over of Volkswagen. But back in the late '40s when Germany lay in post-war shambles with its industry crippled, VW had been re-commissioned by the allies and Porsche was just getting started. Based on the mechanics designed by his father, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche led a team that crafted the very first Porsche, the original 356. That first prototype is still around, known to enthusiasts as Porsche No. 1 and destined to become the centerpiece of the factory's new museum in Zuffenhausen on the outskirts of Stuttgart. To celebrate the company's 60th anniversary, Porsche No. 1 is making the treacherous journey around the world to the United States. The last time Porsche tried to bring 356-001 over to America, things did not go well. It was ten years ago when the company celebrated its milestone 50th birthday, and the car was badly damaged in Chicago. Long since repaired, Porsche No. 1 is on its way to the Atlanta headquarters of Porsche Cars North America before it makes the transcontinental journey all the way to California for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it's sure to steal the show. Autoblog will be on the links to bring you news and images of its arrival, but in the meantime you can check out the pair of images in the gallery below and details in the press release after the jump. [Source: Porsche] Continue reading Porsche No. 1 sets out for Pebble Beach
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| VW, Porsche talks stumbling over labor issues? |
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Filed under: Government/Legal, Porsche, Volkswagen, UAW/Unions  Porsche wants to purchase Volkswagen, this much we know. But before that happens, the huge labor union at VW needs to agree on terms with Porsche management. This, as you may imagine, is proving a bit more difficult than Porsche had hoped, prompting the automaker's senior labor leader Uwe Hueck to lash out at the heads at VW. Not surprisingly, his initial attack received a response from Bernd Osterloh, the head of VW's labor union. It seems that some major sticking points exist that the organized Volkswagen employees are not too keen on, causing them to believe that they would be relegated to second-class status. Whether or not these negotiations will keep Porsche from purchasing a controlling stake in Volkswagen seems up in the air at the moment, though we wouldn't be surprised if some sort of deal were made sooner rather than later. [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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| Second Drive: Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder |
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Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Porsche, First Drive, Special/Limited Editions  Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the Porsche Boxster RS 60 Our colleague Chris Tutor recently took the Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder for a few quick turns around Barber Motorsports. A tad more powerful than the Boxster S, and filled with red leather, he discovered it was plenty of car on the closed circuit. We recently had a chance to get the special edition RS 60 off the track and onto the back roads of Rhode Island and Connecticut, and got to see what the car could do on twisting country lanes - and unexpectedly, in the rain. The likewise unexpected result: damn near perfection. Follow the jump to find out how,and check out the gallery of hi-res and sometimes very damp images below. All Second Drive gallery photos Copyright (C)2008 Sergio Jurado / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading Second Drive: Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder
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| Porsche releases new special edition Boxster and Cayman S |
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Filed under: Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Porsche, Special/Limited Editions  Click above for high-res gallery of the new special ed Boxster With both the Boxster RS 60 Spyder and Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 already sold out, Porsche is moving on to its next pair of special edition mid-engine sportscars. Both of the new exclusive models feature a boost of a modest eight horsepower, but what differentiates them from their standard stablemates is more in the trim. The Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 is now decked out in Carrara White, from the exterior body color and the 19" SportDesign wheels to the center console and instrument faces. Grey racing stripes and a grey roof with black leather, meanwhile, complement the white theme.
Only 500 examples of the Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2 will be offered, along with 700 units of the Cayman S Sport. Check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump for all the angles. [Source: Porsche] Continue reading Porsche releases new special edition Boxster and Cayman S
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| Road to Race: Porsche RS Spyder gets direct injection |
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Filed under: Motorsports, Porsche  Click above for a high-res gallery. Porsche has already introduced direct injection on the Cayenne and 911 Carrera, and the Turbo, GT2 and GT3 all stand to benefit from the technology next year. While it's normal for most automakers to take the lessons learned from motorsports and apply them to their road cars, Porsche is doing it the other way around. The 3.4-liter V8 in the Porsche RS Spyder campaigning in the ALMS LMP2 class will be fitted with direct injection, bringing power levels up while reducing fuel consumption. While the old mill put out 476 hp at 10,000 RPM and 273 lb.-ft. of torque beginning at 7,500 RPM, the new engine gets a 27 hp bump, to bring levels up to 503 hp at 10k RPM and 284 lb.-ft. of twist at 8,500 rpm. That, combined with the decreased in fuel consumption should make the Spyder even more competitive in a class it's continuing to dominate. Full details are posted in the press release below the fold. Continue reading Road to Race: Porsche RS Spyder gets direct injection
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| No Surprise: Porsche 911 Turbo, GT2 and GT3 getting direct-injection |
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Filed under: Coupes, Supercars, Porsche  Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Porsche 911 GT2. Porsche's commitment to the KISS philosophy of exterior design won't extend to the engine of the facelifted 911 Turbo, GT2 and GT3 when they're released early next year. All three models will dispatch with the legendary M97 powerplant in favor of the new, direct-injected A91 flat-six that's equipped on the recently updated 911 Carrera. The two turbocharged 911s will be packing 3.6-liters of displacement, with a 97 mm bore and an 81.5 mm stroke (the outgoing engine was sized 100 mm x 76.4 mm), along with revised turbochargers and intercoolers. Autocar's sources suggest that output on both models will rise by around 20 hp, with the Turbo producing 500 hp and the GT2 pushing out approximately 550 hp. Torque figures should also increase by around four percent. The GT3 will remain naturally aspirated, with a 3.8-liter version of the A91 with a 102 mm bore and a 77.5 mm stroke. The same internal changes from the Carrera S will carry over to the GT3, including lightweight pistons, valves and springs. Output should increase from around 415 to 430 hp. And all of these changes will also increase fuel efficiency and decrease C02 output. 'Cause that's what really matters... right? [Source: Autocar]
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| Audi A4, Q5 could be built Stateside |
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen  Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Audi Q5. Taking a lesson from BMW, who have been successfully manufacturing cars and SUVs in Spartanburg, South Carolina for more than a decade, Audi may seek manufacturing capabilities for their A4 sedan and Q5 SUV in the States. The new Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, just announced last week, may be tasked with building upwards of 200,000 vehicles per year -- including the two Audis. Estimated to cost $973.5 million, the 1,359 acre plant is large enough to handle the domestic production for VW, Audi, and even shareholder Porsche... although the proud automaker from Stuttgart vehemently denies even considering it. [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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| Porsche opens up the new 911 Targa 4 & Targa 4S |
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Filed under: Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Porsche
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That seems to be the motto of the newest iteration of the latest generation of the Porsche 911. The new 911 Targa is available exclusively with all-wheel-drive, in either Targa 4 or Targa 4S guise, bearing the 911 Turbo-derived electronic four-wheel-drive system that replaces the viscous mechanical system on the previous generation, and coupled to Stuttgart's new PDK dual-clutch transmission. What sets the Targa model apart, though, is its sixteen-and-a-half-square-foot glass sliding roof, specially treated to filter out UV rays that can be opened in just seven seconds to let the air in. Sale of the new model in the United States will begin in October, just as the sunshine's going away (depending on where you live) with list prices of $89,500 and $100,100 respectively. Check out the press release after the jump for more info, and the images in the gallery below for more angles. [Source: Porsche] Continue reading Porsche opens up the new 911 Targa 4 & Targa 4S
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| EU grants Porsche permission to purchase VW |
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Filed under: Euro, Government/Legal, Porsche, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials Porsche is one step closer to its goal of purchasing Volkswagen. Back in April of last year, the German automaker passed the 30-percent mark, forcing it to make an outright offer for The Volkswagen Group in its entirety, which it did. Not too many VW shareholders sold their stake to Porsche, as the bid was for the bare minimum amount allowed by law. Still, the legal requirement had been met, allowing Porsche to continue gobbling up the automaker according to its own timetable. Earlier this year, the VeeDub board approved a request by Porsche to obtain 51-percent of the company for some $15.73 billion, which would give it a majority stake. Before the house that Ferdinand built could complete its acquisition, the European Commission required it to make one last purchase, which took place in June of this year. Finally, the EU has granted its permission for the buyout. This story is likely far from over, as the German State of Lower Saxony still claims a 20-percent stake in Volkswagen, which gives it certain rights to block decisions made by VW's new parents. Still, it seems that its only a matter of time before VW and Porsche are united under a different Ferdinand... Piech that is, grandson to Mr. Porsche himself. [Source: Reuters]
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| Leakage: 303 hp Porsche Cayman S Sport |
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Filed under: Coupes, Euro, Porsche  Click above for a larger image of the Porsche Cayman S Sport. The Cartribe crew is living up their reputation as the newest embargo breakers in the biz, with a follow up to their original story that the Porsche Cayman is getting a serious Sport injection ahead of the new model's debut next year. The Porsche Cayman S Sport is packing 303 hp, up from 295 hp, and will come equipped with Porsche's Active Stability Management system, a 10mm suspension drop, blacked-out wheels and a two-tone paint scheme aping the 911 GT3. Pricing is rumored to be set at £49,890 and expect more details to be revealed shortly. [Source: Cartribe.co.uk]
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| TechArt GT Street RS, because the Porsche GT2 isn't mean enough |
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Filed under: Tuners, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Porsche  Click above for a hi-res gallery of the GT Street RS The Porsche 911 GT2 has 530 horsepower, 505 lb-ft of torque and is capable of going 204 mph. And it's not enough. Not for TechArt, at least. You know TechArt. They take Porsches that already push the limits of performance and go all Chuck Yeager on them, probing for new and more crazy limits. Generally they find them, then they package them up and offer them to the moneyed public. Case in point: the new GT Street RS. What begins as a "normal" GT2 turns into a 700-horsepower, 634 lb-ft (860 Nm) warp-enabled street predator when the TechArt people are through messing with it. The myriad changes include new bodywork that improves the car's aerodynamics, updated chassis components, a customized and caged interior, and a laundry list of underhood modifications. The turbos, intercoolers, headers, electronics, pressure sensor, air filter and exhaust system all get updated by TechArt, facilitating the transformation from factory supercar to ballistic missile with wheels. Now, where'd we leave those launch codes... [Source: TechArt]
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| Y'all ready for this? Porsche Panamera will start at $127,000 |
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Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Porsche  When the Panamera arrives next year, it will come bearing two weighty things: a 4.8-liter 520-hp twin turbo V8, and a $197,000 price tag. Beneath that model -- and price -- will be the normally aspirated V8. And to even get into the Panamera party, you'll need $127,000, which will get you a measly 3.6-liter V6, but that doesn't arrive until 2010.That turbo motor, run through a seven-speed PDK gearbox, will get up to 186 MPH. However, if you want your power a little more electric, then you'll have to hold off for the 300-hp hybrid model coming in 2011. It will pair the V6 with a 100-hp electric motor. And if all of that isn't enough, Porsche is waiting to see how many folks might request the V10 from the Carrera GT, or Audi's monstrous V12 TDI. Of course, you can expect that kind of power to be a load more Geld. [Source: Inside Line]
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| Volkswagen unveiling two-door Elise fighter in LA, new sports car |
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Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen  Click either image for a high-res gallery. Over the past five years, Volkswagen has continued to tease us with sports car concepts that never seem to come to fruition. Back in 2003, VW unveiled the Concept R in Frankfurt to critical acclaim and two years later, the wraps came off the EcoRacer, proving that the automaker was still kicking around the idea of a lightweight, affordable roadster for the masses. In the interim, VW had two similar concepts that never left the studio, but when the Los Angeles Auto Show rolls along later this year, a new mid-engine coupe will be revealed, and this one actually has a shot at production.  According to Autocar, this newest concept aims to be a budget alternative to the Lotus Elise, balancing performance and fuel economy in a low-cost package. Sources suggest that the coupe will feature either a 168 hp, 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine or a 125 hp, 1.6-liter TDI mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels via a seven speed DSG gearbox. If and when the production version debuts in 2011, the coupe's curb weight is pegged at just over 2,200 pounds, allowing it to run to 60 in under seven seconds while still returning over 55 mpg. If the project is given the green light, the same architecture that underpins the VW variant could form he basis for the oft-rumored and continually denied Audi R4. And with Porsche's stake in V-Dub, that means a 914 successor is just a badge and prayer away. [Source: Autocar]
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