Tag: 987

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BMW Drive Thru Porsche

Drive Thru: 1M v Cayman R v M3

BMW 1M v Porsche Cayman R v BMW M3

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé is the ‘it’ car of the moment. Everyone is talking about it and everyone, it seems, cannot praise it enough. We’ve already had one drive of the 1M and quickly learnt why it has been creating so much fuss. It really is a cracking car. Overseas, it’s even been compared against the Porsche Cayman R; a genuine sportscar with a sharpened focus.

We’re not sure why that comparison is being made, to be honest. They’re at different price points (especially here in Australia) and they don’t really sing from the same hymn sheet, either.

But when a long-time AUSmotive reader offered us a drive of these two cars who were we to say no. For good measure, the owner decided to throw us the keys to his 2008 BMW M3 as well. Lucky us!

All wearing black wheels with white paint, the trio were tailor made for a mini group-test. So, out to the favoured AUSmotive test route we headed. I drove the 1M on the outward journey and this provided a good chance to get reacquainted and develop a better sense for its daily capabilities.

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Porsche

Porsche Cayman S Black Edition

Porsche Cayman S Black Edition

The Porsche Cayman S is the latest to get the “Black Edition” treatment, and follows similar versions of the 911 and Boxster S.

Like the Boxster, the Cayman S Black Edition scores a modest 7kW power increase, raising peak power to 243kW. The 19″ wheels are sourced from the Boxster Spyder and offer increased diameter and width over standard Cayman wheels.

The Cayman S Black Edition is limited to 500 cars worldwide and a small number will be making their way to Australia. Local deliveries are scheduled to commence in September and the asking price remains at the regular Cayman S figure of $147,500 (plus on roads etc).

Press releases from Porsche AG and Porsche Australia follow.

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Porsche

Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

Porsche has discovered once you go black, you can’t go back. Hot on the heels of announcing the 911 Black Edition comes news of the Boxster S Black Edition. This time, though, there is a modest power increase for the Boxster S Black, to go along with the expected black styling adornments.

The Boxster S Black Edition produces 320hp from its 3.4 litre flat six. That’s 10hp more than a Boxster S and the same as a Boxster Spyder. That means you can despatch 100km/h in a reasonably brisk 5.2 seconds and, if you try really hard, you can return an average fuel consumption figure of 9.8l/100km. If you opt for the slick-shift PDK box you can drop 0.1 seconds and 0.4l/100km off those numbers.

Also thrown in for good measure are Sat Nav, plus the “Comfort”, “Infotainment” and “Design” equipment packages. The Boxster S Black Edition will be limited to 987 cars.

More pics and detail after the break.

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Motor Shows Porsche

LA 2010: Porsche Cayman R

Porsche Cayman R

As promised Porsche has revealed a new lightweight Cayman model at the Los Angeles Auto Show. As expected the car is badged as the Cayman R.

Porsche didn’t really offer up any surprises either, which means the Cayman is a bit lighter, has a bit more power and will cost a few more beans, as well. Peak power from the mid-mounted 3.4 litre flat six is 243kW (330bhp). Weight has been reduced by 55kg to a new unladen total of 1295kg. The ride height, too, has been lowered by 20mm.

Buyers can pick from a 6-speed manual, or a 7-speed PDK. Porsche reckon you can reach 100km/h in 5.0 seconds with the manual, or 4.9 seconds with the PDK. The optional Sport Chrono Plus package reduces the 100km/h sprint time further to 4.7 seconds. Top speed is around 280km/h.

Now, onto the use of the R badge. Keen Porsche scholars will remember the 1967 911 R. Just 19 were made with 210bhp powering a super lightweight 830kg body. The R stood for Racing (or Rennen in German). Since then the R badge has been used very rarely by Porsche and when it has been used it’s mainly been for true race cars, such as the GT3 R. Purists might not be happy that a Cayman with a mere 10bhp more than a Cayman S and a respectable, but not spectacular, 55kg weight difference has been granted such special status. Quasi-celebrity motoring journalist Chris Harris is not pleased.

You’ve got video, pics and Porsche’s press release available after the break to help you decide if Porsche has used the R appropriately.

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Porsche

Quick review of the quick Porsche Boxster Spyder

Porsche Boxster Spyder Here’s another video review of the Porsche Boxster Spyder. It’s a 90-second effort with thanks to Autocar. It’s no surprise that the result is quite promising. It’s also no surprise the manual roof cops some criticism. Check out the clip below.

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Fifth Gear Porsche

VBH reviews Porsche Boxster Spyder

Porsche Boxster Spyder

Vicki-Butler Henderson has got her hands on the Porsche Boxster Spyder for the benefit of her Fifth Gear Web TV audience. Even better she took it to the track and gave a jolly good spanking. She reckons the car has a fantastic chassis, but is it worth the extra cash over the regular Boxster S?

Check out the video after the jump to find out.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

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Porsche

Porsche Boxster Spyder image gallery

Porsche Boxster Spyder

The Porsche Boxster Spyder is a car well worth waiting for. Start with a razor sharp Boxster S, give the 3.4 litre flat six a bit of a nudge to 235kW, knock 80kg off its weight, bringing it down to 1275kg, and you can see why the Spyder is worth the wait. The good news is, it won’t be too long before the car is in customer’s hands.

Helping build the anticipation is a new suite of images and press material from Porsche UK. It’s reasonably detailed, too, listing a number of the weight saving measures taken by Porsche engineers. For example, the fuel tanks has been reduced to 54 litres, down from 64 litres, which saves 7kg. Take a few more steps like this, and you soon have you 80kg.

The goodies can be found after the jump.

UPDATE 27 March: Over 40 new images added!

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Porsche

VIDEO: Porsche Boxster Spyder

More Porsche Boxster Spyder goodies for you now. It’s like the earlier article, but with less words and more moving pictures. Official clip from Porsche above, with some extra clips below for good measure. Sounds half decent, too.

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Porsche

Sneak peek: 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder

This is the Porsche Boxster Spyder, and it will be the lightest Porsche on the market in February 2010 when it arrives in showrooms around the world. It weighs in at 1275kg, fitted with PDK, which makes it 90kg lighter than a PDK equipped Boxster.

Adding more sweetness to the package is news that the Spyder will produce 320bhp from its 3.4 litre flat six. More astute Porsche connoisseurs will have already clocked that is 10bhp more than a Boxster S.

With the roof up, the fabric only cover is unlikely to do more than offer basic protection. Porsche have said the Spyder “has been developed first and foremost for driving in the open air”. Which also probably explains why they didn’t bother too much with how the roof looks.

If you are chasing that wind in your hair feeling, though, you can do this in very brisk fashion by sprinting to 100km/h in a mere 4.8 seconds. With retuned suspension you can bet that Stuttgart’s finest have made the most of lighter weight to ensure this car steers and handles with absolute precision.

The rear bulges over the engine cover are not the most convincing aesthetic solution ever seen on a motor car, but this is a small price to pay for what is sure to be a cracking drive. Speaking of prices,European customers will be paying a bit under €63,500(AU$105,000) to drive a Spyder away from their favourite Porsche dealer. The public will get their first look at the Boxster Spyder at the LA Motor Show in December.

More after the break.

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