Category: Porsche

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Green Machines Porsche

Porsche 918 Spyder provisional specifications

Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini livery

In addition to the gorgeous pictures of the Martini Racing inspired Porsche 918 Spyder prototype Stuttgart has released provisional specs for the car.

You’re a Porsche fan, right; so all you really need to know is the 918 has a 4.6 litre V8 and an electric motor on each axle. The end result is 770hp and a sub 3.0 second 100km/h sprint with a top speed in excess of 325km/h.

A reminder, too, that only 918 of these cars will be made. Orders commenced in March 2011 and deliveries are due to start late next year.

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Green Machines Porsche

Porsche 918 Spyder in classic Martini livery

Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini livery

A little over a week since we saw a Porsche 918 Spyder in monochrome Martini livery, Porsche has gone the full monty by revealing four pics of the 918 in classic Martini Racing team colours.

We’re going to forget the specs of this car for a moment. And we’re not even going to mention the sub-7 minute 22 second Nürburgring lap time Porsche has in mind.

We’re just going to leave you alone with this spectacular looking piece of automotive design.

UPDATE: Four new pics have been added below.

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Porsche Video

11 seconds in 18 minutes

Porsche 911 GT2 RS v Ducati 1199 Panigale

For his latest Drive video Chris Harris got behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT2 RS and took on a Ducati 1199 Panigale. The location for this duel? A quarter mile of sticky tarmac at the Santa Pod Raceway. In his piece for PistonHeads Harris paints the picture:

Personally, I think drag races are slightly less interesting than boiled rice. So I needed to do something that would stop me falling asleep. Ducati has recently launched this remarkable new bike called an 1199 Panigale, and I quite fancied watching a bloke who could ride it properly: step forward Ben Cope from www.VisorDown.com.

Despite the actual action taking 11 seconds, more or less, the vid goes for 18 minutes plus. We didn’t lose interest at any stage, though, and we don’t think you will either.

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Porsche

What the hell is a Porsche Pajun?

Porsche Pajun

You’re looking at a rendering for the rumoured Porsche Pajun. The what? It’s a baby Panamera which Porsche hopes will give the BMW M5 and its saloon rivals some sleepless nights.

The Pajun is expected to join the Porsche model range in coming years, along with the 960 “Fefi” Ferrari fighter, as the company looks to extend its line up to nine models.

The expansion plans are part of Porsche’s Strategy 2018 in which the company aims to reach 200,000 annual sales. For comparison sake, Porsche sold 117,000 vehicles in 2011.

You’d think the best way for help achieve their goal is with the on-again-off-again entry level 550-inspired roadster. However, that has once again been placed on the back burner by Porsche CEO, Matthias Mueller. “It may take another generation of customers before a small roadster fits in with Porsche,” he said.

[Source: Automotive News | Pics: Auto Bild]

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Green Machines Porsche

Porsche 918 rocking cool mono Martini livery

Porsche 918 prototype spied

Porsche wins the cool award for the year so far, thanks to this 918 prototype with monochromatic Martini livery. It just looks the business!

It certainly looks much better than the Frankenstein look we saw in March, and it’s even better than more finished preview Porsche gave us back in May. And given the sales debut of the 918 über-hybrid is still some 12 months away we’re hoping to see more more of these stylish themes from Porsche along the way.

In case you need reminding of the potential awesomeness inside the 918 Spyder, they have taken the 3.4 litre V8 from the RS Spyder (currently on tour in Australia) and coupled it with Porsche’s own electric flywheel technology from the GT3 R Hybrid.

All wrapped up in a stunning sportscar silhouette the end result is a handy 770hp and a new dream machine for kids to hang on their bedroom walls.

Follow the link below for more photos.

[Source: Autoblog | Pics: CarPix]

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Porsche

VIDEO: Gentleman Jim drives up the hill

Jim Richards drives Porsche 962 at Goodwood FoS

Racing legend Jim Richards was on hand at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed at the behest of Porsche. His chore to complete while over there was to drive the 1987 Le Mans winning Porsche 962 up the hill climb course. Tough gig, huh.

It’s a nice touch to see Jason Richards remembered on the side of the car too.

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

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News Porsche Volkswagen

Volkswagen ready to takeover Porsche

Volkswagen-Porsche merger complete

The protracted negotiations for the addition of Porsche to the Volkswagen Group stable have been completed and will take effect on 1 August, the two companies have announced. Plans for this move started in 2009 and Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen AG (pictured right), says the deal is, “good for Volkswagen, good for Porsche and good for Germany as an industrial location.”

New German tax laws have enabled the deal to be brought forward, after complications saw the original deadline for completion of the merger missed at the end of last year. Volkswagen will hand over one ordinary share to Porsche and assume total ownership of the holding company controlling the sportscar maker. In exchange Porsche will receive €4.46b.

At the press conference announcing the finalisation of the takeover Volkswagen’s CFO, Hans Dieter Pötsch, explained the benefits of the approach taken. “The course we are following makes strategic sense and will bring sustained benefits for all stakeholders, it creates transparency as to future developments, and lays the foundations for swiftly intensifying cooperation between Volkswagen and Porsche AG. For Volkswagen, our sound financial and liquidity position and maintaining our strong rating are also important”, he said.

With plans for massive investment Dr Winterkorn told reporters to expect big things. “We’re wrapping up one of the most significant projects in the automotive world,” Winterkorn said. “Together we are more capable than ever of becoming the best auto company on the planet.”

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Porsche

VIDEO: Porsche at 2012 Goodwood FoS

Porsche 911 at 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed is currently underway in England. Porsche is just one of the many manufacturers exhibiting some of their product. Of course that means sending a few cars up the famous Goodwood hill climb. After the break you can see three videos, including the 991 911 and 1987 Le Mans winning 962 going up the hill.

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Motorsports Porsche

Webber to lead Porsche at Le Mans in 2014?

2012 Australian Grand Prix

Mark Webber’s driving future for 2013 has been well discussed, but this is the first rumour we’ve heard speculating on what the likeable Aussie will be doing in 2014. And speaking without any objectivity at all, we like this one. A lot.

In today’s Herald-Sun veteran journalist Paul Gover said: “If the talk is right—and it sounds solid—Webber will call time on F1 at the end of the 2013 season and slide across to head the Porsche sports car team as it returns to Le Mans.”

Okay, as a fan of motorsport and Mark Webber’s exploits, this rumour excites us. Seeing Mark leading the charge for Porsche at Le Mans: what’s not to like!

So could it happen? The first box to be ticked off is the one saying Porsche will be back at Le Mans in 2014 and chasing for outright victory. They’ll need driving talent and we think Mark would make a good fit.

Firstly, we’ve already seen Mark working with Porsche, albeit in a very informal manner discussing his 911 GT2 RS. But Porsche has already seen fit to use Webber in a marketing role, of sorts.

Certainly, fresh out of F1, Webber would have the profile to lead Porsche. And it would be an ideal post-F1 challenge. You don’t forge a long career in F1 without having huge ambition and a fair bit of talent. Headlining Porsche in the chase for a record 17th Le Mans victory would be suitable challenge, we think.

Perhaps, more importantly for Porsche, is Webber’s ability to offer feedback to engineers during car development and on race weekends. His set up skills are widely acknowledged as some of the best in F1 and you’d expect they could be translated to a Le Mans assault.

And, of course, it would bring Mark’s career full circle, if you’ll pardon the pun. Not long after Porsche won its 16th Le Mans title Webber was busy flipping a Mercedes CLR on the Mulsanne Straight. Mark’s incidents happened in qualifying and in the pre-race warm up. His car was withdrawn and he didn’t actually start the race. In other words, you could say Mark and Le Mans have unfinished business.

So, speaking as a fan once again: Porsche make it so!

[Source: Paul Gover | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images | Thanks to John for the tip]

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Porsche

991 Porsche 911 Targa spied

Porsche 991 911 Targa prototype

Porsche is well on the way to filling another 911 niche with its 991 platform, as this spy shot of a 2013 model Targa shows. Don’t let the Cabriolet style roof fool you, the sight of an old skool rollover hoop just behind the doors tells you this is a Targa.

Expect the Targa roof to feature an automatic open/close function and the same suite of Carrera engines we’ve already seen. The new 911 Targa should debut early next year.

[Source: WCF]

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Motorsports Porsche Video

VIDEO: Worm’s eye view of the Nürburgring

Porsche Carrera Cup battle

Here, from a worm’s eye view, is an awesome battle for position during a Porsche Carrera Cup event held over the Nürburgring 24 hour race weekend. The video takes us on a white knuckle ride for a full lap of the Nordschleife. We know you’re gonna like this one, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

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Porsche

Limited Porsche 911 Club Coupe revealed

Porsche 911 Club Coupe

Last week marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the first Porsche car club. It had just seven members. Shortly after a second club was formed, with six members. Now, there are 640 official Porsche clubs around the globe, comprising of 181,000 members,

To honour the occasion Porsche is making a highly exclusive special edition called the 911 Club Coupe. Just 13 will be made and only 12 will be offered for sale. The thirteenth example will be kept by Porsche.

If you want to buy one of these Club Coupes you’ll need to be a Porsche club member, obviously, and then register your interest and hope your name is drawn out of a hat.

There’s more to this Club Coupe than a lick of Brewster Green paint. Starting with a 991 Carrera S, Porsche has upped the power by 22kW to a new peak of 316kW. That power gain has been achieved through the use of an official Powerkit, featuring an uprated cylinder head and camshafts. These have been complemented by a new intake and sports exhaust system.

Cosmetic enhancements include a specially designed “duck tail” rear spolier, 20” Sport Techno alloy wheels and espresso leather with  luxor beige contrast stitching. A neat touch is the interior trim over the glove box which will be personalised with the owner’s name.

You’ll have to really want one, though. At launch the European pricing for a regular Carrera S was €102,436, including taxes. The Club Coupe is €142,831, excluding taxes. God forbid what those prices would be in Australian dollars!

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