First there was MINI, then Mazda. Now, Porsche is the latest manufacturer to get in on the current Speedster fad, as the above image shows. It is believed the Boxster Speedster will be released in 2010, and you can guess how the “power domes” might look underneath that black camouflage. Follow the link below for more details and pics.
[Source: car]
Here’s a brief promo clip of the Porsche 911 Sport Classic. Sounds nice, too, in a Porschey kind of way.
It’s not very often that the hero photo shows the rear of a car, but for this model, the Porsche 911 Sport Classic, it is the view that best informs what this car is about. The Porsche PR department was a bit light on with pics of beancounters smoking a post-coital cigarette, even though that would have been appropriate for this story.
That’s because, essentially, the 911 Sport Classic is a grab for cash. There will only be 250 of these cars made, ever, so demand will be high. That said, the Sport Classic is based on the Carrera S, which costs around £70K in the UK. However, once the lads at Porsche Exclusive have had their fun making this car Porsche is asking almost double the Carrera S asking price for the 911 Sport Classic. Yep, that’s right, £140,000. That makes it the most expensive 911 on sale, even more than a GT2.
So, what does the P-car enthusiast get for all that extra cash. Well, as the pic above shows you get old skool touches in the form of a ‘ducktail’ rear spoiler and ‘Fuchs’ style 19″ alloy wheels. There’s also the Carrera GT inspired domed roof and a revised front spolier, too. I have to say, these touches look absolutely brilliant!
But it’s not all cosmetic add-ons, the engineers have their fun too. The bodywork is taken from the all wheel drive 911s, so you get a wider rear track. A bit of extra thought on the intake manifold increases power from the 3.8 litre flat six to 408bhp (up from 385bhp). That’s 300kW for those of us who speak 21st century. The suspension has been fiddled with, resulting in a 20mm drop. You also get an LSD and your choice of transmissions. Well, that’s assuming you would choose a six speed manual. The zero to one hundred dash takes just 4.6 seconds.
There’s a few other tasty morsels thrown in too, all of which are covered in the Porsche UK press release. (It was much longer and detailed than the one sent out by the fatherland, so the UK notes are the ones you’re getting.) Right at the end of the press release is a tidbit about Porsche Classic. If you do happen to be a P-car nut, then you probably already knew about this off shoot to the Porsche website. If not, make sure you check it out and knock your cotton socks off when you see you can download parts catalogs for pretty much every Porsche from the early 356 models up to the 993 911 series.
Plenty of pics after the break, too. Oh, do take the time to have a look at the 911 Sport Classic microsite as well. It’s pretty cool.
According to tinternet reports Volkswagen could scrap the Porsche Cayenne model line at the end of its model cycle. More noteworthy, however, is the suggestion that the recently launched four-door Panamera could also meet the same fate. That would mean around seven more years of big Porsche luxo-barges roaming the streets.
Apparently Volkswagen reckon there are plenty of other companies catering to these market segments and Porsche should just leave well enough alone. Quite what the demise of the platform sharing Cayenne might mean for Volkswagen’s own Touareg model is unclear.
It is understood that VW chairman Ferdinand Piech was always against taking Porsche into unchartered waters and now that Volkswagen has more of a say and, bitter boardroom rival Wendelin Wiedeking is no longer in the frame, Piech is keen to take Porsche back into sportscar only mode.
Also of note are suggestions that Porsche will create a successor to the mighty Carrera GT and, once again, share a sportscar line with Volkswagen.
[Source: AutoObserver]
Throw another Frankfurt debut on the barbie, this time, its from the racing masters at Porsche with their new 911 GT3 Cup.
Powered by a 3.8 litre flat six producing 331kW (450bhp) the 1200kg not-so-Porker is sure chew through racetracks with ease the world over. Based on the GT3 RS the Cup version is purpose built for the track, as the stripped out interior pics show.
Bodywork, suspension and most everything else has been given the once over to help withstand the rigours of motor sport.
Safe to say the 911 GT3 Cup should be a blast for those fortunate enough to snap one of these up for their own amusement.
German Financial market regulator Bafin is investigating the recently departed Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking, for insider trading. As part of the investigation offices at the company’s Stuttgart headquarters have been raided as regulators look for evidence.
Porsche has confirmed the investiagtion releasing a statement that reads, in part, “On Thursday morning, officers from Stuttgart prosecutors entered the company’s offices with search warrants.”
Accused of market manipulation, the statement continued, “Porsche denies the accusations. The company will cooperate with the prosecutors and is fully supporting the investigating officers in order to contribute to a swift clearing-up of the matter.”
Under the guidance of Wiedeking and former chief financial officer, Holger Härter, Porsche gobbled up as much of Volkswagen AG as it could in a bid to takeover the German car giant. As we now know that bid ended in tears and both Wiedeking and Härter were sent on their way.
The Porsche-Volkswagen saga supplied plenty of news fodder at its zenith and, now, having thought it was all over, the intrigue and subterfuge continues.
[Source: Sydney Morning Herald & The Wall Street Journal | Thanks to Mick for the tip]
Yesterday it was words and pictures of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Today, it’s moving pictures and audio.
Sounds pretty good, too!
In January, before the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche gave us the new 911 GT3. Now, before the Frankfurt Motor Show, they are giving us the GT3 RS.
Stripped out, lightened and given more power, the GT3 RS is the weapon of choice for those serious about their track days. It’s just the way it is meant to be.
It probably has something to do with the 118bhp per litre produced from the flat six engine. For those not so quick with their sums, that means the 3.8 litre offers 450bhp (335kW) to play with. They’re certainly not the biggest numbers in town when it comes to über track cars, but in a GT3 RS, that’s enough to keep you busy.
Porsche don’t muck around with much fancy stuff when it comes to the RS, so there’s no double clutch PDK witchcraft here. Just a fool proof six speed self shifter. Similarly, no compromises were made with the wheels either, the rears are a foot wide and covered in 325/30 ZR19 tyres.
Mind, the dynamic engine mounts are both fancy-pants and elite. So, too, the revised PASM suspension set up, which has also seen the car’s track widened at the front and rear.
It looks like the only place that someone did clown around is with the bright red paint jar. But, kids, when you have a car with this much cred you can do whatever you like with your paint brush! Even if it does end up looking a bit like a French hatchback.
More after the jump.
The Porsche-Volkswagen tug of war has taken the first of its inevitable steps with an agreement that will see Volkswagen purchase a 42 per cent stake in Porsche by the end of the year. This bit of business will cost VW €3.3 billion.
It is the first step in a move that will see Volkswagen and Porsche form an “Integrated Automotive Group”. To you and me that means Volkswagen will own Porsche, but the sports car maker will maintain its independence. The merger is expected to be complete by 2011 with details outlining the deal to be announced in a few weeks.
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen AG, stated: “Volkswagen and Porsche today took a decisive step towards a joint future. As a group with now ten strong, independent brands we will further expand our unique global position. More than ever before, we now have what it takes to become the automotive industry’s number one.
“Additional new growth opportunities will emerge for Porsche under the umbrella of the integrated group.
“I am convinced that the outcome of this integration will be the best vehicles for our customers, secure jobs and the creation of long-term value for our shareholders.”
Further coverage is available at FT.com and an extensive press statement from Volkswagen AG is available after the jump.
[Thanks to James for the tip]
Following the release of images and information about the new Porsche 911 Turbo come these promotional videos. If you’re a technical boffin you will love these. The first clip, for example, has plenty of animated views of the PDK double clutch transmission internals.
If you’re looking for footage of a 911 hanging its tail around a few corners, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Remember, “What use is awesome power if it’s just smoke and noise?”
Follow the jump now to watch the videos.
In another sad addition to the “Oh the humanity” files, here are a few pictures of a Porsche Carrera GT, one of the best sounding cars ever, meeting its ultimate end.
Perhaps the only saving grace from these shots is that the last moments of this Carrera GT were spent being driven in anger at a track day on the Shanghai Grand Prix circuit.
Here are some new pics of the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo. The new car does look pretty much the same, as usual, but minor tweaks in regards to the headlights, alloys and other details, that only trainspotters can identify, have changed. There are those fog lights, too. The less said about them the better.
On to the more regular stuff, then. This 911 Turbo is fitted with an all new 3.8 litre flat six. Max power is a rather respectable 368kW (500bhp) and is gained, in part, due to twin-turbos, direct fuel injection and variable turbine geometry (that sounds pretty cool). Mr Captain of Industry can order the Turbo with Porsche’s seven-speed doppleganger dual clutch transmission, or PDK for short.
All that Porsche mechanical and electronic goodness helps propel the car from rest to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds. Yeah, just like that. Pretty quick, huh.
But don’t start thinking this new Porsche is all bad for the Maldives, or any other exotic location that will be in big trouble when sea levels rise by a few millimetres. No, this new 997.2 911 Turbo reduces its CO2 emissions by almost 20% and fuel consumption is around 11.5l/100km. For an epic sports car, then, it is somewhat green. At least, that’s what I’d be telling myself if I had the cashola to buy one.
Porsche UK press release, including pricing, is available below. More information and detail on the new 911 will be announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show.