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Motorsports Porsche Video

This is one cool Porsche buster!

Porsche 'Buster' race transporter

A rare Porsche made in 1968, what’s not to love! Hang on a sec, hasn’t that bus got a Mercedes-Benz badge on the grille? That’s right, this old skool race transporter was built by Mercedes and used by the Porsche factory team from its creation up until the 1980s.

‘Buster’ as it is now affectionately known is one of only two transporters of its kind and is currently owned by Brumos Porsche in the United States. It’s great to see the Brumos team understand and respect the little piece of history they have, as this video from egarage shows.

[via Motor Sport Retro]

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Porsche Video

Porsche 918 Spyder drifting on ice

Porsche 918 Spyder

The Porsche 918 Spyder, it’s natural playground is the 20.832km of ribbon-like tarmac at the Nürburgring. But what happens if you find yourself faced with snow and ice as far as the eye can see?

Don’t panic, just bung on snow tyres complete with 6mm spikes and let it rip!

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Porsche

Entry-level 911 set for 2.7 litre turbo

2012 Porsche 911 (991)

When Porsche gives the 991 911 its mid-cycle facelift it will replace the normally aspirated 257kW 3.4 litre engine in the entry-level Carrera model with a turbocharged 260kW 2.7 litre engine.

Similarly, the Carrera S will switch from a normally aspirated 3.8 litre to a turbocharged 3.0 litre engine. Power will increase from 294kW to 320kW.

This news comes from the mouth of none other than Walter Röhrl who revealed Porsche’s plans in a discussion with Wheels magazine. The legendary Röhrl spoke quite freely about the future plans of Porsche, giving insights into future Boxster/Cayman models and the forthcoming 911 GT3 RS.

“I’ve driven the new 911 and they will be 2.7, and 3.0 litres in S form,” said Röhrl. “At least it’s not a four-cylinder turbo like in the next Boxster. That sounds like a Volkswagen Beetle, I’m not kidding you! I tell the guys, ‘You’re joking with this sound, right?’ But they just say they are working on it. I’m sure they will get it right.

“We need to go to turbocharging to reduce emissions. How else can we get CO2 levels below 95g?

“But no matter how good a turbo engine is, it can never have the pure response of a naturally aspirated engine. This is the reason I bought a Boxster Spyder, because engines like this won’t be made anymore.”

Walter signed off by saying the GT3 RS, which will make its show debut in Geneva, will be normally aspirated and will also offer a manual transmission option.

[Source: Wheels]

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Porsche Video

Andreas Preuninger talks Porsche Cayman GT4

Porsche Cayman GT4

We already love the Porsche Cayman GT4, so hearing Porsche’s boss of GT cars Andreas Preuninger talk about his new toy was something we have been looking forward to. We thank Jethro Bovingdon and Evo magazine for bringing this video to the world.

Preuninger goes through technical details of the 1340kg 283kW/420Nm GT4 sharing with us the close connection this model has with Porsche’s other GT cars such as the iconic 911 GT3 and 911 GT2.

Put 20 minutes aside to watch this clip (you can just listen to it), you won’t regret it.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

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Porsche

Porsche Cayman GT4 revealed

Porsche Cayman GT4

Forget everything. This is all the sportscar you will ever need. It’s the new Porsche Cayman GT4.

It’s got a 283kW 3.8 litre flat six engine from a 911. It’s got a 6-speed manual gearbox and only a 6-speed manual gearbox; this is a PDK-free zone! It’s got perfect mid-engined balance and poise. It’s got that note perfect Porsche flat-six noise.

Okay, you need to look past the challenging look of the fixed rear wing. That does ruin the stylish curves of the Cayman body somewhat, but you know what, a few minutes in the driver’s seat and you won’t care about that meccano add on one bit!

If you care at all, the GT4 can lap the Ring in 7 minutes 40 seconds. But this car will be so much more than outright pace. Other cars will be faster. Few will match the pure driving enjoyment. It will do everything so well. You just know it will. I want one and I want one badly!

The Cayman GT4 goes on sale in Australia post-September and will be priced from $190,300.

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VIDEO: Three days of fun

Chris Harris on Cars, COTY 2014

Chris Harris and mates at Portimao with his favourite cars from 2014. There’s no agenda, no forced result to pick a winning car. It’s simply a recipe for fun. Enjoy!

[Thanks to Richard for the tip]

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Porsche WEC

That’s gotta hurt!

Scene of Mark Webber's crash at 2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo

These tyre marks were left by Mark Webber following his spectacular crash at the 2014 6 Hours of Sao Paulo. No wonder Mark had a “stinking headache”!

The image was posted to Instagram by Lucas di Grassi.

[Source: Lucas di Grassi]

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Porsche

Confirmed: Porsche 911 heading towards turbo future

Porsche 911 Turbo S

Porsche R&D boss Wolfgang Hatz has confirmed earlier rumours that the Porsche 911 range is heading towards a turbocharged future.

“You have to respect legal requirements [for lower CO2],” he told Top Gear at the Detroit Motor Show. “So yes we’re thinking turbos for standard 911s. You can’t afford to keep an engine for 10 years any more.”

Hatz went on to explain the reasoning for turbocharging along with the prediction we’ll be seeing a 911 hybrid before too long.

“Emissions are important for us,” added Hatz, “And we will reduce faster than the industry. Every new model will have lower CO2 than before. There aren’t so many technologies to do it. If you look at euro per g/km then it’s turbo.

“Then at the end of the decade electrification has to be the next huge step.”

While the introduction of turbocharging to the 911 range is big news, we can rest easy that the flat four turbo in the pipeline will be kept for the Boxster and Cayman only.

When asked if the flat four would find its way into the 911 Hatz replied sternly: “Never. That’s always a flat six.”

Similarly, for now, the flat six in the forthcoming GT3 RS will remain normally aspirated.

It’s good to see at least some things remain sacred.

[Source: Top Gear]

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Motorsports Porsche Video

The coolest rally driver on the planet

Francois Delecour, Tuthill Porsche

Sebastien Loeb may well be the best rally driver the world has ever seen, but we reckon Francois Delecour is the coolest rally driver to ever grace the gravel, tarmac and ice.

His manner seems to make you think he just doesn’t give a f#@k, but when he’s behind the wheel he gets the job done.

Below you can see the 52-year-old at the wheel of the Tuthill Porsche 911 RGT in preparation for this weekend’s Rallye Monte Carlo.

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

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Porsche WEC

Porsche debuts 2015-spec 919 Hybrid

2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid

Porsche has been busy working away on its 2015-spec 919 Hybrid since mid-December. But the car’s first serious testing got underway at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi on the weekend.

The turbocharged 2.0 litre V4 internal combustion engine still beats at the heart of the 919, sending its power to the rear wheels. While electric power boosts performance and grip by feeding the front wheels.

The first WEC race takes place on 12 April at Silverstone in England.

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Volkswagen Group cracks 10 million annual sales

Volkswagen's Autostadt, Wolfsburg, Germany

In 2014, for the first time, the Volkswagen Group has achieved 10 million sales in a calendar year.

Across the group of companies a 4.2% increase in sales for the year resulted in 10.14 million vehicles being sold. Just 10 years ago the Group was shifting around 5 million units per year.

Volkswagen passenger vehicles make up the bulk of the sales, with the brand passing six million annual sales for the first time last year.

Audi sales across the globe increased by more than 10% and numbered 1.74 million.

Porsche managed 189,000 sales, up by a very healthy 17%, thanks in part to the launch of the Macan SUV.

Skoda reached a new high sales mark, passing 1 million sales for the first time. An increase of almost 13% on the previous year’s sales.

All this means that the Group’s Strategy 2018 is well underway to being achieved.

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Motorsports Porsche Video

Harris goes nutty over Tuthill Porsche

Chris Harris drives the Tuthill Porsche RGT

To know the Tuthill Porsche is to love the Tuthill Porsche. Take one off the shelf 997 911 GT3 Cup car and adapt it to perform on the world rally stage in the RGT class and, well, what’s not to love?!

In the eyes of Chris Harris he couldn’t find anything to dislike. The best car he drove in 2014 he reckons. Watch the clip below to see why.

[Thanks to Tim for the tip]