Tag: Porsche

Categories
Motorsports Porsche

Peak season

Pikes Peak Hill Climb - Jeff Zwart

You may be aware the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was held last weekend. The outright winner was Nobuhiro Tajima in his Unlimited category Suzuki SX4. His time was 10:11.490; still noone has cracked the 10 minute barrier for the 20km course, which starts at 9,390 feet and ends at 14,110 feet.

Records were broken during last weekend’s action, though, and one of them was the qualifying time in the 2WD Time Attack class. It was set by Jeff Zwart in a Porsche 997 911 GT3 Cup car. Not happy with that, Zwart went on to knock a massive 38 seconds off the full race record for the class, as well.

The video of Zwart’s quali run is available after the break. It’s pure and has just the single camera angle from inside the cockpit. And while it might be missing the frantic beauty of the legendary Climb Dance, or even the cinematic heights of last year’s Peak Performance, it’s still a damn entertaining piece of footage. Turn your volume up to 11 and revel in the glorious noises from that Porsche drivetrain.

UPDATE: More info on Zwart’s record-breaking weekend can be read HERE.

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

Continue reading “Peak season”
Categories
Porsche

Porsche go green on lightweight Cayman

Porsche Cayman CS

According to a post on the German Car Forum Porsche have given a green light to the production of a lightweight clubsport version of the mid-engined Cayman coupé. The new model is said to be due for a pubic debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November and will be badged as the Cayman CS. Sales should commence in 2011.

If you’re expecting this to be a Boxster Spyder wearing a tin hat you’re probably around the mark. At least, the Cayman CS follows a similar path of a modest power increase in a lighter shell, with a focus on sharper handling.

The Cayman CS could be up to 80kg lighter than a regular model, while packing an extra 13hp from its 3.4 litre flat six. Other items thrown in or tweaked include 20mm lower suspension, aluminium doors with fabric door pulls, locking rear differential, larger fixed ducktail rear spoiler and an optional Track Pack, featuring a GT3-like roll cage.

A copy of the text from the forum post can be read after the break.

[Source: German Car Forum]

Continue reading “Porsche go green on lightweight Cayman”
Categories
MINI Porsche

Porsche > MINI

MINI v Porsche

For those of you who have been following the MINI v Porsche challenge you’ll be pleased to know the results are in. The course was announced a couple of days ago and MINI USA provided a makeshift motorkhana style track for its Cooper S to take on the Porsche 911. Despite this attempt to tailor a course to in favour of the MINI’s excellent handling characteristics the result was predictable, as the grab above from the video shows.

You can watch the full race after the jump, including a pre-race interview with each of the drivers—Brad Davis (MINI) and Corey Friedman (Porsche). At this stage there’s been no official response from the man who started it all, MINI USA President, Jim McDowell. He has one last chance to save face, let’s see what he comes up with.

Over the years MINI’s marketing across the world has been first class; mostly cheeky, witty and engaging. This stunt, though, well, let’s hope it is only MINI USA that has jumped the shark.

[via Autoblog]

Continue reading “Porsche > MINI”
Categories
Porsche

Back to the future

Porsche Consulting sketch

This interesting looking sketch has been spotted on the Porsche Consulting website. It’s probably nothing, or it could be the a return of a new two-door front engine 928-inspired model. Rumours have suggested a two-door variation of the Panamera are in the pipeline for Porsche. Whether this sketch is a sneak preview of that model or just a nice looking graphic to stick on the front page of a website is anyone’s guess.

[Source: Autoblog via The German Car Blog]

Categories
MINI Porsche

MINI USA cheek begins to lose charm

MINI v Porsche

Round 3 of the MINI v Porsche challenge, driven by MINI USA President, Jim McDowell has been launched. What started as a fun piece of usual MINI cheekiness is fast becoming a MINI USA President looking desperate and trying just a bit too hard. After being knocked back by Porsche, the video below is, apparently, the best Jim could come back with.

Continue reading “MINI USA cheek begins to lose charm”
Categories
MINI Porsche

Porsche declines MINI novelty race

MINI v Porsche

Porsche have declined the invitation to a race from MINI USA President Jim McDowell with a wonderfully succinct reply.

The response took the form of an open letter written by Detlev Von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. In his letter, available in full below, he states, “Porsche doesn’t race for fame, stunts or publicity. We race to challenge ourselves; we race to push sports car technology; we race to translate every win on the track to our cars on the road.”

Von Platen didn’t miss a second opportunity to remind McDowell that Porsche’s racing history is proud and grows with many major events each year, “While your challenge seems like a fun and lighthearted campaign, we’ll stick to racing the way we have over the decades. We welcome you at Sebring, Le Mans, Daytona or any other sanctioned race where there is more at stake than T-shirts and valet parking spaces.”

An invitation of his own was issued by Von Platen when he included a link to a Porsche advertisement that highlights its racing pedigree. The ad has been featured on AUSmotive before and can be seen again after the jump.

So, for now, at least, the MINI v Porsche party is over. Although, given MINI’s cheeky marketing prowess they’ll likely have a new tack ready to tack in this battle of wits which aims, if nothing else, to put the MINI name alongside Porsche in a new way to create brand association.

[Source: Autoblog]

UPDATE: MotoringFile brings us news that MINI USA are getting ready to flog a dead horse.

Continue reading “Porsche declines MINI novelty race”
Categories
MINI Porsche

MINI v Porsche

MINI v Porsche

This is Jim McDowell, President of MINI USA and former Porsche employee. In the video after the jump Jim presents a challenge to Porsche by daring them to race a MINI. Part PR stunt, part madness but typical of the brash MINI marketing methods employed around the world since the car was launched in 2001.

MINI have proposed a date for the showdown of 21 June, so we don’t have long to wait and see what happens next. The cars to take part would be a MINI Cooper S and a Porsche 911. The track? Road Atlanta, a purpose-built 4km long track conveniently located near Porsche USA headquarters.

For their part Porsche seem interested with Steve Janisse, Porsche’s Media Relations Manager, saying, “Porsche has the most racing victories of any manufacturer out there – 28,000 and counting – maybe we should go for 28,001.”

More info available from facebook.com/MINIUSA.

[Source: Jalopnik via Kilometer Magazine]

Continue reading “MINI v Porsche”
Categories
Motorsports Porsche

The ultimate “run what you brung” weapon?

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Driving your own car to a track day and home again after a couple of hours track time is one thing. But imagine driving from Stuttgart to Nürburg where upon arrival you spend 24 hours thrashing the car around the Green Hell in a race with around 200 other cars. At the end of that you pack up your things and head back to Stuttgart as if this was all in a day’s work.

That scenario is pretty much what happened with the #11 Porsche 911 GT3 RS at the Nürburgring 24 hour race this year. Driven by Roland Asch, Patrick Simon, Horst von Saurma and Chris Harris the GT3 RS started the race from 42nd position and finished in 13th place outright. The team completed 145 laps, nine behind the eventual race winner.

Asch says the car ran like a dream, “As planned, we replaced the front brakes during the race. But other than that, the mechanics concentrated on refuelling, tyre changes and cleaning the windows during the pit stops. The car ran like clockwork.”

More from Porsche after the break. Extra pictures from the race can be seen HERE.

Continue reading “The ultimate “run what you brung” weapon?”
Categories
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.

Continue reading “Quick review of the quick Porsche Boxster Spyder”
Categories
Porsche

Porsche GT2 RS coming to Australia

Porsche GT2 RS

The most powerful street-legal Porsche ever—the 911 GT2 RS—is coming to our shores, albeit in small numbers. A Porsche Germany spokesman has confirmed with AUSmotive that they “expect to sell about 5 to 10 GT2 RS in Australia”.

Porsche have scheduled a September–October release for the GT2 RS. They tend to launch their cars simultaneously in all markets. So, factor in around 6 weeks for shipping times and we should be seeing the most potent “widowmaker” down under just in time for Christmas.

If you’ve been a bad boy this year and Santa doesn’t give you a 620bhp 911 then you’ll probably need to find around $500K to buy one for yourself. And you would, if you could. Wouldn’t you?!

Categories
Porsche

Porsche 911 GT2 RS press release leaked

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Posted on the teamspeed forum today is some official looking text that appears to be a press release for the 911 GT2 RS. The info states the GT2 RS is the most powerful street Porsche ever and looks to be sourced via Porsche US. According to the text the key points are:

  • 620bhp from twin-turbo 3.6 litre
  • Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes 18 seconds
  • Kerb weight of 1370kg (90kg less than 997.1 GT2)
  • Power-to-weight ratio of 2.21kg per horsepower
  • Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes
  • 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds, top speed of 205mph (330km/h)
  • Carbon-fibre-reinforced (CFR) components with a matt-black surface
  • Limited to 500 units worldwide, US pricing (MSRP) $245,000
  • Official debut at Moscow Auto Show, 25 August 2010

We shall have to wait and see if this leak forces Porsches hand to release info sooner than they hoped. Although, it was expected official confirmation of the GT2 RS would come this week anyway. Let’s see how legit this info is. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is bang on the money.

Continue reading “Porsche 911 GT2 RS press release leaked”
Categories
Porsche

Porsche 911 GT2 RS coming soon

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

More news emerged last week on the next Porsche 911 GT2 model. It now appears the next GT2 will also be bestowed with the RS badge. However, it is understood there will be no “lesser” model bearing just the GT2 nameplate. It’s GT2 RS or bust, it would seem.

With an expected power rating of 600bhp 620bhp from its 3.8 litre twin-turbo engine the GT2 RS should hit 100km/h in the low-mid 3 seconds range. Torque should be out of this world, offering blistering in-gear acceleration, as well.

The GT2 RS shares many components with the GT3 RS. So there’s a wider track up front and centre-lock alloys will also be used on the GT2 RS. Of course, it’s a GT2, so that means rear-wheel drive only. Best keep that right foot in check.

Official details on the GT2 RS are expected from Porsche soon. Perhaps as soon as the car laps the Nürburgring Nordschleife in its target lap time of 7 minute 22 second. Finally, then, Porsche will have a Nissan GT-R beater.

More pics over at the Car magazine website, and there’s also a brief video available below.

[Source: Car]

UPDATE: Over at the teamspeed.com it has been revealed the GT2 RS was previewed at an exclusive function in Leipzig last week. According to the info posted the GT2 RS will be 90kg lighter than the current 997.1 GT2. The new RS version will be limited to 300 cars and official details could be revealed by Porsche later this week. An extra image of the GT2 RS from the preview event can be seen below.

Continue reading “Porsche 911 GT2 RS coming soon”