Paul Tan's Automotive News » Porsche

New 981 Boxster and Panamera GTS launched at Porsche Motorsport Week – roadster priced from RM450k

Danny Tan — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:18:07 +0000

The new Porsche Boxster and Panamera GTS made their local debut yesterday afternoon at the Sepang International Circuit, where official distributor Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is having the Porsche Motorsport Week 2012.

The event, held to reward SDAP customers, combines two activities – Porsche Driving Experience (skid pad, moose test, brake test, slalom in various models) and Porsche Circuit Training. The latter gives participants a chance to push cars like the latest 911 and Cayman R on the full Sepang track. Porsche Motorsport Week started yesterday and will run till Saturday.

“Motorsport is the heart of Porsche and this is precisely why we introduce more and more driving activities on the track. We want our customers to experience the brand and the car, and to understand how to maximize the performance of the car as well as safe driving,” explained Arnt Bayer, CEO of SDAP.

On to the cars. Announced earlier this year, the 981 Boxster comes with an all-new lightweight body design and a revamped chassis, not to mention sleeker, more dynamic looks. The new cabin is a huge improvement as well. The red example at the launch really got me drooling!

The lady in red is a fit one. At 1,310 kg (1,320 kg for the Boxster S), the two-seater roadster is lighter than its predecessor and also three of its German rivals. This is despite better performance and a larger footprint – the 981 has a longer wheelbase, wider tracks and larger wheels.

The fully electric roof is new, too. It does its thing in nine seconds, and can be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

The base Boxster is powered by a 2.7-litre flat-six with 265 hp and 280 Nm of torque from 4,500 to 6,500 rpm. This engine is downsized by 187 cc, but packs in 10 hp more, and is also 15% less thirsty. 0-100 km/h is done in 5.5 seconds on to a 262 km/h top speed.

Meanwhile, the Boxster S is motivated by a 3.4-litre flat-six with 315 hp and 360 Nm of torque from 4,500 to 5,800 rpm. The S does the century sprint in 4.8 seconds, and has a 277 km/h top speed. Both boxers have direct injection, VarioCam Plus, auto start/stop, electrical system recuperation and enhanced thermal management.

All times are with the optional (and desirable) Sport Chrono Package, which brings dynamic transmission mounts, a Sport Plus button and an analogue stopwatch into the picture, among other things. In Malaysia, the Boxster comes only with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK gearbox.

Claimed fuel consumption is 7.7 litres per 100 km for the Boxster and 8.0 litres per 100 km for the Boxster S. Also new to this model is Porsche Torque Vectoring with a mechanical rear axle diff lock.

The Panamera GTS is the other car in the spotlight. GTS stands for Gran Turismo Sport and this is the purist member of the Panamera range, according to Porsche.

The naturally-aspirated 4.8 litre V8 engine from the standard car has been massaged to deliver 30 horses more at 430 hp. Max torque is also up by 20 Nm to 520 Nm. PDK and Sport Chrono are standard – both combine with the V8 to push this big car to 100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds. Top speed is 288 km/h. Redline has been increased by 400 rpm to 7,100 rpm.

Along with the stronger engine, the Panamera GTS gets upgraded brakes (from the Panamera Turbo), a 10 mm lowered body, air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management. PASM is an electronic active damping control system with three modes – Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

Looks wise, the GTS adopts many styling cues from the Turbo such as the bi-xenons with four LED DRLs, SportDesign front apron, 19-inch wheels, red brake calipers and rear spoiler. The latter rises upwards and outwards from 90 km/h. Lots of Alcantara and GTS logos in the cabin.

The Malaysian spec GTS comes with 20-inch RS Spyder wheels, eight-way powered seats, four-zone air con, electric rear blinds and Porsche Communication Management including a HDD-based navi system.

Prices start from RM450k for the Boxster and RM550k for the Boxster S. The Panamera GTS will set you back RM1,050,000. Prices do not include registration fee, road tax and insurance. Buy your Porsche from SDAP and you’ll get a four-year warranty and four-year complimentary service and maintainence package.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche will add a smaller sedan, code-named Pajun

Chris Ng — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:47:39 +0000

The Panamera will no longer be Porsche’s only four-door child. The baby Pana, codenamed Pajun, will be introduced by 2017 and will bring the total model lines to six.

Price tag for the Pajun will be between 65,000 euros and 100,000 euros. Porsche’s new sedan will compete with the Mercedes-Benz E class and CLS coupe cars, says Auto Bild. However, the German car magazine did not cite any sources.

Porsche may also add another model to the line up, bringing the total to seven from the current four – 911, Boxster/Cayman series, Cayenne and Panamera. The fifth, the Macan compact SUV, will go into production next year.

The Pajun code name stands for Panamera Junior, similiar to the Macan’s code name which was Cajun, or Cayenne junior.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Engineering buys Italian test track

Chris Ng — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:39:42 +0000

Click to enlarge. Picture from Google Earth.

It is a piece of land that covers more than 700 hectares, hosts a 6.2 km long handling circuit, a 12.5 km long oval circuit, and facilities for simulating different road surfaces and changeable weather conditions. And it can be seen from space.

Welcome to the Nardo Technical Centre automotive proving ground in Apulia, southern Italy. What was once belongs to Prototipo SpA has now been bought by Porsche Engineering Group for an undisclosed amount. Porsche will officially open shop May 2012.

Click to enlarge. Picture from Google Earth.

The procurement of the test track will complement Porsche’s facilities in Weissach, especially in the areas of high-speed and handling. Porsche is also open to clients who want to make use of the test track for vehicle trials. The facilities also include dynamic surfaces, acoustics, workshops and off-road sections. The mild climate of the proving ground also enables Porsche to test vehicles throughout the year in three shifts around the clock, seven days a week.

Recently, the track was used to film TopGear TV’s shootout between the Lamborghini Aventador, Noble M600 and McLaren MP4-12C.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Cayenne GTS set for Beijing debut – 420 hp V8

Danny Tan — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:59:11 +0000

Porsche is lining up a world debut for this Cayenne GTS at the upcoming Auto China show in Beijing. The pillars of this new variant, which slots in between the Cayenne S and Turbo, is a more powerful engine, more dynamic power development, a tauter chassis with lower ride height and emphatically sporty equipment.

The GTS is powered by an uprated version of the Cayenne S V8 engine. The 4.8L unit makes 420 hp here, 20 horses more than in the S. 0-100 km/h is done in just 5.7 seconds, two tenths faster than the S. Top speed is 261 km/h and NEDC fuel consumption stands at 10.7 litres per 100 km. An eight-speed Tiptronic S with auto start/stop does transmission duties.

Porsche says that the GTS’ specially tuned chassis is more tautly tuned, and is lowered by 24 mm over the S. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is standard.

Looks wise, the GTS borrows the face of the Cayenne Turbo, has frames and trim in high-gloss black, prominent side skirts and wider wheel arches as well as a distinctive roof spoiler with a twin-wing profile. The interior features leather with Alcantara elements. Front sports seats with eight adjustment options are also standard.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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RIP: Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, creator of the 911

Chris Ng — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:30:13 +0000

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is mourning the loss of the father of the 911, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the Honorary President of the Supervisory Board. He died on April 5, 2012, in Salzburg. He was 76 years old.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, or F.A. Porsche as called by his colleagues, was born on December 11, 1935 in Stuttgart and was the eldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche, and the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the Porsche car brand.

Automobiles dominated F.A. Porsche’s childhood as he spent plenty of time in Porsche’s construction areas and development workshops with his grandfather. In 1943, the family moved as well as the Porsche brand moved to Zell am See in Austria, where he attended school. He returned to Stuttgart in 1950 and furthered his education in the College of Design in Ulm.

In 1958, F.A. Porsche, started in the design office of the former Dr. Ing hc F. Porsche KG. His first model was the successor to the 356 series. In 1962, he became the head of the Porsche Design Studio and debuted the Porsche 901 (or 911) a year later. Elements of his design and vision still live on the seventh generation 911 today. F.A. Porsche also designed the Formula 1 racecar type 804 and the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS – still considered as one of the most beautiful racing cars ever.

He founded the ‘Porsche Design Studio’ when the Porsche car company was made into a limited company in 1971/72, which also saw the other family members retired from the car company’s business operations.

In 1974, the headquarters of Porsche Design was relocated to Zell am See in Austria. In the following decades, he designed a number of men’s watches eyewear and writing instruments. Under the brand “Design by FA Porsche”, he and his team penned a variety of industrial products, household appliances and consumer good for internationally known clients.

F.A. Porsche won countless honours and awards for his work as a car designer and his other designs. The “Comité International de Promotion et de Prestige” was honoured to him in 1968 for outstanding aesthetic design of the Porsche 911, while he was chosen as the Industrie Forum Design Hannover (iF) 1992 “award winners”. He earned the title of professor from the Austrian Federal President in 1999.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was a Porsche AG shareholder and board member. From 1990 to 1993, F.A. Porsche held the role of supervisory board chairman and thus had large share of the economic turnaround of Porsche AG. In 2005 he handed over his mandate to his son Ferdinand Oliver and took the position of honourary chairman of the supervisory board.

Matthias Müller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG, paid tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s services to the sports car manufacturer: “We mourn the death of our partner, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. As the creator of the Porsche 911, he established a design culture in our company that has shaped our sports cars to this very day. His philosophy of good design is a legacy to us that we will honour for all time.”

An official memorial service will be held in Stuttgart at a later date.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche looking to get into Nigeria in a big way

Anthony Lim — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:28:26 +0000

Ah, more tales of the how to flaunt one’s wealth, and this one is from Nigeria. Sure, there’s plenty of disparity in the African state, which happens to be the continent’s second biggest economy, but oil has made for luxury entering the scene, and in a big way.

So much so, the neatest way to show you’re rolling in the dough is by buying a spanking new European sports car, and Porsche is getting into the thick of things, hoping to catch a fair bit of the money being flung, Automotive News Europe reports.

The automaker opened a new dealership last week in Victoria Island, Lagos’ swankiest district and home to a high concentration of millionaires. The likes of Lamborghini and Aston Martin are already around, but the Germans are adopting a different tack, offering the promise of sturdier offerings capable of taking on the country’s less than perfect roads.

Of course, the faster way to go about it is working with places that offer better roads in the first place, and the capital, Abuja, offers just that. Newly built roads mean an easier means to market the likes of the 911, which was unveiled in the country at the launch. Porsche plans to set up an operation in the city, naturally.

It’s estimated that around 200 Nigerians own Porsches, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s considerable in a country that is best described as enigmatic. Absolute poverty has increased to 60% of the population, but the economy grew by 7.68% in Q4 last year, one of the fastest in the world, and two Nigerians occupy places in the top five list of the richest men in Africa. Oil, of course, has been responsible for making many a multi-millionaire.

The report says that Porsche is looking at selling 100 cars in Nigeria in 2012, and is hoping to get to a stable rate of shifting around 300 units a year as it goes along (in comparison, South Africa does 800 units a year). Average prices currently range between 21 million naira (US$133,000) to 30 million naira (US$190,000), the report adds.

Oh, and as an aside, all that new found affluence is also good news for champagne – apparently, Nigeria is the number one consumer of bubbly in the continent, with 539,000 bottles guzzled in 2010, 50% more than that of the richer South Africa. Let’s drink to that.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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New Porsche 911 prices released – RM800k and RM900k

Danny Tan — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:40:39 +0000

Last month, Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP, the most delicious sounding acronym in the business) unveiled the seventh-generation Porsche 911 at Sepang, but didn’t give any Semenanjung prices, only the duty-free price list that read RM430k for the Carrera and RM490k for the Carrera S.

Now, SDAP has released the price rich boys and girls outside of Langkawi have to pay to take one home – RM800k for the Carrera and RM900k for the Carrera S, inclusive of duties and taxes, but without registration fee, road tax and insurance. What’s included are a four-year factory warranty and four-year complimentary service and maintenance package.

This latest 991 Series made its debut in Frankfurt last year. The Carrera is powered by a 3.4 litre flat-six (downsized from the previous 3.6 litre unit) with 350 hp and 390 Nm. It can do 0–100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds before reaching a 287 km/h top speed.

The Carrera S retains a 3.8 litre engine, and its 400 hp/440 Nm output is 15 hp and 20 Nm more than before. This one does the century sprint in 4.1 seconds and tops out at 302 km/h. Both variants are equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.

Click here for our launch report and gallery of the new 911.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Seventh-gen Porsche 911, the 991, launched in Malaysia

Anthony Lim — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:53:48 +0000

Porsche’s seventh-generation 911 has arrived in town – the vehicle was officially introduced last night in Sepang by Sime Darby Auto Performance, not just to the press but a veritable host of Porsche customers.

The 991 Series, which was announced last August before making its debut in Frankfurt a month later, is available in Carrera and Carrera S forms. The Carrera wears a 3.4 litre flat-six lump, and though downsized from the previous 3.6 litre displacement offers five horses more than before in terms of output, with 350 hp at 7,400 rpm. Maximum torque remains unchanged at 390 Nm, though now at 5,600 rpm compared to 4,400 rpm previously.

The Carrera S, meanwhile, retains the 3.8 litre configuration for its mill, and of course power – as well as torque – are up, with the unit putting out 400 hp and 440 Nm, 15 hp and 20 Nm more than previously. Both variants are equipped with the seven-speed PDK transmission, with SDAP electing not to introduce the 991 with the new seven-speed manual box, though die-hard stick shifter fans can get such an example through request.

We’ve already written about the car, so no point expounding too much about it again. Some quick points for a recap – for trivia, the company highlights the point that though it may not be obvious to the eye, 90% of the 991 is new (the platform among them), and the car is 14 seconds faster on the Nurburgring than its predecessor and offers 16% less fuel consumption than before.

Additionally, the wheelbase is now longer, and combined with a wider track width at the front, offers the new car improved tracking and roll stability at high longitudinal and cornering speeds. Overhangs have also been trimmed.

As for pricing, SDAP is in the process of finalising the prices for the new car, which should be completed in the next month or so – at the launch last night, only the duty-free (i.e Langkawi) pricing was available, and that’s RM430,000 for the Carrera and RM490,000 for the Carrera S. The cars come with a four-year free service/maintenance and warranty programme.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche’s new SUV to be called Macan, tiger in Indonesian

Danny Tan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:57:32 +0000

Porsche’s upcoming SUV will be called Macan. Sounding a lot like Malaysia’s favourite pastime, the name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger. Porsche says that the tiger combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics – core characteristics of the new SUV.

“The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of an SUV and is a genuine Porsche. The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations,” said Bernhard Maier, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG.

The Macan SUV, which is smaller than the super successful Cayenne, is a key pillar of the company’s Strategy 2018, by which the sports car manufacturer wishes to expand its model portfolio. Macan will roll off Porsche’s Leipzig factory in 2013.

Gee, I’m hungry!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Owners learn the fun way at Porsche Circuit Training

Paul Tan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:38:55 +0000

Cars are getting better and better, and most of us just scrape the surface when it comes to extracting the dynamic talents of our rides. Driving too hard on public roads is dangerous, so the best way is to join driver training programmes, such as the recent Shell Helix D-Academy defensive driving course, BMW Driver Training and Ford’s Driving Skills For Life.

Earlier this week, Porsche owners got to know their cars more intimately at Sepang International Circuit. At the Porsche Circuit Training, over 30 participants trained their reflexes and pushed the limits of their sports machines. Models in action included the Cayman, Boxster and iconic 911.

The day started early when registration started at 8:15 am, and participants rolled in to a race like atmosphere. Safety first, so a briefing session on safety tips covered techniques for steering positions, tyre forces, oversteer and understeer. Drivers were divided into four groups according to training level, with four instructors for each group of eight.

SIC was divided into four quadrants. Each group was given 30 minutes to drive around and master each sector, while taking rotational turns for every driver to drive directly behind the instructor. This is the best way to learn the best lines. Then came the open track session using the full circuit. The Porsche Technical Support Team was on standby all throughout.

The event concluded with a speech from Sime Darby Auto Performance CEO Arnt Bayer, certificate presentation and a dinner. As you can see from these pics posted on Sime Darby Auto Performance’s FB page, everyone had a good time.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Boxster – new-generation roadster rolls in

Anthony Lim — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:47:13 +0000

Porsche has announced the introduction of its new Boxster, which arrives wearing an all-new body and a completely revised chassis. Available in both Boxster and Boxster S forms, the car features new flat-six engines with direct injection, and together with a considerably lower weight, longer wheelbase, widened track and larger wheels, promises a new level of driving dynamics.

Styling-wise, the Boxster now has shorter front and rear overhangs, a significantly forward-shifted windscreen, flatter silhouette and expressive edges. Inside, the passengers are enclosed by a new fully electric hood, which now dispenses with a compartment lid for the convertible top when stowed.

The interior of the new car reflects the new Porsche outline, with its distinctive centre console – originating in the Carrera GT – improving ergonomics. There’s also more space for the driver and passenger.

In terms of engines, the Boxster’s 2.7 litre mill – which is based on the 3.4 litre engine of the Boxster S – offers 265 hp, which is 10 hp more than its larger capacity predecessor. As for the 3.4 litre unit in the Boxster S, there’s 315 hp on call, five horsepower more than before.

Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard, with the seven-speed dual-clutch Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an option. Performance specs include a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds for the Boxster and 5.0 seconds for the Boxster S.

Equipment levels on the Boxster include an Alcantara interior, 18-inch alloy wheels, Auto stop/start and Sports mode, remote control hood operation, audio CD with a 7-inch colour touchscreen and a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity. Meanwhile, the Boxster S adds 19-inch alloy wheels, partial leather interior and Bi-Xenon headlights.

New to the car is the Sport Chrono Package option featuring Dynamic Transmission Mounts. Also new in the Boxster is the option of Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), with a mechanical rear limited slip differential.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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VIDEO: New Porsche 911 Cabriolet to make Detroit debut

Danny Tan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:39:07 +0000

The new Porsche 911 Cabriolet, announced in November 2011, will make its world debut at the upcoming NAIAS in Detroit. The first motor show of the year was chosen because America is the biggest market for the drop top, by far. In fact, Porsche is thriving in the US despite the less than rosy economy – in 2011, Porsche sold 29,023 cars, 15% up from 2010. They plan to shift over 30k units this year.

Back to the 911 Cab. The big news here is the all new roof design. Throwing out the multi-layered fabric item from the 997, this lid uses a fabric skinned composite panel, which provides a nicer shape and a better fit. Porsche also says that this new roof, which takes just 11 seconds to raise or stow, is more resistant to high speed buffeting. There’s also an automatic wind deflector.

The roof is laid on a magnesium frame, and the glass rear window is glued directly to the outer fabric skin. The lowering and closing process can be done at speeds of up to 60 km/h. You can see this being done in the videos.

Powertrains are identical to the 991 Coupe. The Cabrio’s backside houses a 3.4-litre flat six with 350 hp/380 Nm driving the rear wheels via the world’s first seven-speed manual gearbox. The Carrera S Cabriolet comes with a 3.8-litre flat six with 400 hp and 440 Nm. Porsche’s twin-clutch PDK will be a popular option, delivering better fuel consumption and acceleration than the stick shift.

Click here for full details and a gallery of the 911 Cabrio.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche picks Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 for 911

Danny Tan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:04:54 +0000

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tyre has been picked by Porsche as the OE tyre for the its newly launched 911. Goodyear’s ultra high performance (UHP) segment contender will be used for the popular 19-inch wheel fitment on the Carrera 2. Sizes are 235/40 up front and fat 285/35 donuts at the back. As many would know, Porsche and Bibendum are close buddies, so this is quite a coup for Goodyear.

The iconic 911 has a unique rear engined, RWD configuration, and those rear Goodyears will have to put down 350 hp and 380 Nm of torque from Zuffenhausen’s 3.4-litre six-pot boxer engine. Even sports cars like the 911 cannot ignore fuel consumption and emissions figures, and the new Carrera 2 uses 1.6 litres less fuel per 100 km than its predecessor.

The Eagle F1 A2 comes with Goodyear’s FuelSaving Technology. This tech is driven by reduced tyre weight and a new ‘high surface’ silica grade that contributes to reduced heat generation, lowering rolling resistance as a result. The A2 also features the latest ActiveBraking Technology using innovative 3D block design within the tyre tread.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was officially launched in Asia three months ago in Hua Hin, Thailand. We were at the Kaengkrachan Circuit near the seaside town to sample the tyre. Click here to read the full story.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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New Porsche 911 Cabriolet gets magnesium frame soft top

Danny Tan — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:17:17 +0000

Recent 911 Cabriolets were slightly awkward looking, like hunchbacks, but fat. This is the new Porsche 911 Cabriolet based on the 991 Coupe that made its debut in September in Frankfurt. Like the tin top, the Cabrio looks leaner and more dynamic than the 997 based roadster. It’s lighter than before, too.

The big news here is that the roof is an all new design. Throwing out the multi-layered fabric item from the 997, this hood uses a fabric skinned composite panel, which provides a nicer shape and a better fit. Porsche also says that this new roof, which takes just 11 seconds to raise or stow, is more resistant to high speed buffeting. There’s also an automatic wind deflector.

The roof is laid on a magnesium frame, and the glass rear window is glued directly to the outer fabric skin. The lowering and closing process can be done at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Powertrains are identical to the Coupe. The Cabrio’s backside houses a 3.4-litre flat six with 350 hp/380 Nm driving the rear wheels via the world’s first seven-speed manual gearbox. The Carrera S Cabriolet comes with a 3.8-litre flat six with 400 hp and 440 Nm. Porsche’s twin-clutch Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) will be a popular option, delivering better fuel consumption and acceleration than the stick shift.

Zuffenhausen says that with the longer wheelbase (stretched by 100 mm to 2,450 mm), the wider front track and the new electro-mechanical power steering, the new Cabriolets offer sportier driving characteristics, greater precision and agility.

How does it look like with a fixed roof again? View a gallery of the 911 Coupe here and some videos here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Panamera GTS – 430 hp and 520 Nm

Anthony Lim — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:51:28 +0000

Porsche has announced the introduction of the Panamera GTS, and the normally-aspirated
4.8 litre V8 that this one wears has 30 PS and 20 Nm more torque compared to the Panamera S and 4S, in this case 430 PS at 6,700 rpm and 520 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Performance figures for the 1,920 kg GTS, equipped with a seven-speed PDK gearbox, are a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 secs and a 288 km/h top speed.

The car gets distinctive exterior cues inspired by the Turbo – it features the standard front section of the Sport-Design package of the Panamera Turbo, as well as the adaptive four-way rear spoiler from the latter.

It’s also characterised by numerous black exterior styling details – for starters, there’s a high-gloss black exterior package comprised of side window trim, the decorative trim on the rear lid, the headlight washer unit cover, the rear diffuser and the side air outlet panels. Add in black side skirts and matte black tailpipes of the sports exhaust system and it’s a pretty comprehensive blackening process.

A further point of differentiation comes in the form of the Bi-Xenon headlights with black inner bezels. These feature four LED daytime running lights each, and like the Turbo’s, are located in the main headlight. The car also gets an optional Carmine Red shade, available exclusively for it.

Inside, the black interior gets decorative stitching in Carmine Red or GT Silver on the foot mats, top of the dashboard, upper edge of the door, armrest, door trim and centre console, the door closing handle as well as with the seat stitching. And to ensure you know which Panamera you’re driving, the stainless steel front door entry guards feature ‘Panamera GTS’ lettering, and GTS lettering is also shown on the instrument cluster and on the embroidered headrests.

The equipment list includes Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) – in tandem with the electronically-controlled rear axle differential lock and PTV Plus – and adaptive air suspension combined with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM).

The Panamera GTS sits 10 mm lower than the other models in the Panamera range, and its damping is designed to be tauter. Elsewhere, the car wears 19-inch Panamera Turbo wheels, 5 mm rear wheel spacers and larger brake discs from the Turbo, recognisable by their red brake callipers.

The standard sports exhaust system comes with larger pipe diameters to reduce back pressure, and features two tuning flaps which expose additional exhaust openings, thereby emitting an even more powerful sound. The flaps are controlled by means of a switch in the centre console, which features a “last mode” function that remembers the last setting and restores it when the engine is started.

Elsewhere, there’s also the Sound Symposer, which directs intake noise into the interior at the push of a button. This is achieved by an acoustic channel picking up the intake vibrations between the throttle valve and air filter – the acoustic channel incorporates a membrane that transmits the vibrations as an engine sound into the A-pillar. A controllable valve located in front of the membrane enables the Sound Symposer to be activated or deactivated by means of the Sport button.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Panamera Turbo S and S Hybrid launched – the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and Boxster Spyder also unveiled

Anthony Lim — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:37:06 +0000

Sime Darby Auto Performance today introduced two new Panamera variants in the country, with the launch of the S Hybrid and Turbo S at the Porsche Centre Bukit Bintang.

Rolling in as the top model in the company’s Gran Turismo lineup, the Turbo S is powered by a 4.8 litre, V8 biturbo mill delivering 550 hp, which is 50 hp more than that offered by the Panamera Turbo, which is mated to a seven-speed PDK gearbox.

Maximum torque is also up to 750 Nm, from 700 Nm; in the Sport and Sport Plus mode of the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo – which is standard on this one – and during kick-down in normal mode, this goes to 800 Nm with the overboost function. Performance specs include a 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds and a 306 km/h top speed.

The increased performance, compared with the Panamera Turbo, is the result of two main enhancements, the first being improved turbochargers, with titanium-aluminium turbine wheels helping to reduce the weight of the turbine and compressor wheel, resulting in a lower moment of inertia and thus improved and more agile engine responsiveness, and the second being modified engine control.

Meanwhile, the Panamera S Hybrid, touted as the most economical Porsche of all time by the company, is driven by the same engine combination as seen on the Cayenne S Hybrid – a 3.0 litre V6 compressor engine offering 333 hp supplanted by a 47 hp electric motor, offering a total power output of 380 hp at 5,500 rpm. The last is available to the driver during what is termed “boosting,” in which the combustion engine and electric motor’s drive torques are overlaid and added together.

In terms of torque, the combustion engine develops its maximum 440 Nm at 3,000 to 5,250 rpm, while the electric motor is able to implement its full torque of up to 300 Nm for propulsion from a standing start. In all, the S Hybrid’s combined torque of 580 Nm is available from just 1,000 rpm.

The range in purely electric mode is approximately two kilometres, with electric driving possible up to 85 km/h, depending on the driving situation. Performance specs for the parallel full hybrid vehicle are a 0-100 km/h time of 6.0 seconds and a 270 km/h top speed, and elsewhere, a consumption figure of 6.8 litres per 100 km is also bandied by the company.

The basic price of the Panamera S Hybrid and the Panamera Turbo S are RM910,000 and RM1,360,000 respectively, and the cars come with a four-year warranty and four-year free service and maintenance.

The event also saw the surprise unveiling of the limited-edition 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and the Boxster Spyder, the latter of which will be rather exclusive, because only one unit is being brought into the country, the example seen at the launch.

As for the GT3 RS 4.0, the 500 hp and 460 Nm on call is enough to get the 1,360 kg beast to do the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.9 secs and get to a 310 km/h top speed.

Gallery of all four models at the launch after the jump.

Panamera Turbo S

Panamera S Hybrid

911 GT3 RS 4.0

Boxster Spyder

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Frankfurt: Porsche’s seventh-generation 911 debuts

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:32:17 +0000

Porsche’s latest 911 was revealed last month, but has just made its public premiere at the ongoing Frankfurt Motor Show. As you can expect, Porsche is still retaining the overall silhouette, which I feel is the right thing to do in this case. However certain things have changed, including the details up front and at the rear and I must admit, I really like what the company has done with it.

The interior has been updated and has hints of the Panamera, which also isn’t a bad thing. The 911 Carrera, which is the base model, uses a 350 hp 3.4 litre boxer engine with 380 Nm of torque which allows the coupe to hit 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and deliver a top speed of 288 km/h. The acceleration can be reduced to 4.2 seconds if the optional Sport Chrono Package is selected.

If that’s not enough for you, then the Carrera S should be your cup of tea with 400 hp and 440 Nm of torque from its 3.8 litre engine. Naught to 100 km/h takes 4.1 seconds and top speed is rated at 302 km/h. Using Launch Control will bring the sprint time down to 3.9 seconds. The 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission is offered with the 911.

To learn more about the new Porsche 911, please click here. You can also check out a live image gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Frankfurt preview: Seventh-gen Porsche 911 revealed!

Danny Tan — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:29:18 +0000

Yes, believe it, this is the new seventh-generation Porsche 911 Carrera. Despite the same same looks, Porsche is calling this ’991′ model ‘completely redesigned’. Try mocking their lazy designers and you’ll get this for an answer: ‘evolution, not revolution’.

At 2,450 mm, the new 911′s wheelbase has been stretched by 100 mm. Zuffenhausen did not reveal the dimensions, but Autocar UK quotes insiders saying that it’s 56 mm longer, 65 mm wider and 11 mm lower than the 997. Compared to that car, the 991 body, with its aluminum-steel composite construction, is 45 kg lighter. The combo of a bigger footprint, lower height and reduced weight sounds good.

It might take an avid 911 fan to spot, but the 991′s side mirrors are now mounted on the upper edge of the door. Porsche says that this helps highlight the new design line and gives the visual impression of width. The iconic silhouette of the 48-year old model is unchanged, but there’s a wider, variably extending rear spoiler at the back, which features slim tail lamps that should be the 991′s most distinct signature.

The spoiler, combined with greater structural rigidity and optimised aerodynamics, means that the 991′s front and rear lift has been reduced to near zero while retaining the Cd value of 0.29.

The new Carrera and Carrera S boast better performance and efficiency. The latter is aided by automatic start stop, engine and transmission thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world’s first seven-speed manual gearbox and the ability to ‘sail’ or coast with the PDK transmission. There’s also a new electro-mechanical power steering in place of the hydraulic setup.

The 911 Carrera is powered by a new 350 hp/380 Nm, 3.4-litre boxer engine, down in size from the current 3.6L. Paired to PDK, it consumes just 8.2 l/100 km, 1.6 l/100 km less than its predecessor. That, plus a century sprint time of just 4.4 seconds (4.2 seconds with Sport Chrono Package’s Launch Control) means it can be all the 911 you need.

If not, there’s the Carrera S with its 400 hp/440 Nm, 3.8-litre boxer – 15 horses more than before. The S achieves 8.7 l/100 km, 14% better than the outgoing car. 0-100 km/h is done in 4.1 seconds, or 3.9 with Launch Control. The S also features for the first time, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilisation.

Inside, it’s still very much a 911, but with a touch more flair than before. Inspired by the Carrera GT are the rising center console and high-mounted shift lever. Classic Porsche elements include the five round gauges – one of them a high res multifunction screen – the central tachometer and the ignition lock to the left of the steering wheel.

As usual, Carrera and Carrera S models start the ball rolling, followed by Cabriolet and 4S variants (2012) and the range topping Turbo (2013). More pics after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Cayman R launched: 10 hp more, 55 kg less, RM630k – our brief impressions from the track

Danny Tan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:19:20 +0000

Sime Darby Auto Performance, local guardian of the Porsche brand, launched the new Cayman R yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit. The hottest Cayman was first revealed to the world at the LA show in November last year. More hardcore and uncompromising than the Cayman S, the Cayman R loses weight, adds power, and takes on a different character from the S.

The 3.4-litre flat six engine from the Cayman S gains 10 horses to make 330 hp in the R, while torque remains at 370 Nm. The redline for this water-cooled, direct injection naturally aspirated powerplant is 7,500 rpm, which one will reach easily while rowing through the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox. SDAP (a yummy acronym!) says that they will forward customer orders for the six-speed manual to Germany, if they insist on self swapping.

We don’t think many would want to do so, as the PDK version is faster to 100 km/h and more fuel efficient than the manual. The century sprint is dispatched in 4.9 seconds on to a 280 km/h top speed. Combined fuel consumption is 9.3 litres per 100 km, or 10.75 km/l. Compare this to the manual’s 5.0 sec and 9.7 litres per 100 km.

The other main point is weight reduction. The Cayman R uses aluminium doors (15 kg saved) and special seats (shells made of glass and CFRP, 12 kg saved), and Porsche goes to the extent of replacing the inside door handles with fabric straps. The 19in wheels are the lightest Porsche has, and a complete set of four weighs only 40 kg.

In Europe, one can have the R without air con and radio for max weight savings, but these are essentials here, even on a car like this, so SDAP ordered them. Unladen weight is 1,295 kg. If money isn’t an issue, the RM32k optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) can add stopping power and shave a further 15 kg off the weight. One can also order a lithium ion battery in place of the normal lead acid battery – this saves 14 kg.

From the outside, the Cayman R can be spotted via its signature “Peridot” colour. But if it’s not in that shade of green, one can look out for the fixed rear spoiler, “PORSCHE” lettering along the doors, black framed headlights and a body that’s lower by 20 mm over the S. The latter is part of the sports chassis which also includes more rigid springs, bespoke anti roll bars, stiffer dampers, wider tracks (+4 mm front, +2 mm rear) and a standard rear differential lock.

A larger negative camber has also been set for both axles to increase directional stability. Also, as Stuttgart set out to build a “purer” sports car, the R cannot be specified with PASM electronically controlled dampers.

At the launch, Porsche allowed journos a chance to sample their new baby on Sepang tarmac. There was a long queue with only one running unit, but yours truly managed to squeeze in one lap before they closed shop. Read our brief impressions of the Cayman R and view the gallery after the jump.

Brief impressions of the Cayman R on track

Sime Darby Auto Performance chose Sepang as the launch venue for the Cayman R, which is very appropriate, as full attack in the safe confines of a circuit gave us a chance to explore the limits of the sports car, without the risks of public roads. However, this also means that we have no idea how the R will fare on our less than smooth roads.

The launch coincided with Porsche Driving Experience, a driver training programme for customers and the media. This means that besides the Cayman R, other Porsches such as the Cayenne, Panamera, 911 GTS and Cayman/Cayman S were available for sampling.

As mentioned, there was a long line to try the Cayman R, so I took the chance to lap Sepang in the standard 2.9-litre Cayman. With “only” 265 hp and 300 Nm, some might think that the base Cayman doesn’t have enough firepower to excite, but I beg to differ. It certainly feels fast enough, and the loud flat-six soundtrack from behind the seats provide the necessary drama. And if I remember correctly, the engine sound is much more audible here than in the 911.

Smiles didn’t fade after the initial blast out of the pit lane. Snaking through turns 1 and 2, the Cayman’s nose was extremely easy to point around, feeling almost weightless. No engine up front, and the wheels don’t need to channel power to the road, hence the purity. This lithe, agile feel was a constant companion in my two laps, and the cabin feels like the pivot point of the car – you can easily feel it adjust based on throttle inputs.

The Cayman is fun, but I found it to be quite forgiving as well, great for non pros like yours truly. In the fast sweeping bends of 5 and 6, leaning on the final ounces of grip, I backed off the throttle too abruptly and immediately realised my mistake, but instead of snapping us into the gravel, the Cayman wobbled a bit before carrying on. By the way, PSM isn’t the most strict nanny around and some innocent fun is allowed.

The PDK with paddle shifts worked perfectly. For those thinking Golf GTI, the overlapping here is not as seamless, but for the better, as the kickback and “mini bomb sound” during full bore shifts complemented the howling flat six well. The gravelly crescendo at the top 2,000 rpm is quite addictive, and you’ll want to go there in every gear. Special mention to the brakes as well; their stopping power gave us confidence to spend as much time on the throttle as possible. They also withstand heavy duty use very well.

The Cayman R’s more focused brief is apparent the minute one steps in. I’m now surrounded by dark alcantara instead of tan leather, and I reached for the seat height and rake adjuster, only to find none – the seats are fixed backed items. They hold very tightly, and the seating position is perfect for serious driving.

The previously mentioned engine sound is significantly louder here, and the tone is harder edged, too. It also feels a lot faster than the base Cayman, although the difference would have been smaller if I had previously tried a Cayman S instead. The steering remains natural and feelsome, but the R corners much flatter. There’s more grip, translating to higher cornering speeds, and one can power out of corners earlier as well.

It would have been better if we got to try the Cayman S beforehand, but I suspect that while the noticeable gap would have been smaller, it would still be substantial enough to put the Cayman R a notch above. The R is a serious machine that feels right at home on the track, and we hope that the 20 to 25 buyers SDAP wants to find this year will give it the occasional circuit exercise it deserves.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche marks 10 years in China with special 911 Turbo S

Danny Tan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:01:29 +0000

Click to enlarge

Porsche has been in China for a decade and is growing strongly in the world’s largest auto market. Demand is outstripping supply, especially for popular models like the Cayenne SUV, which has a waiting list of over a year! Stuttgart plans to triple its dealer network in China to about 100 from 33 by 2018 at the latest, and from the looks of it, China should overtake USA as Porsche’s largest market in 2014.

And to celebrate its tenth anniversary in China, Porsche is introducing a special edition of its 911 Turbo S. No extra power or mods, so the car comes with the standard 530 hp twin-turbo flat-six, mated to Porsche’s PDK twin-cutch gearbox.

What’s unique is the looks. The exterior is painted in a special Gold Bronze Metallic hue with flat black and carbon fibre accents. Those black wheels are 19-inch Fuchs-style alloys taken from the 911 Sport Classic. Inside, you’ll find a gold commemorative plaque, lots of Alcantara and contrasting gold stitching for the main black trim.

Only 10 examples will be built, and they’re all reserved for Chinese customers. As with anything labelled “special edition”, they will have no problems finding 10 people willing to pay top dollar to stand out.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Ecoboost turbo powered Ford S-Max MPV and facelifted Mondeo Titanium launching in Malaysia very soon!

Porsche Cayman S Black Edition – more power and bits

Anthony Lim — Mon, 09 May 2011 04:33:34 +0000

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It’s another special from Porsche, and this one is called the Cayman S Black Edtion. Limited to 500 examples worldwide, the car – which goes on sale in September – features dress up bits and an increase of 10 hp in its 3.4 litre flat six block over that in the standard Cayman S, making for 330 hp here.

The extra power is produced at 7,400 rpm (an additional 200 rpm vs the standard car), while the maximum torque remains unchanged at 370 Nm at 4,750 rpm. The additional horses help improve 0-100 kph acceleration time by a tenth of a second to 5.1 seconds on the six-speed manual transmission and to 5.0 seconds with the optional PDK gearbox. With the Launch Control activated on the PDK Sport Chrono package option, this becomes 4.8 seconds.

Click to enlarge

As for top speed, the Cayman S Black Edition is just a shade quicker (close to 2 kph faster) than the stock Cayman S – it’s 278 kph with the manual transmission and 277 kph with PDK.

Unique to the edition are lightweight Boxster Spyder 19-inch wheels finished in black, an inch bigger than the standard Cayman S wheels and also half an inch wider than the optional 19-inch wheels offered on the Cayman S. The car rides on 235/35 front and 265/35 rear rubbers.

Click to enlarge

Inside, the colour scheme of the Cayman S Black Edition is consistent throughout – the dashboard trim is black, as are the gear lever/selector trim and the dials in the instrument cluster. The stainless steel door entry guards feature “Black Edition” lettering, while the glove compartment lid bears a badge highlighting the limited edition status.

Elsewhere, the front seats are trimmed in black partial leather with a Porsche crest on the headrests, as well as a Sport Design steering wheel. The variant also comes with Porsche Communication Management (PCM) incorporating satellite navigation, as well as MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Panamera Diesel: JB to Phuket with one tank!

Danny Tan — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:58:06 +0000

Porsche GB has released details of the Panamera Diesel ahead of its introduction in August. The oil burner in question is a VW Group 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel tuned by Porsche, and the headline figure is a driving range of over 745 miles (1,192 km) on one 80-litre tank of diesel.

How far is that? Well, if you take the PLUS North South Highway from JB to Bukit Kayu Hitam, continuing on north past Hatyai on to Phuket, you’d have clocked 1,260 km when you reach Sarasin Bridge, the short bridge linking Phuket Island to mainland Thailand. All with tank of diesel!

The V6 (with variable geometry turbo, exhaust gas recirculation and stop/start) makes 250 hp and 550 Nm of torque, the latter available from 1,750 rpm to 2,750 rpm. This gives the big Porsche a 0-100 km/h time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h. The car is only available with rear-wheel drive and an 8-speed Tiptronic S auto ‘box.

Combined fuel economy is rated at 14.4 km/l, rising to 15.9 km/l with optional lower rolling resistance tyres. Also on the options list is adaptive air suspension to make those 1,200 kliometres float by.

This variant can be recognised by the ‘diesel’ lettering on the front doors.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – final 997 gets bigger engine, 50 extra horses, improved aero, 600-unit production run

Danny Tan — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:20:00 +0000

A new generation Porsche 911 is said to be ready for unveiling this year, and the final version of the 997 is this, the GT3 RS 4.0. It’s quite a send off, as this latest GT3 RS gets a bigger 4.0-litre engine, 50 extra horsepower from the flat-six, improved downforce and a production run of just 600 units, which makes it rather special.

As usual, the track inspired GT3 RS uses a naturally aspirated flat-six engine, but capacity is up to 4.0L from 3.8L. It wasn’t lacking in performance with 450 hp and 430 Nm, but figures have jumped to 500 hp at 8,250 rpm and 460 Nm at 5,750 rpm – amazing for an NA engine. This highest displacement 911 engine ever uses forged pistons, titanium connecting rods and the crankshaft of the 911 GT3 RSR race car.

To trim weight, carbon fibre sport bucket seats, front fenders and luggage compartment lid are standard, along with “weight-optimised carpets”. Without a fat driver, the RS tips the scales at 1,360 kg with a full tank of fuel.

Aero wise, air deflection vanes mounted on either side of the front bumper – called ‘flics’ or dive planes – make their first appearance on a production Porsche. They create increased downforce on the front axle, and together with the steeply inclined rear wing, provide “aerodynamics on par with its performance capabilities”. As a result, at the 311 km/h top speed, aero forces exert an additional 190 kg of downforce.

With all of the above, it can lap the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 27 seconds, beating the old car’s 7m33s. With the sole option of a six-speed manual gearbox, the RS 4.0 sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 s, and with gearing designed for the circuit it reaches the 200 km/h mark in under 12 seconds. The outgoing car did 0-200 km/h in 13.3 sec.

What a send off! More pics after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche 918 Spyder production in 2013 – only 918 to be built

Anthony Lim — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:47:12 +0000

Well, the response to the 918 Spyder has been good enough for Porsche to put the car into serial production – the company has announced that dealers around the world will begin taking customer orders for the vehicle, which is set to begin production in September 2013. To keep things exclusive, only 918 examples of the plug-in hybrid sportscar will be built.

The company says that the production 918 Spyder will remain faithful to the concept car which made its debut in Geneva last year, though the two-seat production version, based on a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque, will feature a manual roof system with removable panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment.

The car will be powered by a high-revving 500+ hp V8 engine that will have a minimum 4.0 litre displacement, assisted by two electric motors with a total of at least 218 hp. The engine will be based on the Porsche RS Spyder racing unit, and power will be transferred to the rear wheels via Porsche’s compact, seven-speed PDK double-clutch gearbox.

Meanwhile, the two electric motors – one each on the front and rear axles – will offer an innovative, variable all-wheel drive system with independent control of the drive forces on both axles. Electrical energy will be stored in a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from a standard household outlet.

Electric-only driving range is expected to be more than 25 km on the NEDC cycle. Recharge time will depend on each country’s electrical power network; on a 110V/10A line, the charge time is around seven hours. A quick-charge option is being evaluated to further reduce charging times.

Performance figures include a 0-100 kph time of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 320 kph. Porsche adds that under the right conditions, the 918 Spyder will be able to drive on electric power alone at speeds up to 150 kph for limited distances.

The 918 Spyder customer gets a further deal sweetener – he also gets the opportunity to acquire a special-edition 911 Turbo S Coupe or Cabriolet, which he can hope to get much earlier, in this case later this year. Also limited to no more than 918 units, the 911 Turbo S ‘Edition 918 Spyder’ will have exterior and interior design elements echoing the 918 Spyder’s styling.

It features similar exterior colours, carbon-fibre elements inside and out, enhanced leather equipment and numerous acid-green accents on items such as the brake calipers, illuminated sill plates, interior stitching and instrument cluster needles. A limited-edition badge on the glove compartment door will feature the same production number as the customer’s 918 Spyder. All this for no added cost over a standard 911 Turbo S model, be it in Coupe or Cabrio form.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Panamera S Hybrid to debut in Geneva

Anthony Lim — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:08:37 +0000

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Hybrid here, hybrid there, hybrid everywhere, it seems. The next one to bat is from Porsche – the Panamera S Hybrid will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show before making its entry into the market in June.

Makes sense actually, especially if you already have a system running in another product in the lineup. In this case, the Panamera S Hybrid gets the same system found in the Cayenne S Hybrid – a 3.0 litre V6 compressor engine delivering 333 hp supported by a 47 hp electric motor, which also operates both as a generator and a starter.

There’s a NiMh battery in the mix, and the range in purely electric mode is approximately 2km, with speeds of up to 85 kph, depending on the driving situation. The transmission is the familiar eight-speed Tiptronic S box.

Click to enlarge

Performance figures include a 0-100 kph time of 6.0 secs and a top speed of 270 kph, and despite the GT having a combined output of 380 hp, Porsche says that – shod with optional Michelin low rolling resistance rubbers – the car can manage a best case consumption of just 6.8 l/100 km based on the NEDC cycle.

Standard kit will include adaptive air suspension including the adaptive shock-absorber system with PASM, with Servotronic also on. The car will also feature an innovative display concept that provides the driver with all the relevant information about the vehicle’s specific hybrid driving status.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche Boxster E – rocking down the electric avenue

Anthony Lim — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:12:40 +0000

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Porsche has begun the rollout of the first of three electric-powered Boxsters it has slated for field testing on German roads – essentially, the trio of Boxster E cars will be mobile laboratories that will provide practical, user-derived feedback and information on EVs, the company says.

Depending on the configuration, the Boxster E can be powered by a 29 kWh battery working with two electric motors, offering 180 kW output in total; there are no details on performance figures, but Porsche says the E is comparable to a Boxster S in terms of performance levels.

The company adds that the Boxster platform offers the ideal basis for the electric drive system’s practice-oriented testing, allowing the new components, electric motor, battery and high voltage components to be easily and safely accommodated. As yet, no announcement has been made as to whether the car is planned for serial production.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche 911 Black Edition – only 1,911 units to be made

Anthony Lim — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:23:31 +0000

Porsche has announced a 911 variant called the Black Edition, and this one is limited to just 1,911 examples globally, available in both Carrera Coupe and Cabriolet guise.

The 911 Black Edition is painted in plain black as standard, with Basalt Black metallic available as an option. For the cabriolet, the electric-folding hood is trimmed in black cloth. Other exterior highlights include 19-inch 911 Turbo II forged alloy wheels, and black-finished, four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed callipers.

There’s also black lettering on the stainless steel door entry guards to identify the version, and the interior continues with the theme – the leather is in black, as is the instrument cluster, though contrast is provided by aluminium-look paint, which adorns the decorative fascia strip, gear lever and air vents. A badge located on the glove compartment lid signifies the limited production variant.

Standard fitment includes a Bose surround sound system, specially coordinated with the interior, and in the Carrera coupe comprises 13 loudspeakers including an active subwoofer and central speaker as well as a seven channel digital amplifier; the cabriolet gets one less speaker, at 12.

The Black Edition is powered by a 3.6 litre flat-six pot, offering 345 hp at 6,500 rpm, and coupled to a six-speed gearbox, has a top speed of 289 kph in both body versions, with a 0-100 kph sprint time of 4.9 seconds for the coupe and 5.1 seconds for the cabriolet. With the PDK double-clutch seven-speed gearbox in attendance, this time drops to 4.7 seconds for the coupe and 4.9 seconds for the cabrio.

As is the case, add-on options abound – there’s the Sport Chrono Plus package, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) to be had, amogn other things, to get the Black even well, blacker.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche to produce cars in China and North America?

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:45:32 +0000

Porsche seems to be doing well these days. The sports car brand is now looking to extend its manufacturing to the outside of Germany and the whole of Europe to be exact. Porsche’s CEO Matthias Mueller has revealed to Germany’s Focus magazine that the company may set up production in North America and China to help the company double up its annual global sales to 200,000 units. “We will consider this year whether to start production in Asia or North America,” were his exact words.

The company is also expected to use the former Karmann factory in Osnabrueck, Germany to manufacture the Boxster and Cayman models. This plant was taken over by Volkswagen on January 1st. Up to now, Porsches have been built in Germany, at the Zuffenhausen and Leipzig plants. The out-of-Germany production could also be done in existing Volkswagen factories. In fact, the upcoming Cajun SUV could be built in Volkswagen’s Chinese factory where the Audi Q5 is also being rolled out.

Porsche is also confident that producing its cars outside of Germany would not hurt the company’s image as the production of the Boxster was once outsourced to contract manufacturers in Finland. “We are OK as long as we can say our cars are engineered by Porsche,” he told to another magazine, WirtschaftsWoche.

It makes sense to start producing Porsches in North America as the United States is one of the brand’s most important market. China is of course another important market for the company. Porsche also plans to establish a new customer centre as well as a test track in Shanghai while the number of dealers are expected to rise in China, from 35 to 85, then probably to 100 outlets.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Detroit 2011: Hybrid Porsche 918 RSR racer is a stunner

Danny Tan — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:11:30 +0000

Not exactly a production 918 Spyder, but this Detroit show car is widely believed to be close to the real thing. The Porsche 918 RSR is described as a race car that combines the “technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R hybrid and the design of the 918 Spyder” from last year’s Geneva show.

The RSR’s V8 is a development of the direct injection unit from the RS Spyder race car, now offering 563 hp at 10,300 rpm. There are two electric motors that offer torque vectoring on the front axle, and each contributes 75 kW for a total of 150 kW. All in, the 918 RSR’s pilot has 767 hp at his disposal. A six-speed constant-mesh gearbox with longitudinally mounted shafts and straight-toothed spur gears is operated via steering wheel shift paddles.

Additional power generated during braking is stored in an optimised flywheel accumulator, located at where a passenger seat normally is, and rotating at up to 36,000 rpm. At the push of a button, the pilot is able to call up the energy stored in the charged accumulator and use it during acceleration or overtaking manoeuvres. This “power boost” is available for around eight seconds.

Already used in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, this system’s additional power can also be used as a consumption aid, whether to delay pit stops or reduce the fuel tank volume, and weight. The GT3 R Hybrid did brilliantly to lead for more than eight hours in its Le Mans debut last year, and we won’t be surprised to see Porsche campaign this 918 RSR, this year perhaps?

Other interesting points are doors which open obliquely upwards, the air intake in the roof between the wing doors, quick-action locks on the front and rear CFRP lids, two roof-mounted aerials for pit radio and telemetry, RS Spyder-like small, lateral front flics and air splitters beneath the front lip. Porsche calls this an “experimental racing laboratory”.

Why No. 22? The number pays homage to the 1971 Porsche 917 short-tail coupé piloted by Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep. Their Le Mans winning distance record of 5335.313 km at an average speed of 222.304 km/h was unbeaten for 39 years until 2010. That Martini liveried experimental racer was groundbreaking for its magnesium space frame.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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Porsche 918 Spyder coupe set to debut in Detroit

Anthony Lim — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:19:42 +0000

Porsche is set to lift the wraps off a coupe version of its 918 Spyder next week at the Detroit show. The 918 Spyder hybrid, which made its debut last year as a concept in Geneva, is set for a limited production run, but according to reports, Porsche may be aiming for a different tack with the coupe.

Though based on the same platform as the hybrid, the reports suggest that insiders say that the coupe will be a concept race car equipped with a 600 hp V8 block, and that it isn’t slated for serial production. The debutant’s suggested power output isn’t that far ahead of the 918 Spyder hybrid’s V8, which develops 493 hp (and with the 215 hp from the electric motors on both the front and rear axle, a total combined 708 hp), but it would certainly be lighter for the supposed task at hand – we’ll know for sure next week.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:02:18 +0000.

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