Archive for Porsche

Autobild reported that Porsche will be building a smaller version of it’s Cayenne SUV based on the Audi Q5 and Volkswagen Tiguan, in a classic Porsche-VAG platform sharing tradition that was used with the Cayenne-Touareg-Q7 trio. There’s certainly a business case for this, as the Cayenne proved to be a financial success, though many have criticized Porsche for diluting it’s brand by developing an SUV, a far cry from the sports cars it was making.

While most of the time an automaker would just remain silent on such comments, Porsche has responded via Dow Jones Newswires that there are NO plans for a Porsche version of the Audi Q5.

Here’s a video of a few Porsche Panameras on test - more than four minutes long. The Porsche Panamera is Porsche’s competitor in the four-door sedan and GT crossover segment. It will go head to head against the likes of the Aston Martin Rapide, which is another beautiful and sleek car by itself. Video after jump.

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More Porsche Panamera Spyshots
Porsche Panamera Confirmed
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The spies over at Car Magazine managed to get hold of these photos of the 997 GT2, which will make it’s debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show later this year. It’s basically something slotted between the Turbo and the GT3, not so much of a comfortable road going monster, but not so much of a hardcore track car either.

It’s got a sportier suspension just like the GT3, as well as being rear wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive like the Turbo, but it has a tuned-up version of the 3.6 liter twin VGT turbocharged flat-6 in the Turbo instead of a high revving normally aspirated race engine like the one in the GT3.

Car magazine estimates a 1485kg kerb weight (100kg less than the Turbo), and 525hp at the crank, power figures that are higher than the Turbo thanks to an uprated oil cooler, stronger conrods and a stiffer crank, and other upgrades which allow a higher boost level. Torque is expected to be around 718Nm from as low as 2,000rpm. Let’s calculate how much horsepower that is. The formula is Horsepower = Torque x RPM divided by 5252. 718 x 2000 / 5252 = 273 horsepower at 2,000rpm. 273 horsepower is just a tad lower than what a baseline Evo makes at maximum power - 280hp. And this is at 2,000rpm. Amazing what VGT can do!

However, with less weight and more power, it will go from 0 to 100km/h slower than the 911 Turbo at 4.5 seconds compared to 3.9 seconds, because the Turbo has all-wheel drive to help put it’s lower power down to the tarmac more effectively. With the GT3’s rear wheel drive layout, more of that horses go towards burning rubber more than traction.

Click here to read the rest of 997 Porsche 911 GT2 Spied!

Porsche has unveiled the open top version of the tech-packed Porsche 911 Turbo, naturally called the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. Following the 20-year old tradition of open top 911s, the new type 997 Porsche 911 Turbo features a classic soft top.

Powering the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet is the same 3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine force fed through twin turbocharging with Variable Turbine Geometry turbochargers. Power output is 480 horsepower and 620Nm of torque from as low as 1,950rpm, which can be upped to 680Nm through an optional Sport Chrono Turbo Package overboost feature that increases turbocharger boost pressure momentarily when the situation arises. 0-100km/h with the manual takes 4 seconds, while the Tiptronic S auto takes 3.8 seconds.

Other than the absence of the roof, what are the differences between the coupe and the cabriolet? The additional chassis reinforcements required with a cabriolet only adds 70kg of extra weight to the car. The three-layer soft top goes up or down in 20 seconds. The rear spoiler which automatically extends at speeds of over 120km/h now extends 30mm further than the coupe model, and it would be interesting to note that the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is the only standard series convertible that generates negative lift at the rear axle.

Rollover protection includes steel tubing integrated into the windshield frame and an extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats, fulfilling all legal requirements for passive safety in worldwide sales markets.

Three more photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
2008 Porsche 911 Turbo (Type 997)
How does Variable Turbine Geometry work?
2007 Porsche World Road Show Videos

Click here to read the rest of Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Unlike the 997 911 Turbo which features the latest in technology with twin VGT turbochargers: a first on a gasoline engine and all wheel drive, the 911 GT3 is a more track-day biased vehicle using a high revving race-bred normally aspirated engine and a rear wheel drive setup. Video after jump.

Related Posts:
2007 Porsche World Road Show Videos

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Another track video for fans of in-car camera recordings from fast cars on tracks. This BMW E30 was just minding it’s own business on the Nurburgring, until a yellow Porsche Carrera GT passes it. The E30 decides to give chase… why? Because it can I suppose. The Carrera GT obviously has more power than the E30, however it looks to me that the E30 has the better driver. Video after jump.

Click here to read the rest of Nurburgring: 1.0 bar boosted E30 chases Carrera GT

Wendelin Wiedeking has indicated that the Volkswagen Group could possibly ditch Bugatti and Lamborghini. Wiedeking is the current president and CEO of Porsche, and sits on the Volkswagen supervisory board. Since Porsche pretty much owns Volkswagen now, his words definitely carry alot of weight to them. His reasons for the possible disposal is “no toys anymore” - and it also does not make sense to have Porsche indirectly funding development for two of it’s rivals in the supercar realm.

Yet another video in the series of “Jeremy Clarkson destroys” videos, this time the victim is an old school Porsche 911. Video after jump.

Click here to read the rest of Jeremy Clarkson destroys a Porsche 911

Porsche is planning a smaller SUV that will join the existing market filled up with the BMW X3 and the future Audi Q5, Infiniti EX35 and Volkswagen Tiguan, according to German magazine AutoZeitung. The new smaller Porsche SUV would likely share the same platform as the Q5/Tiguan, and carry over the Cayenne’s V6 and V8 engines. Let’s hope Porsche’s styling department can execute a small SUV styling better than it’s done with a large SUV. The Cayenne isn’t really the best looking SUV around.

It’s strange how we’ve come to accept that more and more sports car manufacturers are going all out to develop SUVs. I wonder why Land Rover, Hummer or Jeep hasn’t decided to build a high performance sports car.

The following is the latest Porsche pricelist as of 21st February 2007. It includes the prices of the new Porsche Cayenne Facelift. Have a look at the pricelist after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Updated Porsche Pricelist for Malaysia