Porsche

Swiss Super Coupe – the 858 bhp Sportec SPR1 4WD Super Coupe

By Mike Hanlon

06:04 May 22, 2009 PDT

Start with a Porsche, throw away all the bits and reengineer or replace everything, then slot in an 858 bhp twin turbo engine – that's the Swiss-made Sportec SPR1. It's one of the few production cars in the world capable of more than 380 km/h. Using exotic materials of all kinds, weight has been pared down to just 1345 kg, enabling the beastie to hit 100kmh in three seconds and 200 kmh in 8.7 seconds. The electrically adjustable chassis adapts itself to any requirements at the push of a button and those massive, ultra-light forged rims enable gigantic brakes capable of stopping from 100 km/h in just 36 metres More than half of Sportec’s limited SPR1 production run has already been sold and the UKP600,000 car will be seen outside Switzerland for the first time at the hyper exclusive Salon Privé at London's Hurlingham Club in July so prospective British customers can appreciate it in the flesh. Read More

World's top 5 fastest street legal electric cars

By Paul Evans

02:40 April 10, 2009 PDT

Cars like the million dollar Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari Enzo are rightly considered supercars with their lightweight carbon fiber construction and 650 hp (477 kw) thoroughbred mid mounted engines making them capable of 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The amazing thing is that electric vehicles like the 250 hp (183 kw) Tesla Roadster, which produce 100% instant torque from zero rpm, can accelerate to 60 mph in the exact same time, and at costs as low as $0.02 per mile. Paul Evans takes a look at the leading lights of this new breed of speed demon - the top 5 fastest Electric Vehicles in the world. Read More

Porsche releases technical innovations on new 4-door Panamera luxury sportster

By Loz Blain

14:11 March 19, 2009 PDT

Porsche's 4-door Panamera will be finally unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 20 - not that we haven't already had plenty of chances to take a good look at it through the company's prolific PR department. Designed to be at once more luxurious than an S-Class Benz and sportier than a Beemer M5, the Panamera is the first 4-door Porsche with an uncompromising performance focus. It looks like a belter too, considering rumors that the 500-horsepower, US$132,600 turbo model actually had to be reined back in performance terms just so it wouldn't trouser the 911, which is supposed to be Porsche's performance flagship. As a brand new, extreme high end model, you'd be expecting the Panamera to pack a few technological punches - and you'd be right. Here's a few of the key innovations. Read More

Porsche unveils Panamera “cockpit for four” interior

By Mike Hanlon

23:17 February 13, 2009 PST

The Porsche Panamera is quite unlike any sports car that has been before it in that it was conceived to offer equal comfort and luxury for four occupants. Porsche has previously released external images of the Panamera, due for showrooms in September/October this year, and the image gallery contains the first images of the gran turismo’s knockout interior. With a continuous center console that extends from the dashboard to the rear seats, the Panamera offers a new spatial experience for the driver and passengers featuring optimal ergonomic seating with an individual cockpit-like environment for all. Read More

Thermoelectrics to replace car alternators and improve MPG

By Paul Evans

16:06 February 8, 2009 PST

Thermoelectrics - the phenomena in which a temperature difference creates an electric potential - have been known about for almost 200 years, but practical applications have not been widespread due to their low energy efficiency. That may all now be about to change as Germany automakers Volkswagen and BMW have developed thermoelectric generators (TEG) that recover waste heat from a combustion engine. Read More

The iChange shape-changing concept car

By Mike Hanlon

18:27 December 28, 2008 PST

Each year for the last three decades, Swiss-based Rinspeed has presented a new concept car at the Geneva motor show – customizing Porsches might be the company’s bread and butter, but synthesizing highly inventive and original concept cars is the company’s forte. This year’s concept car is entitled the iChange, and its defining feature is its ability to change shape from a streamlined teardrop one-seater, to a three seat compact sportsvan. The iChange car makes the most of its 130 kw electric propulsion system by having very low weight and high aerodynamic efficiency. Read More

Porsche 911 EV unveiled by German tuner RUF

By Paul Evans

17:20 December 10, 2008 PST

German Porsche tuner Ruf has produced the world’s first professionally built electric 911, the eRUF. The prototype replaces the flat six engine with a brushless three-phase motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. Although not as quick as a petrol-engined 911, Ruf’s engineers say the eRUF is still good for a 0-60mph time of under 7.0sec and has a top speed of 160mph. More importantly it’s claimed to have a maximum range of nearly 200 miles. Read More

Audi to unleash 525 hp, 196 mph, R8 V10 supercar

By Noel McKeegan

21:27 December 9, 2008 PST

Audi's new incarnation of its flagship R8 supercar will hit showrooms in 2009 sporting subtle exterior refinements including re-shaped side sills, wider cooling vents, all-LED headlamps, chrome-finished grille and 10-spoke "Y design" alloy wheels, but by far the biggest change lies beneath the surface - namely two more cylinders. The introduction of a 5.2-liter, 525 hp, V10 engine delivers significantly greater performance compared with the original 4.2 liter V8 production model released in 2006 - zero to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds (compared with 4.6 seconds), a top speed of 196.35 mph (up from 187 mph) and almost 25% more maximum torque at 530 Nm - giving it the mantle of the fastest ever road-going Audi and putting it within arms length of elite company like the Porsche 911 GT2. Read More

Fanatec's Porsche 911 GT3 RS Racing Wheel for PC and PS3

By Darren Quick

19:51 December 3, 2008 PST

There must be plenty of aspiring Porsche drivers out there without the finances to afford the real thing because Fanatec has announced another addition to its line of Porsche licensed steering wheels for PC and PS3 gamers. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS Racing Wheel for PC and PS3 is crafted from genuine Alcantara leather, the same material that is used in real Porsches, and features the “world’s first” placement of a vibration motor on the brake pedal for that extra touch or realism. Read More

Porsche announces all-wheel drive 911 Carrera 4 and 4S

By Loz Blain

01:40 June 25, 2008 PDT

Porsche has announced the launch of all-wheel drive models of its 911 Carrera 4 and 4S sportscars, including an engine, gearbox and drivetrain makeover that the company claims delivers up to 8.5% more power, 12.5% better gas mileage, and over 15% less CO2 emissions than the models they replace. Read More

Porsche celebrates 60 years

By Noel McKeegan

23:42 June 5, 2008 PDT

One of the world's best-known sportscar marques is turning 60. Created by Ferdinand Alexander “Ferry” Porsche, in a small workshop in the Austrian Alps, the first Porsche prototype identified as 356-001 received official approval for road service on June 8, 1948. Read More

New Porsche Cayenne Turbo S debuts in Beijing

By Noel McKeegan

19:40 April 20, 2008 PDT

April 21, 2008 With an output of 550 hp (404 kW) and a top speed of 280kmh (174mph), the new Porsche Cayenne which premiered at Auto China 2008 in Beijing is the most powerful model in the company's SUV range to date. Capable of achieving zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, the twin-turbo, 4.8 liter V8 S model gains the edge over the standard Turbo model via a modified exhaust system and improvements in engine control that have also resulted in an increase in maximum torque by 50 Nm to 750 Nm (available between 2,250 and 4,500 rpm). Marked by 21 inch SportPlus alloy wheels, a four-pipe sports exhaust system and an exclusive “lava gray metallic” paint option, plus a host of standard interior goodies from memory seating to a touch-screen operated multimedia system, the Turbo S will be introduced from August 2008 at an expected basis price of EUR 111,400. Read More

Hybrid Drive for the Porsche Panamera – the fuel efficient Gran Turismo

By Mike Hanlon

23:03 January 7, 2008 PST

January 8, 2008 Porsche has announced a hybrid drive version of the forthcoming four-door Gran Turismo Porsche Panamera. The hybrid Panamera will use the components of the Cayenne Hybrid expected in 2009 and is an interesting technical solution as the hybrid module can disengage either the combustion engine or the electric motor, or combine both drive systems as one joint power unit. Thus the Panamera hybrid will be able to be driven in a number of different modes ranging from all-electric through to the muscle car sporting style of motoring so typical of a Porsche. Read More

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to top 200mph - NEW IMAGES

By Darren Quick

17:27 December 26, 2007 PST

Chevrolet has announced details of the 2009 Corvette ZR1 with the promise of an American supercar that will establish new benchmarks for production-based power and performance. Coming almost two decades after the official launch of the Corvette ZR1 at the Geneva Auto Show way back in 1989, the 2009 ZR1 features a long list of specialized components that include extensive use of carbon-fiber paneling and an all-new LS9 supercharged 6.2L V-8 that's expected to punch out 620 horsepower (462 kW) with around 595 lb.-ft. of torque (823 Nm). Though full performance specs will not be released until the summer 2008 launch draws closer, predictions are that the new ZR1 will be the first production Corvette to achieve a top speed of at least 200 mph, making it the the most powerful and fastest automobile ever produced by General Motors and giving it the muscle to claim dominance over international competition like the Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and the Lamborghini LP640. Read More

Porsche announces modern interpretation of 1960s racecar

By Loz Blain

02:36 November 28, 2007 PST

In case you ever wondered, the word "Spyder" simply refers to a sporty, "speedy" convertible. It harks back to the days of horse-drawn carriages where it was used to describe small, light two-seater carriages with a simple folding sunshade on top secured by four bows that looked like, well a spider sitting on top of the carriage. The name has made its way through into the auto business, and has been particularly popular on Euro sportsters with the latest example from Porsche being the limited edition Boxter RS 60 Spyder. The German company plans to produce only 1,960 of them in homage to the groundbreaking, "giant-killing" Porsche Type 718 RS 60 that blitzed the larger, more powerful competition in 1960's 12 hours of Sebring endurance race, and kicked off a successful streak in motorsport for the company. Read More

2008 Porsche 911 GT2: Faster, lighter, harder

By Loz Blain

00:04 November 13, 2007 PST

Vastly lighter than the 911 Turbo after dropping from all-wheel-drive to rear-wheel drive, loads more powerful and efficient thanks to twin turbos and clever intake manifold innovations, and more racetrack-ready than ever before: the 2008 911 GT2 will be showcased in a few days at the LA Auto show, and it’s a beauty. In fact, it’s the fastest and most powerful production road Porsche 911 the company has ever homologated for the road, belting out a stern 530 rear-wheel drive horses, hitting 100kmh in a mere 3.7 seconds and topping out at an eye-widening 329kmh (or just over 200mph). Read More

UK Porsche driver receives record 172mph speeding ticket

By Loz Blain

23:03 September 26, 2007 PDT

September 27, 2007 The road is not a racetrack - but if it was, Britain would have a new national champion. Londoner Tim Brady is now serving a 10-week jail sentence after being clocked at a record 172mph (277 kmh) in a Porsche (not pictured) he borrowed from his employer – that’s 16mph faster than the previous four-wheeled record holder. Read More

New Porsche Cayenne GTS showcases on-road dynamics

By Mike Hanlon

18:59 September 7, 2007 PDT

September 8, 2007 A new version of the Porsche Cayenne GTS, which makes its world debut at the IAA Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 11, features a specially developed chassis: it is the first Cayenne to offer the electronically-controlled damping system, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), with steel springs. This combination, which also lowers the Cayenne by 24mm, was previously reserved exclusively for Porsche sports cars. The car boasts an enhanced version of the direct fuel injection (DFI) 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine. The engine in the Cayenne GTS yields 405bhp (298 kW) at 6,500rpm – 20bhp more than in the Cayenne S. Read More

Porsche Cayman S “Design Edition 1” unveiled

By Emily Clark

19:46 August 14, 2007 PDT

August 15, 2007 Porsche has announced that the Cayman S “Porsche Design Edition 1” will be available from November. The limited-edition special series of the 295bhp mid-engined coupé will see just 777 released worldwide and keeping in line with the purist nature of the vehicle, the choice of color has been made simple – it's black or black. Read More

Porsche Panamera hybrid could be world's fastest

By Noel McKeegan

00:17 August 1, 2007 PDT

August 1, 2007 GoAutonews is reporting that first Porsche four-door sedan, the Panamera, will be produced with a range of engines including a V10 model and a hybrid version using the same drivetrain as the Cayenne hybrid revealed last week, potentially giving it the mantle of the world's fastest hybrid. Read More

Porsche demonstrates Cayenne SUV hybrid prototype

By Mike Hanlon

July 27, 2007 Porsche this week demonstrated a Cayenne SUV hybrid prototype, providing a glimpse of what the company will offer to consumers by the end of the decade. The Cayenne Hybrid features a full-hybrid design where the hybrid module (clutch and electric motor) is positioned between the combustion engine and the transmission. The design will improve acceleration and engine flexibility compared to a conventional Cayenne and Porsche is targeting average fuel consumption figures of 9.8 liters/100 kilometers in the New European Driving Cycle and about 24 miles per gallon in the US FTP cycle for the Cayenne Hybrid, and hopes future developments may allow it to push towards a consumption figure of 8.9 liters/kilometer (approximately 26 miles per gallon). Porsche plans to introduce similar hybrid technology in a version of its Panamera four-door Gran Turismo. The Panamera will debut in 2009, with a hybrid to follow. Read More

Porsche to unveil 530 bhp twin-turbo 911 GT2 at Frankfurt

By Mike Hanlon

July 17, 2007 Porsche will reveal its most powerful production 911 ever on September 11, 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show - with 530 horsepower, the US$191,000 GT2 911 is based on the current 911 Turbo but with more herbs (50 bhp to be exact) than ever before – it will accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 204 mph. The power increase in the .6-litre boxer engine is provided by two turbochargers with a larger compressor wheel and a flow-optimized turbine housing raising turbocharger pressure to an even higher level. Read More

The Porsche USB 2.0/FireWire buspowered portable hard drive

By Mike Hanlon

July 3, 2007 The LaCie Porsche mobile hard drive is a Road Warrior’s delight – it’s gorgeous, small, built to withstand hard knocks when travelling, holds 250GB and doesn’t need a power adaptor. There is also no software to configure on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OS X because it’s driver-free and it’s preformatted for immediate use on PC or Mac. With plug and play convenience, one-click back-up software and a sexy Porsche-designed case and nameplate, one of these babies will set you back US$339 (USB 2.0) or US $359 (FireWire). Read More

Porsche tops J.D. Power 2007 Initial Quality Study second year running

By Mike Hanlon

June 7, 2007 Porsche enhanced its already considerable reputation yesterday by once again being awarded the number-one nameplate in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS). The IQS measures new-vehicle quality at 90 days of ownership. It captures quality of design and quality of production (defects and malfunctions) problems experienced by owners using a problems-per-100 vehicles (PP100) metric and it’s the results of surveying a whopping 97,000 purchasers and lessees. The study includes quality comparisons by manufacturer, assembly plant, model, and platform. Porsche ranked number one for the second year running, ahead of Lexus, Lincoln, Honda and Mercedes-Benz. Honda, with the fewest problems per 100 among non-premium brands, improved from sixth since the 2006 study. Read More

New 911 Turbo Cabriolet

By Mike Hanlon

May 7, 2007 Porsche today continued its two decade tradition of soft top 911 turbos when it released details of a new 911 Turbo Cabriolet which will go on sale on September 8. The US$172,000 2+2 convertible is powered by a biturbo 3.6 liter engine with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) producing 480 bhp (353 kW). Porsche’s new optional “Sport Chrono Turbo Package” includes an overboost function, enabling the standard Cabriolet’s 620 Nm torque figure to be pushed to 680 Nm intermittently. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) gives the Turbo Cabriolet diverse driving modes while offering an extremely high level of driving safety. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and the all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) systems also optimise grip and performance. Read More