Porsche

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

The 345 km/h Porsche 911 Turbo TechArt GTstreet

By Mike Hanlon

February 23, 2007 German company TechArt Automobildesign has created one of the fastest and most powerful street-legal sports cars available which will see its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2007. The new TechArt Gtstreet is based on the 997 series Porsche 911 Turbo and has an extraordinarily powerful engine, having tweaked the 3.6-liter twin-turbo boxer engine to develop 630 hp / 463 kW at 6,800 rpm, up from standard 480 hp / 353 kW. Peak torque has been increased from 620 Nm to 820 Nm at 4,500 rpm, giving it a 0–100 km/h time of 3.2 seconds, 0–200 km/h of 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 345 km/h. The body kit for the TechArt GTstreet was created in the wind tunnel, and offers an optimal symbiosis of aerodynamic downforce, minimized drag and striking design. Read More

1,054 bhp Porsche 997 to attempt World Speed Record for Street-Legal Cars

By Mike Hanlon

December 6, 2006 MISSION 400 PLUS is attempting to to win the Blue Ribbon for the world’s fastest street-legal sports car next year, with a top speed of more than 400 km/h. Developed through collaboration with H&R, Jürgen Alzen Motorsport and engine tuner RS Tuning and the sports car is based on the Porsche 997. With a boost pressure of 1.5 bar the engine develops 1,054 hp / 775.7 kW at 7,700 rpm and a peak torque of 1,030 Nm at 5,800 rpm, yet, the record hunter meets stringent EURO IV emission limits. Read More

New Porsche Cayenne - more power, torque and technology

By Mike Hanlon

December 5, 2006 Four years after its debut, Porsche has unveiled the second generation Cayenne. When they go on sale in February 2007, the new Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo will have more powerful, direct petrol injection engines. These Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) power units lower the fuel consumption of individual models by over 8 percent (NEDC). In real driving conditions, Porsche claims savings of up to 15 per cent are possible. The new Cayenne models can be further enhanced by the new Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) roll stabiliser system - an optional active anti-roll system that significantly reduces body roll during cornering, resulting in improved handling and agility, greater directional stability and ride comfort. When off-road, the system increases axle articulation for improved traction. Read More

Porsche motorsport heritage on display

By Mike Hanlon

September 12, 2006 Porsche aficionados down under will be in for a rare treat this Southern Hemisphere summer when a priceless collection of iconic racing cars from the Porsche Museum tour the country and appear at two of the country’s glamour historic racing events - the Classic Adelaide and the Phillip Island Classic. Among the seven unique Porsche racing cars will be Formula One, Le Mans and Targa Florio winners, with each car having its own unique place in history. Heading the list is the 804 – Porsche’s first and only wholly-produced F1 car that won the 1962 French GP driven by Dan Gurney. Other vehicles to be seen at the Classic Adelaide and Phillip Island Classic include a 1954 Carrera Panamericana-winning 550 Spyder, a 1977 Le Mans-winning 936 and a Targa Florio-winning 908/03 Spyder. Read More

The Gold-plated Porsche

By Mike Hanlon

August 16, 2006 The town of Pforzheim in south-west Germany is famous for its jewellery and watch-making industry and accordingly is known as “the City of Gold.” The city is also the home of the first Gold-plated Porsche. Visualis, which is situated in Pforzheim, commissioned an artist to gild a Porsche Boxster in 22 carat beaten gold last year and now comes the news that the Gold Boxter will be followed by a limited edition model and nine further Porsches will be plated. All the major components, from the control elements such as the steering wheel and door knobs to the car body and alloy rims, are all gold plated, making the two seater extraordinarily expensive, and a price that Visualis has not yet disclosed. Nine further Porsche Models will undergo the same, unique refinement process to continue the creative project. Visualis’ Petra Koehler reports that “curious people are already anxious to know who are going to be the owners of these magnificent automobiles.” If you fancy owning such an exquisite object, perhaps start by emailing Petra. Read More

New all-wheel drive Porsche 911 Targa models

By Mike Hanlon

July 17, 2006 Porsche is to add two new variants of the eleven series in November – the 911 Targa 4 and the 911 Targa 4S. Both Targa models will be available exclusively with permanent all-wheel drive and a body that is 44 millimeters wider at the rear. As with their predecessor (the Type 996), the most striking feature of both of these elegant sports cars is the large glass roof and folding rear window. The Targa 4 is powered by the familiar flat-six engine, delivering 239 kW (325 bhp) of power from 3.6 liters. It accelerates the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 280 km/h. The more powerful S variant features a 3.8-liter engine producing 261 kW (355 bhp). This model sprints to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 288 km/h. The basic euro-price for the 911 Targa 4 is 79,000 euros, or 87,900 euros for the 911 Targa 4S. Read More

The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS

By Mike Hanlon

May 30, 2006 Porsche has announced a purist variant of the GT3 which will be particularly suited for use on the racetrack when it becomes available in October. The GT3 RS is distinguished by its performance capability and the unadulterated driving experience enjoyed with a racing car, but also meets all requirements for road-legal sports cars. The exceptionally meaty engine boasts a displacement of 3.6 liters to generate 305 kW (415 bhp) at 7,600 rpm. Maximum revs are reached at 8,400 rpm. The power output per liter of engine capacity is 115.3 bhp. These figures correspond to the present GT3. But the RS puts in an even better performance. Thanks to a close-ratio six-speed transmission with a single-mass flywheel and the 20 kg lower vehicle weight, the engine revs up even more freely, thus enabling the 911 GT3 to sprint from zero to 100 km per hour in 4.2 seconds. That's one tenth of a second faster than the GT3. It takes just 13.3 seconds to hit to 200 km per hour. Maximum speed is 310 km per hour. Read More

New Entry-Level Porsche Cayman announced

By Mike Hanlon

May 23, 2006 Porsche has announced an entry level version of the Cayman S which recently won the 2006 World Performance Car title. Based on the Boxster, the new version of the mid-engined sports coupe is a more accessible version of the Cayman S, with a base price under US$50,000. The new Cayman is powered by a 2.7-liter six-cylinder Boxer engine producing 245 horsepower. Using the VarioCam Plus system, the Cayman provides a broad spread of usable power, with a plateau of torque peaking at 201 foot-pounds between 4,600 and 6,000 revs. In manual form, the new Cayman will go from standstill to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds (0-100 km/h, 6.1 sec) with a top speed of 160 mph (258 km/h). Read More

Production ends on Porsche Carrera GT: the most successful supercar in history

By Mike Hanlon

May 12, 2006 The manufacture of the Carrera GT at Porsche's facility in Leipzig, Germany, concluded earlier this week, bringing to a close what Porsche labels “the most successful supercar in history.” Porsche’s claim is based on sales of the beastie - more than 1,270 Carrera GTs have been sold since its introduction in late 2003 with around half that finding homes in North America. This figure represents a greater number than the total production of the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo, and Pagani Zonda models combined. Regardless, even in an economic climate that did not favor products in this segment of the market, the V-10 supercar sold in unprecedented numbers. Our favourite quote on the Carrera GT was that of MotorWeek TV show host John Davis who said, "the Carrera GT is the best motivation to get rich that we've ever driven." Read More

Happy birthday to Porsche

By Mike Hanlon

April 27, 2006 We’re forever missing birthday’s and we missed a biggie this week when Porsche Engineering Group GmbH, the oldest forerunner company preceding Porsche AG as we know it today, turned 75. On 25 April 1931 Ferdinand Porsche founded an Engineering Office in Stuttgart under the name "Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, Konstruktion und Beratung für Motoren- und Fahrzeugbau" ("Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche Ltd., Construction and Consultancy Company for Engine and Vehicle Production"), and subsequently had the new Company entered in the trade register. There are few males on Planet Eart who haven’t lusted after one of Porsche’s products and we have some lovely images of the company’s finest work in the image database. Read More

Disney's cute Porsche - Sally Carrera

By Mike Hanlon

March 27, 2006 Looks kinda cute for a Porsche doesn’t it. The characters of hotshot rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), Sally Carrera, a snazzy 2002 Porsche 911 (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) and Mater, a rusty but trusty tow truck (voiced by Larry The Cable Guy) from Disney•Pixar’s upcoming release, “CARS” exist not only on the movie screen, but in sheetmetal as well. Our old mate West Coast movie car creator (“if it doesn’t work it’s just not finished yet”) Eddie Paul, with help from Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios’ artists and technicians, created life-sized versions of three of the film’s lead characters. Sally Carrera, a converted Porsche 911, was the first of the film’s stars to roll off the production line. Paul, who was introduced to Porsche by entertainer Jay Leno, has been building cars for Hollywood for more than three decades. Read More

World Premiere for new Porsche 911 GT3

By Mike Hanlon

UPDATED NEW IMAGES AND PRICING February 25, 2006 The new Porsche 911 GT3 to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on February 28 sets a new benchmark for road-legal production sports cars with a 3.6-litre naturally aspirated engine. This uncompromised 911 sports coupe produces 305 kW of power for a specific output of 84.7 kW (115.3 bhp) per litre of displacement to create the new class benchmark. The 911 GT3 will be one of two star cars from Porsche at Geneva, with the 911 Turbo Coupe also making its World Premiere at the motor show. Read More

Sixth generation Porsche 911 Turbo debuts with 60 more horsepower

By Mike Hanlon

February 14, 2006 The sixth generation of the famous Porsche 911 series’ top-of-the-range Turbo model will be celebrating its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show and will be available in German dealerships from June. The 911 Turbo (Type 997) now has an output of 353 kW (480 bhp) at 6,000 rpm, 60 bhp more than its predecessor (Type 996). The specific output of the 3.6-litre boxer engine thus climbs to a new all-time high of 98 kW (133 bhp) per liter of displacement. Rated torque has been increased from 560 to 620 Newtonmeters. The speed range in which this power is available has also been extended. While the previous model’s maxi-mum torque was available between 2,700 and 4,600 rpm, the corresponding figures are now 1,950 to 5,000 revs. In addition to the 911 Turbo, Porsche will be presenting another world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show: the new 911 GT3, billed by Porsche as a “racing car for the road.” Read More

New Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Unveiled

By Mike Hanlon

January 5, 2005 A new, supreme top-of-the-range model is taking over the leading position within the Porsche Cayenne range; second only to the Carrera GT, the Cayenne Turbo S is the most powerful Porsche homologated for road use. Benefiting from careful improvement and on-going development of the turbocharger system, the eight-cylinder bi-turbo power unit develops maximum output of 383 kW (521 bhp) at 5500 rpm, 52 kW or 71 bhp more than the Cayenne Turbo. Maximum torque of 720 Newton-metres or 531 lb-ft, in turn, is maintained consistently all the way between 2,750 and 3,750 rpm. This impressive output is reflected by truly outstanding performance on the road. The Cayenne Turbo S accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds, sprints from 80 – 120 km/h (50 – 75 mph) in fifth gear in 5.4 seconds, and has a top speed of 270 km/h or 167 mph. Read More

Porsche Plans Cayenne with Hybrid Engine

By Mike Hanlon

September 16, 2005 Porsche plans to launch a fourth version of the Cayenne Sports Utility Vehicle by the end of the decade. This vehicle will be powered by hybrid drive (gasoline engine and electric motor) being developed together with Volkswagen Group. This environmentally-friendly drive concept in the Cayenne will be based on a Full Hybrid Drive System, meaning that the vehicle will be powered by both a gasoline combustion engine and an electric motor able to operate both independently of one another and together in a joint process. A second clutch between the two drive units will allow the electric motor to operate fully independently whenever appropriate. The vehicle's power electronics, focusing on the position of the throttle, will determine the level of electrical energy to be supplied by the storage battery fitted at the rear of the vehicle to the electric motor in order to generate the drive power needed. Once the second clutch is closed, both the combustion engine and the electric motor are able to convey their power to the transmission. As soon as the electrical energy available has been consumed, the electric motor is automatically deactivated and the vehicle is driven entirely by the combustion engine. Read More

Porsche Cayman S - all the detail

By Mike Hanlon

September 19, 2005 As we’ve known for six months now, the Cayman is the name of Porsche’s new Sports Coupe based on the Boxster model series. Ranking between the Boxster S and the 911 Carrera, this mid-engined two-seater sports car is powered by a 3.4-litre 295 bhp horizontally-opposed six-cylinder accelerating the Cayman S to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and providing a top speed of 275 km/h or 183 mph. The car was publicly shown for the first time at Frankfurt Motor Show and will no doubt be one of the luxury design company’s most popular models in the coming years. Benefiting from its supreme body stiffness and superb balance of weight with the power unit upfront of the rear axle, the Cayman S is a genuine driving machine able to lap the Nord-schleife, the Northern Circuit of Nurburgring, in just 8:20 minutes – faster than the Boxster S and only a bit slower than the 911 Carrera. Read More

The “Transparent“ Porsche: Laboratory-on-wheels cuts electronics development time

By Mike Hanlon

September 2, 2005. The word “Cayenne” designates one of Porsche’s best known automotive achievements but it also, apparently, means “clarity.” Which is the relevant word pertaining to one of the world famous design company’s development vehicle used in assessing new components and design changes. The “transparent” laboratory-on-wheels used by Porsche is quite unique the world over and used by Porsche’s engineers for the ongoing development of safe and reliable electronic systems. It enables Porsche engineers to test future electronic systems on the road under driving conditions a year earlier than is normal in the development process and Porsche believes its leadership in this area will enable it to develop the most sophisticated, reliable and high-performance electronic systems available and reduce the development time for new models to reach market. Read More

Porsche to build new Panamera four-door Sports Coupe for 2009 launch

By Mike Hanlon

July 28, 2005 Porsche is to build a new Panamera model line - a premium-class sports coupe with four seats, four doors, a front-mounted engine and rear wheel drive. Scheduled to enter the market in 2009, the Panamera will be the fourth model line from the Stuttgart carmaker following the 911, the Boxster and the Cayenne. The new car's name is derived from the legendary Carrera Panamericana long-distance race. Read More

Open-air Porsche duo with all-wheel technology

By Mike Hanlon

July 4, 2005 Porsche has announced a new generation of open 911 versions with all-wheel drive. The 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolets will be shown for the first time in October this year with the 280 km/h Carrera 4 Cabriolet powered by the 239 kW (325 bhp) 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine and the 288 km/h 4S model powered by the 261 kW (355 bhp) 3.8-liter engine. As is already the case with the coupe version of the Carrera 4, power transmission in the Cabriolets is by all-wheel drive with a Visco multi-plate clutch, which consistently brings between five and 40 percent of the driving power to the road via the front wheels. Read More