July 2, 2008
AutoTelegraaf is reporting that the Panamera will start production in April 2009. Porsche plans to build about 20,000 Panameras per year, and it will debut in March 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 4,000-lb 4-door is expected to offer the same engines as the Cayenne, however, the V6 model may not be available until 2010. A hybrid model is expected in 2011, and even diesel rumors have been floating around.
[source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]
Posted in Panamera 
No Comments »
July 2, 2008
Here is a nice review of the Boxster RS 60 Spyder. They give the car 5 stars, and although they say it could use more power, they praise its handling:
In corners though, the RS 60 plays its ace card. You should expect sure-footed handling from any mid-engined sports car, but this RS 60 is one of the best on the road today. It corners so well that you feel like you are in a film that’s on fast forward. Turn in and it goes exactly where you want. You can be as rough as you like because the grip levels are almost alarming - it just hangs on relentlessly. On dry surfaces you have to be extraordinarily ragged before the traction control kicks in, but in the wet you’ll find the traction control a benevolent, calming force. It’s never aggressive, but it’ll point you in the right direction if you start running out of talent.
Click here to read the full review.
[source: Channel 4]
Posted in Boxster No Comments »
July 2, 2008
Some folks in Wisconsin got a call from the Sheriff awhile back. It seems a landowner found a car in their pond and wanted it out of there. The Sheriff told the folks if they helped get it out, and there was no foul play involved and it wasn’t reported stolen, they could have it.
So, they headed over to take a look. The divers were testing out a new video system, and it showed a red Porsche 356. A short time later, the divers hooked up some cables to the car and they started pulling it out.
Unfortunately, the car was so far gone that by the time they got it to shore, it started breaking apart. From the pictures, it doesn’t look like much is salvageable… maybe the rear glass, but that’s about it.
A sad end for such a magnificent machine. Check out more pics after the jump.
[source: Jalopy Journal H.A.M.B. forums]
Read the rest of this entry »
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June 2, 2008
If you look longingly at the true 911 Targas from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and wish Porsche still made a proper 911 Targa instead of that silly sliding-glass Targa-in-name-only 911, look no further. A California-based performance shop named VeloTech has developed its own true Targa setup for current 911s.
The roof is mostly carbon fiber, and the conversion currently costs $10,000. VeloTech hopes to be able to get that down to $6,000 to further expand the market. From the picture, it looks like they start with a 911 Cabriolet. I have to say, it looks damn good.
[source: Detroit News via Autoblog]
Posted in Tuners, 911 No Comments »
June 2, 2008
Think that Cayenne is expensive here in the U.S.? That’s nothing compared to how much it would cost you in some European markets.
New CO2 emissions-based taxes and penalties are killing the SUV market in Europe. Consider some of these:
* In the Netherlands, Cayenne S buyers will have to pay a luxury tax of €38k ($59k)
* In Finland, a surcharge of €26k ($40k) is required
* France is a relative bargain at “only” €10k ($16k), but you will also need to pay a yearly tax of €3k ($4.7k)
* Norway is the big winner (loser?) at €54k ($84k)
Well, you get the idea. It isn’t surprising that SUV sales in France is down 46%.
[source: Auto Motor und Sport via The Truth About Cars]
Posted in Cayenne No Comments »
June 2, 2008
Porsche Design Group is releasing its first fragrance for men this fall. “The Essence by Porsche Design” is co-developed by the Porsche SE subsidiary that produces high-end accessories and by Groupe Clarins’ Parfums Azzaro.
So, what does The Essence smell like? Well, one molecule, Artical, was the starting point for the “fresh aromatic woody juice.” Other top notes are juniper and blueberry. Heart notes include Russian coriander, black pepper, and Siberian pine, and the base notes include fir balsam, patchouli, and incense. And I have no clue what any of that means.
It is targeted toward an urban, cultured, intelligent, sporty, sensual man in the 25-50 age range. It launches in the U.S. at Bloomingdale’s during the first week of October, then in Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in November. Prices will be $54 for a 1.7 oz. eau de toilette spray; $70 for a 2.7 oz. eau de toilette spray; $28 for a 6.7 oz. hair and body shampoo; $20 for a 2.5 oz. stick deodorant; and $80 for a 2.7 oz. “luxury” eau de toilette spray in a special black glass. Get in line now.
[source: Luxist]
Posted in Porsche Design No Comments »
June 2, 2008
Porsche has denied that they are working on a smaller Cayenne (dubbed the “Roxster” by the press) even though spy shots recently surfaced of a smaller SUV testing on the ‘ring. (My guess is that the smaller SUV being tested is actually the next-generation Cayenne, since earlier rumors mentioned it would be smaller.)
Porsche has also denied the oft-rumored Panamera-based coupe, said to be a successor to the 928. Porsche exec Klaus Berning told Auto Motor und Sport that Porsche was already stretched to its limit with the upcoming Panamera launch.
They will, however, be hiring up to 2,100 new employees and expanding their dealer network from 650 dealers to 700 over the next couple of years, mostly from expansion in Russia and China. They also expect the new Panamera to add about 20,000 units per year to their sales, but those may come at the cost of some Cayenne sales, so their annual sales should remain close to 100,000.
[source: Motor Authority]
Posted in Rumors, Panamera, Cayenne No Comments »
June 2, 2008
The Penske RS Spyders continued their success in ALMS taking first and second overall at the Larry H Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix presented by the Grand and Little America Hotels (whew, long name!)
The #6 car driven by Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas crossed the line 22.656 seconds ahead of its #7 sister car driving by Patrick Long and Sascha Maassen. The new de Ferran Motorsports Acura entry finished an impressive third in its first outing.
Dumas grabbed the lead when the Audi R10 driven by Emanuele Pirro pitted from first place. With 30 minutes left, the Lucas Luhr-driven R10 suffered a slow puncture when it was only 3 seconds behind Dumas, and Pirro made contact with a Ford GT with 28 minutes left and was knocked off course. LMP2 cars took the first six places, beating the supposedly faster LMP1 cars.
The Flying Lizard Motorsports entries finished first and second in the GT2 class. Wolf Henzler and Jörg Bergmeister grabbed their first victory since Sebring, finishing one lap ahead of their sister car driven by Johannes van Overbeek and Patrick Pilet. This was the second 1-2 finish for the Lizards this year.
The next race is July 11 - 12 at Lime Rock.
[source: crash.net]
Posted in RS Spyder, Racing No Comments »
June 2, 2008
Rumors flew a few weeks ago that Porsche might start building Cayennes in VW’s upcoming U.S. factory. Porsche spokesman Albrecht Bamler said that there’s no need to produce the Cayenne in the U.S. because the parts suppliers are all in Europe, and Porsche has currency hedging in place until 2013 to offset the weak dollar.
But wait, what’s that? The rumor said that the Cayenne wouldn’t be built in the U.S. until 2015? Two years after the currency hedging expires? Bamler said that was too far into the future to speculate on the next Cayenne.
[source: Autoblog]
Posted in Rumors, Cayenne No Comments »
May 12, 2008
Motor Authority has posted an awesome video of the facelifted 1010 911 GT3 RS running some laps around the Nordschleffe, then taking off on the street.
According to Motor Authority, the new GT3 RS will get the same LED daytime running lights and revised taillights seen on previous test-mules, and it will also sport a cleaner front end with larger intakes in the lower skirt and a new lip spoiler.
Click here to check on their video, and turn up the volume. The sound is intoxicating.
[source: Motor Authority]
Posted in Video, 911 GT3, Spy Shots, 911 No Comments »
