The test season at the Nürburgring is now officially opened and it looks like Porsche has been among the first automakers to take its model on the `Ring for some testing sessions. Our spy photographers have caught the revised Panamera out a spin and, as with the previously seen prototype, it wears almost no camouflage.
On the exterior, the Panamera will get new headlamps and taillights, plus redesigned front and rear bumpers. For the interior, Porsche will add improved materials and new technologies.
As for the engine lineup, you shouldn’t expect any major updates, but it has been rumored that the 4S version will drop the current V-8 engine in favor of a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine that will deliver about 420 horsepower - an increase of 20 horsepower over the current model — at some point in the future.
Expect the revised Panamera to be unveiled sometime next month.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a unique auto show that highlights more than today’s cars, but also pays homage to some past classics that paved the way for the current model’s to be as esteemed as they are.
For German automaker, Porsche, the 2013 Festival of Speed is an opportunity to showcase one such classic as part of its 50th anniversary: the 1965 Porsche 911 Project 50.
The model is actually a 1965 Porsche 911 that came powered by a 2.0-liter flat-six engine that produced 130 horsepower, a huge number back in the 60’s. The owner, who actually paid just £3,438 ($5,211) in today’s exchange, was an Italian who eventually sold it and soon thereafter, the car changed owners multiple times. It included a stop in the U.S. where it was soon imported to the UK sometime in the late 90’s where it morphed into a fully restored, FIA-Approved race car by what Porsche says was an "established historic Porsche motor sport preparation company."
In its current guise, the 911 Project 50 looks like it’s still got some legs to challenge in an auto race. At the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the car will make its public debut before embarking on a competition schedule that will include stops at a number of “Masters Series” events to go with appearances at larger festivals, such as the Nürburgring OldTimer and Silverstone Classic.
The car, itself, will be housed out of the company’s UK headquarters in Reading, Berkshire, and maintained by the in-house Porsche Cars GB Motorsport team. We’ll bring you more details as they become available.
Porsche announced a series of upgrades for the 911 GT3 R that will be used during the 2013 racing season. The model receives an improved aerodynamic kit, upgraded suspension and an array of updated electronic driver assistance systems.
The aerodynamic kit includes new front bumper panels, fenders, sill covers, rear panel and a new rear diffuser. The 2013 GT3 R also received an enlarged and repositioned rear wing. The wheelbase grows by 10 millimeters (0.39 inches), and both front and rear axles are increased by 50 millimeters (1.96 inches). The model will be offered with new wheels, now sized 12 inches wide, instead of 10.9 inches.
Under the hood, the model retains the usual 4-liter, six-cylinder boxer engine that delivers a total of 500 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed sequential dog-type gearbox with pneumatic shift system and operated via shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Customers interested can upgrade their older model to the 2013-spec for a price of €45,500 - around $59,000 at the current exchange rates.
Learning how to handle a sports car can be pretty difficult, especially for an inexperienced driver. Lucky for us, most companies that produce such powerful models also offer driving lessons in their particular driving schools.
One such place is the Porsche Sport Driving School where drivers can spend up to three days learning how to properly drive their cars. The school is based in Silverstone and features three levels of training: Precision, Performance and Master. Depending on the one you will opt for, you will have to spend up to three days in the school learning how to behave behind the wheels of a Porsche sports car.
The guys over XCAR were invited by Porsche to follow a Precision course. The course simulates any kind of driving condition, ranging from a hot, sunny day and to bad weather and ultra-slippery conditions. The course also offers one-hour access to the legendary Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.
All you have to do is have fun!
Porsche has unveiled a new video featuring its Exclusive program that offers its clients the possibility to customize their cars according to personal wishes and requirements. According to the company, this program will allow you to obtain "a Porsche as individual as your fingerprint. A Porsche like no others: Yours."
The program can be applied to all models in the lineup and will include elements, like: Luxor Beige leather interior; steering column casing; personalized floor mats; carbon-fiber; Alcantara; and decorative trims on the dashboard and door panels. The program also offers special wheels and customized exterior colors, like Cognac Metallic or Platinum Silver Metallic offered exclusively for the Cayman.
The list of choices is pretty much endless, so everyone can customize the car of his dreams.
If you want to read more about the Porsche Exclusive Program, check its personal web page.
A cult classic, the 911 Targa was phased out with the 964 generation, after living a long life that started in 1965. Rumors have been swirling around about its resurrection and our spy photographers have even caught this machine on the road a few times, but it was donning a not-so-impressive disguise: a canvas coating on the roof that made it appear to be just a simple convertible model.
Today, our spy photographers caught the upcoming Porsche 911 Targa for a second time. Unfortunately, it is still wearing its convertible disguise, but it is easy to spot the separation where the removable top is. The official details on the 911 Targa are still completely unknown and we are not too sure if it will be offered as a two-wheel- or four-wheel-drive model, or possibly the option of both.
You can expect to see the 911 Targa unveiled sometime later this year and it should be in stores in time to make it a 2014 model year.
Last year, Gemballa unveiled the Aero 1 tuning kit based on the new Porsche Cayenne. For this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the tuner upgraded the kit and transformed it into Aero 2. The new kit adds a new aerodynamic package that increases the presence of the Cayenne.
The new kit includes all the elements offered in the Aero 1, like front bumper and spoiler, the rear bumper and the side skirts, but adds new wheel arch extensions and new side sills that made the Cayenne even wider. All the elements are made in carbon fiber. The new Aero 2 kit is offered with 22-inch forged wheels that weigh about the same as the factory 20-inch wheels. If you want to pay less, you can order the new wheels in a cast version.
The interior is also modified when compared to the Aero 1, and what we like the most are those yellow insertions.
Unfortunately, this is purely an aesthetic package, so there are no under-hood modifications.
German tuner, RUF, unveiled the RT-35 to celebrate its 35th anniversary. Now, for the 2013 Geneva Motor Show the package has been transformed into the RT-35s - a kit that adds even more power and an updated look.
While the standard version delivered a total of 630 horsepower, the new RT-35s is based on the new-generation Porsche 991 and delivers an extra 20 horsepower. The model is also equipped with a seven-speed manual gearbox. We are not very sure if the extra power made any improvements on the car’s performance figures, but a 205 mph top speed is already quite enough for a Porsche 911.
For the exterior, the new RT-35s received a new front spoiler and a standard Porsche “ducktail” that offers double downforce. As with most other tuning kits, the new RT-35s is offered with new wheels to help lighten the unsprung weight and add a little more rubber-to-road contact. The car is painted yellow, which a tribute to the first Porsche tuned by RUF. For the interior, the tuner added a new roll cage and an Alcantara trim.
German tuner, RUF Automobile, unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show an updated 3800S kit based on the the latest-generation Porsche Boxster and Cayman models. The kit includes both exterior and engine upgrades and it is available now.
Under the hood, the model received an updated 3.8-liter flat-six engine that delivers a total of 420 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 332 pound-feet of torque at 5,600 rpm. The engine is mated to a double-clutch transmission and sends its all power to the rear wheels.
Once the job under the hood was done, the tuner continued with updating the exterior look. RUF is offering an aerodynamic kit that includes new front and rear bumpers, and an updated rear diffuser. The last piece of the tuning is the new set of alloys in a five-spoke design and painted in black.
The interior can also be upgraded with better quality materials, like Alcantara or carbon fiber.
Prices for the new kit will be announced at a later date.
Porsche is already preparing a facelift for the Panamera luxury sedan. The car has been caught testing many times, but this time the car was caught testing with almost no camouflage. Our spy photographers caught both standard and Turbo version, so you can easily see the changes featured on both models.
As you can see, the revised Panamera will receive new headlamps and taillights, plus redesigned front and rear bumpers. Porsche will also redesign the interior with improved materials and new technologies.
We expect some upgrades regarding the engine and transmission, so you can expect the new Panamera to deliver improved fuel economy and better performance. Rumors suggest that the 4S version will drop the current V-8 engine in favor of a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine that will deliver about 420 horsepower - an increase of 20 horsepower over the current model.
We expect the new Porsche Panamera to be unveiled in April 2013.
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