Porsche cars

Video: Making of the New 911 Carrera 4 Films

We all loved the promo video Porsche unveiled for its latest-generation Carrera 4, but have you ever wondered what the technology behind the video was? If you have, Porsche has unveiled a new video explaining how those four video were made.

You probably remember that the promo video was shot during all four seasons, so how was this possible? You can easily imagine Porsche didn’t wait for the seasons to change; rather, it filmed all the shots in just six days.

To create the right environment the company used: 14, 832 cubic-feet of artificial snow, 2,641 gallons of rain, 22,954 cubic-feet of artificial fog and 4,857,166 autumn leaves. This was the recipe for having the right season at your fingertips!

Along with this impressive amount of artificial phenomena, Porsche also used lots of cars, lots of people, computers and much, much more! So you see, creating the right video is not always that easy!

Video: Porsche Launches its New Co-Pilot Program

Keeping a very powerful car under control can be pretty challenging, especially when you are not a professional driver. Luckily for us though, lots of automakers are offering driving courses that will teach you how to keep the herd under the hood under control.

Porsche pulls this off with its recently announced Leipzig Co-Pilot program. The program includes a factory tour at Porsche Leipzig plant where you will witness the assembly of a Porsche vehicle and, of course, a co-driving experience. During this experience, a professional instructor will introduce you to the vehicle and then show you how to control said Porsche at high speeds.

The price for the new Co-Pilot program depends on the model you choose: a Cayenne Turbo costs €98 ($128), a Panamera costs €125 ($163), a Cayenne off-road costs €135 ($176); a 911 costs €155 ($203) and a 911 GT3 Cup costs €210 ($275).

Video: Porsche explains the construction of the Panamera Sport Turismo

Panamera Sport Turismo Concept made its official debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and now Porsche has unveiled a new video presenting the design process behind this exclusive concept car.

In this video you will be watching designers Michael Mauer and Mitja Borkert to Porsche’s R&D center in Weissach. They are explaining the development process of the Panamera Sport Turismo. You will learn about every step needed to transform a clay model into the concept you have seen in Paris.

As a reminder, the Panamera Sport Turismo Concept is powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that delivers a total of 428 horsepower and allows the concept to go from zero to 62 mph in less than six seconds. It can be driven in pure electric mode up to a speed of 80 mph and can cover distances of over 18 miles. But before you’ll get to excited you have to know Porsche has no intention in offering a production version of this concept.

1998 Porsche MC600 by Mcchip-dkr

While everyone is enjoying the latest-generation Porsche 991 GT2, the guys over Mcchip-dkr have developed a sweet tuning kit based on the 993 generation. The package wants to prove that even older models can get a little performance love too, including modern software tuning.

Mcchip-dkr began things by swapping out the car’s engine with a new 3.6-liter bi-turbo unit with a new engine block and rebuilt K26 turbochargers. A limited-slip differential from DREXLER company was added in to help deliver the power to the rear wheel efficiently. The tuner also installed a new exhaust system with sport catalysts. As a result, the 993 GT2 delivers a total of 604 horsepower and of 624 pound-feet of torque.

The GT2 has also been equipped with a new set of wheels measuring 10-by-18 inches on the front and 13-by-18 inches on the rear. The wheels are combined with a new KW racing suspension Competition Variant 3 to help keep this aging 911 glued to the tarmac.

For the interior, Mcchip—dkr installed a safety cage and new bucket seats by Recaro. The car doors and interior panels are fabricated from carbon fiber, and the display system is equipped with a data recording and video system.

This car does not come cheap, however, and if you were impressed by it you will have to pay a total of €200,000 (about $265,500 at the current exchange rates).

Video: Porsche Promotes "Motionless Driving" With Projection-Mapping Video

More often than not, videos that last over four minutes are probably 30 seconds to a minute too long, but not this one. In this case, four minutes just isn’t enough.

German automaker, Porsche, engaged in the concept of "motionless driving" by taking us on a unique and visceral experience that highlights the almighty Porsche 911. Porsche accomplished this through projection-mapping technology, a concept that highlights the emotions of driving a 911, all while doing it with a unique platform at the company’s Porsche Center Padova at an event where the 911 served as a projection screen for this rather amazing presentation.

This video is certainly worth your four minutes. Heck, after watching it, you might just ask for more time from Porsche. We won’t blame you because we feel the exact same way.

In any case, give it a watch and you’ll understand exactly what we’re talking about.

Production Version Porsche 918 Spyder Revealed in Chinese Patents

Until now, we have seen lots of images of the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder, but all of them were images of the prototype versions. Today, however, the first leaked images of the production version have dripped their way on the internet via the leak-happy Chinese patent office.

As no surprise, the production version looks pretty similar to the concept versions, but it has finally received its door handles, mirrors, indicator lights, seat belts, a slightly different front bumper and redesigned air intakes in the front bumper. Also, the exhaust pipes are now placed in the right position and not on the car’s side as in the concept versions.

Under the hood, the 918 Spyder will combine a 4.6-liter V-8 engine delivering a total of 570 horsepower with an electric motor that adds an extra 200 horsepower.

The production version will debut in September 2013 and will be priced at about $1 million.

2012 Porsche 911 Turbo by Wheels Boutique

Porsche will be unveiling the next generation Turbo sometime next year. But until then, the guys over at Wheels Boutique have created a very cool tuning kit based on the latest 911 Turbo->Porsche model. The kit has been developed in cooperation with Vorsteiner, who developed the body kit and ADV.1, who was in charge of fitting the sports car’s wheels.

The kit offered by Vorsteiner includes new front and rear bumpers, a lip spoiler in carbon fiber, new side wheels and a huge rear wing. The kit was installed by Wheels Boutique who also fitted the 911 Turbo’s new set of wheels from ADV.1, measuring 20×9.0 up front and 20×12.5 at the rear and wrapped in Michelin PSS tires sized 245/30/20 front and 325/25/20 rear. The wheels were combined with a new set of KW coilovers.

Under the hood, this specially customized Porsche Turbo received a new Prototech ECU, Evo headers, a Tubi race exhaust, an EVO intercooler and an IPD plentum intake. Unfortunately, the tuner did not reveal how these updates have improved the car’s performance numbers, but we hope we’ll learn that soon.

The last piece of this impressive tuning kit is a custom matte red paint scheme offered by The Sign Savers.

Video: Porsche 911 RSR lapping at 2012 Petit Le Mans

Flying Lizards took their Porsche 911 RSR to the track for the first official practice session during the 2012 Petit Le Mans. The guys over GoPro were just around Road Atlanta circuit and they shot a pretty impressive video using a pair of HERO3 cameras at 2.7K/30fps. Watch the video to hear the amazing sound produced by the racing car!

As a reminder, the 911 GT3 RSR is powered by a 4.0 liter six-cylinder boxer engine that delivers a total of 460 HP. The engine sends its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed gearbox operated via paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

On the exterior the race car received a specially developed aerodynamic package, while the interior received all the updates needed for the race track. The model can be raced at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the American Le Mans Series, and the International GT Open and is priced at $685,000.

2013 Porsche Carrera 4 and 4S

After testing the all-wheel drive version of the new generation Porsche 911 Carrera for quite some time, Porsche has finally dropped the official details on the new Carrera 4 and 4S models. The new models will make their world debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and will be put on sale at the end of the year. Prices for the German market will start from 97,557 euro ($122,300 at the current rates) for the coupe and 110,290 euro ($138,200 at the current rates) for the convertible model.

The new Carrera 4 is powered by a 3.4-liter flat-six engine that delivers a total of 350 HP, while the 4S version gets a 3.8 liter engine that produces 400 HP. The standard version can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, while the 4S will do the sprint in 4.1 seconds. Top speed for the 4S coupe version goes up to an impressive 185 mph.

Next to being more powerful than the previous generation, the new Carrera 4 and 4S models are about 143 lbs lighter. The two models have also been equipped with the AWD Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system and feature 22mm wider rear wheel arches when compared to the standard Carrera.

UPDATE 12/19/2012: Porsche has unveiled a new video for its latest Carrera 4 in which it explains the heritage of all-wheel drive on the 911, looking at the origins of this system and how it’s developed, with a special look at the technological masterpiece of the 959. Enjoy!

Hit the jump to read more about the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S.

2012 Porsche 911 GT2 RS "The Hulk" by Sportec

Ask any three-year-old kid who The Hulk is and he will tell you he is a green superhero whose physical strength depends on his anger. For Sportec, however, things are a little bit different, as "The Hulk" is a monstrous Porsche GT2 RS that can hit a top speed of 187 mph.

Sportec’s Hulk has been specially designed for delivering amazing performance on the race track, so next to making it very powerful, the tuner also focused on lowering the weight by as much as possible. To achieve the lowest possible weight, all of the comfort features have been dropped — air conditioning was the only one left untouched — and the interior received two Recaro bucket seats.

Most attention, however, was been paid to the engine. Under the hood, Sportec installed special camshafts, a larger intercooler, reinforced titanium connecting rods, a sports air filter and a reinforced clutch. All these updates, along with a new exhaust system with upgraded manifolds, sport catalysts and titanium Akrapovic muffler, have increased the engine’s output to a total of 720 horsepower and a peak torque of 626 pound-feet. As a result, the car will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 8.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 187 mph.

The Hulk also received a new traction control system that does not brake through the drive system, but rather by using the reduction of engine power by limiting the fuel coming from the fuel injectors. There is also a new set of wheels combined with fully adjustable Bilstein suspension and a modified brake system with 380 mm (14.96 inch) discs.

Customers interested will have to pay a total of €22,000 ($29,000) for the engine upgrades, which deliver up to 655 horsepower. €6,500 ($8,500) will get you the exhaust system and unleash the rest of the ponies.