The Porsche Cayman has always had a suspicious place in the Porsche lineup. The extra-potent "S" model comes very close to hitting performance figures of the base 911, at much reduced cost. But now that 2009 refreshening adds extra power to the Cayman, how will this stack up?
The second generation of the Cayman is making its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show right along side its Boxster sibling. Just like the drop top, the 2009 Cayman is being offered in two versions: Cayman and Cayman S (the Cayman S Sport version goes away.)
The Cayman is powered by a 2.9-liter flat-six boxer engine that delivers 265 hp (an increase of 20 hp); the Cayman S gets a 3.4-liter power unit that delivers 320 hp (25 hp more). The Cayman S with PDK dual-clutch automatic and Launch Control can do 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. That’s a 0.2 second improvement from the previous Cayman S and is within 0.2 seconds of the published figures for the base 911.
As it turns out the increase in power will not mean worse fuel economy. The Cayman equipped with PDK averages 26.3 mpg, and 25.5 mpg for the Cayman S. That’s about a 4 mpg improvement from the Tiptronic automatic transmission cars.
Design improvements take cues from the V10 Carrera GT. The 2009 Cayman gets new front and rear ends with new halogen headlights with integrated direction indicators, new LED rear lights, new air intakes and new rear panels with a wind deflector plate.
Both the Cayman and the Cayman S will go on sale in February 2009 in Europe. It’s expected that the new Cayman will reach these shores soon afterward with only a marginal price increase.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Porsche unveiled today the first details about the 2009 911. The official debut will be made on 5 July. The European prices are as follows: 69,600.- for the Carrera (Euro base price). The Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S both retail at Euro 78,000.- (Euro base price), and the Carrera S Cabriolet is entering the market at Euro 88,000.- (Euro base price).
911 Carrera is powered by a 3.6-litre power unit with an output of 345 hp (up by 20 bhp). Carrera S is powered by a 3.8-litre power with an output of 385 bhp unit (up by 30 bhp). The Carrera S Coupe now offers a top speed of 186 mph.
The new generation of the 911 is available for the first time with the new Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), Porsche’s double-clutch gearbox. Offering no less than seven forward gears, the new gearbox combines the driving comfort of a converter automatic transmission with the dynamic gearshift of a sequential racing gearbox.
The new generation of the 911 stands out clearly at first sight through innovations in design both front and rear as well as new lights with LED technology. LED daytime driving lights and bi-xenon headlights now standard on all new models in the Carrera range give the silhouette of the 911 even more distinctive style and a truly unique look, interacting with new LED rear lights to ensure an unmistakable and striking appearance also at the rear. And as a further safety option, Porsche now also offers Dynamic Bending Lights on all models.
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Porsche revealed today two new models in its new 911 line-up: the Carerra 4 and Carrera 4S. The new models will go on sale starting 25 October 2008.
The Carrera 4 is powered by a 3.6-litre power unit that delivers 345 bhp. Featuring the new PDK system the fuel consumption goes down to 10.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, equal to 28.0 mpg imp.
The 911 Carrera 4S is powered by a 3.8-litre power unit that delivers 385 hp and the fuel consumption goes down to 10.7 litres/100 km, equal to 26.4 mpg imp.
The new all-wheel-drive sports cars come with sporting manual transmission featuring six gears. As an alternative the new models are available with Porsche’s new Doppelkupplungsgetriebe replacing the former Tiptronic S automatic converter transmission and offering an even faster gearshift on less fuel. The Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch gearbox comes with seven gears shifting electrohydraulically without the slightest interruption of traction and pulling force.
Press release after the jump.
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Panamera made its world debut in April at the Shanghai Motor Show. It will be the fourth stand alone model in Porsche’s line up (next to the the 911, Boxster/Cayman and Cayenne). Sales will begin in late summer of next year.
Porsche has learned a hard lesson with cars like the 928. It seems people know Porsche best for the 911, so now design doesn’t stray too far from the 911. This is why even though the Panamera is a front-engined car, it still looks like a stretched Carrera. The Panamera will measure 76.0 inches in width, 55.8 inches in height and has an overall length of 195.7 inches.
Porsche revealed today details on two different trim-levels: Turbo and 4S. Unlike the 911 and Boxster/Cayman, the Panamera will not have a boxer engine. Instead the lineup will take its cues from the Cayenne and have engines in the more traditional V6 and V8 arrangements. Power will range from 300 to 500 bhp depending on trim level and will be mated to either a manual six-speed gearbox or seven-speed Double-Clutch Gearbox (PDK). Porsche is also preparing a hybrid version for the near future.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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It looks like after producing Design Edition models for the Cayman and Boxster, Porsche decided it needed a bigger challenger, literally. This time the German company will grab 1000 Cayenne GTSs off the line and use them for the Design Edition 3.
The paintwork follows the same scheme as the other DE cars with stripes in the same hue as the body color. This time its “Lava Grey” paint with black striping and grey 21-inch wheels. Inside there will be plenty of badging to remind owners that their Cayenne is special, as well as plenty of black leather with red stitching. This theme is carried over to the matching watch and luggage.
Unlike the Boxster Design Edition 2, which saw a small increase in power, the Cayanne will be an appearance-only job. Owners will have to cope with the fact that their SUV only makes 405 hp. One element that may be less flattering is that while Porsche lists the standard Cayenne GTS with a 0 to 60 time of 5.7 seconds, this one is listed as taking 6.1 seconds (maybe it was carrying all of the luggage during the test run).
Sales will begin in Germany in May and then spread to the rest of the world. Pricing starts at in Europe at €79,100, and the 100 examples being sent to the U.S. will retail for $89,900.
Press release after the jump
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Audi may have the domination in LMP1 class endurance racing with cars like the new R15 TDI, but its soon-to-be corporate parent has a stranglehold on the LMP2 division. Porsche has no intention of letting its grip slip anytime soon, so it’s introduced the RS Spyder to do battle at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
The RS Spyder will use the same 3.4-liter V8 engine, but because of air restrictors, power is down about 25 hp to 440 hp. LMP2 is usually a class catering to private race teams, so piloting the RS Spyders this year is the NAVI Team Goh from Japan and the Essex squad from Denmark.
Press release after the jump.
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Porsche revealed today the facelifted, and more importantly, more powerful version of the 911 GT3. We’ll be there to see it make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, and then U.S. sales will begin in October at a price of $112,200.
The 911 GT3 is powered by a 3.8-liter six-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine that develops maximum output of 435 bhp, up 20 bhp over its predecessor. The new GT3 accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and reaching 160 km/h (100 mph) in 8.2 seconds. Top speed is 312 km/h or 194 mph.
For the first time the 911 GT3 comes with a particularly sporting variant of PSM Porsche Stability Management, offering the option to deactivate both Stability Control (SC) and Traction Control (TC) in separate steps.
The new GT3 offers even better grip and stability also at high speeds, specific modifications of the car’s aerodynamics increasing down-forces both front and rear to such an extent that the overall pressure pushing down the car is more than twice as great as on the former model. At the same time the new Aerodynamics Package gives the GT3 a brand-new look further accentuated by the new bi-xenon headlights, LED rear light clusters, as well as modified air intakes and outlets.
The GT3 holds an interesting place in the lineup because it is the fastest naturally-aspired car Porsche makes (aside from the track-only GT3 RSR), and some drivers prefer the GT3 over turbo models. This GT3 makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in four seconds and has a top speed of 194 mph. This represents only 0.3 of a second slower to 60 mph and is one mile per hour faster than the current 911 Turbo. Some of Porsche’s professional drivers have felt that the marginal power loss was worth the predictability that was gained by having a non-turbo engine.
Press release after the jump.
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The world is an unfair place. While most of us save every penny to possibly purchase a Porsche 911, there are others out there who just take the little coupe racing. For those select few, the bar may have just been raised. Porsche revealed the 2009 911 GT3 RSR.
Compared to last year’s model, this RSR has a redesigned front end with large air outlets on the front hood. Also, the aerodynamics and air ducts were redesigned for better air flow, the rear wing is more adjustable, and the body and some interior materials (like wiring harnesses) are lighter than the 2008 GT3 RSR.
Oh and one other thing...the engine capacity has been increased from 3.8 to 4.0-litres. Oddly enough the engine now delivers around 450 hp at 7,800 rpm, which is about 15 hp less than last year (465 hp at the higher 8,000 rpm) and develops a maximum torque of 430 Nm at 7,250 rpm, which is the same as 2008. The aerodynamics and weight loss must be what keeps this car competitive because Porsche still calls it "the quickest 911". (To Porsche: we may be willing to let you hand us the keys to the 2008 and 2009 cars for a head-to-head to settle this.)
The 2009 911 GT3 RSR starts out at €380,000 (about $494,000 at current rates). At that kind of pricing Porsche must know this car goes to a well heeled clientele, because this car now comes with one very race unfriendly compromise: optional air conditioning.
Press release after the jump.
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Porsche revealed today the diesel version of the Cayenne luxury SUV. It will go on sale in February 2009 at a price of EUR 47,250 ($59,500 at the current exchange rates).
The Cayenne Diesel is powered by a three-liter V6 turbo diesel engine with 240 hp and a peak torque of 550 NM. It has a fuel consumption of 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers, with CO2 at 244 grams per kilometer.
The new Cayenne model will initially be offered in Europe, with other markets to come after.
Press release after the jump.
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For the past twelve years, the Boxster has been playing the chase-the-911 with its styling. Now the 2009 refreshed Boxster gets more of its own look, sorta. Instead of taking its styling cues from the 911, it looks a little more like the ultra-fast Carrera GT.
Porsche officially unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show the new Boxster and Boxster S. Both models will go on sale in Europe by February 2009. It’s expected that the new Boxster will reach these shores soon afterward with only a marginal price increase.
The new Boxster features a newly designed front and rear ends. The new halogen headlights with their integrated direction indicators are reminiscent of the lights on the Carrera GT, the new LED rear lights tapering out to the outside and integrated elegantly in the modified rear end of the car.
Under the hood, Porsche placed a 2.9-liter engine that delivers 255 bhp (an increase of 10 hp). The S version gets a 3.4-liter power unit that delivers 310 hp (up 15hp). Mated to a the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the new Boxter makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.9 seconds. Equipped with the PDK double-clutch gearbox, the sprint will be made 0.1 seconds faster.
As it turns out the increase in power will not mean worse fuel economy. The Boxster equipped with PDK averages 26.3 mpg, and 25.5 mpg for the Boxster S. That’s about a 4 mpg improvement from the Tiptronic automatic transmission cars.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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