The Porsche Boxster lineup saw the addition of a new member last December at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Boxster Spyder will tip the scales at 2,811 pounds becoming the lightest model in the entire Porsche range with sales beginning in February 2010, starting at $61,200. The Porsche Boxster Spyder is inspired by the legendary 550 Spyder, the first sports car from Stuttgart developed specifically with racing in mind that was also homologated for road use. The new sports car features a lightweight soft top, has a lower center of gravity for enhanced as well as an all new sport tuned suspension.
Mounted in the midship position, Porsche has placed a 3.4 Liter direct injected flat six ahead of the rear axle that delivers a total of 320 HP, 10 HP more than the current top of the line model in the Boxster lineup, the Boxster S, while still getting as much as 30.4 MPG. Like all the other current Porsche models, the Boxster Spyder comes equipped with a seven speed PDK gearbox and a Sports Chrono Package. This allows the Boxster Spyder to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 166 MPH.
Updated 01/29/10: Porsche revealed the official promotional video for the Boxster Spyder that will go on sale next week. Enjoy it!
Press release after the jump.
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The German sports car maker Porsche first unveiled the Targa in 1967 featuring a removable roof panel designed in response to concerns that the tightening U.S. safety restrictions would ban convertibles. The 2009 Porsche Targa 4 remains absolutely unique and truly exceptional wit its full glass roof, both the Targa 4 and 4S are on sale with prices starting at just $92,100 and $103,100 respectively.
Under the rear deck lid Porsche has placed a 3.6 Liter flat six rated at 345 HP in the four wheel drive version and a 3.8 liter delivering a total of 385 HP in the 4S. The Targa 4 can hit a top speed of or 176 MPH, while the 4S goes up to 184 MPH. At the same time fuel consumption for the 3.6 Liter model has been improved to 26.6 MPG and the 3.8 Liter unit is now good for 25.7 MPG.
Both models are available with the new Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) double clutch gearbox with no less than seven forward gears that allows the new Targa to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in exactly 5.0 seconds while the Targa 4S makes the trip in an even faster 4.7 seconds. In either case it is 0.2 seconds faster than the standard manual gearbox.
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.
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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The new Porsche 911 GT3 made its debut last year at the Geneva Motor Show and it is now on sale at a price of $112,200. beside a few exterior changes, the 911 GT3 comes for the first time, 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 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. It 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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It was at the 1974 Paris Motor Show when the German sports car maker Porsche unveiled a turbocharged version of the classic 911 for the first time when they pulled the covers back off of a 3.0 Liter Porsche 930 Turbo, a model which at the time amazed audiences with its 260 HP maximum output and the ability to reach a 155 MPH top speed. In 2009 the 911 Turbo entered its seventh generation, with considerable performance improvements resulting in a Carrera Turbo that is almost twice as powerful as the original.
Even if the design has changed, the new Turbo remains unmistakably a 911, with a sporty focus on the driving essentials. The outer air intakes on the front apron now come with titanium colored slats. Sitting low to their left and right are the new daytime running lights in the same manner as the LED indicators and safety is even further enhanced with the optional dynamic cornering light function while the side mirrors have been revised for a better rearward visibility. At the rear of the new Turbo, the Porsche wears a new set of distinctive LED taillights that have a tapered design and extend deep into the contours of the rear fascia. The fast response LED brake lights underline the car’s purposeful look and enhance active safety by offering more warning to traffic approaching from the rear.
As with the outgoing 2006 Turbo model, the flat six cylinder engine features a pair of snails with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG), but the new unit’s displacement has been increased to 3.8 Liters and now develops 500 HP and as much as 516 lb-ft of torque with the Sport Chrono Package. This allows the new 91 Turbo to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in only 3.4 seconds and reach a 194 MPH top speed when it goes on sale in the U.S. on January 30 with the coupe being priced at $132,800 and $143,800 for the cabriolet.
Press release after the jump.
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The Porsche 911 has been destined for competition ever since Butzi drew the first sketches back in the 1960s. Up until recently, the fiercest of the factory built Porsche racers was the 911 GT3 Cup S, a car that found home at FIA sanctioned races around the world and warming up the crowds on a Grand Prix weekend. However the German automaker has unveiled the new Porsche GT3 R, at the 2010 Autosport International show in Birmingham, England. An in house motor sport special for the 2010 racing season, the GT3 R is based on international FIA GT3 regulations and is powered by a four liter six cylinder boxer engine that has a maximum output of 480 HP and shifted through a six speed sequential gearbox.
As part of the new GT3 R’s friendlier approach to competitive driving, the new car comes with features like an anti lock braking system, traction control and e-gas with a built in throttle blip function to make sure that the tail happy Porsche’s back end not only stays planted when changing gears, but that the shifts will be smooth, crisp and on point every time. Meanwhile standard race car apparel like a fully adjustable suspension from SACHS and flared wheel arches to house the wide rubber and a set of front and rear diffusers to make sure that the car stays in permanent contact with the track.
Press release after the jump.
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There is always one version of the factory built Porsche 911 that stands head and shoulders above the rest of its backwards engineered brethren. There are some fans of the Stuttgart based sports car manufacturer that prefer the acceleration and grip of a Porsche 911 Turbo which can make any driver look like Sir Walter Rohl; or the wild power of the rear wheel drive only GT2. However you will see seasoned racers behind the wheel of a high revving naturally aspirated Carrera wearing a very racy GT3 badge. This last version of the 911 offers true racetrack performance in a street car and it just got a much beefier RS iteration. In fact the new GT3 RS will take over homologation duties from the slightly lesser car. That is because Porsche has bumped up the displacement resulting in an extra 15 HP, the flat six now makes a Honda poking 118 HP per liter. If there is a reason why you don’t see turbo 911s in competition, this is it, and it can be yours starting at $133,750. That is before you look at the extensive list of options.
Porsche engineers have also adapted the Porsche Active Stability Management to work with the track day special RS and widened the car’s track underneath both in front and in back. The GT3 RS wears a set of 245 tires up front and 325 series (12 inches) tires in the back to get the 450 HP to the pavement, both are wrapped around a set of color matching 19 inch wheels. The RS is exclusively shifted via a six speed manual, in this case the gears have been shortened to work with the broader power curve to produce incredible acceleration.
The RS also features a set of high tech dynamic engine mounts that depending on driving conditions, change their stiffness enhancing the link between the engine and chassis under extreme circumstances. Even the battery has become a 21st century item. Replacing the standard unit with a lightweight lithium ion unit that sheds around 22 lbs from the 911’s curb weight. Speaking of lightweight materials, no high performance machine would be complete without a little of the black wavy stuff and the RS is no different. The rather large rear wing is made of carbon fiber while the uprights are made out of strengthened aluminum and the exhaust is made from exotic titanium.
Continued after the jump.
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The Porsche 914 is a mid-engined sports car built in collaboration to Volkswagen and sold between 1969 and 1976. The Volkswagen versions were known as the 914/4S, while the Porsche version as 914/6s. For Volkswagen the 914 replaced the Karmann-Ghia, while for Porsche it was just another sports car added to the line-up.
Back in the mid-60s VW was looking for a successor to its then rather outdated Type 34 sports coupe, better known as the "Karmann Ghia". At the same time Porsche was striving to expand its position in the market with a sports car in the promising segment beneath the 911.
Facing this challenge Ferry Porsche and VW’s CEO Heinrich Nordhoff agreed in spring 1966 on a joint venture destined to benefit both parties: Porsche was given the assignment by Volkswagen to develop a low-cost mid-engined sports car intended to enter the market as a Volkswagen with four cylinders and as a Porsche with a six-cylinder boxer engine.
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Porsche Cayman is for sure a car every one has hard about, and many have the chance to drive it. But how many of you know about its predecessor, the Porsche 916? However the car never made it to production, and there were only 11 prototypes produced.
The 916 was to be priced at $14,000 - the most expensive Porsche at that time. That was considerably more than the highest priced 911 which cost around $10,000 and with sales declining, Porsche dropped the idea of building it. The Porsche 916 was intended as a competitor for the Ferrari 246 Dino.
The 916 takes over the raw body from the 914/6. The roof is permanently welded to the body. The fenders must be widened to make enough room for the 7-inch wide light alloy wheels. The 916 is also fitted with the brakes and 2.4 litre motor from the 911 S.
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Porsche produced the 912 between 1965 and 1969 as their entry-level model. It is known as the transition between the 356 and the future 911, compared to which it had fewer amenities, less power, and weighed about 250 lbs less. The 912 was offered in both coupe and targa version, and during its life time Porsche produced 34,959 units.
As it replaced the 356, inevitable the 912 carried over the 356-based flat four-cylinder engine slightly detuned to 102 hp (SAE) at 5,800 rpm and 91 pound-feet of peak torque at 3,500 rpm. The engine was mounted in the rear and powered the rear transaxle. It was mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
The 912 could make the 0 to 60 mph in 11,5-12 seconds, and the top speed was announced at 116 mph, however, Road & Track magazine managed a top speed of 119 mph.
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