Sent over by Señor Chris Harris from EVO were these tasty videos featuring an "unauthorized comparo" between Ferrari's 458 Italia and Porsche's GT3 RS. According to Mr. Harris, "I'm probably banned from Maranello for life. Hey-ho. At least I got to rinse a 458 and a GT3 RS."
HEY-HO indeed.
For an interesting run-through and comparison of these two track-day supercars (Ferrari isn't releasing the 458 Scuderia/track model for a while), check out the vids after the jump. Don't forget, we over here aren't afraid of no stinkin' Ferrari. I'm watching you, Montezemolo.
Remember the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid that was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this past March? Well, Porsche has released a new video of its hybrid racer with which it will compete at the Nürburgring 24 hour race on 15/16 May.
Williams Formula 1 pilot Nico Hülkenberg tested the orange and white liveried 911 GT3 R Hybrid on the Nordschleife in the lead up to the third round of the VLN Long Distance Championship. Check out the video after the jump.
Here's an interesting take on the German high speed taxi war - that's right, it DOES exist. According to the video, Auto Bild editor Jörg Maltzan is more than willing to play a role in taking the battle to the streets -if only for a short period- with a Porsche Panamera Turbo. If anyone can clarify with a proper translation, send it over to us in the comments section after the jump.
Either way, it looks like the 500-horsepower "Taxamera" Turbo has a message for BMW's M5 'Ring taxi: Bring it on. Now if it would only head over and pull some weekend duty for tourists at the Nürburgring, we'd have a real competition on our hands. Follow the jump for the video.
Porsche engineers were caught on film recently testing the next generation of the Boxster roadster that is due to be revealed at a major international motor show sometime next year.
Just like the upcoming successor to today's 911 (see the spy shots here), the Boxster prototype looks no different from the current model, but that shouldn't come to as a surprise to Porschephiles that are used to the company's evolutionary approach to design.
The new Boxster will share many parts with the next 911 while the German engineers will most likely try to further reduce the car's weight to improve handling as well as to boost fuel efficiency.
The engine line-up and transmissions including a six-speed manual and seven-speed dual clutch PDK will be carried over with minor changes from the current model.
There have been rumors circulating around the net that Porsche may also introduce a smaller displacement yet powerful four-cylinder engine, however, this has not been confirmed.
Sales of the next generation Boxster will most likely start towards the end of 2011 or early 2012.
Porsche is continuing to work hard on the development of its next-generation 911 sports car that carries the internal code name '991'. Filmed here during cold weather testing in Sweden, the new 911 will be offered in both coupe and convertible forms and with a variety of powertrains.
The spy video (and scoop shots) suggest that the 2012 model year (for North American markets) 911 will be slightly longer and wider but with a lower roofline than the current model. And even though Porsche insiders insist that almost every body panel will be new, well, it's a 911 so don't expect to see something drastically different in terms of styling.
Porsche's engineers, however, have a few new tricks up their sleeves including an extensive aerodynamic package with an active front spoiler and variable air-intakes, new exotic and lightweight materials that will help the 911 shed a few pounds (just like the new Cayenne SUV) and updated engines and powertrains.
Look for the new generation of Porsche 911s to start making their appearance from early 2011 and onwards.
By now, you already know what the new Porsche Panamera looks like. Even if you haven't had the chance to see Stuttgart's sports saloon in person, you've seen hundreds of photos and plenty of videos of the V8-powered "S" and "Turbo" variants.
So, what's the first thing you'd be interested in a video showing the new entry-level model (details and pictures here) with the VW Group-sourced 300HP 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine? Apparently, the answer to that question is what the V6 sounds like. Well, guess what's missing from Porsche's promo film after the jump?
By now, you already know what the new Porsche Panamera looks like. Even if you haven't had the chance to see Stuttgart's sports saloon in person, you've seen hundreds of photos and plenty of videos of the V8-powered "S" and "Turbo" variants.
So, what's the first thing you'd be interested in a video showing the new entry-level model (details and pictures here) with the VW Group-sourced 300HP 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine? Apparently, the answer to that question is what the V6 sounds like. Well, guess what's missing from Porsche's promo film after the jump?
If you're wondering why we (or anybody else, for that matter) didn't note that the energy storage system used on Porsche's new 911 GT3 Hybrid racer was developed by Williams in our original post, that's because the Germans 'conveniently' forgot to mention it in their official press release...
Thankfully, Williams issued a separate release informing us about their collaboration with Porsche while the company also noted that the energy storage system was originally developed for use in Formula One by the AT&T Williams team (the KERS system), but now it is focusing on applying the technology in road vehicles through its Williams Hybrid Power subsidiary.
The firm's patented electromechanical composite flywheel system is an electric motor that can spin to speeds of up to 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as rotation energy and then supplying it to the electric motor(s) that drive the wheels.
In essence, it replaces the battery pack found in conventional hybrid cars with obvious gains in space and weight savings. The system's weakness is that it cannot store large quantities of energy.
In the case of the 911 GT3 R Hybird racer, the system releases up to 120kW of electricity for short bursts of around 6-8 seconds after each charge process that can be used either for additional power or to increase fuel economy.
Get a taste of Porsche's lightest and quickest version of the Boxster to date in this official video that contains both driving and static footage of the new model. Dubbed the Boxster Spyder, it does away with the standard model's folding roof and is powered by a tweaked 3.4-liter boxer engine producing 320 horsepower, enough to propel the 1,275 kg (2,810 lbs) sports car from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in just 4.8 seconds.
The new Porsche, which made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, will enter the market in February 2010 as the third version in the Boxster range, after the Boxster and Boxster S models.
Here's the first official video of the newest member of the Porsche Boxster family, the Spyder (click here for details and photos), that was revealed ahead of its world debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December. Weighing in at just 1,275 kg or 2,811 lb, the Spyder is the lightest model through-out the entire range of Porsche cars. Power comes from upgraded version of the 3.4-liter boxer six-cylinder engine used in the Boxster S, tuned to deliver 320 horsepower. Make the jump to watch Stuttgart's latest achievement in action.
Up until now, we had only seen renderings of German tuning firm 9ff's custom made Porsche Panamera, but a Youtube user has uploaded a short video of what is believed to be a factory test car fitted with 22-inch alloys and a sport exhaust system. We don't know if the model seen here also features one of the three available performance kits that 9ff has announced for the Panamera Turbo and which boost the V8's output to 550PS / 760Nm, 600HP / 800Nm and to 650HP / 850Nm respectively, but it sure sounds promising...
Together with the engine kits, alloy wheel options and a special suspension module, 9ff's offerings for the Porsche sports saloon will also include a full bodykit with a newly designed front bumper and hood, side skirts and a rear diffuser plus an array of interior upgrades such as special leather treatments and decorative trims.
You've heard the story before: teen steals dad's sports car for a joy ride and it usually ends up in a crash or even worse, someone meets the death reaper face to face. In this case, an unnamed 15-year-old teen who swiped his dad's Porsche Boxster and took his 12-year-old cousin for a dicey joy ride at Porter Ranch in Los Angeles, California, had more lives than an alley cat and more luck than a Leprechaun wearing horse shoes and walking in an Irish field full of four leaf clovers on St Patrick's day...
The 15-year-old behind the wheel of the Boxster (and not the 911 Cabriolet as ABC's reporter wrongly states) lost control of the vehicle along Sesnon Boulevard crashing through a fence and flying off the road plunging around 70 feet (about 22 meters) over the edge of a construction site.
Miraculously, the Boxster did not flip over during landing (sic...) as it came settled upright on its four wheels. What's even more astounding is that the two boys walked out of the roadster virtually unscathed!
"Miracles still happen, that's the best way I can put it," told ABC news Eric Hansen from the Los Angeles Police department. "Firemen were saying that they've never seen that deep of a droPop without fatalities, and they were able to walk out of it."
According to the report, the two young "daredevils" are off the hook at this point as authorities are not likely to press charges. Hopefully, the parents won't be as forgiving...
You probably know by now that we really dig Porsche's latest creation, the special edition 911 Sport Classic that packs some really neat retro styling cues such as the Fuchs alloys, the woven leather interior and of course, the ducktail rear spoiler that harks back to the legendary Carrera RS of the '70s. In addition to the detailed specs and the updated gallery with 40 photos (including the side shot you all asked for), we now bring you Porsche's official video of the 911 Sport Classic shot on the road. Hit the jump, crank up the volume and enjoy!
It's the purest and most track-focused version of the latest-generation 911 to hit the roads yet. It's the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS and it's set to make its formal debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month. More of a street-legal race car than anything else, the 911 GT3 RS gets Porsche's 3.8-liter flat-six tweaked to produce a hefty 450 horsepower along with numerous chassis and aerodynamic mods. And while very few will ever get the chance to sit behind the steering wheel of the RS, Porsche is giving the rest of us a taste of its most hardcore 911 with the release of two race-track videos that you can enjoy right after the jump.
The way we see it, the new Porsche Panamera is one of those cars you either love or hate, but under no circumstances are indifferent to. Porsche knows this very well so the Germans are trying to make the best of it in terms of publicity by constantly releasing something new on their first-ever production sports saloon. This time we have a 20-minute long video of the Panamera that shows in detail the first three variants of the car that will be available for sale in September.
The Panamera S and 4S are moved by a 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine making 400 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 500Nm or 369 lb-ft of peak torque from 3,500 to 5,000 rpm. In the S, power is transferred to the rear wheels via a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optionally, a seven-speed double-clutch PDK transmission.
In this configuration, the five-door sports sedan the five-door sports sedan accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 5.6 sec or 5.4sec if you opt for the PDK transmission and the Sports Chrono Plus package, and goes on to a top speed of 285km/h (177mph) or 283km/h (176mph) respectively.
The all-wheel drive 4S which is offered only with the PDK transmission, goes from 0 to 100km/h 5.0 sec (4.8 sec with the Sports Chrono Plus package) and on to a top speed of 282 km/h or 175mph.
Currently the most powerful version of the Panamera is the all-wheel drive Turbo that is fitted with a 4.8-liter turbocharged V8 cranking out 500HP at 6,000 rpm and 700Nm or 516 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm (770Nm or 567 lb-ft with overboost in conjunction with the Sports Chrono pack).
The V8 Turbo engine is linked to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission with Porsche claiming a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.2 sec (-0.2 with the Sports Chrono) and a maximum speed of 303km/h or 188mph.
'The Porsche Way' is a new 2 1/2 hour film that covers the entire history of the famous German sports car manufacturer. The DVD, which is based on Porsche's official archive, begins with the story of Ferdinand and Ferry Porsche and continues with eight separate chapters that focus on the development of the brand proceeding from one decade to the next. If you hit the jump, you can get a taste of the film through the official teaser while those of you that are interested in buying the DVD, 'The Porsche Way' is available in both German and English at the Porsche Museum Shop at a price of €24.9 or about $35 US.
In today's world, the name of the game is marketing. The more people that hear about your product, the better chances you have of achieving higher sales. Porsche is no exception to the rule as the German automaker constantly reminds us that it has presented the new Panamera sports sedan. This time, the Stuttgart-based company published a two-and-a-half minute long promotional video of its Gran Turismo filmed on the road. Can't say we liked it, but check out it for yourselves after the jump.
Not entirely satisfied with the new 911 GT3? No need to worry as Porsche is putting the final touches on the 2010MY 911 GT3 RS that is set to make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The RS, which is essentially an even more hardcore version of the 911 GT3, is said to retain the standard GT3's naturally aspirated 3.8-liter flat six with 435HP adding to the mix extra aerodynamic doodads some of which are made from carbon fiber, along with numerous other improvements that include a series of weight saving measures. Turn up the volume and hit the jump to watch the spy video of the 911 GT3 RS prototype on the Nurburgring race track.
Owning an expensive and somewhat uncommon vehicle like the Porsche Cayenne can have its downturns sometimes, especially if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. In this video that has been making the round of Russia today, a SWAT team was tipped off about a group of criminals driving a dark colored Porsche Cayenne. Only problem is that a few minutes before the criminals arrived at the point where the SWAT team was waiting for them, another dark Cayenne with similar license plate numbers passed by...
As you can see in the video below, the poor guys in the first Cayenne were attacked by the Russian SWAT team which released them a few minutes later after they realized their mistake. What's even more amazing is that the SWAT team cleared the scene in minutes and actually managed to catch the real criminals in the second Cayenne!
The global premiere of the Porsche Panamera in Shanghai today also brought along new video of the five-door sports saloon. Glamour shots aside, the eight-minute long promotional film includes driving footage as well as a tour of Porsche's Leipzig factory in Germany that builds the Panamera. Available initially with two V8 engines producing 400 and 500HP, the Panamera will be entering the market in Europe, South America and parts of Asia in September 2009, in North America and Australia in October, and in China in early 2010.
For an interesting run-through and comparison of these two track-day supercars (Ferrari isn't releasing the 458 Scuderia/track model for a while), check out the vids after the jump. Don't forget, we over here aren't afraid of no stinkin' Ferrari. I'm watching you, Montezemolo.
