First Drive: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche, First Drive

It May Be Humpbacked, But It’s No Quasimodo.

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s rare. It’s fast. It’s expensive. Meet the 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster. First shown in October at the Paris Auto Show, the $204,400 humpbacked 911 arrives at U.S. dealerships early next year.

On paper, the rear-wheel-drive 911 Speedster appears to be a heavily optioned 911 GTS Cabriolet, albeit one with a bubbled tonneau cover. Having just driven the new GTS with the 408-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-six and Turbo-width rear track, we knew going into this drive that the uprated equipment makes a good foundation for the Speedster. Building on the GTS’ enhanced mechanicals, the Speedster also gets the seven-speed PDK dual clutch, Sport Chrono Plus, Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes. Take it or leave it, this is the only way the Speedster comes.

But so much for on-paper specs. To find out what the 911 Speedster is like on the road, we headed to Palm Springs, California for a mid-winter desert blast.

Continue reading…

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster: First Drive

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Photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy / AOL

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First Drive: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Flogging the Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Porsche

2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Porsche 911 GT2 RS out on the track – Click above to watch the video after the jump

It doesn’t take much to set up a video like this. After all, why wouldn’t you want to see even more footage of the 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS being flogged around a track? It’s footage we can’t seem to get enough of.

There’s nothing like watching a 620-horsepower 911 doing what it does best out on a closed course, and we highly recommend that you take a five-and-a-half-minute break from whatever you’re doing to watch the video after the jump.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Paris 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RSParis 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RSParis 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RSParis 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RSParis 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Gallery photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: Flogging the Porsche 911 GT2 RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Porsche 911 GT3 and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera tango through Paris

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Videos, Lamborghini, Porsche

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera Video

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera chases a Porsche 911 GT3 through Paris – Click above to watch video after the jump

Before we go salivating all over the thought of two of Europe’s best and brightest going the distance through the City of Lights, we should probably start off with an obligatory “don’t try this at home.” The kids you see sliding around the Parisian streets in the video after the jump are trained professionals working in a semi-controlled environment, so do us all a favor and keep your reenactments confined to your Need For Speed marathons.

That said, the video is a well-shot interpretation of what a full lap of Paris might look like as a Porsche 911 GT3 and a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera go fender-to-fender. Our early money was on the Raging Bull strolling away with the checkered flag, but Stuttgart’s finest seemed to have no problem keeping the big bad Italian behind its winged tail-end as the two snake around the French capitol. Hit the jump to see the action for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Porsche 911 GT3 and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera tango through Paris

Video: Porsche 911 GT3 and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera tango through Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Porsche, Racing

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Click above for high-res image gallery

As many Porsche 911s as you think you might see at the golf course, yacht club or shopping mall, that’s nothing compared to the legions regularly running around racing circuits worldwide. Aside from the myriad open GT grids dominated by Stuttgart machinery, the iconic German sportscar is the spec racer of choice for various national Porsche Carrera Cup championships and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports F1 races around the year. Those series use the versatile 911 GT3 Cup. With over 1,400 sold since 1998, Porsche maintains that it’s the best-selling racing car of all time, and it has just announced a new model for the 2011 season onward.

Whereas the outgoing Cup racer was based on the street-going 911 GT3, the new model starts life as the harder, faster and sharper GT3 RS. That means a wider body that can accommodate bigger wheels, tires and brakes. It also carries the larger 3.8-liter flat-six with 450 horsepower – 30 more horses than the outgoing model coming from 200cc of added displacement. It also looks more like the RS, with an aggressive aero package and LED lighting for when tracks go dark and dreary.

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will make its track debut at the opening round of next season’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, but you can delve into the details right now in the press release after the jump and in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche considering new model between 911 and 918 Spyder?

Filed under: Performance, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche badge

Porsche – which currently offers the Boxster/Cayman twins, umpteen different variations of the 911, the Cayenne SUV and the Panamera sedan – is endlessly rumored to be considering more models. Most often, speculation seems to revolve around another nameplate to slot in below the entry-level Boxster, and certainly that’s still a distinct possibility. We already know a smaller ‘ute called the Cajun is (probably) on its way, along with the show-stopping 918 Spyder.

But Porsche chief Matthias Müller has apparently hinted that he sees room between the 911 and the upcoming range-topping 918. It seems that the high(ish)-end sports car would be based on existing components, which makes us wonder if it could possibly be a mid-engine car on the 918’s platform that eschews that car’s hybrid configuration for something more traditional… a flat-six from the 911, perhaps?

Whatever the case, Porsche’s plans call on sales of roughly 150,000 units per year, which is nearly double what the marque manged to sell last year. Considering that each of Porsche’s current models sell at a pretty decent clip for their individual classes, that much of an increase is likely certain to come from new machines in new segments. We just have a hard time seeing Porsche do anything that might diminish the relevance of the 911 range.

[Source: Autoweek.nl]

Porsche considering new model between 911 and 918 Spyder? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruf drops the roof on 911 Targa-inspired Roadster

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Porsche

Ruf Roadster – Click above for image gallery

In the market for a 911? Lord knows Porsche has more than enough variants to choose from. And a fair few of them – like the Sport Classic and the Speedster – draw their inspiration from 911s of yore. But if those aren’t to your liking, venerable tuning house Ruf has a new option at your disposal.

Ruf calls it a Roadster, but it takes its cues (as well as its form) from the original 1967 Porsche 911 Targa. The Ruf Roadster features a solid roll bar that offers the structural rigidity of a coupe with a variety of configurations for open-air driving. Because the roof panels and rear window can be removed separately, the Roadster can be driven with the roof open and the rear closed, the rear open and the roof closed, or completely open or closed. You could even take one of the split roof panels off to let the sun shine in on the driver while keeping the front-seat passenger sheltered.

Buyers can choose from naturally aspirated (400-horsepower) or turbocharged (560hp) engines, with prices starting at €195,000 (approximately $275k at today’s conversion rates). Hey, nobody said flexibility came cheap.

Gallery: Ruf Roadster

[Source: PistonHeads]

Ruf drops the roof on 911 Targa-inspired Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Speedster is the Hunchback of Paris

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche 911 Speedster

Porsche 911 Speedster live photos – Click above for high-res image gallery

You can tell pretty much everything you need to know about the Porsche 911 Speedster just by looking at it. It’s a 911, which means it’s got a flat-six engine in the ass-end and it’s got… ahem, classical styling, for better or for worse. We’ll just go ahead on record right now and say that it’s not nearly as pretty as the original 356 Speedster it’s meant to evoke, but what is?

Moving on, there are 408 horsepower from the 3.8-liter engine driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK, of course, we just like typing the full name) dual-clutch transmission. The run to 60 is dispatched in 4.6 seconds and the top speed is just shy of 190. See the latest Speedster in all its glory in our high-res image gallery of live photos below.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Speedster

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Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Speedster is the Hunchback of Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is the middle child we can live with

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Porsche

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – Click above for high-res image gallery

Nestled in between Porsche’s perennial favorite 911 Carrera S and audacious 911 GT3 is the automaker’s latest creation – the 911 Carrera GTS. It features the slightly wider body of the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 models, but only delivers its power to the rear wheels. Speaking of power, Porsche has upgraded the 3.8-liter flat-six to crank out 408 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and with added visual bits like 19-inch RS Spyder wheels and SportDesign front and rear fascias, this is indeed the middle child 911 that we’d be happy to live with.

The 911 Carrera GTS is making its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, and we’ve snagged some live shots of both the coupe and cabriolet under the auto show lights. Have a click through our high-res image galleries below to see the latest hotness.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

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Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet

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Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is the middle child we can live with originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster sings a blue note

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Porsche

Porsche Speedster

Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster – Click above for high-res image gallery

Another day, another new iteration of the Porsche 911. Not that we’re complaining. This time around we got to feast our lucky eyes on the limited-edition 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster while it makes its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

The 911 Speedster is designed to pay homage to the original Porsche 356. Combine the French Racing Blue paint job, 408 horsepower flat-six engine and a low run of 356 models, and we expect the 911 Speedster to be sold out by the time you are done looking through the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Speedster

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Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Live photos by Zach Bowman/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster sings a blue note originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet, Porsche

Motor Trend pits Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 against the Porsche 911 Turbo

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 versus Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above to watch video after the jump

One is an American-bred land rocket and the other a Teutonic track terror. They are the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo, and Motor Trend has pitted them head-to-head.

Former Autoblog scribe and known flip-flop aficionado Jonny Lieberman provides the voice work and the words for the buff book’s latest supercar comparo, with Herr Lieberman calling the 911 Turbo “the fastest manual transmission car we’ve ever tested.” Acceleration is one thing, but what about sex appeal? According to Jonny, “… both cars were alternately parked in front of my house for two weeks, but I discovered pink lipstick marks only on the Corvette’s windshield. That’s right, someone kissed the ZR1.”

We have video of both cars running side-by-side for 1,320 feet and the winner is not much of a surprise. The overall winner of the comparison? Well, that’s another story, and the results may surprise you. Hop the jump to see the clip of these two going head-to-head [*Warning: Autoplay].

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results

Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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