Tag: porsche

Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Porsche, Specialty

Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above to watch video after the jump

While the Nürburgring circuit seems to be today’s venue of choice for sports car bragging rights, the drag strip remains king when it comes to acceleration contests. With that in mind, the folks over at Hennessey Performance have released a video of their latest hopped-up Cadillac V650 Wagon taking on Porsche’s venerable 911 Turbo. As expected, the 650-horsepower “Family Station Wagon” nudges the lighter 480-horsepower “Germany’s Finest” coupe for the win.

Wait a second.

The video clearly states the Porsche has a “Tiptronic” transmission. This means it is an older, pre-2010 model (note the lack of LED brake lights) that’s missing the current lightning-fast dual-clutch PDK gearbox and standard limited-slip rear end. We don’t know for sure, but it could even be an aged 2006 model. Thanks to launch control, today’s standard 500-horsepower 997 Turbo does 0-60 in less than three seconds… easily. It is also disclosed that the V650 is riding on drag radials – a big advantage over street compounds on a well-used strip.

Nobody’s downplaying the ferociousness of the blown wagon, and we welcome this type of challenge, but let’s be sure to choose our words more carefully and keep the contestants in the same era. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche CEO: We are “almost over the initial hype” of electric cars

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Porsche, Electric

Porsche logoAutomotive News recently got the chance to sit down with Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller to go over the company’s plans for the future, and one of the juiciest tidbits to crop up from the interview came from a discussion on the possibility of a fully-electric Porsche. When asked about a battery-operated sports car, Mueller said that while some estimates say that 20 percent of all vehicles on the road will be electric by 2020, he believes that figure will likely sit closer to three to five percent. He finished up by saying “We are now almost over the initial hype before business really gets started.”

However the electric/internal combustion mix plays out in nine years, Mueller said that he believes Porsche will be a player in that market. That means that if 20 percent of the car market is electrified, you can expect 20 percent of Porsche vehicles to be the same.

The interview also touched on everything from a new model above the 911 to future variation on the Panamera. Head over to Automotive News to catch the full piece.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Porsche CEO: We are “almost over the initial hype” of electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mark Webber on the “naughty” Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Racing

Mark Webber and the Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Mark Webber throws around his Porsche 911 GT2 RS – Click above to watch video after the jump

Mark Webber, or Webbah as we like to pretend he prefers, is an accomplished racing driver with a handful of wins and podium appearances at the very top of the mororsports plateau. It’s safe to say that he knows how to drive a car, and he understands what he wants out of his road cars. His chariot of choice? The Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

We don’t really need to explain why a racecar driver would choose a 620-horsepower track-ready street assassin. However, Porsche felt like having Webber discuss the car and it did so with the cameras rolling. Click past the jump to hear Mark Webber talk about the car and watch him toss it (and some speechless passengers) around Silverstone.

[Source: Youtube via Axis-of-Oversteer]

Continue reading Video: Mark Webber on the “naughty” Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Video: Mark Webber on the “naughty” Porsche 911 GT2 RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #217: Chicago recap, Camaro ZL1, Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Podcasts, Hybrid, Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, Jaguar, Porsche

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Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #217 is a little late. Blame Dan. That out of the way, Chris, Dan, Zach and Chris Paukert talk over their favorites from the Chicago Auto Show, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. We wrap with your questions and comments, as always, and we’ll see you next week. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #217: Chicago recap, Camaro ZL1, Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

  • Infiniti Etherea Concept
  • Camaro ZL1
  • Chicago Auto Show
  • Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

In the Autoblog Garage:


2011 Jaguar XF
2011 Jaguar XK
2011 Dodge Durango Crew AWD
2011 Chrysler 200

  • Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:01:00

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Feedback:
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Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #217: Chicago recap, Camaro ZL1, Porsche Panamera S Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche celebrates millionth Facebook fan with special 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Porsche, Racing

Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche is celebrating a unique social media milestone with a custom 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The company recently surpassed 1 million fans on Facebook, and to mark the occasion, designers have churned out the hybrid 911 racer with the signatures of over 27,000 Porsche fans. The vehicle is set to be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart for all to see.

The German automaker says that it chose the 911 GT3 R Hybrid for the Facebook celebration because Porsche believes that the car is the future of racing. The machine packs 480 horsepower from a 4.0-liter flat six-cylinder engine and two electric motors capable of 80 horsepower each. Unlike most hybrids, Porsche has opted to store the vehicle’s energy in a flywheel accumulator that gets a boost during braking instead of a traditional battery pack. The technology recently proved itself as competition-capable during last year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche celebrates millionth Facebook fan with special 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche celebrates millionth Facebook fan with special 911 GT3 R Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche to hire 1,000 employees as it ramps up for Cajun

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Crossover, Porsche

2011 Porsche Cayenne nose

Porsche would like to double its global sales to about 200,000 per year. That’s an ambitious goal for a niche company, but Porsche intends to make things happen with the help of more money and manpower. AutoWeek reports that the German automaker plans to hire 1,000 employees by 2015. Half the workers will help build the company’s forthcoming small crossover, which has been given the working name ‘Cajun,’ while the other half will be engineers needed to develop new vehicles. An additional 500 workers could be added by 2018, provided sales targets are met.

AW claims that Porsche intends to expand its lineup from four models to seven to help reach its sales goals, while also forking over up to 750 million Euro ($1.01 billion in U.S. funds) to upgrade its Leipzig factory. The latter is believed to be the main candidate to build the Cajun when production begins in 2013.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Porsche to hire 1,000 employees as it ramps up for Cajun originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche to unveil full hybrid in Geneva

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche Crest

Porsche is wading even deeper into hybrid waters by showing off a new electrified model at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. According to the company, the vehicle will be a parallel full hybrid. Porsche says that the move to introduce another battery-laden model to the company’s stable was bolstered by the success of the Cayenne S Hybrid as well as the gaggle of hybridized race cars and concepts that Porsche has unveiled as of late. The most recent of those, the 918 RSR hybrid, debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, but that’s not the only battery-operated vehicle to wear the crest.

Porsche famously campaigned its 911 GT3 R hybrid racer on the tracks of Europe last year, and the 918 RSR predecessor, the 918 Spyder concept, have all helped underscore the automaker’s commitment to the hybrid game.

The automaker’s unnamed hybrid isn’t the only new model headed to Geneva. Porsche says that it will also dust off the recently-unveiled Cayman R as well as the stealthy Black Editions of the 911 and Boxster. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche to unveil full hybrid in Geneva

Porsche to unveil full hybrid in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hurley Haywood details Porsche’s fond relationship with Daytona

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Porsche

Porsche 911 cup car at Dayona

Porsche 911 and Daytona go way back – Click above to watch video after the jump

Porsche and Daytona have a long history dating back to 1968, when the automaker won its first 24 Hours at Daytona. Porsche has spent the last 43 years dominating the event, leading all other manufacturers with 22 overall wins (38 victories total, when you add in class wins). Its closest competitor is Ferrari, which has managed five.

Hurley Haywood knows a thing or two about driving Porsche racing cars. He’s responsible for putting five of the company’s 22 overall Daytona wins on the board (as well as a class win, to boot). Before the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours at Dayona, Haywood discussed the long history between the racetrack and Porsche’s sports cars. Click past the jump to watch the clip.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hurley Haywood details Porsche’s fond relationship with Daytona

Video: Hurley Haywood details Porsche’s fond relationship with Daytona originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition gets horsepower bump, sinister styling

Filed under: Convertible, Porsche

2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

Much like the recently unveiled 911 Black Edition, Porsche has created a murdered-out version of the Boxster S roadster that combines a slight boost in power with a raft of new standard amenities. Called the Boxster S Black Edition, the new two-seater features black paint, black wheels, a black convertible top and a fully black interior. It looks sinister, and we’re big fans.

Under the hood is a 320-horsepower version of Porsche’s 3.4-liter flat-six – 10 more ponies than the standard Boxster S – mated to a six-speed manual or the automaker’s PDK dual-clutch transmission. Sprinting to 60 miles per hour takes just 4.8 seconds, and the roadster will eventually top out at 170 mph. An optional Sport Chrono package shaves two-tenths of a second off that acceleration time, and the Black Boxster is capable of achieving fuel economy numbers of 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg highway.

New standard features include things like the black-painted Design package, convenience package (bi-xenon headlamps, auto-dimming mirrors, automatic climate control) and infotainment package (navigation, Bose surround sound and XM satellite radio with NavTraffic). The whole kit will set you back $65,200 when the car officially goes on sale this spring. Follow the jump for Porsche’s press release.

Gallery: 2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading 2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition gets horsepower bump, sinister styling

2012 Porsche Boxster S Black Edition gets horsepower bump, sinister styling originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche CEO denies Chinese SUV rumors

Filed under: Performance, China, Europe, Crossover, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche Shield

It would seem that some of the rumors surrounding the upcoming Porsche Cajun were greatly exaggerated. Porsche CEO Matthias Müller has announced that his company won’t be producing a new small SUV based off of the Audi Q5 in China or anywhere else, for that matter. Müller said that while the future may force his company to consider moving production of one or more models overseas, right now the automaker will stick to cranking out vehicles in Germany. Previously, Porsche had said that it was taking some time to consider a new manufacturing facility in China – one of the fastest growing car markets on the planet.

Interestingly enough, Porsche hasn’t said that the Cajun is dead all together. Müller simply made it clear that the vehicle wouldn’t be based on any bones currently bumping around the Volkswagen family tree. The vehicle is intended to land just below the current Cayenne and allow younger buyers to jump into the exclusive Porsche brand at a more accessible price point. Early reports have the Cajun landing in show rooms no sooner than 2014.

[Sources: The Truth About Cars, Gasgoo]

Report: Porsche CEO denies Chinese SUV rumors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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