The roads winding from the southernmost coast of Spain up to Ascari Race Resort near the town of Ronda are enough to bring telling tales out of any car that professes to have high performance intentions. What talented few acquit themselves well on these roads are then exposed to the 3.4-mile Ascari circuit, and that's usually enough to send most of them home in a huff of brake dust and blow-by.
This time in the crucible, it's the 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS, a car first shown under the hard lights of November's Los Angeles Auto Show. Despite not being the most powerful in the range, this naturally aspirated GTS is tipped to offer the most race-like dynamics of the entire Panamera portfolio. And after 100 or so miles on public amusement park roads and 20 or so on the track, this plus-size GT showed us it's capable of dicing it up like a 911 or Cayman while delivering an understandably different experience from behind the wheel.
The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.
For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty Buick Regal GS. Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it's the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fiat 500 Abarth also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R. Of course, we're simply thrilled to see the sinister Audi TT RS make a showing. Hit the jump for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.
We've driven the new 991-series Porsche 911, and now the next chapter of the new 911 story - the 2013 Turbo - has been caught proving itself in the wintertide climate. Its most important details - the front and rear bumpers and side intakes - remain behind camo, but we now get a look at how the tail sits across the wider rump, and we think it looks quite good.
When it's finally revealed, the new 911 Turbo is expected to put out more than 500 horsepower - numbers from 520 hp to 550 hp have been mentioned - from it's tri-turboed (yes, three turbos) 3.6-liter flat six. Both the seven-speed PDK and seven-speed manual transmissions should be on offer, and the lighter-than-the-last-Turbo package should be screamingly fast. Have a look at the high-res gallery to see it from just about every angle.
If we could summarize the Porsche 911 with just one word, it would be "evolution." For decades, Porsche has methodically improved its rear-engined sports car. The design changes are subtle, and power has risen steadily.
To illustrate this, Porsche made a video that plays off the 911's rich history. If you lie awake at night thinking about how great it would be to own a 911, hit the jump for some more inspiration.
It's been a whole three weeks since we checked in with Volkswagen's takeoever of Porsche, and the most recent news wasn't so good: investors filed a $2.6 billion suit against Porsche over the Stuttgart maker's attempt to gobble up VW. Those same investors also filed an arbitration application against Volkswagen. That hasn't stopped a VW executive from saying that its ownership of Porsche could finally be concluded this year, according to a report in Der Spiegel.
VW had earlier predicted the deal would be done last year, then released a statement in September saying that that too many hurdles and unknowns remained concerning investigations and economic ramfications for the deal to get done in 2011. The hurdles centered around previous lawsuits, including one brought by American investors in 2010, and the fact that VW couldn't evaluate Porsche appropriately until they were settled.
However, the latest upbeat report on overcoming the obstructions to getting a deal done this year don't mention those lawsuits. Instead, the resolved issues are a one-billion-euro tax payment that VW can avoid by creating a holding company by 2014 to control the Porsche stake, and VW's agreeing to contractually assure Porsche retains control over its models and where it spends its money. According to that unnamed executive, this opens the door for VW to sponge up the final 50.1 percent of Porsche it doesn't own, for a price of €3.9 billion - about $5.1B USD - but we have no idea how or why the lawsuits aren't mentioned as a factor.
In the meantime, Reuters reports that VW and Porsche are working "at arm's length" even though they have the same CEO and CFO and are busy developing cars together, a fact which is testing CEO Martin Winterkorn's patience. Earlier this month, Winterkorn was quoted as saying he wants to bring the companies closer "without needing to have a lawyer stand next to a Porsche employee every time he screws something into a Volkswagen or vice-versa."
We don't imagine that many new-car buyers are cross-shopping their local Infiniti and Porsche dealerships, but there's at least one segment of the automotive industry where the two automakers both play ball: high-performance hybrid luxury sedans, which may be the single most conflicted niche of the automotive sphere in the known universe.
In any case, here we are with the Infiniti M35h and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. Each one is marketed as both a somewhat greener luxury vehicle and a performance sedan. We'd guess it's the performance side of the equation that would be most interesting to the majority of buyers, leaving fuel efficiency a welcome bonus.
So, which one is faster? That's an interesting question. Usually, we equate that term with top speed, as "fast" connotes velocity. When acceleration is being contested, we generally ask which machine is quickest. And, if it's quickness you're after, Infiniti wants you to know that its M35h will out-accelerate its competitor from Germany. How quick is it? According to Motor Trend, the hybrid M goes from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but that's not the stat Infiniti is claiming. According to the post-jump press release, the M35h is "faster" than the hybrid Panamera from 0-100 (11.54 seconds) and in the quarter mile (13.41 seconds).
As for the rest of the relevant statistics, the EPA estimates that the M35h will manage 27 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway, for a combined rating of 29. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined. Seems the M hybrid takes both the acceleration and economy awards. Check out a video released by Infiniti after the break, where you'll also find the press release, if you're into that kind of thing.
Say what you will about the Porsche Cayenne - whether you think it's the best-handling SUV on the market or a storied automaker turning its back on its heritage - you can't argue that it hasn't been a huge success for the German automaker. In fact, Porsche has produced 100,000 examples of the Cayenne - and that's only counting the current model.
The milestone unit is set to be delivered to a customer in Brazil, one of the 124 markets in which the Cayenne is currently sold in five different versions. The milestone comes at an auspicious time for Porsche, which this year celebrates 10 years of production at Leipzig, where the Cayenne and Panamera are built. With the approaching introduction of the smaller Cajun line at Leipzig, the plant is expected to reach the 500,000 mark before the year is out.
Take a flight overseas and you may happen upon a Porsche Design store in an airport somewhere. That's because, while the automaker's product-design division has dozens of locations around the world, few of them are in the United States for a brand that is typically European in its focus. But all that's changing with the company's new flagship store.
Rather than locating itself in a traditional European capital or a mall in some emerging market in Asia, the new Porsche Design mega-store is based right here in these United States. The new SoHo location, on West Broadway in Manhattan, New York, encompasses some 250 square meters of retail space. That includes displays for the brand's fashion lines, as well as its other products (ranging from luggage and pens to watches and phones) and a dedicated 50-square-meter VIP area for big spenders.
If you're planning a trip to New York, be prepared to spend all your savings on designer Blackberries and driving gloves. But if you're not heading to the Big Apple in the near future, you can still check out the press release after the jump and the array of high-resolution images in the gallery above.
Infiniti has started throwing stones at the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. The Japanese luxury brand aims to pit its M Hybrid against the electrified German five-door in a fight for the title of the world's fastest-accelerating production full hybrid. How's that for a mouthful? The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid dishes out 380 horsepower and is good for a 0-60 mph time of around 5.7 seconds, all while returning up to 30 mpg highway. Of course, you'll be asked to pay for the privilege of ownership. The Panamera S Hybrid commands an MSRP of $95,000.
The Infiniti M Hybrid, meanwhile, is good for 360 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a potent electric motor. Infiniti hasn't outright said how quickly the M Hybrid can do the 0-60 mph dash, but we can say from experience that the vehicle is no pushover. All told, the M Hybrid can deliver up to 32 mpg highway, but is it quicker than the Porsche?
We'll find out tomorrow. Hit the jump to see the teaser for yourself.
We all know what happens when Porsche and social media collide; the world gets another art car. As you may recall, the German sportscar manufacturer created a special version of its 911 GT3 R Hybrid when it crested one million fans on Facebook last February. Now, one year later, Porsche has garnered a staggering two million fans, and the company has taken it upon itself to slather a Cayman S in the faces of ts adoring supporters. With its red-tinted images on a white field, the design gives the Cayman S more than a passing resemblance to the famous Porsche 917 that garnered the company its first Le Mans win.
Porsche plans to display its Facebook Cayman S at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until January 27. For those of us who can't make the jump to Germany, Porsche has created a special site that provides 360-degree views of the car as well as search function to help you find your face on the Cayman. Head over to the site to check it out.
UPDATE: Porsche has clarified that every fan's face is not, in fact, on the 2-Mill Cayman due to Facebook requiring the automaker to ask permission before they could use people's pics. So unless you opted in for the stunt, don't look for your mug.
Porsche is busily readying a facelift for the Porsche Panamera, and our elite squad of spy photographers recently clicked a few images of the vehicle as it underwent winter testing. Details are scarce as to what, if any changes we can expect from the vehicle mechanically, but the photos clearly show an updated front fascia hidden beneath a bit of cladding. Odds are we can bet on seeing a tweaked headlight design with a reworked front valance. The vehicle's LED daytime running lights look to hang around for another few years as well. The tweaks should help the oddly proportioned Panamera age a bit better moving forward.
Move to the vehicle's rear and Porsche has served up some similarly small adjustments to the rear bumper cap and taillights. The changes aren't revolutionary by any stretch of the imagination, but Porsche has never been one shock and awe with its facelifts.
You think the prom limo market in America has a propensity for stretching anything with wheels? Just look at China. Instead of buying larger sedans there, wealthy Chinese buyers have a taste for stretching smaller ones. So while BMW, for example, already offers a larger 7 Series, they've developed a stretched 5 Series for the Chinese market. We thought that a little strange at first, but this one takes the cake.
Since the Porsche Panamera has one of the nicest interiors on the market, one aftermarket tuner of note has developed a stretched version specifically for China. That tuning firm is no less noteworthy than Ruf, the outfit that has made a name for itself by turning ordinary 911 models into supercar-beating, fire-breathing monsters.
The resulting Ruf Panamera XL is a good 40 centimeters longer than stock, giving it an extra measure of legroom in the back. And while this type of stretch job would normally make an exotic performance automobile like a Porsche look more than a little odd, given the almost universal derision of the Panamera's roofline, we'd venture to say this - to some eyes, anyway - might be considered an improvement. So much so, in fact, that Porsche is rumored to be considering developing one on its own - let's just hope that if Stuttgart tackles one on its own that they do a cleaner job of the resolving the B-pillar.
2013 Porsche Boxster, Detroit Show Editors' Choice, Chrysler/Fiat looking for a third, Nissan NY debut, VW beats Toyota
Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, Zach and Chris Paukert this week. Topics include the 2013 Porsche Boxster, a discussion of the Editors' Picks from the Detroit Auto Show, a possible third partner for Chrysler and Fiat, a mystery debut in New York for Nissan, and Volkswagen beating Toyota in sales for 2011. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
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We record Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #265
This isn't good. Not at all. Automotive News reports that Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has cooled on the idea of a sub-Boxster Porsche model. Mueller reportedly told German publication Wirtschaftswoche that a vehicle priced under the Boxster could dilute the brand's image, adding that Porsche may need to "wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work."
We've been hearing about a roadster that slots under the Boxster for years, and in February, Mueller told AN that such a vehicle could arrive as soon as 2014.
We'd be lying if we said we weren't disappointed by this development, as any new mid-engine Porsche sounds like a great idea to us. Porsche is, after all, still looking to launch the sub-CayenneCajun SUV next year. The Cajun should cost less than the base Boxster (the Cayenne is currently the lowest-priced Porsche), making it the lowest-priced vehicle in the lineup. We're just not sure why an entry-level mid-engine roadster would be a worse idea than a second Porsche SUV.
Porsche may have just unveiled its new 2012 911 Carrera Cabriolet at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this week, but the German automaker is wasting no time before showing off its next bit of overhauled hotness, the 2013 Boxster. The mid-engine roadster won't make its official debut until the Geneva Motor Show in March, but we've been given some preliminary details ahead of the new Box's primetime unveiling.
Much like the 911, the new Boxster's design is more evolution than revolution, and that's a-okay with us. The redesigned roadster is extremely handsome, and most of us on the Autoblog staff think it's the best-looking Boxster yet. We like the revised headlamps and more svelte running lamp/air intake setup, and the wider stance and longer wheelbase are nicely masked in the new design. The 2013 Boxster's all-aluminum skin also helps the new model shed a few pounds compared to its predecessor, which will not only make it that much more engaging out on the road, but also improve fuel economy.
But really, the Boxster is all about performance, and under the hood behind the seats are two flat-six engines with direct injection, thermal management and start/stop functionality. The base Boxster uses a 2.7-liter flat six, good for 265 horsepower (10 hp more than its predecessor) while the Boxster S is powered by a 3.4-liter six that produces 315 hp (an increase of 5 hp versus the 2012 model). The standard Boxster will run to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds with the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, while the Boxster S will do the same jaunt in just 4.7 seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox (what, no seven-speed?) is also available with either engine. Porsche will offer a Sport Chrono package that further enhances performance, adding things like dynamic transmission mounts and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV).
Look for the 2013 Boxster to hit United States showrooms this summer, priced from $49,500 for the base car or $60,900 for the Boxster S (not including $950 for destination). Now, about that Cayman...
Automakers have been integrating wind deflectors into convertibles for years now, though in many cases, they're a do-it-yourself, manual affair. The idea is to disrupt the wind enough to eliminate that obnoxious swirling effect that kills conversations and hairstyles in equal measure.
That said, we're not surprised that Porsche has fitted its 2012 911 Carrera Cabriolet with just such a device, but we like the car's unique power execution here (manually erecting or folding a wind deflector can be a chore and eat into storage space). The 911 Cabrio's new assembly is massive, which might not do the car's aesthetics any favors, but the size should help it be more functional.
Hit the jump to watch the 911 Cabriolet drop its top in only 12 seconds, followed by the big wind deflector that arrives on the scene in the blink of an eye.
The Motor City has been blessed with unseasonably warm weather and mostly clear skies this week, so consider it fortuitous that Porsche has gifted the Detroit Auto Show with the global premiere of its 911 Carrera Cabriolet.
This topless 911 carries with it a unique top mechanism that comes off like a particularly snug-fitting canvas lid that follows the roofline of the coupe beautifully - Porsche says it carries rigid panels like a folding hardtop along with its fabric top. The goal? Increased security and noise abatement along with improved styling. The new power retract cap can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 31 miles per hour and also includes a novel power wind deflector that can deploy in seconds.
The 3.4-liter Carrera reaches 62 miles per hour in 5.0 seconds with the seven-speed manual (4.8 seconds with the PDK and 4.6 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono) thanks to its 350-horsepower 3.4-liter flat six. Like the coupe, the Carrera S gets a displacement bump to 3.8 liters and a commensurate rise in power to 400 horsepower. 0-62 mph is dispatched in 4.7 seconds with the seven-speed manual and as little as 4.3 seconds with the PDK Sport Chrono. Check out some rolling footage of the Cabrio after the jump and the official press release.
Porsche is investing heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the company's impressive sales growth. Automotive News reports the German automaker is spending more than 10 percent of its revenue on research and development. That figure comes from Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche's head of R&D (for comparison's sake, automakers spend between five and six percent).
A main component of the spending splurge will see Porsche hiring more than 300 engineers in 2012 as part of an effort to increase the company's core staff by around 10 percent. Porsche hired a similar number of engineers in 2010 on top of replacing staff members who left as part of standard turnover.
Porsche is hard at work on the next-generation Cayman as well as the new 918 Spyder and the Cajun small CUV, all of which are headed to market in 2013. Previously, Porsche has made it clear the German sports car maker will create around 1,000 new jobs a year as part of its current business strategy.
The Koenigsegg Agera is one stupendously quick supercar. It can travel from a dead stop to 186 miles per hour and back down to zero in a scant 21.19 seconds. That's not even enough time to sit through a car insurance commercial.
The Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 isn't quite as quick, but it can boast some serious performance chops all its own. The race-ready 911 can hit 62 miles per hour in just 3.6 seconds, and a trip to 120 miles per hour takes only 11.5 seconds.
But while the GT3 RS 4.0 can't quite keep up with the Agera once the rubber starts rolling, this athletic Porsche can stop a bit more quickly. The GT3 RS 4.0 has reportedly beaten the Agera's braking record of 186 mph to zero in 6.66 seconds, and we have the video that proves it. Hit the jump to watch the speedometer plunge from 186 mph to zero in only 6.5 seconds.
