The Book of 911

Yummy!

Source: http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/243343/porsche_gt3_rs.html

The 2009 911 Cabriolet

LeftLane News has this to say about the new 911 997.5 cabrio:

The 911 Carrera Cabriolet is a true Porsche, from top to bottom. With amazing acceleration, and incredibly grippy brakes, it is the ultimate package for a Porschephile who also happens to be a sun worshipper. Not a car for first-time enthusiasts afraid of its unique handling characteristics, it nonetheless begs to be driven and enjoyed any day of the year.

See the full review here:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/porsche-911-carrera-cabriolet-review.html

GT3 spy shots...

We have spy shots from NextAutos.com and LeftLane News. Check them out!

To be seen at the Geneva auto show

The annual Geneva auto show will bring a variety of new cars. For example, Bentley will showcase its new “Extreme” biofuel-powered car. Porsche will also be there, as usual, and you can count on the launch of the latest GT3. It’s a naturally aspirated car with 3.8 litre displacement that reaches 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. Pretty quick. In fact performance is the name of the game with this car, and nearly everything sees minor upgrades from the previous GT3.

ATLANTA — January 29, 2009 — Porsche will launch the fastest, most powerful 

911 GT3 to-date at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3, 2009. The high 

performance GT3 is the latest in the new generation 911 series and carries over 

a wide range of expertise learned from motorsports – resulting in superb 

capabilities both on road and on track. 

New Engine 

The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 raises the performance bar thanks to an increase in 

engine size to 3.8 liters and VarioCam technology now on both the intake and 

exhaust. The naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine develops 435 bhp, 20 

bhp more than its predecessor. 

The new, larger engine offers a significant increase in torque at medium engine 

speeds, which is particularly important for everyday driving. Track performance is 

also improved; the new GT3 accelerates to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches 

a top track speed of 194 mph. 

Improved Suspension 

Driving dynamics have also been enhanced, and the new GT3 offers even better 

grip and stability. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) has enabled 

Porsche’s engineers to make the springs and anti-roll bars stiffer, thus ensuring 

even more precise handling in sport mode, while retaining a level of comfort 

suitable for everyday use in normal mode. For the first time, the 911 GT3 comes 

standard with Porsche Stability Management (PSM), with suspension mapping 

mirroring that of the GT2. The driver can disengage both stability control and 

traction control in separate steps. 

Refined Aerodynamics 

At high speeds, aerodynamic improvements have increased downforce at both 

the front and rear, more than doubling the effect of the previous GT3. At the 

same time, the new aerodynamics package, with larger vents in the front and 

rear bumpers gives the GT3 a brand-new look, accentuated by standard bi- 

xenon headlights, LED rear light clusters and modified air intakes and outlets. 

Innovative Engine Mounts 

The new GT3 will be available with new and highly innovative dynamic engine 

mounts. Utilizing magnetic fluid, these inventive mounts automatically stiffen to 

create a more solid coupling between the engine and chassis when the car is 

driven energetically. This provides a sporting, rigid assembly on fast bends and 

winding racetracks yet allows for engine isolation and increased comfort while 

driving in everyday traffic. Traction is also improved when accelerating from a 

standstill. 

Upgraded Brakes 

With driving dynamics and performance at an even higher level, the brake 

system, following a long Porsche tradition, has also been enhanced accordingly. 

Brake discs are larger and feature an aluminum hub to reduce weight. Increased 

brake ventilation ensures a high level of brake power over long periods, and the 

GT3 can also be equipped with PCCB ceramic brakes, developed specifically for 

this model. 

Creative Front End Lift 

A new lift system for the front axle is also available. By utilizing an on-board air 

compressor, the front of the car can be raised for steep driveways or inclines. 

The touch of a button raises the front ride height by 30 mm, or 1.18 inches and 

at speeds up to approximately 30 mph. New, lighter GT3 specific center lock 

wheels and ultra-high performance tires round out the functional and visual 

enhancement of the GT3. 

The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 will be available in the fall of 2009, MSRP US$112,200 

 

Source: Porsche Cars North America.

A Porsche Panamera escaped damage during the accident

Car accidents are always tragic, but they carry special meaning when they serve a purpose. February 13 brought much unwelcome news for everyone in the Porsche world when one of it’s most seasoned test drivers was killed in a road accident during testing of the next generation Porsche 911 convertible. 

Apparently the driver lost control of the car at moderate speed on an unregulated portion of the autobahn in Hessen, during damp weather. 

Testing locations vary from location to location. Some are on closed-circuit tracks, others are on high-speed ovals, but a lot of testing is “real-world”. Spy shots abound of nearly ever new models that comes out. Some cars are tested more rigorously, but sports cars tend to receive a lot of test time on road and track. Often the test drivers work in shifts, 24 hours per day, and in various locations ranging from the deserts of Arizona, to above the arctic circle in Sweden.  

Test centers for various manufacturers include:

Pictures from the accident detailing the car’s position in relation to the guardrail are here.

Read the rest of this entry »

A quicker way to 60

“Along with direct fuel injection, the new Porsche engines offer the new Porsche Doppelkuppling (PDK), available as an option. It’s a technology that first helped Porsche racing cars create a sensation on racetracks around the world in the 1980s. After years of painstaking development, its application in a street-legal 911 has come to fruition.

PDK, with both a manual gearshift and an automatic mode, has seven gears at its disposal. It is essentially two gearboxes in one and, as the name suggests, two clutches. Whenever a particular gear is engaged, the next gear in the other gearbox is always preselected. The result?

Gear shifts take mere hundredths of a second, and without any hint of interruption to the flow of power. PDK provides improved responsiveness and greater agility with more fuel efficiency.

In combination with the Sport Chrono Package Plus, PDK has a choice of two additional functions: Launch Control for optimum acceleration from a standing start, and a motorsport-derived gearshift strategy, bringing gearshift characteristics straight from the racetrack.”

Source: 2009 Porsche 911 Product Guide, page 10.