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Drove two laps Autocross (instructor) in:
Panamera GTS
Macan Turbo
One closed track 1.2 mile lap (lead/follow) in:
Cayman GTS
Boxster GTS
911 Targa 4S
One hot lap (rider) in 991 Turbo.
Pretty fun way to spend a few hours on Sunday. The Ford proving grounds did not allow for picture taking so I snuck a quickie, no Ford prototypes were injured in this shoot.
And the best picture you could take still had your finger over the lens...
^^ what did you think of the Macan Turbo in comparison to the other Porsches?
I love the interior of the Macan, very nicely done. I drove it after the Panamera GTS and quite frankly, its tough to compare how superb the Panamera is and how sweet the NA V8 sounds versus a muffled turbo. For what it is, the Macan Turbo is a very capable car, but I can't picture myself spending north of $75k for one.
It was an epiphany to feel the difference in Boxter GTS/Cayman GTS versus the heavier Targa 4S back to back. The mid-engine layout is just so confidence inspiring.
Totally want to hit the Porsche driving school program if I can fit it into my schedule next.
Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman announced on his Twitter account Porsche will bring the 911 GTS to the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Likely slotting between the Carrera S and GT3, Porsche's upcoming 911 GTS will inaugurate the 992 codename if we were to believe Lieberman's message on the social network. Some were probably expecting the 991.2 label for Porsche's upcoming facelifted 911 range but it seems the cars will wear the 992 code.
The GTS will be offered in both coupe and convertible body styles featuring an all-wheel drive arrangement and possibly an upgraded version of the 400 PS six-cylinder 3.8-liter inside the Carrera S which will obviously offer considerably less than the 475 PS version mounted inside the GT3. In terms of aesthetics, expect restyled aprons and fenders together with unique alloy wheels and some minor interior tweaks.
The Los Angeles Auto Show will open its doors to the press on November 18 so expect more details to emerge in the next couple of months.
Neat video. In it, Sabine Schmitz (if you don't know her, time to Google!) compares the two most recent generations of GT3. One of them happens to be her personal car.
The Porsche 911 family has been expanded with new Carrera GTS coupe and Carrera GTS Cabriolet models, which are aimed at buyers seeking something sportier than the regular Carrera and Carrera S models but aren’t quite ready to hop into the hardcore GT3 or Turbo. This is only the second time that a Carrera GTS has been offered, and like the previous generation we don’t expect the new one to be a mainstay in the 911 lineup.
The new Carrera GTS in both coupe and convertible flavors go on sale at the end of the year, as 2015 models. Pricing will start at $115,195 for the coupe and $127,095 for the convertible. Rear-wheel drive is standard on both but all-wheel drive is available and will add $6,700 to the sticker. All prices mentioned include Porsche’s standard $995 destination fee.
So what separates the latest Carrera GTS from the standard Carrera? Visually, the Carrera GTS features the extra-wide body of the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 models, regardless of whether rear- or all-wheel drive is selected. The cars also come with unique 20-inch center lock wheels finished in black gloss. In addition, special trim elements and tinted bi-xenon headlights accentuate the front end, while black trim strips on the customized GTS air intake and black chrome-plated exhaust tailpipes distinguish the rear. Inside, there is plenty of Alcantara, a signature feature of all Porsche GTS models.
The engine powering the car is the same 3.8-liter flat-six found in the Carrera S, but with output tuned to 430 horsepower instead of 400 horses. The bump in output is brought about by the Carrera S Powerkit which incorporates the 911’s available Sport Chrono package and Sport Exhaust system. A final performance upgrade is a standard PASM active damper system, which lowers the ride height of the car compared to the Carrera S by 10 millimeters.
When equipped with the available PDK dual-clutch transmission (a seven-speed manual is standard), the Carrera GTS sprints from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.0 seconds)—which is one-tenth of a second faster than the Carrera S. Top speed ranges from 187 to 190 mph, depending on drivetrain and transmission. Despite the extra performance, fuel economy should remain the same as that of the Carrera S.
The 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS makes its world debut next month at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Its arrival means the current 991-generation 911 family now consists of nineteen members—and we still haven’t see replacements for the previous-generation GT3 RS and GT2 models. Note, we could also see a new Targa GTS introduced for the first time, and Porsche's mid-cycle update for the 911 is also just around the corner.
Porsche is sending its second generation of the 911 Carrera GTS to the starting line. Four models – a coupe and a cabriolet, each with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive – now close the gap between the 911 Carrera S and the street-legal sports car optimised for the race track, the 911 GT3. Some of the technical ingredients that generate even more driving dynamics and driving fun: 430 hp (316 kW) power, the Sport Chrono package and the PASM active damper system which lowers the car's ride height by ten millimetres. Improved efficiency has also led to quicker accelerations and higher top speeds, but combined fuel consumption figures remain unchanged at the favourable level of the S models. When combined with the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), the 911 Carrera GTS sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.2 seconds). The top speed of each GTS model is beyond the 300 km/h barrier; the fastest at 306 km/h is the Coupe with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.
When adjusted for their additional features, the new top models are attractive in price as well. A number of options are included as standard, such as bi-xenon headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) and the sport exhaust system for unmistakable GTS sound. The driver and front passenger also sit in an exclusive Alcantara interior with leather-trimmed sport seats whose centre panels are made of Alcantara as on the other GTS models by Porsche.
The exteriors of the new 911 cars – like all GTS models by Porsche – differ significantly from the other Carrera models. All models have the 911 Carrera 4 body with wide-flared rear wheel arches and a wide track. Also standard are 20-inch wheels with centre wheel locks, which are painted in an exclusive matt black. Accentuating the front end are special trim elements and smoked bi-xenon headlights. Black trim strips on the customised GTS air intake screen and black chrome-plated exhaust tailpipes characterise the rear of the GTS.
With the addition of these new top models, the 911 Carrera range now consists of twelve sports cars at three power levels, as coupes and cabriolets, and with rear-wheel and all-wheel drive systems. The 911 Carrera GTS and 911 Carrera 4 GTS will be offered in Germany at prices starting at 117,549 euros, including country-specific features and 19 per cent VAT. In Germany, the four models will be available at dealers starting in November 2014.
911 Carrera GTS Coupe: Fuel consumption urban 13.7 – 12.2 l/100 km; extra-urban 7.5 – 6.7 l/100 km; combined 9.5 – 8.7 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 223 – 202 g/km; efficiency classes: G – F
911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet: Fuel consumption urban 13.7 – 12.3 l/100 km; extra-urban 7.6 – 6.9 l/100 km; combined 9.7 – 8.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 228 – 207 g/km; efficiency classes: G – F
Anyhow, Porsche currently only offers that color scheme on their flagship 918 but they recently released some photos offering a glimpse of what happens if their 911 got the same treatment.
Porsche is working on a mid-cycle update for its 991-series 911, which in the automaker’s tradition will be classified a 991.2. The update is expected to consist of a few visual tweaks for the exterior and some new features in the cabin, and according to a new report the 911 Carrera models will be receiving new turbocharged engines.
According to CAR, the update will see both the Carrera and Carrera S switch to forced induction in an effort to boost performance while also reducing emissions. Looking at prototypes, we can see that they feature new intakes at either side of the rear bumper, suggesting some mechanical changes in the engine bay.
Using a turbocharger means a smaller engine can be utilized: the Carrera’s 3.4-liter flat-six will reportedly drop to a 2.9-liter capacity, while the Carrera S’s 3.8-liter engine is said to keep its capacity but see output rise to more than 500 horsepower, perhaps as high as 530 hp. This might sound extreme, but remember that the Carrera S-rivaling Mercedes-AMG GT S will be packing as much as 503 hp, so Porsche has some catching up to do. The current Carrera S has ‘just’ 400 hp.
It’s not clear what effect this will have on the updated 911 Turbo but it’s likely output will be dialed up higher than the current 520-hp rating. Porsche will eventually boost the output of its more potent models using hybrid technology but this is not expected until the next generation of the iconic sports car.
The good news is that the 911 GT3 will remain naturally aspirated after receiving its own update. However, what’s worrying is that there’s been no mention of the new 911 GT3 RS, which was originally due to launch this past summer but will now likely arrive next year.
The updated 911 Carrera models also arrive next year. They should be on sale by next fall, as 2016 models.
Open-air motoring enthusiasts in cold-weather climates, rejoice for your new toy has arrived. Say hello to the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS. That combination of letters and numbers is a mouthful, yes, but it also tells you a lot about the vehicle at which you're staring. Targa lets you know the roof opens up, the 4 means it's all-wheel-drive, and the GTS means it's more fun to drive than your standard 911.
This is the first time that Porsche has offered a tuned-up version of its Targa-roofed 911. Out back, the 3.8-liter engine produces 430 horsepower and great noise thanks to the sport exhaust system. Porsche also pairs the GTS version of its 911 with the Sport Chrono package, the PASM chassis goodies, and center-locking 20-inch wheels plucked from the Turbo model.
All of these upgrades ensure that the Targa 4 GTS will dash from 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Keep the throttle pressed for long enough and you'll run into the 186 mph top speed. Aesthetically, the car already looks fast when its massive brakes have brought it to a stop. That's due in part to the fact that the all-wheel-drive version here sees its fenders flared a bit compared to the rear-wheel-drive version.
Inside, the cabin takes its usual Alcantara bath. Also, the space is fitted with Sport Plus seats to make sure you're both comfortable and properly confined during extra-legal maneuvering.
Porsche will start sending out its newest Targa to customers in April. Pricing is set at $132,800...
Porsche is close to launching a new generation of its 911 GT3 RS and it seems like a week can’t go by without some new information being revealed. Recently an undisguised version of the track-focused special was spotted in a garage near Porsche’s headquarters in Germany, and now we have some new details about the engine that will feature in the car.
For previous GT3 RS generations, Porsche typically went with a more powerful version of the engine found in the tamer 911 GT3, which the GT3 RS is derived from. However, Auto Express, citing Porsche R&D boss Wolfgang Hatz, is reporting that the new GT3 RS will feature an all-new engine. The new engine is said to be a naturally-aspirated six-cylinder unit, and after launching in the new GT3 RS is expected to appear in other 911 variants.
In GT3 RS tradition, Porsche was originally planning to go with an uprated version of the 475-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-six in the latest GT3 but is thought to have run into trouble extracting more power from the engine reliably. A turbocharger is said to have been considered at one point but now it looks like an entirely new naturally-aspirated engine will be employed.
Other details that we know about the new GT3 RS is that it will feature a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, four-wheel steering, and more aggressive styling than what’s found on the GT3. The latter is to help further differentiate the GT3 RS from the GT3.
Interestingly, Auto Express is also reporting that Hatz didn’t rule out a conventional manual transmission for the GT3 RS in the longer term. It appears that if there’s enough demand for one Porsche may just build a manual-equipped GT3 RS.
Well we knew the day was coming and now it has been confirmed, the entire new range of Porsche 911 models will come standard with turbocharged engines in an effort to lower CO2 emissions.
All standard Porsche 911 models will soon be turbocharged meaning the hardcore GT3 and the upcoming GT3 RS are likely to become the German firm’s only 911 variants with naturally aspirated engines. The news was confirmed by Porsche’s engineering chief Wolfgang Hatz while speaking with Top Gear at the Detroit Motor Show 2015.
According to Hatz, “You have to respect legal requirements [for lower CO2], so yes we’re thinking turbos for standard 911s. You can’t afford to keep an engine for 10 years anymore.
“Emissions are important for us. And we will reduce faster than the industry. Every new model will have lower CO2 than before. There aren’t so many technologies to do it. If you look at euro per g/km then it’s turbo. Then at the end of the decade electrification has to be the next huge step,” he said hinting at a Porsche 911 hybrid.
Turbochargers will be adopted by Porsche 911 models when the facelifted 991-generation range is introduced in 2016. A version of the brand new engine set to power the new 911 GT3 RS will be the starting point with it then being turbocharged.