Tag Archives: Porsche
Porsche RS Models Will Not Get Manual Transmission
The Porsche RS models will not be getting a manual transmission. A company executive revealed they decided to go on that direction because the demand for it might not be high enough to justify its production.
“RS means Renn Sport, which means it has to be quick on the track, that it’s all about fast times on the track, and that means the PDK,” Andreas Preuinger, Porsche’s head of Motorsport Division, told CarAdvice during an interview.
“The PDK has advantages on the track that can’t be beaten by a manual, and the ones who prefer the manual transmission are not typically the track rats as we call them, but they are those who like to enjoy their cars on the normal public roads. I would say a GT2 RS with a manual option would have a four or five percent share of the market, we couldn’t justify that,” he explained.
Preuinger ensured that the manual stick-shift will remain as an offering in their GT models. He stated that they had success in their manual transmission cars. He estimated that putting it in the RS might yield a 30 percent share. However, they also projected that the demand might diminish and the figures might vary in different markets.
The decision of Porsche to ditch the manual in favor of the dual-clutch PDK for their RS models may not sit well to purists but Preuinger definitely had a point, especially on the “demand” factor. After all, they are running a business and numbers really do matter.
To the company’s credit though, they tried this formula before in their 911 GT3 RS to satisfy a segment of its market who were yearning for a manual shift stick. Unfortunately, it will not be the case this time.
2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and 718 Boxster GTS Get 365 HP
Porsche just expanded the lineup of its 718 Cayman and 718 Boxter range. The automaker recently revealed details about the 2018 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and the 718 Boxster GTS.
Based on the announcement of Porsche, both models had their outputs raised to 365 hp. The visuals of the cars feature a couple of enhancements too.
Performance
The 718 Cayman GTS and 718 Boxster GTS are equipped with 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines. Thanks to upgrades in the cars’ turbochargers and new intake ducts, the GTS models of the Cayman and Boxster now boast increase in their respective outputs by 35 hp and 15 hp compared to their GTS predecessors with naturally-aspirated power units.
The maximum torque of both GTS models have also gone up to 430 Nm. This can be achieved from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm.
The power of the mid-engined sports cars are distributed via a six-speed manual transmission. Buyers have the option to go for the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission gearbox too.
The GTS models can be optimized with the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) that comes with a mechanical rear differential lock, Porsche Chrono Package, and the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) lowering the height of the auto by 10 millimeters.
When equipped with all the performance-enhancing options, the 718 Cayman GTS and 718 Boxster GTS can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds. Then their max speed are capped at 290 km/h.
Design
The GTS models got subtle improvements in their styling to make them stand out from their lower-end siblings. The noticeable upgrades include the new bumpers, lighting system, rear diffuser, exhausts, badges and set of 20-inch alloy wheels in black satin finish. As mentioned earlier, the vehicles have lower suspensions.
Complementing the striking exterior of the cars are Alcantara accents in their interior. Then, the drivers of the car are treated to the Porsche Track Precision App that will let them monitor and analyze their driving performance through their smartphones.
Pricing
The Porsche 718 Cayman GTS has a starting price of 76,137 euros while the 718 Boxster’s cost begins at 78,160 euros. The figures already reflect the VAT and other fees in Germany.
Both cars are now available to order. The vehicles are expected to arrive in dealerships in the middle of December this year.
Porsche Passport Gives Access to 22 Different Porsche Models
Do you want to drive up to 22 different Porsche models without buying one? If you are in Metro Atlanta, you can do so with the Porsche Passport.
According to Autoweek, Porsche Passport is a program that can be accessed via a mobile app. Through subscription, members can drive up to 22 Porsche sports cars and other vehicles. It offers unrestricted mileage, frequent vehicle switches and on-demand access.
The company announced that vehicle deliveries for members will start in November, which also marks the pilot of the program. However, it will only be available in Atlanta for now where the headquarters of Porsche Cars North America Inc. is located. Porsche and Clutch Technologies, a known subscription vehicle service provider, are working in partnership for the program.
While Porsche Passport sounds really amazing, it does come with a hefty price tag though. Membership subscription costs from $2,000 to $3,000. And that’s only for a month of access of the program. There is a one-time activation fee of $500 as well.
The source said that there are two membership plans available for interested parties:
1. Launch Plan
For $2,000 monthly, members can have access to up to eight Porsche vehicles. The selection includes the 718 Boxster going to the Cayman S, Macan S and Cayenne.
2. Accelerate Plan
For $3,000 a month, the plan gives access to all 22 Porsche autos, including the ones featured in the Launch plan. Customers can also switch among the popular vehicles of the brand like the 911 Carrera S, Panamera 4S, Macan GTS and the Cayenne S E-Hybrid models.
Extras
The report noted that the fixed rate of the plans already cover the vehicle tax and registration charges plus the insurance, maintenance and detailing.
How to Get Porsche Passport
Interested customers residing in Metro Atlanta can download the Porsche Passport app through the App Store and Google Play Store. The application process is detailed in the app.
How Much is the Limited Classic Porsche 597 Jagdwagen Worth Now?
The Porsche 597 Jagdwagen was a limited edition vehicle. It was designed as a “hunting car.” It was light, thanks to its simplistic engineering, but the unit may cost more than a quarter of a million dollars nowadays.
According to Autoweek, the 2019 Cayenne traces its roots back to the Porsche 597 Jagdwagen. The name of the vehicle roughly means “hunting car”. The auto was made during a NATO competition to create a light army-transport vehicle similar to the American-made Jeep.
The Jagdwagen had a small design with a removable canvas roofing. It ran on a 4×4 drivetrain and powered by a rear-mounted, air-cooled, four-cylinder Porsche 356 engine. There were two power units available for the auto. One was a 1.5-liter engine and the other was 1.6-liter engine.
The more powerful 1.6-liter engine model of the 597 that was introduced in its later production stage was capable of producing up to 50 hp. All that power was distributed via a five-speed manual gearbox, which was a lot during its time. The top speed of the hunting car was at 62 mph.
The source said that the Jagdwagen only weighed 2,182 pounds, which made it highly maneuverable. It could switch between a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive setup on the fly. It had a climb gradient of 65 percent and it can float on water, making it amphibious.
Unfortunately, after spending $1.8 million for the development of the 597, which was too much during the 50’s, Porsche lost the NATO contest to DKW Munga. However, the automaker wanted to capitalize on the project after their failed entry by rebranding the light vehicle as a hunting car.
The Jagdwagen was produced from 1955 to 1957. Only 71 examples of it were ever made. At present, only 15 of it survived the test of time.
The report claimed that the 1957 model of the 597 in the pictures below was sold at the Bonhams’ Goodwood auction last year for $235,331. Earlier that same year, the Jagdwagen sold as a 1958 year model previously owned by Jerry Seinfield fetched $330,000 at an Amelia Island auction.
3 Amazing Features of the 2019 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
As if Porsche hasn’t done enough on its Cayenne, it now launched the 2019 Cayenne Turbo at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Porsche Cayenne Turbo is definitely more powerful, sportier, and more aggressive. With a V-8 engine, the Turbo version of the Cayenne will surely give every competitor a run for its money.
1. Minimal Exterior Difference
So far, we haven’t seen a lot of difference between the base model, the S, and the Turbo. The three have the same headlights and general fascia, though Turbo’s side intakes and grill are larger. The Turbo has no fog lights up front and the radiator grille is more open compared to the other two models.
At the rear, the only differences are the rear diffuser and the square exhaust outlets. Topping off the Turbo’s more aggressive styling are 21-inch wheels.
2. Luxurious Interior
When you enter the Turbo, it almost feels likes the base model and the S model, albeit the instrument cluster in front of the driver has a single analogue gauge in the center with a seven-inch digital display on either side. On the right, you can find a 12.3-inch infotainment and navigation display.
Standard equipment that went along with the cool setup of the instrument cluster are a 710-watt Bose sound system, 18-way sport seats, heated seats in the front and rear, heated steering wheel, and integrated headrests.
3. Lightweight but Powerful
Under the hood, as mentioned above, you’ll find a new 4.0-liter V-8 engine that produces 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque. That’s an increase of 30 horsepower and 14 pound-feet of torque from the outgoing V-8. The engine is paired with Porsche’s new eight-speed automatic transmission with traction management and all-wheel drive.
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds or 3.7 seconds if you have the Sport Chrono package. What makes this even more amazing is the fact that it comes with a new lightweight chassis that shaved off a few pounds compared to the previous generation.
The Cayenne Turbo promises a very smooth drive, thanks to the new three-chamber air suspension, active suspension management, and active shock absorber.
2018 Porsche Cayenne To Be Revealed On August 29
The debut of the much-awaited 2018 Porsche Cayenne will be on August 29. By the end of this year, it is expected to start production for a possible 2019 market release.
Why are we not surprised? It has long been rumored that there will be a 2017 introduction of the all-new Cayenne, along with some more information about the SUV’s diesel powertrains. During the debut, the 2018 Cayenne will be expected to unveil a single- or twin-turbocharged V-6 engines while a turbocharged V-8 engine will make rounds during the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Porsche will make use of Volkswagen’s highly-touted MLB platform for the 2018 Cayenne, which it will now be sharing with other VW Group products such as the 2017 Audi Q7, the Bentley Bentayga, and the 2018 Audi Q5. Luxury car Lamborghini Urus SUV is also expected to use the MLB architecture.
What’s good about the MLB platform? It offers lighter weight, improved fuel efficiency, and greater rigidity. Because of the architecture, the 2018 Cayenne is expected to shed off around 220 pounds in curb weight.
Though there are new information about the diesel powertrains that the Cayenne will come with, the development of these particular drivetrains might have to be delayed. We might not be able to see the option in the United States, but new regulations in the European market would demand for its launch. But since Volkswagen is still dealing with governments and regulators regarding the diesel scandal, Porsche would have to backtrack a bit and push the introduction of the diesel powertrain to the future.
The skyrocketing fuel prices in Europe will, of course, push Porsche to hasten the release of their vehicles’ diesel options. A Porsche source said there’s no way the Europe market would switch to gasoline cars.
In the United States, Porsche is expected to release the 2018 Cayenne S E-Hybrid, which will be able to produce 680 horsepower.
3 Facts About The Facelifted 2018 Porsche Macan
At the end of this year, the auto industry will welcome Porsche‘s all-new Cayenne, which, along with a coupe-styled Cayenne (said to be still under consideration despite the spy shots), is set to fire things up in the SUV segment.
The latest spy shots, however, revealed something else entirely—that the smaller Porsche Macan will have a facelift for 2018. It’s three years old, after all, and is already due an upgrade.
1. Macan’s Role in Porsche’s Inner Circle
The Macan, which is one of Porsche’s smallest offering on its lineup, was launched back in 2014. Since then, it became a core part of Porsche’s range of vehicles, rapidly rising to become the company’s best-selling car. By 2016, Porsche managed to deliver 237,778 cars globally, 95,642 of which were the Macan.
Rivaling against the likes of Jaguar F Pace and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Porsche Macan is pressured to keep itself fresh and up-to-date. The fact that 40 percent of Porsche’s sales come from the Macan is even more reason for the brand to keep itself updated.
2. Lighter Facelift
Don’t get your hopes up too much with the 2018 Macan because the facelift promises to be minimal. The spy shots have a light camouflage compared to others we have seen being tested.
The front of the test mule suggests that there are going to be new headlights and a wider grille. If you have seen the recent spy shots of the next-generation Cayenne, then you have seen a glimpse of what the new Macan will look like. Moving to the rear of the car, it’s clear that Porsche will put on a new single LED strip that runs the width of the tailgate.
This is a design feature first seen on the latest Panamera. It will play a significant role in the brand’s entire portfolio since it’s going to be the newest trademark rear lighting signature.
3. Ready by 2018
Don’t expect the new Macan to come to your dealers as early as this year. It will have to give way first to the Cayenne, whose likely debut will be before the year ends. Porsche will unwrap the new Macan in 2018.
Top 3 Things About the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS
These spy shots of the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS are showing us how the German luxury automaker is gearing up for its next high-performance sports car. The prototype of the 718 Boxster GTS was shrouded in camouflage, though that didn’t stop us from imagining what it could look like.
1. Exterior
The standard 718 Boxster looks slightly different from the GTS version of the same model. The prototype we have seen, however, seems to be a little sportier and more aggressive than the regular 718 Boxster. Obviously, the prototype is packing a new front fascia with an A-wing design that looks very similar to the 918 Spyder hypercar. Below the front fascia, you can find a new lip spoiler.
2. Powertrain
The Boxster S and the previous Boxster GTS have the same engine, though the one fitted on the GTS is slightly more powerful. Porsche will most likely apply the same principle on the 718 Boxster GTS, which means a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 engine that would be placed behind the cabin instead of under the hood.
The engine will have an output of 365 to 375 horsepower, a slight upgrade from the 350 horses produced by the 718 Boxster S.
There is also an option for a top-end chassis—standard Sport Chrono and Porsche Active Suspension Management.
3. Release date
The car might be introduced sometime in 2018 with the 718 Cayman GTS. But remember, the 718 Boxster won’t be the best in the 718 range because the Boxster Spyder and Cayman GT4 are expected to make their own debuts. Both will sport the naturally aspirated flat-6 engines.
Spy Shots
Check out the spy photos of the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS in the gallery below:
5 Things To Know About The 2019 Porsche Cayenne
Spy shots of the next-generation Porsche Cayenne, which is slated to be a 2019 model, shows why the midsize truck remains to be a strong contender in this segment. Though the camouflaged Cayenne revealed few details, it’s enough to get experts excited about this high-riding crossover.
1. Appearance
Based on the spy shots of the auto featured in CarAndDriver, there are changes in the front grille, as well as the lower fog-light windows that are wider and now feature a full-length slat. The headlights have been covered, but it might be safe to assume that it will use Porsche’s four-LED cluster—the same one used in the rest of the lineup.
The rear showed that Porsche is ready to take the Cayenne to a sportier aesthetics because there might be a full-width light bar connecting the taillights. That would give this car an overall wider appearance and stance.
2. Platform
This new Cayenne is expected to be on top of Volkswagen’s MLBevo platform, the same one used by the Audi Q7 and the Bentley Bentayga. It will also be utilized on the Volkswagen Touareg and the upcoming Audi Q8 and Lamborghini Urus. The lightweight dynamics of this new platform will contribute to Cayenne’s ability to shed off at least 200 pounds.
3. Powertrain
The powertrain lineup on the all-new Panamera should give huge expectations on what can be found under the Cayenne’s hood. The turbocharged V-6 engine will most likely be the powertrain of choice for the entry-level Cayenne. The S and GTS version should be using a twin-turbo six while the Turbo model might come with the V-8. It will share Panamera’s plug-in 4 E-Hybrid powertrain too, combining a twin-turbocharged V-6 with an electric motor.
4. Competition
The Cayenne, once it is released, will go head-to-head with some of the most powerful midsize luxury crossovers in the market—the BMW X5, the BMW X6, the Range Rover Sport, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and the Maserati Levante.
5. Release and pricing
The next-generation Cayenne will probably be unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show later this fall, with deliveries to begin early next year. Prices will be similar to the current generation’s tag.
Toyota Remains the Most Valuable Car Brand in the World
Toyota retains its status as the most valuable car brand in the world. The company toppled the likes of luxury car giants like Mercedes-Benz and BMW to keep its position.
According to Autoweek, the Japanese automaker’s value dropped by three percent to $28.7 billion. The decrease was attributed to the tough currency rates, in addition to the company’s investments and increase in labor costs. Despite the setbacks, Toyota topped the vehicle segment of the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand study made by market researcher Kantar Millward Brown.
Brown said Toyota is still viewed by customers as a reliable brand with quality value. Even with the recall issues going on, Toyota car owners gave positive reviews to their cars.
Based on the report, the study was first conducted 12 years ago. Since then, Toyota has landed in the number one rank 10 times.
In our earlier article, Toyota projected that further losses in revenue and net income are expected for the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2018. The company, through its CEO Akio Toyoda, defended that the slump is also in line with their vision to put more priority in stabilizing their future investments rather than focusing on short-term profit.
The Toyota CEO added that to safeguard the company’s future, they created an internal division called the Toyota Research Institute. The new division aims to work on futuristic technologies like the development of electric and hybrid vehicles as well as a potential autonomous car.
BMW and Mercedes landed on the second and third spots, respectively. BMW fell in value by eight percent to $24.6 billion while Mercedes rose by four percent to $23.5 billion.
On sidelines, Tesla seems to be catching up fast in the global car brand rankings. The company just jumped from number 10 last year to number 8 at the present, thanks to an increase of brand value by 32 percent to $5.9 billion. The car maker overtook Land Rover and Porsche to secure its new place in the hierarchy.