Porsche announced a new Porsche Boxster this week with some great photos and a few of the major changes noted in the press release. Most notable are a new lightweight body, completely revamped chassis and a wider track. They also outfitted the car with larger wheels. You can imagine how this will continue to improve the driving dynamics of the mid-engine car. Performance is bumped and fuel economy also increased.

Here’s a bit more info from the press release:

The new Boxster thus delivers what the fundamentally changed styling with shorter overhangs, significantly forward-shifted windscreen, flatter silhouette and expressive edges promises. The passengers are enclosed by the completely redesigned, fully electric hood, which now dispenses with a convertible top compartment lid. The interior concept offers the occupants more space and reflects the new Porsche outline with the raked centre console, which, originating with the Carrera GT, ensures further improved ergonomics in all models.

The new sports car generation makes its debut in the classic Porsche pairing of Boxster and Boxster S. Both models are powered by flat-six engines with direct petrol injection, the efficiency of which is further enhanced by electrical system recuperation, thermal management and start/stop function. The base model’s new power unit delivers 265 hp (195 kW) from a 2.7 litre displacement – ten hp more than its larger displacement predecessor. Technically, it is now based on the 3.4-litre engine of the Boxster S. This now delivers 315 hp (232 kW), which is five hp more than before. Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an option. Both sports cars achieve their best fuel consumption and acceleration performance with the PDK. The Porsche Boxster’s fuel consumption with PDK is 7.7 l/100 km and 8.0 l/100 km for the Boxster S. With gear changes without interruption to the power flow, the Boxster sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, the Boxster S in 5.0 seconds.

It looks like the official launch of the new Porsche Boxster will be on April 14th (just in time for you to spend your big tax refund!).

Here are a couple more pics:

[Source & Images: Porsche.com]

Car and Driver Magazine recently published spy shots of the 2013 Porsche Boxster. I like the Boxster, but I have to say, I really like the look of this new model. Definitely more 911-like and the open top lines are mighty sexy.

A few details seem to be known such as 50 to 100 pounds lighter, LED turn signals, a little bump in power, optional PDK as before. There’s a possibility of a four cylinder engine, as well as an option on the other end of the spectrum producing 350 hp.

Check out all of the pictures and more info here: 2013 Porsche Boxster Spied Completely Undisguised.

[Source & Image: CarAndDriver.com]

I’m loving the Porsche 550 Spyder rumors and renderings! – At least a couple of times a month, a new rendering or rumor pops up about Porsche releasing a modern day take on the infamous Porsche Spyder. This time around it’s CAR Magazine saying we’ll see a Porsche 550 by 2015. They even have some artist renderings included with the post. I love seeing stuff like this and dreaming about what Porsche’s future models will be. Jump over and take a look at the renderings on the site. There’s a couple of interesting ones there. [via CarMagazine.co.uk]

Impossibly gorgeous collection of cars – A UK site, Mail Online, recently pulled together pictures from a high end book called The Impossible Collection of Cars. Included was the Porsche 356 Prototype right at the top. There’s a great picture of the car along with a short little description. The page has 13 amazing cars on it, including a particularly riveting Bentley Mark VI Franay Drophead Coupe. The cars on the page remind me of the Allure of the Automobile exhibit that left Portland last month. Any car fanatic should check the page out. You’ll scroll through it several times…guaranteed. [via DailyMail.co.uk]

Porsche’s design impacts more than just the automotive landscape – With the passing of Steve Jobs the week before last, all sorts of factoids and stories have been written in countless articles, posts and the like about the man. He was certainly one of the most influential people on technology the world has seen in the past 20 years, perhaps even the past century, but that could just be my fascination with Apple speaking through. One of the more interesting things I read in several places was the influence the Porsche 928 had on the first Macintosh computer Steve Jobs designed for Apple. Jobs was quoted as saying at one point during a late night discussion in March 1981, “It should be more like a Porsche!” Apple and Porsche are two brands I’ve grown to love over the course of my life. Of course I’ve long been a fan of the Porsche 928 (much to the chagrin of my wife and kids who still maintain it looks like an expensive Gremlin). They must have gotten it right because the first Mac released in February 1982 was a game changer for the world of computers. [via TopSpeed.com]

Porsche putting it’s German castle on the market – Say what?! Yep, Porsche owned a castle in Germany, near the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria (one of my favorite castles we visited while living in Germany). Porsche bought the Schloss Bullachberg in 2006 for about $8 million, hoping to turn it into a luxury hotel. The renovation work never got underway. I haven’t seen what it listed the castle for. Wonder how long something like THAT will be on the market before moving? [via MyFoxPhilly.com]

The world may see a Porsche Pajun in 2016 – Okay, I’m REALLY not for the name Porsche Pajun. I’m hoping that’s just a clever attempt at gaining some notoriety by an automobile magazine wanting their nickname to catch on. According to Car Magazine, who seems to be breaking all the news on new Porsche models these days, a baby brother to the Porsche Panamera is in the works and may make an appearance as soon as 2016. The site is reporting similarities to the current production Panamera may not be as close as one would expect. Possibly even a sedan look entering the picture. A smaller version of Porsche’s sedan-type model seems like a natural extension of the line, although I was hoping for a 928 GT type layout rather than a smaller sedan-ish style. [via AutomobileMag.com]

This morning, Porsche released an announcement officially launching the Porsche 911 for 2012. This is the new 991 generation. Can’t believe the 911 is now 48 years old! Oh how time flies.

The new 911 Carrera is completely redesigned, yet remains very much recognizable as a Porsche 911. I think I like the redesigned interior. Very Panamera-like. Kind of makes the old 80′s 911′s look a bit on the sparse side.

Nothing really new in the press release, but here it is in case you want to see what Porsche has to say about the new 911.

At 48, the Porsche 911 Carrera is younger than ever: The completely redesigned generation of the sports car icon is stepping into the limelight with its flat, stretched silhouette, exciting contours and precisely designed details, yet from the very first glance it remains unmistakably a 911. True to the 911 tradition, the distinctive Porsche design language with its tendons and muscles exudes power and elegance.

The 100 millimetre (~ 3.9 inches) longer wheelbase and reduced height combined with the up to 20-inch wheels underpin the athletic appearance. At the same time, the typical sports car compact exterior dimensions were retained. Seen from the front, the eye is drawn to the 911’s trademark wide-arched wings. They emphasise the wider front track, so that the new 911 Carrera models sit even more solidly on the road. The remodelled exterior mirrors are accommodated on the upper edge of the door and not as before on the mirror triangle. Not only is this aerodynamically advantageous, it also emphasises the new design line and visual impression of width.

The all-new, lightweight body is an intelligent aluminium-steel construction. It is responsible for a significant proportion of the weight reduction of up to 45 kilograms. Combined with significantly greater rigidity. Aerodynamic optimisation – including a wider, variably extending rear spoiler – enabled the new 911 Carrera’s lift to be reduced yet further while retaining a very good Cd value.

To complement the modern exterior design, the Porsche designers created an interior, the architecture of which takes its cue from the Porsche Carrera GT. The driver is now even more closely integrated with the cockpit thanks to the centre console rising up to the front with the high-mounted shift lever or gear selector located especially close to the steering wheel in typical motorsport fashion. Classic Porsche elements are also to be found inside, as they are on the outside: the instrument cluster with five round instruments – one of them a high resolution multifunction screen, the central rev counter and the ignition lock to the left of the steering wheel.

Setting the standard in its class, as it has for generations, the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S raise the performance and efficiency bar yet another notch. All versions get by with significantly less than ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (28 mpg imp.). Fuel consumption and emissions are up to 16 per cent lower compared with its predecessor. Among other things, this is achieved by systems and functions such as auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission and – in conjunction with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) – sailing as it is called. The new electro-mechanical power steering offers not only Porsche’s typical precision and feedback but also helps to increase efficiency and reduce fuel-consumption.

For example, the 911 Carrera with the new 350 hp (~ 257 kW) 3.4-litre boxer engine and optional PDK consumes a mere 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres (~ 34 mpg imp.) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) – 1.6 l/100 km (~ 6 mpg imp.) less than its predecessor. Also, at 194 g/km CO2, it is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km mark. With the 911 Carrera S as well, with its 3.8-litre boxer engine and what is now 400 hp (~ 294 kW), fuel consumption when paired with the optional PDK is reduced by 14 per cent or 1.5 l/100 km (~ 5 mpg imp.) to 8.7 l/100 km (~ 32 mpg imp.) despite 15 hp (~ 11 kW) more power. That equates to CO2 emissions of 205 g/km.

At the same time there are performance improvements in both models. The 911 Carrera S with PDK manages to accelerate from nought to 100 km/h (~ 62 mph) in 4.3 seconds. Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono package cuts that to 4.1 seconds. The 911 Carrera with PDK needs only 4.6 seconds (Sport Plus 4.4 seconds) to sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h (~ 62 mph).

The new 911 doesn’t just offer better longitudinal dynamics, however, but top performance at an unprecedented level in terms of transverse dynamics as well. In addition to the longer wheelbase, the greater agility, precision and driving stability are based, among other things, on the wider front track, the new rear axle and new electro-mechanical power steering. Depending on the model, there are other standard or optional active control systems available as well that further enhance the driving dynamics. That is especially true for the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilisation system, available for the first time on the 911 Carrera S. For example, the system reduces lateral inclination when cornering, the tyres always being in the optimal position relative to the road surface and able to transmit higher lateral forces. Maximum cornering speeds are increased; even faster lap times on racing circuits are possible.

It has therefore been possible in the new model to extend yet further the span of apparently contradictory attributes such as performance and efficiency, sportiness and everyday practicality that has always typified the Porsche 911. That makes the 911 Carrera more of a 911 than ever. The new Porsche 911 Carrera celebrates its world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The launch of the new 911 models gets under way on 3 December 2011, the new cars can be orderd from September 1st. Prices in Germany are 88,038 euro for the 911 Carrera and 102,436 euro for the 911 Carrera S, including 19 per cent VAT and market-specific equipment.

Can’t wait to see and drive this car!

[Source & Images: Porsche.com]

I love the footage in this video. Especially the little kids laughing when around the car. Puts a smile on your face. Crazy how little of the engine you can now see when the lid is open.

This is an interesting approach. We’ve all seen the spy shots floating around. Porsche, along with other car manufacturers, attempt to hide new models while they put their cars through real world tests. Porsche, this time, kept a bunch of the camo on their new Porsche 911, the Porsche 991, but let a select group of media have access to the car to experience it prior to the official unveiling. I like that approach.

Scheduled to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, the new Porsche 911, the 991 series, promises to propel the 911 model to the next level. The car takes advantage of technology Porsche has been experimenting with, which have also shown up on other recent models. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Wider and longer wheelbase than the current 997 model
• Lower stance with a more severely raked windshield
• 3.4 liter engine cranking out 350 hp, with the S model hitting 3.8 liters and 400 hp
• Two 7 speed transmission options in the form of an improved PDK dual clutch version or a “manually controlled single clutch version of the PDK”
• Initial 0-60 mph times in the 4.5 second range
• Top speed of 186 mph

According to Car & Driver, August Achleitner who is Porsche’s head of the 911 range indicated the 991 in “best setup” form ripped around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes, 37 seconds. For comparison, the 911 GT2 RS makes the trip in 7 minutes, 18 seconds.

A new iteration of the Porsche 911 always gets me excited. I love hearing the reviews, the newcomers to the 911 series that get excited about owning one and the die hard 911 fans who hate every new model. It’s always unbelievable how far the 911 has come and how long it has lasted. Makes you wonder sometimes how much farther it can go.

[Source & Image: PCA]

Porsche 928 successor could be in the works – What do you think of a Porsche 929? Personally, I LOVE the idea. Maybe my wife will finally let me get one of these Grand Tourers. Thought to be part of the Panamera family, the 929 as many have taken to calling it would likely be a two door car with a front mounted engine. Sources for some sites indicate the car would be based on the second generation Panamera due out in 2014/15. I hope Porsche makes this variant. I’ve been dreaming about a Porsche 928 successor for a long time. [Source: NitroBahn.com]

Porsche working on ACC InnoDrive for future models – Expected to begin appearing on Porsche models in the next 3 years, ACC InnoDrive is an interesting accessory. It’s a second ECU that sits in the trunk with it’s purpose being to take over the vehicle pedals leaving only the steering to the driver. Like cruise control on steroids. The new ACC InnoDrive system learns the route a driver takes including speed limits, curves, elevation changes, etc. It takes this data and uses it to completely control the car’s pedals. Initial reviews by sites like Autoblog resulted in flawless performance. I love to see Porsche pushing the envelope of technology, but this seems more appropriate for something like a Toyota Prius. [Source & Image: DialyTech.com]

Yet ANOTHER new Porsche rumor, this time a Porsche 550 – Based on the the Volkswagen BlueSport, the Porsche 550 would be a sub-Boxster model. According to Auto Express, the car would carry a 1.6 liter turbocharged boxer F-4. Output would be around the 200 hp mark. A six-speed manual and/or Porsche seven-speed PDK transmission seems logical. 0 to 60 mph times would be in the 6 second range. Expected around 2014, it’ll be interesting to see if Porsche does indeed resurrect the 550 moniker for such a car. [Source: Auto Express]

I’ve been mulling over the Porsche Boxster E since the trio of cars showed up at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin in May. Two Boxster E models were represented: one car containing two electric motors, and two cars with just one electric motor. The tests of the day were successful as far as Porsche was concerned. Their engineering team, I’m sure, gleaned loads of valuable test and real world experiential data as a result of the outing.

Interestingly, the Boxster E with two motors turned out some decent specs for Porsche’s first all-electric offering:

• 0 to 62 mph in just 5.5 seconds
• Top speed that’s limited to 124 mph
• 107 miles of driving pleasure
• Road ready weight of 3,527 lbs

Specs are fairly close to a Porsche Boxster S. Not bad. The two motor Boxster E will recharge in 9 hours on 220 v power. What’s interesting about the dual motor version is the increased efficiency of the drive unit as a result of two motors being used. More power is recovered due to more energy being captured during braking.

Here’s part of my hang up though. From the Porsche press release:

Because all Boxster Es are comparatively quiet on the road, Porsche engineers have designed an Active Sound Design system that provides drivers with acoustic feedback as well as alerting any passersby.

Now call me crazy, but it just feels like we’re getting away from some of the things that have not only defined automobiles, and specifically Porsches, but part of the allure and thrill of driving these cars in the first place. At the point where we have to manufacture a sound track not produced by the engine itself, I start to think we’re moving too closely to the Jetson era where none of us will even be able to enjoy the thrill of driving any longer.

I know electric cars are coming (heck, they’re already here), and it’s an important step in the evolution of the automobile. I’ll even admit I thought the Toyota Prius was the best thing since sliced bread when I first saw it and wanted one I could mod to double the battery power. Essentially coming close to what Porsche has done with the Boxster E, minus the good looks and power.

Maybe it’s all the futuristic “what will the road be like in 20 years” articles I’ve been reading lately, but I’m starting to wonder if I really want an Electric Porsche. This despite feeling the Tesla Roadster is one heck of a cool sports car. I guess I fear losing what I’ve come to love about Porsche (and other exotic greats like Ferrari and Lamborghini)…the sound…and possibly the place to even drive these cars if the bumper-to-bumper self-driving car predictions are to be believed.

That said, I know there is much to be gleaned from Porsche’s tests of the Boxster E. What they’ve put together with the Porsche 918 Spyder surely hasn’t disappointed! Nor has their advancements on the track with the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. I gladly embrace those cars as true Porsches through and through. I trust Porsche knows how to maintain the fabric woven into the brand and the cars they’ve successfully created for so many years. Maybe I just need to embrace change a bit more readily.

Would love to hear what you all think about an Electric Porsche and what that means for the future of the brand.

[Source & Images: Porsche]

When Porsche announced the official production of the Porsche 918 Spyder, they also announced the opportunity to purchase a special edition Porsche 911 Turbo S. You have the option of a Coupe or Cabriolet. The car carries inspired design cues from the 918 Spyder’s styling on both the interior and exterior.

Some of the features include:

• Similar exterior colors
• Carbon-fiber elements inside and out
• Enhanced leather equipment
• Numerous acid-green accents on items such as the brake calipers, illuminated sill plates, interior stitching and instrument cluster needles

Probably one of the most notable things is a limited edition badge on the glove compartment door. It will feature the same production number as your Porsche 918 Spyder. LOVE that!

The Porsche 918 Spyder is limited to 918 units, thus limiting the Porsche 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder to the same production of no more than 918 cars. Unlike the 918 Spyder, the 911 Turbo S will begin hitting customer’s doorsteps later in 2011.

Base price for the 918 Spyder Edition of the 911 Turbo S is set at $160,700 for the Coupe version and $172,100 for the Cabriolet model. Add that to the 918 Spyder’s price tag and you’re dropping a cool mil on the package.

This has got to be one of the coolest special edition cars Porsche has ever offered. Not necessarily because it’s so much different than anything you could currently get your hands on, but more due to the tie in to the Porsche 918 Spyder. The personalization of the badging between the two cars is pretty sweet too.

It’ll be interesting to see how many 918 Spyder orders include an order for the 911 Turbo S. My guess is about 50%. I’m also curious to see how much these special edition 911 Turbo S cars will appreciate in value and how quickly.

A couple of weeks ago, Porsche officially announced it would be building the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car it showed off for the first time at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Dealers are taking orders for the $845,000 Über Porsche for delivery towards the end of 2013.

As a side note, I can’t imagine spending nearly a million dollars on a car I’m not going to see for at least two and a half years, possibly more if any production delays enter into the picture. Guess there are some seriously patient rich people out there.

The Porsche 918 Spyder reminds me of the Porsche 959 back in the 80′s. I just caught the Top Gear episode where they test drove a Porsche 959 alongside a Ferrari F40. Such an advanced car for it’s day. The 918 Spyder promises to be the same for today.

Here are some highlights:

• 500+ hp 4.0 liter V8 with a pair of electric motors providing a combined boost of 218 hp (at a minimum)
• Fuel economy on the order of 3.0 L every 100 km, which equates to nearly 16.5 mph, based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC)
• Manual roof system with removable panels you can store in the front luggage compartment
• 7 speed PDK transmission
• 0 to 60 in just a touch over 3 seconds
• Estimated top speed of 199 mph
• Anticipated times around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 7 min, 30 sec
• Capability of reaching speeds up to 94 mph solely on electric power
• Batter rechargeable via a standard household outlet

This is going to be one heck of a car. Fast, efficient, and filled with technological advances. One of those cars we see from Porsche once a decade or so.

Can’t wait to see one of these babies parked at the local Papa Murphy’s for a pizza pickup.