Category: Porsche

The Rennlist forum has come up trumps with some excellent, and hopefully reliable, details on the new 991-based Porsche 911 GT3. The information comes from an anonymous source who claims to have met Porsche engineers at the workshop you see above.

In dot point form here is what our new best friend was allegedly told:

• 3.8 litre engine is a brand new engine with dry sump (not DFI 9A1 or Mezger)
• Engine will form basis of next-generation Cup cars
• Redline 9,000rpm, tacho reads to 10,000rpm (as shown above)
• Power is more than 450hp (335kW), but wouldn’t confirm
• Completely different PDK transmission
• No Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) in test car pictured
• No Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) in test car
• Wide body chassis used from Carrera 4
• Car pictured is a Clubsport version with rear cage fitted
• Recaro seats, foldable (not one piece)
• Rear wing is fixed and manually adjustable, similar to 997.2 GT3, but has been refined
• Air scoop is centre feeding
• Car retains previous three-piece muffler, side mufflers look same as before, with a new smaller centre piece
• Test car pictured running Dunlop Sport MAXX tyres (245/20 front, 305/20 rear)
• Wheels feature centre locks
• New brake system, with enormous front calipers, disc is alternating drilled size
• Rear control arms look like the ones in the 997 GT cars
• ESC (electronic stability control), TC (traction control), sport exhaust, PDK-S (shown on the centre console)
• Nürburgring lap times around 7 minutes 30 seconds

That all looks pretty good, we’re sure you’ll agree. And judging by the audio clip below this new 3.8 litre engine sounds the business as well. In addition, there’s a few more spy shots after the break.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/Porsche-991-GT3.mp3]

[Source: Rennlist]

The 991-based Porsche 911 GT3 will be revealed to the world at the Geneva Motor Show. Word on the street says a Porsche dealer with loose lips has leaked a few GT3 details.

First, the good news, of sorts. The 991 GT3 will be powered by a 450hp 3.8 litre flat six able to reach 100km/h in only 3.5 seconds. Reportedly the new 911 GT3 can lap the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 34 seconds. According to the unofficial database on Wikipedia, that would be a six second improvement over the 997.2 GT3, but still around 15 seconds slower than the Nissan GT-R.

It’s also expected the new GT3 will feature a revolutionary rear-wheel steering system. What is new and revolutionary about that we shall have to wait and see.

Now, the bad news. Earlier reports the 991 911 GT3 would drop it’s manual transmission in favour of a PDK ‘box appear to be accurate. I don’t care that I’ll never be able to afford a GT3, I’m still going to be pissed off at Porsche if they don’t offer a manual box in their most desirable car!

[Source: GTspirit]

Former Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking, and ex-Chief Financial Officer, Holger Haerter, have been charged with market manipulation, following three years of investigations. The charges surround the handling of the ill-fated takeover of Volkswagen back in 2009.

Automotive News has the story:

The indictment was filed after more than three years of investigations into claims Porsche misled investors in 2008 when it denied that it sought to buy VW. The company in October of that year disclosed a plan to take control of the carmaker.

“The investigation found the suspects in February 2008 at the latest made the decision to increase Porsche’s share in Volkswagen to 75 percent in the first quarter of 2009 to prepare a takeover,” Claudia Krauth, spokeswoman for Stuttgart prosecutors, said today.

In the period between March 10 and October 2, 2008, Porsche denied at least five times that it planned to increase its VW stake to 75 percent, Krauth said. The denials influenced VW’s share price, she said.

[Source: Automotive News]

With much of Europe carpeted in snow Porsche has sent its 991-based 911 Turbo prototypes to the sunshine of Spain to continue their development program.

The next-gen 911 Turbo could be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013. If it does make a showing we’re expecting to see it powered by a twin-turbo 3.8 litre flat six, with around 520hp on tap. That’s about 20hp more than the old Turbo, which should be complemented by a weight drop of some 60kg or more.

Torque-vectoring technology from the PDK-only 997 Turbo S will carry over to the new car. As you can see in the image above, there’s a paddle shifter behind the steering wheel confirming the least surprising news that a 7-speed PDK transmission is a high priority.

A 7-speed manual box will also be offered. Alas, we wonder for how much longer when you consider around 95% of 997-based 911 Turbos were sold with PDK ‘boxes. Heathens!

[Source: Car]

We love Porsche. We love the new Cayman. This, though; this Follow the code of the curve video is shit. It’s a shame, too, because Porsche usually nail their marketing by being concise and without letting the minutiae of life get in the way. But not this time.

Porsche impressed us, and many others, when it rocked up to the Paris Motor Show with the Panamera Sport Turismo. First, it was, at last, a smart looking Panamera with pleasing proportions. Second, it is another foray into hybrid motoring for the German sportscar maker, willing to embrace the new world order of greener mototing.

With this new video Porsche shows glimpses of the car in motion, its interior and we hear the thoughts of the head honchos who signed off on the car.