Looks like Porsche is expanding its range of hybrids even further: the new Cayenne E-Hybrid combines the best driving dynamics in its class with maximum efficiency. A three-litre V6 engine (250 kW/340 hp) combines with an electric engine (100 kW/136 hp) to generate system power of 340 kW (462 hp). The maximum torque of 700 Nm is already available just above idling speed; the boost strategy matches that of the 918 Spyder supercar.
The Cayenne’s plug-in hybrid drive enables acceleration from 0 to 100kmh in 5.0 seconds and a maximum speed of 253kmh. The new Cayenne E-Hybrid can drive up to a distance of 44km and speed of 135kmh on electricity alone. The average consumption in the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), depending on the set of tyres used, is 3.4 – 3.2 l/100 km of fuel and 20.9 – 20.6 kWh/100 km of electricity. Alongside the launch of the Cayenne E-Hybrid, Porsche is expanding its range of comfort and assistance systems for the entire Cayenne series with additional options such as the new head-up display, massage seats and 22-inch light metal wheels.
More on the Porsche Cayenne Plug-in Hybrid…
462 horsepower system power with 918 Spyder boost concept
The next stage in Porsche’s journey towards e-mobility is the Cayenne E-Hybrid. While the performance of the combustion engine moderately improves on its predecessor by five kW (Seven hp) to 250 kW (340 hp), the performance of the electric engine is now over 43 per cent higher at 100 kW (136 hp). Both combine for a total system power of 340 kW (462 hp).
The boost strategy derived from the 918 Spyder supercar is a new addition. It ensures that the electric engine can be used in all the standard Sport Chrono Package’s driving modes for an additional performance boost. This means the maximum system torque becomes available as you press the accelerator pedal.
Depending on the driving situation and performance requirements, drivers can continue to draw on the boost torque across the entire range of speeds. This leads to a more agile and superior driving experience. The extent of the boost support and battery charging during the journey depend on the driving mode. In the performance-focused Sport and Sport Plus modes, virtually all of the battery’s energy can be used for a boost. In Sport mode, the battery is charged just as much as is required for a new boost. In Sport Plus mode, the battery is recharged as quickly as possible. The other modes support maximum driving efficiency.
Charging with the Porsche Connect app and Porsche Charging Service
Battery capacity has improved significantly in the Cayenne E-Hybrid, along with the distance on electricity and the boost reserves: in comparison to the previous model, capacity increased from 10.8 to 14.1 kWh. This is an increase of around 30 per cent. The fluid-cooled battery, stored beneath the loading floor in the rear of the car, consists of eight cell modules with 13 prismatic lithium ion cells each. Within 7.8 hours, the high-voltage battery is charged fully via a 230 volt connection with ten amps. if the optional 7.2 kilowatt on-board charger and a 230 volt connection with 32 amps are used as an alternative to the standard 3.6 kilowatt charger, the battery is ‘filled up’ again after only 2.3 hours.
The charging process can be managed and monitored via Porsche Communication Management (PCM) and remotely using the Porsche Connect app. The independent climate control, i.e. heating and air conditioning when the ignition is switched off, is available as standard and can also be individually controlled via smartphone. Porsche Connect can also be used to find and filter charging stations and set them as a navigation destination. The new Porsche Charging Service allows cross-provider access to public charging stations – without requiring additional registration with the relevant provider. This is billed directly via the Porsche ID account.
New hybrid module and rapid switching Tiptronic S
Porsche has redesigned the Cayenne E-Hybrid’s drive train. The hybrid module consists of a highly-integrated combination of electric engine and separating clutch. In contrast to the previous electro-hydraulic system with the spindle actuator, the separating clutch is operated electromechanically, which ensures even faster reaction times. The transmission acquires the new Tiptronic S, newly developed for the entire Cayenne range with eight speeds. The automatic gearbox not only offers even more comfortable and smoother starting but also significantly speeds up switching. Interruption of tractive force during switching processes has also been reduced further.
Active hang-on all-wheel drive and 3.5 ton trailer load
With Porsche Traction Management (PTM), the Cayenne E-Hybrid has an active hang-on all-wheel drive with an electronically regulated, map-controlled multiplate clutch. With its broad range of torque distribution, the system offers clear benefits in terms of driving dynamics, agility, traction control and offroad capabilities. Thanks to the brand new chassis, Cayenne E-Hybrid offers the same sports car driving dynamics as all models of the new Cayenne generation. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is available as standard. Optional features include the electric Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) roll stabilisation system and a trailer connection for loads up to 3.5 tonnes.
New options: head-up display and 22-inch light metal wheels
With the launch of the Cayenne E-Hybrid, Porsche is expanding its range of assistance systems and optional features for the entire series with a variety of innovations. For the first time, head-up display is available in a Porsche. It projects all the relevant driving information directly into the driver’s line of vision in a full-colour display. Other new features now available in the Cayenne are the smart digital copilot Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control, massage seats, a heated windscreen, independent heating with remote operation and 22-inch light metal wheels.
NB:
Fuel consumption and emissions 2) Cayenne E-Hybrid: Fuel consumption combined 3.4 – 3.2 l/100 km; CO2emissions 78 – 72 g/km; energy consumption: 20.9 – 20.6 kWh/100 km
1) The maximum electric range fluctuates between 42 and 44 km depending on the set of tyres used. 2) Range depends on set of tyres used.
The Porsche 911 GT3 RS set another benchmark for road-approved sports cars at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in Germany: Porsche works race driver Kévin Estre set a lap time in 6:56.4 minutes with the 520hp GT3 RS. The Frenchman’s lap time was a whopping 24 seconds faster than the best time achieved with the previous GT3 RS model.
Porsche development driver Lars Kern was sharing driving duties with Estre. Following the 918 Spyder and the 911 GT2 RS, the new GT3 RS is the third production Porsche sports car with a notarised lap time of less than seven minutes on the world’s most demanding race track, known as the ‘Green Hell’. As is customary for record drives, the time was measured around the 20.6-kilometre lap. Here’s the in-car footage of this feat…
Frank Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars, commented; “No other Porsche model gets as close to racing as the new GT3 RS. Many innovative ideas from top-level motorsport were transferred; for example, from the 911 GT3 R. This is what our philosophy for GT models is about: Highest technology must be fascinating but tangible. In this regard there is no harder test for our ideas than the Nordschleife.”
Here’s a look at the GT3 RS in action from the outside at the Nurburgring Nordschleiferecently…
Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Model Line, added; “All four lap times of both drivers were below seven minutes and only tenths of a second apart. This proves not only the outstanding power of the GT3 RS, but also its extraordinary driveability at the limit. A perfectly composed overall system allows for highly dynamic performance even with a relatively modest engine power. For a driver, each of the car’s thousands of parts have to feel like one – that’s an unbeatable strength of the GT3 RS. And what especially delights me is how much fun Lars and Kévin (below) had when driving that car.”
29-year old Estre (below) began the record lap at 11:40 am in ideal conditions, with 14 degree Celsius ambient and 18 degree Celsius track temperature. “This lap was a sensational experience for me”, he revealed afterwards. “Through the fast corners and on the brakes in particular, the GT3 RS is unbelievably close to our racing car GT3 R. This is also thanks to the new generation of tyres for road going sports cars. I like the engine of the GT3 RS a lot. Up to 9,000 revs per minute from a six-cylinder engine just feels fantastic. The sound is a dream and the torque is massive.”
L-R: Lars Kern (Porsche test driver) and Kévin Estre (Porsche factory driver) after the hot lap at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Since 2016 Kévin Estre belongs to the squad of Porsche works drivers. He competes with the Porsche 911 RSR in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) that includes the Le Mans 24-Hours. In the ADAC GT Masters he races the 911 GT3 R.
The 911 GT3 RS with motorsport-bred chassis and 383kW (520hp), four-litre, naturally aspirated engine had its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early March this year. The high-performance sports car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 312 km/h.
The history of the automobile spans more than a century. From the early days of the internal combustion engine, to the pioneering of the car assembly line, the automobile has become such an intricate part of our lives, it’s difficult to imagine life without them. But for the new generation of car owners, besides the internet, how is it possible for them to experience what’s commonly known as the ‘golden age’ of motoring? That’s where car museums come in, and one of the most renowned is the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, and the quote by Ferdinand Porsche can be considered the very cornerstone – at least in spirit – of the Porsche Museum.
Well, his dream did become a reality, and today one of the world’s most spectacular automobile museums dedicated to the history of one of the most recognizable automotive brands in the world is located directly next to the headquarters of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, the Porsche Museum. It boasts 5,600 square metres of exhibition space in a futuristic building created by Viennese architect Delugan Meissl, which is able to accommodate over 80 vehicles – from the first Porsche design in the world, the “Egger-Lohner electric vehicle, C.2 Phaeton model” from 1898, to the latest generation of the Porsche 911.
In the first year after it first opened on January 31, 2009 the Porsche Museum proved wildly popular not just with the locals, but anyone even remotely interested in the Porsche brand. Over 700,000 visitors from all over the world flocked to this museum in the first year of operations alone. By December 2013, the Porsche Museum had seen a staggering two million visitors walk through its doors. Apart from housing some of the greatest models in the history of Porsche, the Museum serves as a meeting point for international customers as well as many others from all over the world who are fascinated by Porsche sports cars, even if they do not drive a Porsche themselves.
While the bold architecture of the building does indeed reflect Porsche’s distinctiveness, confidence and heritage, the exhibition of models keeps the history of the company very much alive, with all the sports cars in the “Museum on Wheels” fully functional and capable of springing into life. In short, yes, every single Porsche in the museum is roadworthy! That makes the museum suitable not just as an exhibition space, but also as a platform for communication – a core component of the regular dialog that Porsche maintains with the general public.
However, unlike other automotive museums, the Porsche Museum is unique in the sense that it does not use a “discovery zone” approach, which loosely translates to “no tour guide”. While one may be assigned if you so wish, at the Porsche Museum, the vehicles actually speak for themselves. A special ‘thematic thread’ is provided by the exhibits themselves, and not by a tour guide telling the visitor what they should think or feel. The museum furthermore embraces an educational mission to fulfill a trendsetting cultural function at the traditional Zuffenhausen location.
Using state-of-the-art museum techniques, the exhibition conveys a wealth of historical and contemporary knowledge about Porsche. Depending on their individual interests, visitors can approach the exhibits and the company’s history from a variety of perspectives. Porsche deliberately avoids marketing-led declarations in its communication with visitors, instead placing the emphasis on its cultural mission to educate. In keeping with its pre-eminent position within the German automotive industry, Porsche uses the museum as a platform for informing national and international visitors about the history and achievements of the German automotive industry. Alongside its thematic direction, the most notable attribute of the exhibition concept is its flexibility, as befits the Porsche brand.
All vehicle exhibits are “mobile” in a very real sense. In other words, the exhibition itself and all the media installations can easily be reconfigured and the exhibits changed, to maintain a high level of variety and appeal. A chronological tour presents the history of motorsport and series vehicles of the company.
As well as the exhibition, the Historical Archive and the glass-fronted workshop for classic vehicles, the museums’ predominantly white interior houses a diverse range of eating and drinking establishments – Coffee Bar, Bistro and restaurant – as well as large-capacity conference areas. The Porsche Museum can also be used as an event venue for conferences, film screenings and concerts, without intruding on the main exhibition.
Unbeknownst to many, the museum at ‘Porscheplatz’ enjoys an auspicious place in German automotive history. This was where the former Porsche engineering office relocated, from Stuttgart city centre to Zuffenhausen Plant 1, in 1938. In that same year this was the birthplace of the model that ultimately evolved into the VW Beetle, followed in 1939 by the Type 64, the fore-runner of all Porsche sports cars that was known as the “Berlin-Rome Car”. Cars sporting the world-famous Porsche crest have been built at Zuffenhausen since 1950.
The exhibition space proper consists of a bold steel structure resting on just three V-shaped pillars and seemingly floating in mid-air. It spans a void of up to 60 metres wide. Inside, the classic vehicles and around 200 small exhibits have been arranged into a meticulously planned exhibition.
The company’s product history guides the visitor through the exhibition. It conveys the “Porsche Idea” through typical attributes such as “Fast”, “Light”, “Clever”, “Powerful”, “Intense” and “Consistent”. This is the basic principle that has always inspired the company in its quest to find pioneering technical solutions to the fundamental challenges encountered in auto motive manufacturing.
The chronological product and motorsport history is augmented by the “Porsche Idea”, which serves as a common theme throughout the exhibition. Mobile audio guides feature seven different language versions. Both child-friendly information for younger visitors and more extensive information for adults can be called up on these handsets. Micro-cinemas provide complementary information for visitors.
The cool thing about Porsche Museum is that visitors access the exhibition space in the upper part of the building via a long escalator, possibly the longest escalator in the world, and their journey through time, tracing the history of Porsche through the museum, begins with Ferdinand Porsche’s first design: The aforementioned “Egger-Lohner electric vehicle, C.2 Phaeton model”. It’s the centrepiece of the permanent exhibition and serves to bridge the gap between the past and present.
Porsche keeps its history very much alive so that its customers can share in it, and as aforementioned, all the car within the museum are ‘working’ models, thus to enable the Museum to maintain and look after classic racing and sports cars fittingly, Porsche has created a dedicated museum workshop, which is probably one of the coolest ‘exhibits’ of all. Here, the museum workshop personnel prepare all classic vehicles for appearances worldwide, regularly service them and perform any necessary repairs. However immaculate the classic cars in the “Museum on Wheels” may look, they need regular care if they are to remain permanently ready for action.
The unique feature of this workshop is that its master craftsmen and mechanics do not work behind closed doors. Visitors can watch them working on the full array of classic Porsches at first hand. On their way into the exhibition, before the elongated escalator, they pass a glass partition in the lobby that affords a perfect view into the museum workshop. Such openness is quite unprecedented even on a world scale, and only to be experienced at the Porsche Museum. If they’re lucky, they’ll be able to hear one of these classics fire up.
The workshop team comprises one master craftsman, two mechanics, a leather-worker and a customer adviser. They all possess a wealth of experience in Porsche vehicles of all model years, both production and motor sport models. After all, they are ultimately responsible for correctly adjusting the sensitive high-performance engines of classic racing cars such as the twelve-cylinder turbo engine of a 917 in the manner that they require. There are two vehicle hoists, lathes and cutting machines at their disposal.
That equips them to handle virtually every service, repair or restoration task. They can even make replicas of simple mechanical components if necessary. Minor body repairs are also part of their task area. The workshop team can call upon the entire Porsche infrastructure for any tasks they are unable to complete on site, and the best part is, visitors get to see them do it daily.
Apart from the actual cars on display, the Porsche Museum serves to bring together all the amassed historical and contemporary knowledge about Porsche at a central location. The Historical Archive of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG was thus likewise relocated to the museum and is now housed directly above the museum workshop. As the Group’s “historical memory”, the Porsche archive collects all important information concerning business, technical, social or cultural matters relating to Porsche AG and its subsidiary companies. The archived items include anything worth saving about the unparalleled.
Porsche success story, from the beginnings of Ferdinand Porsche as an automobile designer, to the engineering office established in 1931 all the way to today’s Porsche AG. The files of the Porsche Archive currently cover a colossal 2,000 metres of shelf space, including bookshelves, display cases, steel cabinets, and safes.
The Historical Archive with its accumulated knowledge is available not only to internal departments but also to external users. By prior arrangement, specialists such as journalists, scientists and owners of classic Porsche cars can conduct research in the archive library, which has a reading room affording a view of the museum lobby.
As one of the most extensive image archives in the automotive industry, the Historical Archive contains over five million images, a media archive with over 1,700 hours of motion picture materials and a library with more than 3,000 books on automotive subjects. It also houses an extensive collection of written documents on the history of the company itself, as well as its products and motor racing record. These archived media are stored in around 3,500 red special containers.
Visitors to the museum can obtain a view of the user zone with library through a glass partition. Those suitably inspired by this sight will find various books about Porsche in the museum shop, carefully selected from the huge range of works already written about Porsche. Speaking of the Museum Shop, it is strategically located as the ‘final stop’ of the visit to the Porsche Museum, and fittingly, it offers a multitude of items for sale from original Porsche memorabilia, to model cars, souvenirs and even Porsche themed snacks. Actually, over a thousand different products, including books, calendars, DVDs, and t-shirts, are available from the shop. It’s a must-visit.
However, if snacks aren’t going to cut it after an arduous day of walking through the museum, the “Christophorus” restaurant on the second floor is on the same level as the exhibition and is therefore accessible both through the museum and through a separate entrance. It thus remains open beyond the regular opening hours of the museum itself. The mission of top chef Thomas Heilemann and his team is to serve meals of the highest standards of culinary excellence, enabling the gourmet to enjoy Mediterranean and regional delicacies as well as the most exquisite wines
After visiting the restaurant, guests can then wind down in the adjacent Cigar Lounge. Looking through the extensive glass façade, restaurant guests enjoy a panoramic view of Porsche platz and the production building where Porsche sports cars and engines are built. Through another glass wall separating the restaurant from the exhibition, guests also have the opportunity to admire the classic cars on display in the museum itself. This interplay of past and future highlights the company’s commitment to its roots – the view from the dining room thus has a symbolic character.
All in all, do not expect to simply breeze through the Porsche Museum. A few hours are most definitely not enough to fully appreciate all that this incredible place has to offer. One does not even have to be a die-hard fan of the marque to enjoy a day at the Porsche Museum, as it really does have something for everyone. It’s a brilliant testament to the history of Porsche thought, and it really is a walk through time, experiencing the history of the automobile from the viewpoint of one of the greatest carmakers on earth.
Porsche Museum Photo Gallery (Chronology of events after the gallery)
Chronology of Events – The Porsche Museum timeline.
Build time: 4 years and 6 months / 234 week / 1642 days: An overview of the key milestones from the first official decision up to the opening of the Porsche museum:
– July 30, 2004: The Board of Management of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG announces the decision to build the new Porsche Museum on Porscheplatz in Zuffenhausen.
– October 2004: Ten leading firms of architects from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are shortlisted for the project. In all, 170 European architects firms had submitted bids for the project.
– January 31, 2005: The jury led by architect Professor Fritz Auer (Stuttgart/Munich) chooses the design submitted by Viennese architects firm Delugan Meissl as the competition winner.
– February 4, 2005: Delugan Meissl’s Viennese firm of architects is commissioned to build the museum.
– October 17, 2005: The museum construction project is officially kicked-off with the installation of an unconventional site sign.
– September 21, 2006: The museum begins to take shape. Work on the first floor and the three supporting V-shaped pillars that are to support the dynamically shaped exhibition space makes swift progress. Some 21,000 cubic metres of concrete and 4,000 tons of reinforced steel have already been installed.
– February 2007: The shell is completed, bringing an important phase of construction to an end. The underground garage, ground floor, first floor and core elements (reinforced concrete supports) are now ready.
– November 13, 2007: The steel structure that defines the shape of the 5,600 square metre exhibition space is lowered into place onto three reinforced V-shaped pillars. Straight after it has been lowered, work on the exhibition space proper begins. This includes installing the reinforced concrete ceilings and the large ramps and stairways.
– January 2008: Exterior work on the museum façade begins. The rhombus-shaped exterior is mounted.
– October 2008: Showcases and small exhibits are set up on the exhibition level.
– November 3, 2008: The first twelve vehicle exhibits are brought into place on the museum’s second floor. The first exhibits include a 356 Cabriolet, an original 911 and the first prototype of the 924.
– November 5, 2008: The Porsche Museum logo is mounted on the glass façade.
– December 8, 2008: The museum is officially handed over to the client.
– January 28, 2009: The museum is officially opened.
– January 31, 2009: The museum opens its doors to visitors.
– December 18, 2009: The museum records its 500,000th visitor just eleven months after opening.
– January 31, 2010: The museum celebrates its first birthday.
– June 3, 2011: The Museum attracts 1 million visitors from all over the world.
December 6, 2013 The Museum welcomes two million visitors through its doors.
Total costs: Around EUR 100 million
Dimensions of museum building: Length 140 metres, width 70 metres
Total area of structure: 25,800 square metres
Weight of museum building: Around 35,000 tonnes
Concrete: Around 21,000 cubic metres
Steel: Around 6,000 tonnes
Excavated volume (earth): Around 66,000 cubic metres
There’s not much to say about the Porsche Panamera which has not been said already. The world knows of its capability and opulence by now. But did you know that it’s name is short for Panamericana? And that it is named after a popular 1950s endurance race that lasted up to six days in Mexico called the Carrera Panamericana in which Porsche was successful in.
And that the world actually got a first glimpse of a four-door Porsche back in 1988, though it was called the 989 back then instead of Panamera (shown below).
Porsche actually spent three years developing the 989, until a halt work order came in at the end of 1991. The fact that a four-door Porsche like the 989, Panamera and the Cayenne infuriated Porsche purists is well documented so we will not repeat that story here, but the four-door models sold well and Porsche kept the purists happy by producing some mega wild cars like the Carrera GT, GT3 RS and the GT2 RS, all of which stood true to Porsche’s roots.
So the company found a way to make money without losing its core values. Some purists even softened up to the four-doors models when it became clear that the Panamera is Porsche’s answer to those who want a performance car with four-door practicality. Simply put, it had the performance of a true to word Porsche and the practicality of a proper sedan.
But the Panamera has been awkwardly limited as far as practicality goes. Instead, it has focused on being a luxury performance car for four people, or even a car to be chauffeured in. It is for the man who knows and loves his cars, but not attacking corners, he prefers to take the back seat in a car made by arguably the world’s best car maker. The Panamera offered all of that.
So, enter the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo – a Panamera that offers performance that rivals modern sports cars and yet also has the style, character and dare we say it, even the practicality of a sports wagon. And for very long the Audi RS6 was the king of that domain, but there’s a new contender for the title of world’s most practical performance car.
Some even suggest that the Sport Turismo is a better Panamera than the Panamera itself. Perhaps because it offers everything the Panamera does, but adds a huge amount of space, lots of style, and retains the Panamera’s touch of luxury and class. Its versatile; you can choose to drive the car, be driven in it, or pack your entire family in it for a long getaway.
Sime Darby Auto Performance, the company in charge of Porsche in Malaysia, may have just officially introduced the car recently, but a small group of journalists were allowed some time behind the wheel of a Sport Turismo Turbo for a blast around the Sepang International Circuit.
The Sport Turismo Turbo is a big, heavy car, so as far as dynamics go it really shouldn’t do very well on a specialised circuit like Sepang. But hey, we live in an era where we are sending robots to explore mars, so it really shouldn’t be very difficult to make a big, heavy car feel as agile as a ballerina on track. And that is exactly what the Sport Turismo Turbo does quite well.
We witnessed for ourselves as the Sport Turismo Turbo hunted down a lightweight Porsche and passed it as if it were standing still. We may have had two-time Le Mans winner Earl Bamber driving the Turbo, but the other Porsche had a half a circuit’s length head start. Not sure who was driving it though.
To be fair, the Sport Turismo Turbo has some trick electronics and a 4.0-litre V8 engine producing 550hp and 700Nm of torque; a true masterpiece of an engine. But that said, this is also the same car in which you can pack the family into and go on a long drive to Phuket. No seriously, you can, with space for the dog too.
Unlike the standard Panamera, the Sport Turismo actually comes with five functional seats and seat belts. But for those who prefer taking life easy in the back seat, the Sport Turismo can also be had with two electric seats at the back. So it can either be a car for captains of industry, or it can be a car for the family. Either way it is brilliant at what it does.
Earl Bamber was at the Sepang Circuit testing his own GT3 Cup Car in which he races in the Carrera Cup race series. He then took some of us for a ride in the Sport Turismo, and though we were allowed to drive the car for a few laps, it was in his hands features like the Rear Axle Steering could truly be felt as his aggressive driving style truly worked the systems. At turn three of the circuit for example, a fast right hander where the car can carry speeds of over 200km/h, the rear felt as if it were on rails. It felt as if it was shadowing the front end instead of trailing behind it, planted.
Of course the rear axle steering system, a feature that turns the rear wheels in the same angle as the front during high speeds, couldn’t have done it by itself. There’s also the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control that manages the body roll of the car in corners as well as the Porsche Traction Management which is an active all-wheel-drive system that sends and cuts power in individual wheels to help maintain maximum grip at all times.
Besides that the car has other neat tricks as well like an adaptive roof-mounted rear spoiler (above). The spoiler works in three stages depending on the driving situation and vehicle setting. It is a central component in the Porsche Active Aerodynamics, and when it stays in a retracted position of minus seven degrees it helps to reduce drag thus optimising fuel consumption. On track and at high speed, the spoiler moves to the performance position with an angle of plus one degree, this helps to increase stability. It also helps to lower the noise in the cabin when the sliding panoramic roof is open. It does this by inclining to a position of plus 26 degrees, keeping the wind noise away from the cabin.
When a car offers plenty of space for occupants and their luggage, we usually call it a practical car. And if a practical car is also incredibly powerful yet agile at the same time, well that’s what we would usually call a once-in-a-lifetime type of car. And if there was one car which we could drive for the rest of our lives, one car that seemingly had it all and more, well, then it would be the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo. Except that it costs RM1.95 million with taxes but before options.
The Porsche Panamera is not new to Malaysia, we see hundreds of them on our roads, and it is near impossible to go about your business in KL without coming across a Panamera, new or old. But the Panamera Sport Turismo is something else and completely new to our market.
Officially unveiled for the local market by Sime Darby Auto Performance, the custodian of the Porsche brand in Malaysia, two variants were introduced – the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo and the Panamera 4E – Hybrid Sport Turismo.
At first glance there is no mistaking the car for anything else but a Panamera, but move towards the rear of the car and the difference is obvious. The Sport Turismo is basically an estate, or hatchback version of the Panamera, but retains, in fact it improves on the practicality aspect of which the Panamera couldn’t really offer in its entirety.
The large tailgate, longer rear doors, increased storage capacity and even a 4+1 seating arrangement is all unique to the Sport Turismo, giving the Sport Turismo added practicality over the standard Panamera. And while the Panamera was a strict four-seater, the Sport Turismo on the other hand is able to seat five people, but there is also an option for four electronically adjustable seats if you so wish.
So what’s the difference between the Sport Turismo and the standard Panamera? Plenty actually, but it all begins aft of the rear doors. As mentioned, the rear doors are longer as is the roof line. The roof line then drops away less dramatically than the Panamera, to give the car the distinguished “shooting brake” design.
There is a roof mounted spoiler at the rear, and this works in three stages depending on the driving situation and the vehicle settings. At speeds of up to 170km/h, the spoiler retracts at an angle of minus seven degrees, this is to reduce overall drag co-efficiency and also to aid with fuel efficiency. In full flight mode of above 170km/h, the spoiler positions itself to an angle of plus one degree. At this angle the spoiler increases aerodynamic efficiency, keeping the car planted to the road thus maximising grip. But in Sport and Sport Plus mode, the spoiler automatically moves to the performance position at speeds above 90km/h. It also works as an air brake in case of emergency braking, and more interestingly, it can also help minimise wind noise when the sliding roof is open at speeds of 90km/h.
Besides that, the booth is much bigger than the Panamera, and because it has a lower rear end, picking up and placing heavy items is not as troublesome. The storage space measures in at 425-litres for the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo and 520-litres for the Sport Turismo. This is 20 litres more than the standard Panamera. When all of the backrests are folded down, the floor is virtually flat, and increases storage to 1,295 litres for the 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo, and 1,390 litres for the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo.
On the performance front, the range of Panamera Sport Turismo’s are powered by V6 engines. The entry-level Panamera 4 Sport Turismo is powered by a 3.0-litre, turbocharged V6 engine producing 330hp and 450Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 259km/h and accelerates to 100km/h in just 5.5 seconds. But opt for the Sport Chrono package with Launch Control and the figure drops to 5.3 seconds.
The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is powered by a 2.9-litre, turbocharged V6 engine coupled to electric motors that offers a combined output of 462hp and 700Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 275km/h and sprints to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds.
And the top of the range Turbo model is powered by a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine producing an eye watering 550hp and 770Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 304km/h and sees off the century sprint in 3.8 seconds, or 3.6 seconds with the Sport Chrono package.
The base price for the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo starts from RM990,000 while the E-hybrid model costs RM1,125,000 before options. For the top of the line Turbo variant, the base price starts from RM1,940,000 before options.
All Porsche cars sold by SDAP come with a four-year warranty and a free maintenance package that includes complimentary service, parts and labour.
The Porsche GT3 does not need an introduction, it is probably the epitome of performance in its segment. Engineered to be raw, wild yet tameable, the 911 GT3 promises unparalleled performance to the discerning few. And it is about to get even better for those interested to buy one in Malaysia.
Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP), the company behind brand Porsche in Malaysia, introduced three unique GT3’s exclusively for the Malaysian market, and these are – Meissen Blue, Signal Green and Riviera Blue.
These new colours were ordered by SDAP through the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, a department within Porsche that specialises in bespoke modifications for their owners. And this means that there is a very good chance that whoever ends up buying these cars, will probably be the only person with such a colour in Malaysia, the region, and though there is a lesser chance of it happening, but maybe even the world.
These unique GT3’s don’t only offer a special colour, but according to a press release sent out by SDAP, also offer a mixture of high-quality materials such as leather interior package featuring extended alcantara detailing. And nothing shouts performance than the colour red, and that is exactly the colour adorning the instrument dials, seat belts and the Sport Chrono stop watch, all of which are painted in a colour Porsche calls Guards Red. The cars also feature illuminated carbon door sill guards and body-guard air vents.
Just to recap, the Porsche 911 GT3 offers a power-to-weight ratio of 2.86 kg/hp with an overall weight of 1,430kg. The car transfers all of its 500hp to the rear wheels via a seven-speed double-clutch transmission (PDK), and even with a full tank of fuel, the GT3 demolishes the 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.4 seconds, on to a top speed of 318km/h. But if you opt for the manual transmission, the GT3 sees off the 0-100km/h run in 3.9 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 320km/h.
And just for your information, the 4.0, flat-six engine is the same engine that powers the 911 GT3 Cup race car.
The Porsche motorsport department is presenting Weissach’s latest treat at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show: The new 911 GT3 RS with motorsport chassis and 383kW (520-hp), 4-litre, high-speed naturally-aspirated engine. The new high-performance sports car is based on the 911 GT3, which has been refined still further to combine the performance-enhanced engine with a running-gear setup that features recalibrated rear axle steering designed for maximum dynamics and precision.
The 911 GT3 RS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 312 km/h. Following the launch of the 911 GT3 and the 911 GT2 RS, this latest release will see Porsche present its third GT road-approved sports car within a year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=lTbGdV3NlNk 911 GT3 RS: Aerodynamics and interior based on the race trim
Aerodynamics have determined the design of the wide, weight-optimised body with its classic rigid rear wing. The racing look continues into the interior with full bucket seats made of carbon to provide secure lateral support in response to high-level driving dynamics. Lightweight door panels with storage nets and opening loops, reduced sound absorption and the new lightweight rear lid further emphasise the consistency of the material choices.
911 GT3 RS: The most powerful naturally aspirated engine at 520 hp
The four-litre, six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine from Porsche in the new 911 GT3 RS pushes the sports car to new limits: The flat engine delivers 15 kW (20 hp) more than the engine in the previous model and the 911 GT3. Together with a speed range reaching up to 9,000 rpm, it was the ideal choice as a thoroughbred sports engine. Combined with the specially calibrated seven-speed PDK, the high-performance engine guarantees an outstanding driving performance.
911 GT3 RS: Motorsport-inspired chassis and Clubsport package
Technology straight from motorsport ensures that the chassis offers exceptional driving dynamics. Ball joints on all arms provide even greater precision than conventional elastokinematic bearings. 20-inch lightweight wheels with newly developed 265/35 sports tyres on the front axle enhance agility and steering behaviour, while 21 inch wheels with 325/30 tyres at the rear axle improve traction.
As with all current GT sports cars, the Clubsport package is also available for the 911 GT3 RS at no extra cost. The package includes a roll-over bar, a manual fire extinguisher, preparation for a battery disconnect switch and a six-point belt for a sporty driving experience.
911 GT3 RS: Weissach package and magnesium wheels for additional weight savings
For particularly ambitious drivers, the Porsche motorsport department has created an optional Weissach package for a further weight reduction. The package features additional carbon components for the chassis, interior and exterior, as well as optional magnesium wheels. In its lightest configuration, this package reduces the weight of the 911 GT3 RS down to 1,430 kilogrammes.
It’s the age-old question isn’t it? If you could have only ONE car in your porch/garage, what would it be? Something that only you would use to both commute in, as well as partake in the occasional Sunday / weekend drive with the boys. Well guys (and gals), in the sub-RM1 mil bracket, I think I might have just found such a car recently…
Unveiled at the opening of Porsche Centre Penang in the first quarter of 2017 (Sime Darby Auto Performance Officially Opens Porsche Centre Penang)the 718 Cayman S and its sibling the 718 Cayman are the latest pair to bear the Porsche ‘numeric’ that adorns all its cars.
Image courtesy of The Revs Institute
Drawing design inspiration from the likes of the 1963 Porsche 550 Coupe (above), the new 718 Cayman is a stylishly-sporty little thing. One of the best features are its wide hind flanks…
…clearly visible from the wing-mirrors. Its swooping rear affords the 718 a more ‘fastback’ design, something that both old- and new-school car enthusiasts will appreciate for sure.
Right-off the bat, the first thing anyone will feel when getting behind the wheel of the 718 Cayman S is just how comfortable and compliant it is. No kidding, it’s far from what you’d expect a strict 2-seater to feel like. Ensconced in the snug cabin and cradled comfortably by those exquisite seats, the 718 ensures that all drives, be it a short-hop or long-haul, are seen to in fine, comfortable style.
But before this starts sounding like a brochure, let’s get it straight; there’s still 350bhp and 420Nm of torque from that ‘hidden’ gem of a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder VTG turbocharged (Variable Turbine Geometry) engine at the back, which allows the Cayman S to accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in a brisk 4.2sec, and on to a top-speed of 285kmh.
That’s what the ‘boot’ looks like (above), and the only way to show the engine to you is via that stock image, because out the back is this (below). That’s also my only gripe about the 718 Cayman… there’s no way to see its engine, not without removing panels.
Small inconsequential matter really, because these days, only a certified and authorized Porsche technician would know how to fix anything wonky anyway, so personal access to the engine is a moot point. I wonder how soon before this becomes a standard across all car makes. Sorry, I digress. Back to the car…
Of course for the little kid in all of us, there’s also a ‘muffler sound’ button on the centre-console, which when activated allows the 718 to clear its throat so to speak. A flap opens somewhere within the annals of the exhaust system, and the 718 just bellows. So despite being a flat-four and not a six, the 718 still imparts that raucous exhaust note that Porsche purists will expect and appreciate.
Killing off that fun-button settles the 718 to a quiet, comfortable, unassuming sports-coupe, and with the PDK auto-slotted in seventh gear, puttering along at legal highway speeds returns a drive that completely belies this cars’ external appearance; it gets quiet. Eerily quiet. Very un-Porsche.
However, in a very split-personality kind of way, the 718 Cayman S is able to transform itself from a docile, comfortable coupe, to a raging, bellowing beast, the moment you peel-off the highway and hit that favourite stretch of back-road. This is where you’ll discover where all the decades of R&D in chassis tuning, balance and power-delivery have paid off.
The 718 Cayman S, despite being uncannily comfortable during normal driving, is somehow able to turn itself into something that feels more track-biased than a road car. The way it is able to put the power down, and remain composed in the tightest corners, the way it’s able to let the tail hang-out just enough to set up the next corner is unbelievable. PSM, despite being active, still allows a modicum of ‘spirited-sideways’ play, and will only intervene at the point where it reckons the driver has really ‘lost it’.
It even has a lateral G-force meter in the instrument cluster, but for the life of me I can’t figure out why. If you’re creating enough gees in a corner to be of any significance whatsoever, believe me, taking your eyes off the road to look at a small G-force meter is the last thing you wanna do. And besides, you’ll pass-out from the centrifugal force long before achieving anything remotely bragworthy anyway…
These are just toys of course, like that muffler fun-button; add-ons to make the drive a bit more fun, and perhaps justify this cars’ RM700,000 asking price. I love the fact that Porsche has dialled so much of this ‘fun’ into the 718 Cayman S, really. When it comes down to it, for cars like this in this segment of the market, and putting aside all brands, all categories, all on-the-road prices, et al, isn’t that what it all boils down to? Fun. And just for fun, check out this video on the coolest cup-holders, ever…
So yeah, back to that question which started this article; one garage, one car. Your car, less than a mil. What would it be? It doesn’t have to be this of course, but as an option to consider, the 718 Cayman S certainly ticks all the right boxes for that. Hope you like the videos! – Chris Wee.
VIDEO: Porsche 718 Cayman S driving impression, skip to the 7min mark, before that I talk about the recentBikes on the Federal Highway issue…
VIDEO: Front view Porsche 718 Cayman S drive, skip to the 10min mark for the exterior walk-around…
VIDEO: Porsche 718 Cayman S engine sound at start-up from the cockpit…
It’s not due to be officially launched here till around the 3rd quarter of this year, but that didn’t stop Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) the official-importers of the Porsche marque in Malaysia to preview the all-new Cayenne to the media today…
The 3rd generation Cayenne will continue the traditions of Porsche’s first SUV, and will come in two variants; a 340bhp 3.0-litre Turbo and a 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo with 440bhp.
The Cayenne Turbo produces 40bhp more than its predecessor, while the Cayenne S Bi-Turbo now has 20bhp more than the model it replaces. The latter will do the 0-100kmh sprint in less than 5-sec, and reach a top-speed of 265kmh.
Here’s a closer look at the new Cayenne by our friend Bobby Ang from Aurizn / EVO Malaysia, who drove it overseas recently:
The new Cayenne is available now for pre-order at all Porsche Centres; Glenmarie, Sg.Besi and Penang (Juru Autocity)
Did you ever think you’d see the day when a Kiawould be compared to the likes of a BMWM6 and PorschePanamera? How things have changed! Here’s more of the Stinger in action…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWQTkbTYIQ
Be sure to catch our feature on how the S.Koreans have caught up with the Japanese, coming soon!
