Looks like Porsche has something to celebrate about as they report an increase of sales figures in the first three quarters of 2019. The premium car manufacturer has successfully delivered 202,318 units from January until September 2019; an increase of 3% compared to the same period of last year (196,562 units back in 2018). (more…)
It was only in September that Porsche’s first all-electric sportscar had its global debut – on 3 continents simultaneously – and now, the company is presenting the third version – the Taycan 4S.
Puristic exterior design
The clear, puristic design of the Taycan signals the beginning of a new era. At the same time, it retains the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. The sleek cabin, the drawn-in rear C-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings result in a sharply emphasized rear, typical of the brand. There are also innovative elements such as the glass-effect Porsche logo, which has been integrated into the light bar at the rear.
Distinguishing features of the Taycan 4S compared with the Turbo and Turbo S include the aerodynamically optimized 19-inch Taycan S Aero wheels and the red-painted brake calipers. The front apron with new geometry, side sills and rear diffuser in black also give further visual differentiation. LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) are standard.
This version is available with two battery sizes; with the Performance Battery, up to 390 kW/530 ps and with the Performance Battery Plus, up to 420 kW/571 PS. Following the Taycan Turbo S and the Taycan Turbo, the Taycan 4S is therefore the new entry-level model in the series.
A single-deck Performance Battery with a total capacity of 79.2 kWh comes as standard. The two-deck Performance Battery Plus familiar from the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo is optionally available. The total capacity here is 93.4 kWh.
For both variants, the claimed 0 to 100 km/h time is 4.0 seconds. The top speed is 250 km/h in both cases but the claimed range is up to 407 kms with the Performance Battery and up to 463 kms with the Performance Battery Plus – the highest of the current Taycan range.
Dynamic performance
The permanently excited synchronous machine on the rear axle has an active length of 130 mm and is therefore exactly 80 mm shorter than the corresponding drive component on the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo. The pulse-controlled inverter used on the front axle in the Taycan 4S operates with up to 300 amps, and the inverter on the rear axle with up to 600 amps.
With two permanently excited synchronous machines on the front and rear axles – in other words, all-wheel drive – as well as a 2-speed transmission on the rear axle, the drive architecture comprises the same main technical highlights as the other versions.
The same also applies to the intelligent charging management and exemplary aerodynamics. With a Cd of 0.22, the aerodynamics makes a significant contribution to low energy consumption and thus long range.
Unique interior design
The cockpit also signals the start of a new era with its clear structure and completely new architecture. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. This places a clear focus on the driver axis. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look.
As standard, the Taycan 4S comes with a partial leather interior as well as front comfort seats with 8-way electrical adjustment. However, with the Taycan, Porsche also offers an entirely leather-free interior for the first time, for customers who have such a demand. Interiors made from innovative recycled materials underscore the sustainable concept of the electric sportscar.
Porsche uses a centrally networked control system for the Taycan chassis. The integrated Porsche 4D Chassis Control analyses and synchronises all chassis systems in real time. As standard, the Taycan 4S features adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology including electronic damper control PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management).
The Porsche Panamera arrived on the scene in 2009, offering sportscar performance one with the versatility of a touring sedan. It has shaped the brand over the course of the last 10 years as a technology platform for innovations that were transferred to other Porsche models.
Over 250,000 units have been delivered worldwide to date and to celebrate the model’s 10th anniversary, Porsche has prepared a special edition model series. The 2020 Panamera 10 Year Edition models feature upgraded standard equipment and exclusive design highlights. The special edition is available for the Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid versions.
The special standard equipment list includes 21-inch Panamera Sport Design wheels in satin-gloss White Gold Metallic and ‘Panamera10’ logos on the front doors, also in White Gold Metallic. The anniversary logo can also be found in the interior on the front passenger trim panel and on the door entry guards. The interior is black with deviated stitching in White Gold.
Additional standard equipment
The Panamera 10 Year Edition models come as standard with a host of additional comfort and safety features. ParkAssist including Surround View, LED matrix design headlights including PDLS Plus, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keep Assist are part of the extended standard equipment, as are heated 14-way comfort seats with Porsche crest on the headrests, soft-close doors, and a BOSE Surround Sound system.
With standard adaptive 3-chamber air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Power Steering Plus, the Panamera10 models are also ideally equipped for outstanding driving dynamics.
The hybrid version comes with the otherwise optional 7.2-kW on-board charger rather than the 3.6-kW charger that is included in a standard Panamera 4 E-Hybrid model.
The Panamera 10 Year Edition and Panamera 4 10 Year Edition both use a mono-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine generating 330 ps, while the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid 10 Year Edition has a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor that generate a combined 457 ps.
A Porsche for four
Looking back at the company’s history of over 70 years, the idea of offering a Porsche for four was considered from time to time. However, prototypes such as the Type 530 based on the 356, lengthened variants of the 928 or the 4-door coupe Type 989 did not make it into production.
At the start of the new century, the decision was made to develop a 4-door hatchback sedan. The requirements included outstanding driving dynamics, generous interior space and a quintessentially Porsche appearance. The first Panamera made its public debut on April 19, 2009 on the 94th floor of the World Financial Centre in Shanghai, and set standards in its class thanks to the wide spread between sportiness and comfort. It was packed with innovations: for the first time, a luxury-class production model was offered with a dual-clutch transmission and start-stop system. The flagship Panamera Turbo also introduced air suspension with adjustable air volume, as well as an adjustable, multi-dimensionally extendable rear spoiler.
In 2011, the Panamera set the stage for a new age of electromobility: as the first parallel full hybrid in the premium sedan segment, the Panamera S Hybrid was the most economical Porsche to date despite a power output of 380 ps. Two years later, the Panamera S E-Hybrid once again led the way in the segment as the world’s first plug-in hybrid.
With the second generation, introduced in 2016, Porsche embraced electric performance . The boost strategy adopted from the 918 Spyder allows sportscar-like performance in combination with high efficiency. The top model is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with a system power of 680 ps.
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In the not-too-distant future when cars start to operate without humans managing, the environment in the cabin will surely change. On long journeys, there may be a need for more infotainment to pass the time. To demonstrate how we might be using media in our vehicles in the future, Porsche, start-up Holoride and media company Discovery have proposed a new VR (Virtual Reality) solution for use in vehicles.
The aim of the collaboration between Porsche and Holoride is to give vehicle passengers the opportunity of immersing themselves in virtual worlds. Development plans include entertainment, edutainment, as well as solutions for productivity and relaxation in the vehicle.
Maximum immersion for passengers
For this purpose, Holoride software links a VR headset with sensors and the vehicle so that content can be adapted to the car’s driving movements in real time. For instance, if the car is being driven around a corner, the ‘vehicle’ that the passenger is virtually travelling in will also change direction. Consequently, users experience maximum immersion into a fictitious world to significantly reduce the symptoms of travel sickness. This also applies to watching 2D content.
Passengers can choose from various 2D or 3D experiences ranging from documentaries and, for now, an underwater adventure through to a journey in time. The newly presented VR experience transports users in a drone moving through a futuristic city.
In future, the system could also evaluate navigation data in order to adapt the length of a VR experience to the calculated duration of the journey. Holoride software makes it possible to offer elastic content which is a new form of media especially designed for use in vehicles. Such content will adapt to not only to motion and context but also projected driving time so that the presentation ends when the destination is reached.
“Our joint projects with Holoride and Porsche Digital have demonstrated what the technology is capable of. In future, we also envisage Porsche-specific solutions, for instance for the race track,” added Anja Mertens, Project Manager for Smart Mobility at Porsche AG.
VR experience to be commercialised by 2021
Holoride is pursuing an open platform approach so automotive manufacturers and content producers can readily use the technology. “Now that we have teamed up with Discovery, we can demonstrate for the first time how users can also experience 2D content such as films in the virtual 3D world. We call this an ambi-environment,” explained Nils Wollny, CEO of Holoride.
As part of the Startup Autobahn innovation platform, the young company had shown that the Holoride software works seamlessly with manufacturer vehicle data for motion-synchronised, real-time generation of virtual reality (VR) and cross-reality (XR) content. The cooperation with Discovery underlines Holoride’s approach to also bring edutainment content to the vehicle in addition to gaming and entertainment. Holoride aims to bring this new form of entertainment using commercially available VR headsets for passengers in the rear seats of production cars to market by 2021.
Having Discovery, already well known for its documentaries, as a partner for 2D content means benefiting from their expertise in the area of real-life entertainment as the company supplies topically matching documentary material for the in-car VR experience.
The latest 2019 Porsche Macan was just launched a few months back, followed by the more powerful Porsche Macan S variant during the first-ever Porsche Sportscar Together Day held at the Sepang International Circuit just last month.
For months, we’ve been following the progress of Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) and their ever-growing range of delicious Porsche vehicles here in Malaysia. Noticing our interest, SDAP decided to let us have a go at the Porsche Macan. We took that opportunity straight away and had it to ourselves for the whole day.
With that being said, here are the five things we absolutely adore about the 2019 Porsche Macan. (more…)
With the international premiere of the Porsche 99X Electric, Porsche has reached another milestone on the way to the works entry in the 2019/2020 season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Porsche’s regular drivers Neel Jani and Andre Lotterer played an active role in the car presentation with videogamers from around the world. They were guided through the Porsche Digital GmbH premises in Ludwigsburg by specific instructions from the gaming community, first to find the Porsche 99X Electric and then to unveil it.
“It was a unique car presentation unlike anything the motorsport world has ever experienced before. It was great fun joining the gamers’ search for the Porsche 99X Electric both virtually and in real life at the same time. It is great that Porsche is breaking new ground and involving the young, digital generation,” said Jani.
“A different kind of car premiere; I really enjoyed the fact that Neel and I acted as live players. It is fantastic that we are communicating with the digital target audience as equals and that they were able to be part of it,” added Lotterer.
Significance of 9 and X
In terms of the design, the traditional Porsche motorsport colours were chosen for the Formula E racing car. From a bird’s-eye perspective, the Porsche emblem is clearly visible around the Halo system. As usual, the naming format is three digits which represent Porsche racing cars and 2-door sportscars.
The highest number, 9, was used twice, to re-emphasise the importance of the Formula E project for Porsche, while the X stands for the forward-looking approach and prototype racing. The 99X Electric also serves as a development platform for future fully electric production models.
Porsche E-Performance Powertrain
The development of the Porsche powertrain, referred to as the ‘Porsche E-Performance Powertrain’, has played a central role from the start. The Formula E regulations stipulate a standardised chassis and a standard battery, while the drive technologies are developed by the manufacturers. The engineers were able to make use of their LMP1 experience when developing the Porsche Formula E powertrain. With the hybrid technology, the foundations were laid for electric mobility.
“In hindsight, we laid the foundations for Porsche’s future involvement in Formula E during the LMP1 project. We used the insights gained during that time in the development of the Porsche Formula E powertrain. We focused on building a highly effective powertrain with the highest level of efficiency,” said Malte Huneke, Technical Project Leader Formula E.
The 800-volt technology used in Formula E is also used in the Taycan, Porsche’s first volume-produced fully electric sportscar. In addition, energy management and efficiency are the keys to success in both Formula E and series production. This is where the permanent synchronous motor comes into play which has an important role in optimising the drive concept.
TAG Heuer as Title and Timing Partner
TAG Heuer, the Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches, is the Title and Timing Partner of the Porsche Formula E Team, which will contest Season 6 of the single-seater all-electric championship under the name ‘TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’.
By entering Formula E, Porsche is also breaking new ground from a commercial perspective. This environment addresses a young, different-minded and digitally-oriented target audience. This sphere allows the company to explore what customers expect from vehicles and mobility in general both now and in the future, also in terms of products and services.
Return to single-seater racing
It’s been more than 30 years since Porsche last participated in single-seater racing. Entering Formula E and the accompanying restructuring of the motorsport involvement can be derived from the 2025 Porsche strategy. In addition to traditional GT road-going sportscars, fully electric sportscars are also firmly anchored in the strategy. Both will be reflected in Porsche’s involvement in motorsports in the years to come.
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The Taycan represents a new era in the history of Porsche cars as it is brand’s first all-electric sportscar. Unlike its entry into the SUV segment, Porsche has not been slow to develop a fully-electric production sportscar model and not surprisingly, offering pioneering technology to go with the high performance the brand is expected to deliver.
Both inside and out, the Taycan will be truly a car of the electric age and Porsche is now letting the public take a peek at the interior before the sportscar makes it world debut next month. Commenting on the interior design, Ivo van Hulten, Director Interior Design Style Porsche at Porsche AG, said: “The Taycan interior combines design elements typical for the brand with a new type of user experience, and impresses with its simple elegance. Less is more applies here too.”
Typical Porsche cabin
The original 911’s cleanly styled dashboard from 1963 was the inspiration. The stated goal was to bring it into the present day. The cockpit signals the start of a new era with its clear structure and a completely new construction. It is clearly driver-focused, the instrument panel clean and minimalist with an ultra-modern design. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. It is clearly focused towards the driver and ensures that everything that’s needed for driving fast and safely is in view.
The innovative instrument cluster consists of a curved 16.8-inch screen with the rounded look that’s typical of Porsche. A cowl has been omitted, which ensures a slim and modern appearance in the style of high-quality smartphones and tablets. Real glass and a vapour-deposited, polarising filter give anti-reflective properties.
4 display modes
The Classic mode (power meter) evokes the rounded instruments typical of Porsche. This display delivers information that’s clearly arranged, allowing for fast readability. A power meter replaces the rev counter in the middle instrument.
Next is the Map mode which replaces the central power meter with a map layout. Full Map mode, when chosen, intentionally omits the round instruments in favour of a navigation map displayed across the full display. The Pure mode displays only essential driving information such as speed, traffic signs and navigation using a minimalist arrow.
There are also small, touch-control fields at the edges of the screen for operating the light and chassis functions. The instrument cluster is therefore wider than the steering wheel and reminiscent of the iconic original 911.
The steering wheel has a light appearance, with two models to choose from. In addition to the basic version, which can be customised with coloured inserts as part of the accent package, Porsche also offers a GT sports steering wheel option. It has a distinctive design with visible screw heads and features a typical Porsche round mode switch which can be used to select the various driving modes.
The upper and lower sections of the dashboard stretch across the entire width of the vehicle in the shape of a wing. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look, thereby blending in visually with the interior.
All-new user interfaces
All user interfaces have been completely re-designed for the Taycan, possible since it is an entirely new car from the ground up. The number of traditional hardware controls, such as switches and buttons, have been greatly reduced. Instead, control is intelligent and intuitive – via touch operation or a voice control function that responds to the command “Hey Porsche”.
The elevated centre console intensifies the feeling of a low seating position, as you would expect from a Porsche. It features a large 8.4-inch touch panel with haptic feedback. This allows the air-conditioning settings to be altered directly. Integrated handwriting recognition also allows quick address inputs.
Every detail has been reduced to the essentials. Like the 918, the Taycan has a compact direction selector switch in the instrument panel instead of the classic selector lever. This gives the centre console a tidy look and creates storage space.
A reduction to the essentials and a clear approach are also evident for the air vents. These have been fully modernised and can be operated intuitively. Traditional, mechanically-operated louvres belong to the past, as airflows are now controlled both digitally and fully automatically (Virtual Airflow Control).
An optional 4-zone automatic climate control system installs an additional 5.9-inch touch control panel with haptic feedback allows the system to be operated from the rear seats.
Innovative material concepts
The Taycan’s colour and material design allows for individualised equipment, from traditional through to sustainable and modern. A new feature is the fully leather-free interior with state-of-the-art surface textures. ‘Race-Tex’ material is used, a high-quality microfibre material partially consisting of recycled polyester fibres. Its production has 80% less carbon dioxide than traditional materials. The floor covering uses the recycled fibre ‘Econyl’, which is made from, among other things, recycled fishing nets.
Related story: Porsche Taycan Completed 3,425-km Endurance Run In 24 Hours
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A pre-production Porsche Taycan prototype was put through its paces ahead of its world premiere on 4 September 2019. A total of 3,425km were covered in the span of 24 hours as part of a test at the Nardò high-speed track in Italy and the all-electric Taycan made it out with amazing results. (more…)
20 years ago, Porsche introduced a new 911 variant that it designated ‘GT3’. The designation was taken from a class of endurance racing cars, indicating that this was a variant focused on track performance. Porsche promised a particularly visceral driving experience by offering motorsport technology for the road.
A high-revving naturally-aspirated flat-6 engine closely related to the engine used in motorsports, rear wheel drive, lightweight construction, upgraded aerodynamics and track-focused suspension and brake systems have been defining characteristics of this model throughout its 20-year history.
The beginnings
The first 911 GT3 model was introduced to the European market in 1999. It was one of the first production cars to officially lap the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleife in less than 8 minutes. The rally legend Walter Rohrl was at the wheel and took just 7:56.33 minutes – a sensation at the time.
The car distinguished itself from rear-wheel drive 911 Carrera models through a 30-mm reduction in ride height, pronounced front fascia, visible side skirts and a fixed rear wing – all designed to reduce lift while still delivering a very efficient 0.30 Cd. The angle of attack of the rear wing was adjustable for use on closed-course tracks.
The original GT3 was powered by a 360 ps 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated flat-6 engine derived from the Le Mans-winning 911 GT1 racing car and it revved up to 7,800 rpm. Mated to a 6-speed manual transmission carried over from the 911 GT2 (993 generation), the first GT3 reached a top track speed of 300 km/h.
The track-focused model also featured staggered 18-inch wheels and tyres, larger brakes compared to the 911 Carrera, a standard limited slip differential, and an upgraded suspension that allowed for greater mechanical adjustment of anti-roll bars and suspension geometry for closed-course track setup. Taking advantage of weight savings measures such as the deletion of air-conditioning and rear seats, the GT3 weighed just 1350 kgs.
The first successor
4 years later, the GT3 received significant updates based on the facelifted 996 generation 911. Power grew to 381 ps, torque rose from 370 to 386 Nm, and the redline climbed to 8,200 rpm. This was possible by updating the engine with longer titanium connecting rods, lighter pistons, the variable camshaft adjustment system VarioCam, and lighter intake and exhaust valves.
In addition to a restyled fascia, a new rear wing and updated wheel design, this 2004 model featured wider front and rear tyres. Underscoring the effort of the Motorsport department to save weight wherever possible, the new wheel/tyre combination saved 1 kg in spite of the increase in size, thanks to flow-formed wheel technology.
Larger front brake rotors, up from 330 mm to 350 mm, and 6-piston calipers increased pad-to-rotor contact by about 40%. As an option, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) with carbon-ceramic brake rotors was available for the first time in the GT3, taken from the 996-generation 911 GT2.
Third generation of GT3
Based on the 997-generation of 911, a new GT3 was unveiled in 2006. Still powered by a 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated flat-6, the output was now 415 ps and the engine could spin at 8,400 rpm. The 6-speed transmission offered 15% shorter shift throws and a reduction of ratios for gears two through six, pairing well to power delivery of the engine.
To make full use of the increased power, the suspension was enhanced with divided control arms offering greater adjustment of camber angle. Additionally, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) was offered as standard for the first time on the GT3, offering the capability of electronically adjusting the dampers. Wheel diameters grew to 19-inches, the size of the standard rear cast iron brake rotors increased to 350 mm, the optional PCCB rotors grew to 380 mm at the front axle, and Ultra-High Performance tyres (UHP) were mounted to further increase grip.
The 997 became the first 911 GT3 model to be equipped with a traction control system (TC), which complemented the standard limited slip differential by giving the driver greater control, particularly on slippery surfaces. The car was also fitted with a SPORT button for the first time, reducing backpressure in the exhaust and put the traction control system in a more dynamic mode.
Larger engine, faster lap times
For the 2010 model year, the GT3 received not only a visual update as part of the facelifted 997 generation but also a number of significant technical changes. For the first time, the engine displacement was no longer 3.6 but 3.8 litres with 435 ps and 430 Nm of torque
This generation featured even more technology directly adopted from motorsport, such as the new centre lock hubs for the 19-inch wheels which increased driving performance with lower rotating masses. At the same time, electronic stability control (ESC) complemented the traction control system introduced on the previous model, adding another layer of control for the driver. An optional front axle lift system was introduced for the first time, offering an additional 30 mm of ride height at the front axle to clear driveways and speed bumps.
The 991 generation GT3
Introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year, the 911 GT3 based on the newly introduced 991-generation adopted one of the biggest advancements in performance and technology ever seen on a road car: the 7-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK). It had already been available on the 911 Carrera and Turbo variants of the previous generation but was significantly modified to suit the characteristics of this race-bred model and fitted as standard.
The track performance of this latest GT3 also benefited from the new 991 platform. Track widths and body stiffness increased, PASM system advanced, and standard centre-lock wheels were made of forged aluminium for the first time while increasing to 20-inch diameter.
Rear axle steering was also added as standard for the first time on the GT3. This innovative technology, shared with the 918 Spyder and 911 Turbo, steered the rear wheels in opposite direction of the front wheels at speeds of up to 50 km/h to increase agility and reduce the turning circle. Over that speed, the system steered the rear wheels in tandem with the front wheels to promote stability, for example during a lane change at higher speeds.
Today…
7:12.7 minutes: The lap time of the current GT3 represents roughly 45 seconds of improvement at the ‘Ring compared to the original model. What a world of difference! The new 4.0-litre engine develops 500 ps and a 470 Nm.
Catering to the purists, a 6-speed manual transmission was re-introduced as a no-cost alternative to the standard 7-speed PDK. This is also the exclusive transmission for the GT3 with Touring Package, which was first shown in September 2017.
More capable and diverse than ever before, the 911 GT3 represents the beating heart of Porsche’s commitment to building pure, uncompromised sportscars.
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Porsche fans in Malaysia – August 3 (this Saturday) is a day specially for you. This is the day when Sime Darby Auto Performance will host Malaysia’s first ever Sportscar Together Day. To be held at the Sepang International Circuit, Sportscar Together Day is a concept to bring the Porsche community closer.
Brand heritage showcase
All Porsche owners are invited while those who don’t own a Porsche (yet) can learn more about the German brand’s heritage at the Fascination Porsche showcase. They can view all generations of the iconic 911, the Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid racing car and even look to the future of Porsche with the Mission E 1:3 scale model Augmented Reality (AR) experience that previews the first all-electric model from Porsche, the Taycan.
Porsche enthusiasts who want to take their driving skills to the next level and familiarise themselves with the dynamics of being behind the wheel of a Porsche can register for the Porsche Experience.
All owners are invited to be part of the Porsche Parade, and when they line up their cars on the racetrack, it is expected to be one of the largest recorded gatherings of Porsche cars ever in the country.
Activities for the little ones too
Bring the little ones along as well and sign them up for the Porsche Junior Experience programme. In this activity, children from the age of 4 to 12 old years are taught basic road and racetrack driving skills on the specially designed circuit that mimics the circuit and real-life road conditions.
For more information on Porsche’s inaugural Sportscar Together Day in Malaysia and the activities available on Saturday, as well as to register your interest, visit myporsche.com.my/sctd/.
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