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On a narrow offshoot of a road somewhere near Carmel Valley Road in Monterey, CA, I'm absolutely hammering on the Porsche Boxster Spyder and simply couldn't be having more fun. In town for the Pebble Beach festivities, my weekend is spent in everything from a Corvette Grand Sport, to a Porsche Turbo S to a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. And yet this Porsche delivers the most smiles and is the one that I find myself gushing about to anyone who will listen.
My tales of lateral g forces and smiles as wide as the choppy asphalt I'm riding on are met with the same skepticism by everyone. "The Boxster? Really?" they say, my comments so incongruous with their preconceived notions of the soft-top poseur Porsche that they simply refuse to accept my tales of canyon carving grandeur.
But from behind the wheel and on these lonely roads the Spyder is as far from the standard Boxster as the GT3 is from the Carrera. And that's saying a lot, as apart from the Boxster's perception, it's as well-balanced and dynamic a drive as they come.
Porsche enthusiasts are some of the most die-hard brand loyalists out there; many Porsche owners we know wouldn't even consider owning a sports car built anywhere outside of Stuttgart. And whether you own a fleet of Porsche racing cars, a Boxster, 924, Cayenne, or even just a few posters and a die-cast model or two, you've got passion for Porsche as well. After all, no one buys a 911 just because they needed something with four wheels to get to work. Now, Porsche is giving back to its most enthusiastic fans by offering up three free trips to the Porsche Sport Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
Before you go get fitted for a new racing suit, there is, of course, a catch. As part of its 60th anniversary, Porsche wants to hear from enthusiasts about their "Porsche Passion." And no matter what cars you've owned (or just wish you owned), Porsche wants your story. They are seeking entrants' tales which "exemplify their unique passion for a specific Porsche car, an experience, or the brand as a whole."
Entries will be accepted through November 1st, 2010, and then the best 20 stories will be published online, so fans can vote on the 3 winners. You can submit your story here.
Shown for the first time in North America over the weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, we’re now learning more about Porsche’s plans for the production version of it’s incredible 918 Spider.
First unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, in concept form is uses a 500-hp 3.4-liter V8 racing engine combined with two electric motors that make an additional 218-hp. According to a report by AutoCar, the production model will make some significant powertrain changes. This isn’t surprising as obviously the car can’t use such a high-strung racing motor on the street. Instead, we’ll see a larger displacement motor (perhaps the 4.8-liter V8) with more power.
With high-performance hybrids still in their early stages, total power output will still be similar to the 718-hp number, but we’re likely to see more of that come from a conventional gasoline engine and less from electric motors.
The search is on for America's oldest Porsches to celebrate the company's 60th Anniversary. Porsche Cars North America has launched the My Classic Porsche Search, focused on finding the oldest Porsches from 12 different model categories. And as icing on the cake, they're also seeking the very oldest Porsche of all time.
So which 12 models are they searching for? Well, if you're an owner of a Porsche 356, 911, 912, 914, 924, 928, 944, 968, Boxster, Cayenne, Carrera GT and/or Cayman, and you think you have one of the oldest ones out there head on over to www.porsche60years.com to check out the participation guidelines.
And if you're selected as one of the official winners, you'll not only receive special recognition but become eligible for additional awards including an exclusive badge from the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. They may also choose one vehicle to be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show amongst all of Porsche's newest models.
Easily the star of the Geneva Auto Show, Porsche's 918 Spider concept has since been confirmed for production as a hybrid supercar with true Porsche style and performance. Since Geneva it has been so widely acclaimed and consumer interest so significant that Porsche has given the green light to send the 918 Spider into production.
Located out back, in true Porsche style, is a hybrid drivetrain that works somewhat like a traditional two-mode hybrid, using a gasoline engine, electric motors (two of them) and a lithium-ion battery pack. What makes it so special, however, is that the gasoline engine is a 3.4-liter 500-hp V8 derived from the Porsche RS Spyder race cars and the electric motors (one of each rear wheel) make a combined 218-hp. The gasoline engine powers the rear wheels, while the electric motors work on the front two wheels. Porsche claims a 0-62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 198-mph. Possibly more amazing, however, is this concept's capability to achieve 78 mpg.
With all those electronics weighing quite a bit, the 918 Spyder uses extreme measures to keep weight to a minimum. As a result, the car gets a carbon fiber monocoque (much like the McLaren MP4-12C and Lexus LFA) and extensive use of aluminum and titanium, for a total weight of 3,285 lbs.
Porsche has equipped the car with four driving modes, ranging from the most efficient at saving fuel, to the most efficient at saving gas. A pure electric E-Drive mode delivers 16 miles of emissions free driving, while a Hybrid model operates like a traditional Prius-type two-mode hybrid. Next up is a Sport Hybrid setting, where the electric power is used more as a boost to assist the gasoline engine. Finally, a Race Hybrid mode delivers maximum gasoline and electric power, along with an added boost of electric power after hard braking (much like a Formula One KERS-equipped car). It is in this final mode that Porsche claims the 918 Spyder Concept can out-pace the famed Carrera GT on the Nürburgring.
That number is a bit misleading however, as you can be certain the production model won't use a racing prototype engine. Still, we have no doubt the 918 Spider will top the Carrera GT in all performance arenas.
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