Consequent lightweight design for 50th anniversary

Stuttgart. Porsche has developed a new GT race car for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The new 911 RSR is characterised by consequent lightweight design and sophisticated aerodynamics. The exceptional vehicle styling honours a very special anniversary: From a bird’s eye perspective, the numbers 50 and 911 are visible. These stand for 50 years of the Porsche 911. The Porsche AG Team Manthey works squad exclusively fields two Porsche 911 RSR in the 2013 season.

The new 911 RSR, which is based on the seventh generation of the iconic 911 sports car, follows in the footsteps of its successful predecessor, the 911 GT3 RSR. As with the production vehicle, the wheelbase grew by about ten centimetres. A new wishbone front suspension replaces the previously used McPherson struts. Another new development from Porsche Motorsport is the particularly lightweight racing gearbox. The six gears are selected via paddles on the steering wheel. The 460 hp, 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine was taken from the predecessor and optimised in detail.

One of the priorities in the development of the new 911 RSR was the more evenly balanced weight distribution. The centre of gravity is also significantly lower than that of its predecessor. Carbon fibre played a crucial role in the new design. The front and rear mudguards, front and rear lids, doors, underbody, wheel arches, rear wing, dashboard and centre console are constructed from the very light and strong material. Moreover, all windows are made of particularly thin and light polycarbonate. Also contributing to the weight reduction is the lithium-ion battery known from the GT road-legal models.

The look of the new 911 RSR is dominated by the flared mudguards and the deep cooling air intakes at the front. With the new air ducting, the radiator is now centrally-located in the front and even more effective than in the previous model. At the same time, the cockpit air conditioning became more efficient. The quick-change concept of the body parts was specially adapted for endurance racing, allowing for easier maintenance and shorter repair times. The front end, front lid and rear panel are fitted with quick release systems and can be replaced within seconds.

Competing in the Porsche 911 RSR with starting number 92 are Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria), who already shared a cockpit in the 2012 WEC. At the first two races of the season in Silverstone (14.4) and Spa (4.5) as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (22.6), they receive support from their works driver colleague Romain Dumas (France). Factory pilots also drive the #91 sister car, with Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France) making up a team. In Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans, the duo is joined by Timo Bernhard (Germany).

Season preparations on the finish straight

Stuttgart. The development of the new Porsche 911 RSR based on the current generation 991 model is nearly complete. On the Sebring International Raceway in Florida/USA the GTE race car from Weissach completed another successful test on Thursday. The successor to the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR will be run exclusively by the Porsche AG Team Manthey works squad at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The vehicle celebrates its race debut on April 14 at the WEC season-opener in Silverstone.

Sharing driving duties at Sebring were Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Patrick Pilet (France). Lietz contests the WEC including Le Mans with Marc Lieb (Germany) at the wheel of the 911 RSR with the starting number 92. Patrick Pilet joins forces with Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) in the number 91 vehicle. At the first two WEC rounds in Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps as well as at Le Mans, they receive backup from their factory pilot colleagues Romain Dumas (France/No. 92) and Timo Bernhard (Germany/No.91).

“We are very pleased with how the testing has gone so far,” said Porsche’s Head of Motorsport Hartmut Kristen. “Our goal is to be well prepared for the challenges of the very strong GTE class in the WEC and at Le Mans. The circuit in Sebring is very well suited to put a new vehicle through some demanding trials. For this reason, a test in Sebring is a very good rehearsal for one of the toughest races of all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Until the season kicks off in Silverstone, we will conduct some final tests on other race tracks so that our new 911 RSR is well and truly ready for the World Endurance Championship season.”

The Porsche 911 Carrera S has been named the 2013 Robb Report Car of the Year. Captivating the judging panel with its agility, driving dynamics and balance, the 911 bested 12 other competitors for the award and will be featured on the cover of the March issue of the luxury lifestyle magazine.

“Winning Robb Report’s 2013 Car of the Year award for the Porsche 911 is a proud achievement for our brand, especially as we celebrate our flagship model’s 50th anniversary this year,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. “This prestigious award means a lot to us, as it was voted on by potential customers, and it further solidifies the 911’s standing as one of the world’s most sought-after sports cars.”

The 20th annual Robb Report Car of the Year award judging process involved extensive test-drives by a panel of automotive experts including Robb Report Editor in Chief Brett Anderson, automotive consultant Robert Ross and approximately 100 members of the Robb Report Club, which includes top corporate executives and influential readers. Other contenders included the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, Ferrari FF, Audi S8, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG and BMW M5.

“Porsche has taken a 50-year-old design and constantly refined and improved it without altering a single word from the original mission statement, and it has kept the price relatively affordable,” said Robert Ross, Robb Report automotive consultant. “In the truest Miesian sense, the 911 proves that less is more.”

Atlanta. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera four-door sports sedan line-up in the United States, today announced February sales of 2,805 vehicles. This compares to 2,149 vehicles sold in February 2012, an increase of 31 percent. For the year so far, PCNA has delivered 6,163 vehicles versus 4,699 during the same period last year, also an increase of 31 percent.

 

Cayenne sales were particularly strong, posting an increase of 79 percent to 1,173 units, up from 657 in February 2012.  Demand for the new Boxster also continues to be significant, which contributed to sales of 391 units, a tenfold increase from the same period last year.

 

“Demand for our products remained robust in February, continuing the momentum from our 2012 sales record,” said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO, Porsche Cars North America. “Rising interest in the Cayenne Diesel as well as the first sales of the new flagship Cayenne Turbo S boosted Cayenne.  Even with the strong demand for Cayenne, nearly 45 percent of our sales in February were two-door sports cars, which were bolstered by the new Boxster and deliveries of the new 911 Carrera 4 models.”

 

Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales were 768 for February 2013, an increase of 11 percent over February 2012 (693).

 

World premiere at the International Motor Show in Geneva

Stuttgart. The sportiest 911 will have its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show: the new Porsche 911 GT3. In the 50th anniversary year of the 911, Porsche is now set to open a new chapter in race track performance sports cars. The fifth generation of the 911 GT3, a complete new development, will take the pole position among the thoroughbred Porsche sports cars with naturally aspirated engines. Boxer engine and transmission, as well as body and chassis are completely new and constitute a further development of the 911 GT3 concept with an impressive performance leap. Power: 475 hp (125 hp/liter). Power to weight ratio: 6.6 lbs/hp. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Top speed: 195 mph. Lap time Nürburgring Nordschleife: under 7:30 minutes. As a technical highlight, it features the first active rear wheel steering in a production Porsche. As well as the optional full LED headlights. The new 911 GT3 keeps all the successful properties of a sports car suitable for racing, with even more driving dynamics, more sophisticated practicality – and a highly emotional fun factor.

The powertrain of the new 911 GT3 is composed of a 3.8-liter boxer engine yielding 475 hp (350 kW) at 8.250 rpm, a Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) and a high-traction rear-wheel drive. The six-cylinder engine is based on the same engine as the 911 Carrera S, although they share only few common parts. All other components, particularly the crankshaft and valve gear, were specially adapted or designed for the GT3. For instance, Porsche designed titanium connecting rods and forged pistons. The basic modifications set the stage for an extremely high-speed engine that reaches up to 9.000 rpm. The Porsche dual-clutch transmission was also specially developed; the characteristics are directly based on a sequential gearbox from motor racing, thereby providing further performance and dynamics advantages to the driver.

For the first time, Porsche is using active rear wheel steering in order to achieve even higher precision and lateral dynamics. Depending on the speed, it steers in the same or opposite direction of the front wheels, improving stability and agility. Other new modules improving driving dynamics are the electronically controlled, fully variable rear differential lock, and the dynamic engine mounts. The newly developed all-aluminium chassis can still be adjusted by height, toe and camber. Contact with the road is made by the new 20-inch forged alloy wheels with central locking.

The 911 GT3 is based on the light, yet stuff body of the current generation 911 Carrera in hybrid steel-aluminium construction, however, it comes with independent front and rear parts. In addition, the 911 GT3 is 1.7 inches wider than a 911 Carrera S in the area of the rear axle. Another clear recognition feature is again the large, fixed rear wing. This makes a decisive contribution to the exemplary aerodynamics of the new 911 GT3, which combines low air resistance with even more power.

As a result, the new 911 GT3 sets new performance records. At full acceleration from standstill, the 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, and 124 mph are reached in less than twelve seconds. The top speed is 195 mph in the seventh, top gear of the completely newly adapted PDK transmission. The lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which the new 911 GT3 manages in under 7:30 minutes, is even more impressive.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 will be launched on the market from August 2013 on, and will be priced from $130,400, not including a $950 destination charge.

By Guy Clerici

Overall the car is much more refined and of a higher build quality than the 997. It feels like a luxury car but not massed produced (like an M3 feels), and capable of much more than mere mortals can push it. Like the 997, the driver is still aware of where all 4 corners are and what the tires are doing, including the front end.

The electric steering does feel more isolating than the 997, the vagueness is more noticeable at low speeds, I note that the car I drove had the low speed steering option, I personally would not want that. It becomes less noticeable at normal speeds, though still not as direct as a 997 – the plus is that it has a “calmer” effect when driving, and it also does not require as much concentration to keep the steering wheel from inadvertently moving when the turns are bumpy.

At first I disliked the PDK, it up shifts very quickly to a gear in which I do not feel that I have as much acceleration control as I would like. I did get to like it as I better understood how to use it – the key is to leave it in sport mode, the gears are more of what I would choose manually– however, sport mode also stiffens the suspension, I think the shifting patterns in sport mode should be the standard setting. I also think that with some experience I would come to better like the “paddles,” though I found it hard to intuitively choose the right gear with the limited time in the car. Overall, I would get PDK if I wanted more luxury or if I had to be in traffic – I will not likely add it to an order car as I like the experience of shifting ( in my mind it gives me driving skill practice at any speed).

I never would have considered the Bermeister stereo – I am now pretty sure I would be disappointed without it. It is very similar to home systems I have heard in the over $30,000 range.

I was surprised to not especially like the sport exhaust, obviously not an option unique to the 991. I found it a bit annoying in normal driving, and the sound with it turned off to be just fine when pushing the rpm’s. There seems to be a “burble” that is pretty cool and that is not there when not in sport mode, but that does not offset the annoyance (for me).

One affect of the longer wheel base is that the rear engine is not as much a central characteristic of the car. If there is any characteristic that I would miss from the 997 it is that – it is a part of the 911 personality that has been muted, admittedly the car probably handles better, more like a mid-engine car, because of the change.

I suspect any controversy, and what seems to be a strong difference of opinion over the car (so what’s new with Porsche guys?) is that this is a much “calmer,” sophisticated car than its predecessor – I am sure that is not some peoples notion of what a sports car should be, particularly some of us old guys that came up with TR6’s, corvettes, old 911’s, etc. – there has been some rawness taken out – personally, I like the refinement, and assume that the those who want a car that is more hard core should buy a GT3.

Mississauga. The all-new Boxster continues to draw positive reviews from the media all around the world. The latest nod comes from Motoring 2013, the established Canadian automotive television show, which named the Boxster best “Sports Car”.
“It is with great pleasure that we accept this award given to the all-new Boxster by Motoring 2013,” said Joe Lawrence, President & CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., “We are delighted that the Boxster was recognized as the top choice in its segment. This latest generation of our mid-engine, flat-six roadster is faster, more efficient, more stylish, and more fun to drive than ever.”
Completely redesigned for 2013, the Boxster range is powered by a more powerful and efficient duo of mid-mounted horizontally opposed six cylinder engines. The Boxster’s 2.7-litre unit produces 265 hp while the Boxster S offers a 3.4-litre version generating 315 hp. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h can be completed in as little as 5 seconds. Fuel consumption is as low as 6.2 l/ per 100 km on the highway, making the latest Boxster the most fuel efficient passenger vehicle ever offered by Porsche in Canada. Pricing begins at $56,500.
A well-respected Canadian automotive television program – and the longest-running of its kind – Motoring 2013 recognizes the best vehicles in each segment every year.

Las Vegas. Porsche now offers Aha™ as part of a new Online Services option, available across its entire product line. Aha is a free service that seamlessly organizes and integrates your favorite content from the web between your phone and car, so you can easily access it wherever you go, including in your Porsche. The new feature is available on vehicles equipped with the latest generation of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system, which offers a variety of additional entertainment, navigation and information options.

The Aha experience starts with a customer using their Apple iOS or Android device to download the free Aha Radio app. The app allows customers to easily
access and organize their favorite content from the web into personalized “radio”-like stations. This content can then be easily and seamlessly enjoyed
inside their Porsche though the same PCM interface used to control other typical entertainment and navigation functions.

Aha™ offers the following content options:
• On-demand music services, entertainment, news, sports, internet radio, podcasts and audiobooks
• More than 30,000 stations, with new content added all the time
• Read aloud access to social network feeds, including Facebook™ and Twitter™
• Traffic and weather reports
• Personalized restaurant recommendations
• Google POI search

With the Google POI feature, the results of an online point-of-interest search can be used as a navigation destination, and input directly into the PCM at the
press of a button.

Production of vehicles equipped with the Online Services option has already begun. The feature is available across the Porsche lineup in the United States
as a standalone option on vehicles equipped with PCM for $210.

A Porsche Cayenne GTS equipped with Online Services and Aha will be available for demonstrations to media at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 8-11, 2013 at the Aha by Harman tent at the Central Plaza (# CP-13) at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Stuttgart. Nick Tandy wins a contract as a Porsche works driver. The 28-year-old from Great Britain is now the tenth of the by now nine-member driver squad with Joerg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Wolf Henzler, Marco Holzer, Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Patrick Long and Patrick Pilet. With his inclusion in the factory team, this marks the pinnacle of Tandy’s racing career for the time being.

“A big dream has come true. I’m absolutely thrilled,” says Nick Tandy. “Ever since I first drove a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup it was clear to me that there could be nothing better than to become a works pilot for Porsche. It’s great that Porsche recognised what I have achieved so far and that they included me in the factory pilot family. I’ll do everything to merit this trust.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Nick as our tenth works driver,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “His career is exemplary. He followed up his title victory in the Carrera Cup Deutschland with a convincing performance in the international Grand Touring scene. With his ability, he perfectly complements our driver line up which consists of the very best drivers from sports car racing.”

Initially, Nick Tandy’s career was greatly influenced by British motorsport. There he celebrated successes in various series including Formula Ford, Formula Palmer as well as Formula 3. The fatal accident in May 2009 of his brother, who was the boss of the Formula 3 team at that time, almost ended Nick Tandy’s career as a race driver. However, the long-time Porsche one-make series team principal Franz Konrad became aware of Tandy and his impressive performances at guest appearances in the Carrera Cup Great Britain. Konrad put him in the cockpit of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for one race in September. The Briton thanked him in his own special way: by clinching second in both the qualifying and the race.

In 2010, five victories in the Carrera Cup Deutschland earned Tandy vice championship honours and in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup only one driver was better than the shooting star from Great Britain. In 2011 in Germany’s fastest one-make race series, Tandy gave no one the chance to nip in front. The championship title opened the door to international GT racing. Team boss Olaf Manthey (Manthey-Racing) contracted the 2011 champion for the fiercely-contested International GT Open. Sharing driving duties with Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer, he narrowly missed out on the title despite scoring five wins over the course of the season in the 911 GT3 RSR. Moreover, Tandy and his teammate Christian Engelhart won four races of the ADAC GT Masters with a 911 GT3 R. In Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series the 28-year-old gained valuable experience.

Nick Tandy kicks off his first season as a Porsche works driver in Daytona. At the long distance classic in Florida on 26-27 January, Porsche traditionally supplies customer teams with several works drivers. In the 2013 season, Tandy anticipates again contesting the International GT Open among other series and races.

The rest of the season’s schedules for the other pilots are also taking shape: Four long-standing works drivers will compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the new Porsche 911 RSR. The winning duo Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) head into the second WEC season under the direction of the newly founded factory squad “Porsche AG Team Manthey”. Newcomers to the sports car world championship are Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France). At the season highlight in France on 22/23 June, the two driver pairings receive support from two other top Le Man professionals: Frenchman Romain Dumas is the third driver in the cockpit of the Lieb/Lietz 911, with Timo Berhard (Germany) joining forces with Bergmeister and Pilet. The other four factory pilots will be made available to Porsche customer teams for their Le Mans campaign.

As the youngest works driver at 24 years old, Marco Holzer contests the entire 2013 season of the American Le Mans Series for Paul Miller Racing. Like last year, Wolf Henzler supports the Falcon Tire squad in the ALMS. The American Patrick Long focuses on the ALMS with some races in the Grand-Am Series also planned.