Porsche Boxster S Black Edition

A Porsche apresentou a série Black Edition do Boxster S. Esta edição especial terá apenas 987 unidades produzidas tendo como diferencial a pintura em preto.

Por fora a série Boxster S Black Edition tem detalhes em preto brilhante nas entradas de ar dianteiras, na proteção do teto e nos encostos de cabeça.

O Black Edition utiliza as mesmas rodas 19 polegadas do 911 GT3 RS com pneus 235/35 na dianteira e 265/35 na traseira, que recebem o mesmo preto brilhante.

Por dentro banco e detalhes são forrados em couro preto. Os pacotes de opcionais são Comfort, Infotainment e Design, o sistema de comunicação e navegação Porsche Communication Management (PCM) e o sistema áudio Sound Package Plus.

O motor é um boxer seis cilindros de 3,4 litros potência de 320 cv que o leva de 0 a 100 km/h em 5,2 segundos chegando a velocidade máxima de 276 km/h.

New Porsche Boxster S Black Edition Adds More Power and Value

After the 911 Carrera Black Edition, Porsche today announced that it is launching a similar limited run version of the Boxster S as well. The new model will be produced in just 987 units, and aside from the upgrades in the styling and equipment departments, the Boxster S Black Edition also benefits from a small power boost.

As one would expect, almost every part of the body is finished in black, including the model lettering, mirror housings, rollover bars, air intake grilles and twin tailpipes. Black 19-inch wheels, shod in tires size 235/35 at the front and 265/35 at the rear, complete the exterior changes.

The dark theme is continued inside, complemented by discrete metallic accents found on the doors, sill plates, air vents, steering wheel and gear selector. Other than that, black dominates the dashboard, door panels and partially leather seats.

To mark its special status, the Boxster S Black Edition comes as standard with the “Comfort”, “Infotainment” and “Design” equipment packages. That means customers don’t have to pay extra for features such as the wind deflector, anti-dazzle mirrors, cruise control, rain sensor, climate control, navigation, bi-xenon lights with cornering function and LED daytime running lights. The list of special options includes among other things, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and adaptive sports seats with memory function.

The Black Edition uses the same 3.4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine as the Boxster S, but after some minor tweaks it delivers ten more horsepower, for a total of 320HP and 370 Nm (273 lb-ft) of torque.

Fitted with the 6-speed manual transmission, the Boxster S Black Edition needs just 5.2 seconds to complete the 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) dash and can reach a top speed of 276 km/h (171.5 mph). According to the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test cycle, average fuel consumption is 9.8 lt/100 km (24 US mpg).

Customers can also opt for Porsche’s 7-speed twin-clutch transmission, dubbed PDK, in which case the roadster is even faster and more frugal. It sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.1 seconds, (0-60mph in 4.8") while the top speed is 274 km/h (170 mph). With the PDK, the Boxer returns a combined fuel consumption of 9.4 lt/100 km (25 US mpg).

The Boxster S Black Edition will go on sale in March 2011 for a base price of €63,404 in Germany, including VAT and country-specific equipment.

In the U.S. prices start at $65,200, with Porsche claiming saving of around $3,200 over a comparably equipped Boxster S.

By Csaba Daradics

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Man Amasses Ridiculously Awesome Gulf Oil-Liveried Racing Car Collection

The ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton is one man's dream of assembling the largest assortment of racing cars ever to compete in the legendary colors of Gulf Oil. The collection comprises 14 of the most prominent Gulf Oil-liveried competition cars and has been created by Duncan Hamilton & Co.’s Chairman, Adrian Hamilton, for an unnamed but obviously passionate and extremely wealthy client.

All 14 cars were tracked down and acquired in just two years. The collection includes a variety of models ranging in age from the 1967 Mirage, which was the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans, to the 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo that competed in the GT2 Championship.

Commenting on the collection, Adrian Hamilton said: “My career has been punctuated by many remarkable cars – eg the one and only Mercedes-Benz 196 Grand Prix car in private hands, some nine Ferrari 250 GT0s, 20 GT40s, seven Porsche 917s and numerous Jaguar C and D-Types etc – but few projects have been as enjoyable and satisfying as this one. Like all racing enthusiasts I’ve grown up with the Gulf brand and it is a tremendous privilege to be able to build such a unique and lasting tribute to one of the greatest names in our sport. I am extremely indebted to my client for the opportunity.”

A total of 12 cars from the ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton will get their first public outing for all to see at Retromobile, an annual show of classic road and racing cars, which takes place at Porte de Versailles in Paris, from February 2 to 6.

In chronological order the 14 cars are:

• 1967 Mirage

Chassis No.10002 – the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans

• 1968 Ford GT40

Chassis No.1084 – 4^th, SPA 1000 km, Hawkins/Hobbs

• 1969 Brabham BT26

Chassis No.BT26/4 - 1^st German GP, Ickx

• 1970 McLaren M14

Chassis No.M14/A2 – 2^nd South African GP, Hulme

• 1971 Porsche 917

Chassis No.026 – 2^nd, Le Mans 24 Hours, Attwood/Muller

• 1970 Porsche 908/3

Chassis No.12 – Nürburgring 1000 km, Siffert, DNF

• 1972 McLaren M20

Chassis No.M20/3 – 1^st, Watkins Glen, Hulme

• 1974 Mirage

Chassis No.704 – 4^th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Hailwood

• 1994 Kremer K8

Chassis No.K8/07/SP – 6^th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Lassig/Donovan

• 1996 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail

Chassis No.022 – 3^rd, Hockenheim 4 Hours, Bscher/Nielson

• 2006 Courage C65 LMP2

Chassis No.07 – 7^th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Gosselin/Ojeh/Ragues

• 2008 Aston Martin DBR9

Chassis No.007 – 4^th in GT1, Le Mans 24 Hours, Frentzen/Piccili/Wendlinger

• 2009 Aston Martin LMP1

Chassis No.DBR1-2/2 – 1^st, Asian Le Mans series, Okayama, Mucke/Primat

• 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo

GT2 Championship, Giroix/Goethe

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Porsche 968 Sport, 1994

UK-only version called Porsche 968 Sport, was offered in 1994 and 1995, and was essentially a Porsche 968 Club Sport model (and was produced on the same production line with similar chassis numbers) with electric windows, electric release boot, central locking, cloth 'comfort seats' (different to both the standard and the Club Sport). With the added electrics the larger wiring loom was used. The Sport Variant also got back the 2 rear seats, again in the cloth material specific to the Sport. At £29,975, the 968 Sport was priced £5,500 lower than the standard 968, but had most of the latter's desirable "luxuries" and consequently outsold it by a large margin (306 of the 968 Sport models compared to 40 standard 968 coupés).

From 1993 through 1995, Porsche offered a lighter-weight "Club Sport" version of the 968 designed for enthusiasts seeking increased track performance. Much of the 968's luxury-oriented equipment was removed or taken off the options list; less sound deadening material was used, electrical windows were replaced with crank-driven units, upgraded stereo systems, A/C and sunroof were still optional as on the standard Coupe and Convertible models. In addition, Porsche installed manually adjustable lightweight Recaro racing seats rather than the standard power-operated leather buckets (also manufactured by Recaro), a revised suspension system optimized and lowered by 20mm for possible track use, 17" wheels (also slightly wider to accommodate wider tyres) rather than the 16" as found on the Coupe and wider tires, 225 front and 255 rears rather than 205 and 245 respectively. The 4 spoke airbag steering wheel was replaced with a thicker rimmed 3 spoke steering wheel with no airbag, heated washer jets were replaced with non heated, vanity covers in the engine bay were deleted, as was the rear wiper. 

The Club Sport has no rear seats unlike the 2+2 Coupe. Club Sports were only available in white, black, Speed yellow, Guards red, Riviera blue or Maritime blue. Seat backs were colour coded to the body. Club Sport decals were standard in either black, red or white but there was a 'delete' option. All Club Sports had black interiors with the 944 S2 door cards. Due to the reduction in the number of electrical items the wiring loom was reduced in complexity which saved weight and also the battery was replaced with a smaller one, again reducing weight. With the no frills approach meaning less weight, as well as the optimising of the suspension, Porsche could focus media attention on the Club Sport variants fast road and track abilities. This helped to slightly bolster the flagging sales figures in the mid 1990s. The Club Sport variant achieved a 'Performance Car Of The Year' award in 1993 from Performance Car magazine in the UK. Club Sport models were only officially available in the UK, Europe & Australia, although "grey market" cars found their way elsewhere.

Porsche 968 Cabriolet, 1994

Porsche 968 Cabriolet, 1994

The Porsche 968 is a sports car sold by Porsche AG from 1992 to 1995. It took over the entry-level position in Porsche's lineup from the 944, with which it shared about 20% of its parts. The Porsche 968 became the final model in an evolving line, starting almost 20 years earlier with the introduction of the Porsche 924 and ending with the Turbo S, Turbo RS, and Turbo RS Lemans, which are three separate versions of the 968. The Porsche 968 pioneered a number of sports car firsts including the first six-speed gearbox.

Porsche's 944 model debuted for the 1982 model year, was updated as "944S" in 1987 and as "944S2" in 1989. Shortly after the start of production of the S2 variant, Porsche engineers began working on another set of significant upgrades for the model, as executives were planning a final "S3" variant of the 944. During the development phase, 80% of the 944's mechanical components were either significantly modified or completely replaced by the engineers, leaving so little of the outgoing S2 behind that Porsche management chose to introduce the variant as a new model, entitling it Porsche 968. In addition to the numerous mechanical upgrades, the new model also received significantly evolved styling both inside and out, with a more modern, streamlined look and more standard luxury than on the 944. Production was moved from the Audi plant in Neckarsulm (where the 924 and 944 had been manufactured under contract to Porsche), to Porsche's own factory in Zuffenhausen.

The Porsche 968 was powered by an updated version of the 944's straight-4 engine, now displacing 3.0 L and producing 240 PS (236 hp/177 kW). Changes to the 968's powertrain also included the addition of Porsche's then-new VarioCam variable valve timing system, newly-optimized induction and exhaust systems, a dual-mass flywheel, and updated engine management electronics among other more minor revisions. The Porsche 968's engine was the second-largest 4-cylinder ever offered in a production car up to that time. A new 6-speed manual transmission replaced the 944's old 5-speed, and Porsche's dual-mode Tiptronic automatic became an available option. Both the Variocam timing system and Tiptronic transmission were very recent developments for Porsche. The Tiptronic transmission had debuted for the first time ever only 3 years prior to the debut of the 968, on the 1989 Type 964 911. The Variocam timing system was first introduced on the Porsche 968 and would later become a feature of the Type 993 air cooled six cylinder engine.

The Porsche 968's styling was an evolution on that of the outgoing 944, itself styled evolutionarily from the earlier 924, but elements were borrowed from the more expensive 928 model in an attempt to create a "family resemblance" between models, and the swooping headlamp design, inspired by those of the 959, previewed similar units found later on the Type 993 911. Along with the new styling, the Porsche 968 featured numerous small equipment and detail upgrades, including a Fuba roof-mounted antenna, updated single lens tail lamps, "Cup" style 16" alloy wheels, a wider selection of interior and exterior colors, and a slightly updated "B" pillar and rear quarter window to accommodate adhesive installation to replace the older rubber gasket installation. Because some parts are interchangeable between the 968, 944 and 924, some enthusiasts purchase those parts from Porsche parts warehouses as "upgrades" for their older models.

Like the 944, the Porsche 968 was sold as both a coupe and a convertible. Much of the 968's chassis was carried over from the 944S2, which in itself shared many components with the 944 Turbo (internally numbered 951). Borrowed components include the Brembo-sourced 4-piston brake calipers on all four wheels, aluminum semi-trailing arms and aluminum front A-arms, used in a Macpherson strut arrangement. The steel unibody structure was also very similar to that of the previous models. Porsche maintained that 80% of the car was new.

Porsche 964 Speedster, 1993

Porsche 964 Speedster, 1993

The Porsche 964 Speedster, a low-roof convertible version of the 964, returned in October 1992. Based on the Carrera 2, the Speedster was available either in standard or in lightweight version, Clubsport trim. Unlike its predecessor, the 911 Speedster, the Porsche 964 Speedster was initially not available with the "Turbo-Look" wider rear arches. 

As a result, the sales of the 964 edition were disappointing: only 925 units were built in two years, vs 2065 for the previous generation. In late 1993 (Model Year 1994), 20 (14 in right hand drive) very exclusive "Turbo-Look" units were made as special orders and carried special 5 digit option codes in their production records. These "Turbo-Look" Speedsters were some of the last 964's produced by the Porsche factory.

Artist's Rendition of 2013 Porsche Cajun Small SUV

It's no secret that Porsche is working on a new model to further expand its range in the SUV segment. In fact, the German sports car maker not only confirmed the vehicle but also announced that it is being developed under the working name "Cajun". Further details remain unknown including of course the Cajun's styling direction and whether or not it will be a three-door (most likely) or five-door model.

Nevertheless, Teamspeed member and rendering specialist Wild-Speed has come up with a styling proposal for the Cajun. The artist designed the crossover as a three-door model with a sloping roofline incorporating styling elements from the latest Cayenne, Panamera and the 918 Spyder (notice the head lamps). You can check out the renderings in high resolution after the jump.

Source: Teamspeed & Facebook/Wildspeed via Worldcarfans

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Foreign Automakers Review Relationships with Tunisian Partners, which...”happen” to be Relatives of the Ousted President

The looting of the Ferrari 599 GTB owned by former Tunisian president Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali and the smashing of cars owned by his relatives including a Ferrari California may have been eye-catching in an offbeat sort of way, but there are more important automotive-related stories coming out from Tunisia.

It has been reported by several news agencies that Tunisians are also destroying random vehicles made by Kia, Fiat, Porsche and other makers. The reason? Because the companies that distribute them are controlled by members of the ruling family. Now, in light of all the latest developments, many international automakers are reviewing their business ties to the extended family of Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali, according to the Financial Times.

The daily newspaper said that up until now, the country's car market, which totaled just under 60,000 units in 2010, was heavily regulated by its trade ministry that favored importers controlled one way or another by relatives of the former president or his wife, Leila Trabelsi.

Companies controlled or owned by the family members of the ousted presidential couple include:

-Ford, which sells cars in Tunisia through a company partially owned by Belhassen Trabelsi, the former president’s brother-in-law;

-Ennakl, a dealer for Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi, and Seat controlled by Mohamed Sakher al-Materi, the president’s son-in-law;

-Kia, which distributes its models through City Cars, part of the El Materi Princess Holding, another company controlled by the former president’s son-in-law, Mohamed Sakher al-Materi;

-Le Moteur, which acts as an importer for several companies including Mercedes-Benz and Fiat, and is owned by Marouane Mabrouk, the deposed president’s son-in-law;

-Peugeot, which is represented by Stafim, a company in which Mehdi Belgaid – said to be engaged to Halima Ben Ali, the former president’s daughter – owns a stake;

Some carmakers such as Audi have stopped exporting their cars to the country because they are not sure if they would clear customs as well for their safety once they arrive on the dealer lots. The financial daily quoted Audi as saying; “We will have to look at whether we can continue doing business with this partner and whether they are the right partner for us. ”

Ford said it also looking into the matter and reassessing ties with its Tunisian importer, while Mercedes-Benz said it found no wrongdoing on behalf of Le Moteur but will monitor the situation. A Peugeot spokesman said the automaker will wait to see what the new government will do with companies associated with the president's family.

Other carmakers, including Kia and Porsche, said that for the time being, they will continue to do business as usual with their partners. Porsche in particular said it has no plans to change its arrangement with Ennaki “as long as the company is operational and paying for cars”.

The newspaper said that Fiat "would not comment on its business in Tunisia, or its local partner."

Source: Financial Times

Techart Rolls Out GrandGT Styling Program for Porsche Panamera

Seen for the first time at the Auto Zurich Car Show last December, Techart's GrandGT styling program for the Porsche Panamera is now available for sale. The tuner's box of goodies include a full carbon fiber body kit complemented by beefier alloy wheels, and a variety of cockpit modifications.

The exterior styling kit starts off with a new front bumper cover with the front grill insert and splitter in carbon fiber and continues with wider front and rear fenders, side skirts, a rear bumper with a diffuser, and a deck lid spoiler. A choice of alloy wheels in sizes 20- to 23-inches complete the new look.

The interior package offers buyers a variety of customizations ranging from carbon-fiber trim and Alcantara seats to illuminated door entry guards in a carbon fiber finish.

The tuner can also satisfy power-hungry drivers with several performance upgrades including a 571HP kit for the range-topping Panamera Turbo.

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Porsche Announces New Limited 911 Carrera Black Editions

The new generation of the Porsche 911 is in the final stages of development, but we still have some time before it dazzles its way to the motorshow catwalks. To keep the momentum rolling until its presentation later this year, Porsche decided to launch yet another limited run version of the current 911 called the Black Edition.

This time, Porsche's new special is based on the entry-level 911 Carrera Coupe and Convertible models boasting a black theme inside and out, and adding numerous extras and features. Production will be limited to just 1,911 examples worldwide with sales to start around April.

Both Black Editions are painted in plain black as standard, with Basalt Black metallic available as an option, while the folding hood of the Cabriolet model is trimmed in black cloth. Other styling highlights include the 19-inch 911 Turbo II forged alloy wheels with a glossy black trim and the black-finished, four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed brake callipers.

Inside, the driver and passenger are first greeted by the black lettering on the stainless steel door entry guards. The cars also get a black leather interior, a SportDesign steering wheel and a numbered plaque on the glove compartment lid, while the decorative fascia strip, gear lever and air vents are all finished in aluminium-look paint. Finally, the rear center console is painted in the exterior color.

Standard features include a 385W BOSE Surround Sound-System with 13 loudspeakers (twelve in the Cabriolet), satellite navigation, ParkAssist, cruise control, automatic dimming anti-dazzle interior and exterior mirrors, and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.

Power for both body styles comes from the standard Carrera 3.6-liter flat-six cylinder engine, producing 345-horses at 6,500 rpm. Coupled with the six-speed gearbox, this output delivers a top speed of 289km/h (180 mph) in both body versions. Acceleration from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) comes in 4.9 seconds for the Coupe and 5.1 seconds for the Convertible.

Buyers can also opt for Porsche's PDK twin-clutch transmission, in which case, the Coupe accomplishes the sprint in 4.7 seconds and the Cabrio in 4.9 seconds. Those that want to dig further into their pockets can order the optional Sport Chrono Plus package that includes the "Launch Control" function, which shaves 0.2 seconds off the acceleration times of vehicles equipped with PDK.

In the U.S., the MSRP will be $81,300 for the Coupe and $91,300 for the Cabriolet, with Porsche claiming savings of around $6,000 over a similarly equipped 911 Carrera.

In the UK, the 911 Black Edition is priced from £67,270 for the Coupé and £74,958 for the Cabriolet – the same price as the standard 911 Carrera models.

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