More 2012 Porsche 911 test mules spotted in Los Angeles

 My spy-client just sent me these photos that he got on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, California.  We'll probably see more of these as it gets closer to the 2012 Model Year.  Stay tuned or contact me for more info.

2012 Porsche 911 Spied on 405 Freeway!

One of my clients snapped this photo with his blackberry while driving his 911 Cabriolet on the 405 freeway between L.A. and Orange County.  There were two identical cars following each other.  This is a test mule of the up-coming 2012 911.  Rumors on the web suggest the model will be called the 998 but I was told by a Porsche factory insider that this next-generation 911 will be known as the 991.  There has been a lot of speculation about the details of the model, including some very nice computer renderings but no official word from Porsche regarding details or specs for this car.

Click here for a video sighting.

Contact me with any questions.

Porsche 911 Speedster to Debut at Paris Motor Show

Only fourth model in Porsche history to bear the Speedster name

 

ATLANTA - September 21, 2010 - Paying homage to the first Porsche model to bear the Speedster name - the 356 Speedster - Porsche has announced that a new 911 Speedster will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in early October. Significantly different from other members of the 911 family, this two-seat roadster features a 2.36" (60 millimeter) lower, more raked windscreen and the characteristic speedster double-bubble hardcover for the manual soft top. Helping to define the striking profile of the new 2011 911 Speedster, the 1.73" (44 millimeter) wide-body from the AWD 911 models makes the rear-wheel-drive only Speedster stand out even more. The production run of this special car will be limited to 356 units worldwide, with approximately 100 heading to the U.S.

 
Fourth Edition of a Sports Car Legend
 

The new 911 speedster combines the classic features of the now well-known Speedster series with improved performance over the current 911 generation: The 3.8-liter flat six engine delivers 408 horsepower (hp), 23 hp more in comparison with the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, yet is EPA rated the same at 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway. The 2011 Speedster reaches 0-60 MPH in 4.2 seconds with Sport Chrono Plus and has a top-track speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) - all courtesy of Porsche Intelligent Performance.

 

The seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission transmits power to the rear axle with a limited-slip differential lock, also included as standard equipment. A six-speed manual transmission is not available. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) are standard, too. Add to that exemplary protection for driver and passengers in the new 911 Speedster as Porsche engineers improved the rollover protection system which is standard in all open-top Porsche cars.

 
Original Speedster - Created Especially for the U.S.
 

In 1953, the Speedster series was launched as purist sports car based on the Porsche 356.

 

New York Porsche importer Max Hoffman envisioned a lightweight 356 cabriolet that would look and perform in America like no other sports car. The car Porsche created had two sports bucket seats, doors with slide-in plastic windows and a shortened, elegantly curved windscreen and proved to be quite popular, especially in southern California.

 

In 1988, the second Speedster, this time based on the 911 Carrera, celebrated its revival with an added feature: the characteristic double bubbles. In 1993/1994, the next evolutionary stage of the 911 Carrera was ushered in with the third Speedster edition.

 

The conception of the current Speedster comes from Porsche Exclusive - the department specializing in individualization of all Porsche cars and limited production models like the 911 Speedster. The 2011 Speedster heralds the 25th anniversary of Porsche Exclusive which will be celebrated in 2011, and once again, demonstrates the small-series competence of Porsche Exclusive after the European success of the 2010 911 Sport Classic. Living up to the Porsche Exclusive standard, the 911 Speedster features almost all optional equipment of the 911 series and its appeal also comes from its meticulously hand-finished interior in black smooth-finish leather with numerous exterior color painted details exclusive to the Speedster. These include decorative designs with checkerboard patterns in the seat center-section of the adaptive sports seats suggestive of a checkered flag, and the leather side bolsters in the exterior color.

 

The sporty flavor is further enhanced by the exterior color "Pure Blue" which has been developed exclusively for the Speedster, providing an intriguing contrast with the tinted front lights, black headlight rings, black windscreen surround and other black decorative designs. Upon request, the Speedster is available in Carrara White, at no extra cost. It also features a special front apron, specific sideskirts and a distinct rear apron.

 

In the U.S., the 911 Carrera Speedster will be available beginning in early 2011, MSRP will be $204,000.

Click here to check out Porsche's micro-site for the Speedster.

Porsche Boxster voted the sports car with the best handling by US specialist journal

Boxster Spyder is the "best-handling car in America"

 

Stuttgart. Renowned US specialist journal "Car and Driver" has awarded the Porsche Boxster Spyder the title "best-handling car in America". Thanks to its outstanding handling characteristics, the open-top mid-engine sports car from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, asserted itself against six high-class competitors during the test drives at the Waterford Hills race circuit in Michigan. The top model in the Boxster series particularly impressed the experienced testers with its well-balanced chassis, its precise steering and its predictability, especially at the handling limits.

 

The test result precisely reflects the design of the Boxster Spyder: the two-seater clearly and visibly embodies the puristic form of a Porsche sports car - light, powerful, consistently open-topped plus extremely efficient and economical. At 1275 kilograms, it is the lightest model within the entire Porsche product range. In combination with the 320 hp (239 kW) six-cylinder engine, this enables both extremely sporty dynamics and economical fuel consumption - in short, exemplary Porsche Intelligent Performance. Equipped with Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and Sport Chrono Package, the Spyder accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds from a standing start, but consumes just 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres (30 mpg imp.) in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle). The Boxster Spyder's optical feature is its flat, light fabric hood, which extends far to the rear. Together with the striking double-bubble soft top hardcover on the continuous rear lid, the closed hood lends the two-seater a silhouette which is reminiscent of the Carrera GT.

 

In terms of its basic concept, the Boxster is regarded as the successor to the legendary 550 Spyder from 1953: mid-engine and roadster concept, low weight, originality and high agility with maximum driving pleasure characterise both vehicles. The 550 Spyder was the first sports car from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen developed specifically for racing. Nevertheless, it was also certified for on-road use. During the subsequent years, the 550-kilogram Spyder achieved numerous victories on the round circuit and in the road races popular at that time

Porsche Adds Expressive and Performance-Oriented 911 GTS Model

New Carrera builds on time-honored GTS name, provides increased performance and efficiency

 

ATLANTA - September 15, 2010 - With 408 horsepower (hp), outstanding vehicle dynamics and additional standard equipment, the new 2011 911 Carrera GTS ascends to the pinnacle of the Carrera model lineup. With 23 hp more than the 911 Carrera S, the new GTS - available as Coupe and Cabriolet - narrows the gap between the Carrera S and the 435 hp 911 GT3. The additional sportiness goes hand in hand with an economic advantage: thanks to Porsche Intelligent Performance, as the new sports car consumes no more fuel than the 911 Carrera S. It also provides comprehensive list of additional standard equipment. The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS will celebrate its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in early October.

 
Athletic, Muscular Design Statement
 

Unique within the Carrera family, the 911 Carrera GTS combines the 44 millimeter wider Carrera 4 body of the AWD models, including a wider rear track and wheels, with rear-wheel drive. There are many more details which distinguish the appearance and technology of a GTS from other Carrera models, for instance, the GTS runs on 19-inch center-mount RS Spyder wheels, painted black, with high-gloss rim flanges and 305/30 R 19 tires on the rear axle.

 

Other visual features include the SportDesign front apron with black spoiler edge, special sideskirts, also in black, and the Carrera GTS logotype on doors and rear lid, in black or silver depending on the body color. The area between the two tailpipes in the rear is also black. In combination with the standard interior color "black Alcantara", the center sections of the driver and passenger sport seats are covered with black Alcantara and the high-quality Alcantara is also used wherever driver and passenger come in direct contact with the interior, like on the rim of the new three-spoke SportDesign steering wheel and on the gear and handbrake levers.

 
More Power. Quicker Acceleration. Same Fuel Economy.
 

Detailed attention was paid to the intake and exhaust functions in the 3.8-liter flat-six engine that now delivers 408 hp: A special resonance intake manifold featuring six vacuum-controlled tuning flaps switch between power and torque-optimized geometry compared to the Carrera S power unit with only one tuning flap. This allows for increased torque in the mid-rev range. Maximum torque of 310 lb. ft. (420 Nm) is unchanged, but is available at 4,200 rpm; 200 rpm earlier when compared with the Carrera S. Additionally, a sport exhaust system with two dual-tipped tailpipes with their outer shells painted black with polished inner tubes comes standard.

 

The Carrera GTS comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available. In comparison with the Carrera S, top track speed for manual transmission Coupe rises by two mph to 190 (306 km/h). Acceleration from zero to 60 is 4.0 seconds for the GTS Coupe with PDK and Sport Chrono Package Plus. And the new Carrera GTS will offer fuel economy of up to 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway.

 

In the U.S., the 911 Carrera GTS Coupe and Cabriolet will be available beginning in early 2011 and MSRP will be $103,100 and $112,900 respectively.