Tag Archives: Porsche
Porsche Panamera is Getting a Mid-Cycle Facelift
The second-generation of the Porsche Panamera was just unveiled around three years ago. So in the automotive world, it’s not yet that old, but new spy shots reveal that the model is getting a mid-cycle refresh.
As the norm, a production car’s mid-cycle facelift only involves a few cosmetic enhancements. That’s exactly what we are looking at when the Panamera was caught by Motor1 while it was undergoing testing in Germany.
A closer examination of the upcoming Panamera model shows a few portions of it covered in black wraps. These hint the areas where the changes in the car will take place.
From the images, we can see that the front bumper and the lower part of the rear glass panel are hidden from plain sight. We suspect that the covered parts will receive styling cues coming from the latest 911. The headlamps and taillamps appear to be concealing a few graphical updates too.
Fortunately, the spy photographer also snapped a few pictures of the car’s interior. From there, we can see a new steering wheel in the cockpit.
There’s no information yet about any revisions in the engine of the Panamera. However, it was rumored that the car will get a new range-topping model, codenamed “Lion, that will go head-to-head against the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT 73 4-Door. With that, the most potent form of the Panamera might get up to 820 hp.
The facelifted 2021 Porsche Panamera is expected to be unveiled as early as next year, which also coincides with the debut of its Mercedes rival.
A Look at the Features of the Porsche Taycan EV
Porsche just entered the electric vehicle fray with its new Taycan. The new Porsche Taycan is offered in two trims and it is scheduled to be sold in the market in December 2019.
The Porsche Taycan aims to be a strong entry in the EV market with its slew of amazing features. Here is a quick look at the highlights of the auto:
Performance
Initially, the Taycan is available in Turbo and Turbo S trims. A Turbo Cross Turismo is slated for next year.
The Taycan has one electric motor for the front axle and another at the rear axle. Porsche utilizes permanent-magnet synchronous motors that have permanent magnets situated between the rotor and stators. The feature makes the auto very expensive to produce but it provides a smaller, lighter and more efficient design compared to other EVs.
Both the Turbo and Turbo S offer 616 hp but taking into play their launch control systems give the two 671 hp and 751 hp, respectively. On the other hand, the torque of the former is 627 lb-ft while the latter produces 774 lb-ft.
The 0-60 mph acceleration of the Turbo is 3 seconds and the Turbo S is 2.6 seconds. Both trims have an electronically-limited top speed of 161 mph.
A 93.4 kW lithium-ion battery takes the Turbo by around 237-280 miles on the WLTP scale on a full charge. The Turbo S can reach 241-256 miles. The 800v electric architecture of the Taycan can hold up to 270 kW of power and it can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in 22.5 minutes.
Design
The Taycan carries the distinctive design of the current Porsche cars. It has a 5,100 lb curb weight but it feels very agile and it has a good downforce. It should be noted that the car has a drag coefficient of 0.22.
The Taycan has a rear spoiler with three settings to improve airflow. Cooling flaps also help keep the car firm on the ground.
Going inside the car reveals a dashboard dominated by displays, including a 16.8-inch curved display on top of the steering column. At the center is another 10.9-inch touchscreen embedded in the dashboard.
Pricing
At their base configurations, the cost of the Taycan Turbo starts at $153,310 and the Turbo S begins at $187,610.
All-Electric Porsche Taycan Teases Interior Ahead of Official Launch
The 2020 Porsche Taycan will make its official debut during the Frankfurt Motor Show, but the luxury carmaker already gave us a glimpse of its stunning interior.
The Taycan will be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle when it goes on sale in 2020. It will compete directly with the Tesla Model S. In this series of images, the German automaker gave us a glimpse of its elegant and much-talked-about interior, which the dashboard dominates.
This will be the first vehicle—even among its luxury-car contemporaries—to have a fully integrated Apple Music into its infotainment system. Because of this, its infotainment system will host a range of features and functions never before seen on other vehicles. The car’s voice control function was reconfigured to allow drivers to search for songs, albums, and playlists on their Apple Music accounts. Think Siri, but now you’re using Porsche’s technology.
All Taycans will have a free six-month subscription to Apple Music and also a complimentary three-year roaming internet connection. Buyers will get access to Apple Music playlists that are specially curated by Porsche for Taycan owners. To get more of this music experience, the Taycan is fitted with high-quality Burmester surround sound system as an option.
Earlier prototypes showed the Taycan will have a freestanding digital instrument display and a large infotainment screen, which is similar to the 10.1-inch display used on Audi cars. The same features should be found on the production-ready version of the car. Once Porsche decides to release a less restrictive set of images, we can expect to find a small toggle-style gear selector and a second touchscreen display for the center console. This will likely be used for the climate control system.
Although Porsche hasn’t given the exact specifications of the Taycan, the range-topping electric variants should come with two electric motors that will produce over 600 horsepower. Its lithium-ion battery aims to give 310 miles on a single charge.
2020 Porsche Taycan EV To Drop Officially On September 4
The 2020 Porsche Taycan EV will make its official debut on September 4, the company said. It will be revealed at 9 a.m. EST in three simultaneous locations in Canada, China, and Porsche’s native Germany. So, mark your calendars because the global debut will be live-streamed on the company’s dedicated online TV microsite.
The debut in China shows just how much Porsche wants to take a piece of the pie that is the Chinese market.
The first concept of the Porsche Taycan EV was aptly called the Porsche Mission E. Back then, the concept already revealed that the new electric car will have an 800-volt electric system that will allow for super-fast charging. This was a massive investment for Porsche.
It remains to be seen whether this concept’s features will pass on to the production form. The concept promised about 250 miles of range in only 15 minutes of charging. Porsche also said the car will have a driving range of more than 300 miles. The Tesla Model S has the current longest-range version of 370 miles.
According to the company, the Taycan EV can make 600 horsepower and get from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds. If you want to take the Taycan, which translates to “lively young horse” in reference to the center of the Porsche crest, to the race track and make repeated hot laps, the electric sedan can still sustain its performance numbers.
This claim was proven by a video on YouTube, which, in just 17 minutes showed the all-wheel-drive Taycan getting from 0 to 124 mph 26 times in a row. The result showed that the fastest and slowest times were only off by 0.8 seconds.
The debut of the Porsche Taycan should give us an idea of how the company envisions the future of electric cars to be.
Porsche Taycan Spy Photos Revealed More of The EV’s Front End Design
We have seen Porsche Taycan prototypes before but never the way these spy photos were taken. It feels like we have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Mind you, we only want to have a glimpse of how the Taycan will look like from the front end.
Luckily, one member of the taycanforum.com managed to come across the electric vehicle from Porsche in its full prototype glory, with only a bit of camouflage covering the car. It is only now that we can have a glimpse of the true shape of the Taycan’s headlights and if these spy shots are any indication, we say these headlight units are very aggressive and almost un-Porsche like in its dynamism.
While we expect the headlights to flow naturally with the rest of the bodywork, this is not going to happen with the Porsche Taycan. Porsche has gone the route of an edgier design. The lightning units have been tucked away in a little nook, effectively distorting that image we have of the Taycan as having a singular flowing design.
The sculpting from the headlight units angles downward to where the lower front fascia is located. This created an aggressive look that’s distinct only to the Taycan.
The lower bumper is devoid of camouflage also and the spy photos showed that there’ll be a huge opening there. While we expect the opening to be large because this is an electric car, maybe the one on this prototype is a little too large for our liking. Still, we expect this one’s done for aerodynamic purposes or to help cool down the electric powertrain. If it’s going to make the Taycan easier to handle then, we suppose that’s a good gamble.
The final design for the Taycan should be ready in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. Then, the all-electric Porsche will start production for the 2020 model year.
Top 3 Things We Will Get From The 2020 Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo
The Porsche Taycan all-electric model will have several versions, one of which is certainly going to be an estate or wagon and it will be called the Sport Turismo. What separates the Sport Turismo from the sedan model are the bigger boot capacity, more practical features and more space.
There are a lot of expectations for the Taycan Sport Turismo since it’s technically the only rival that Tesla’s Model S has in this particular segment.
1. Exterior
There will be no crazy design on the Taycan Sport Turismo. From the looks of it, the model will be one of the prettiest wagons ever made and thanks to it being an all-electric and high-performance Porsche, the Taycan Sport Turismo should be a trailblazer in its segment. The front will look like the Mission E-Cross Turismo concept though with a cleaner overall look and lower ride height reduction.
The rear will look similar to the concept, too, but the lights should look like the pairs found on the Panamera or Cayenne models.
2. Interior
The interior will be closer to the Panamera with a bit of the elements found in the concept, which has a total of four screens. The production version might only have two or three screens and it will definitely have more physical buttons than the concept, which has none. For one, it will have a dedicated hazard button, which is mandated by law.
The cabin should be spacious enough for a driver, a front passenger, and two passengers at the rear. But since there won’t be a big transmission tunnel running in the middle, a third passenger at the rear should be able to sit comfortably.
3. Powertrain
The Taycan models will arrive with several power and/or battery pack options. Power outputs will range between 400 and 600 horsepower. The basic Carrera model might only be offered as a rear-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive should come as standard.
The range is pretty good at around 310 miles or 500 kilometers on a single charge. This will be the maximum range for the largest battery pack.
Photos
Here are the photos of the Porsche Taycan from TopSpeed :
3 Major Stuff You Should Know About The 911 Speedster Concept II
What started as a concept from the folks from Stuttgart has evolved into the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept II that was introduced at the Paris Motor Show. Now, Porsche will develop the 911 Speedster Concept II as a special edition model that will be limited only to 1,948 units.
The production of the 911 Speedster Concept II starts in the first half of 2019. Porsche has not released the pricing details yet but we expect that to be revealed in the next few months.
Exterior
The exterior of the 911 Speedster Concept II is the same as the concept the German automaker first introduced back in June 2018, the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept. Both versions are based on the 911 Cabriolet 4 Carrera with elements of the 911 GT3 on the chassis and the carbon fiber composite.
The 911 Speedster Concept II has a shorter and more rakish windscreen, closely resembling the 356 1500 Speedster. There’s a carbon fiber rear cover with double bubble design and a floating third brake with “Porsche” lettering.
The car showed at the Paris Motor Show bears the Guards Red paint finish, which has a historical significance to Porsche. It also comes with 21-inch center-lock wheels with a cross-spoke design, tinted daytime running lights, a lightweight tonneau cover, and mirror caps made with black chrome and platinum.
Interior
The 911 Speedster Concept II has similar elements with its predecessor. There are carbon fiber bucket seats that are wrapped in black leather with eye-catching red accents. To save on weight, there will be no infotainment system. There’ll be just an empty space in the center stack. There are air-conditioning vents in the cabin but it remains unclear if there will be an A/C system in the production version.
Drivetrain
The 911 Speedster Concept II will arrive with a 4.0-liter flat-six engine that produces 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission that Porsche received from its own GT division responsible for engineering the special edition Speedster’s exhaust system and titanium tailpipes.
Do You Want a Hybrid Porsche 911 Cayman or Boxster?
Porsche earlier announced that a plug-in hybrid version of the Porsche 911 is in the works. The bad news is that it will not arrive until four years into the future. So for those who own either a Porsche 911 Cayman or Boxster, they do not have to wait that long because Vonnen Performance announced that their hybrid conversion for the models will be arriving soon.
The aftermarket tuner Vonnen Performance is an off-shoot of Porsche suspension specialist Elephant Racing. They revealed to Road and Track that they are working on a system that turns the 911 Boxster or Cayman into a functioning hybrid car. The package is compatible with the 2012 to 2016 models of the said vehicles.
Vonnen aims to accomplish this by replacing the stock flywheel with an electric motor. Next, an inverter is installed on top of the engine. After that, a battery pack is mounted in the front trunk. Lastly, the company puts their very own Vonnen Control Unit (VCU) into the auto.
The VCU is plugged into the car’s engine control unit (ECU) via a Controller Area Network (CAN bus). That allows the computer of the vehicle to monitor factors like the RPM, speed and throttle input. Based on the readings, Vonnen’s computer releases energy through the crankshaft-mounted motor. Therefore, as the driver steps on the gas pedal, the hybrid motor directs power to the motor on the crankshaft to give it more rotating force.
The Vossen Performance package puts an additional 175 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque to the Porsche 911. The penalty for the power boost is a weight increase of merely 120 lbs. The minimal increase in weight despite all the upgrades is made possible by ditching the stock flywheel to make way for the company’s 38-pound motor as well as removing the starter motor because the hybrid system no longer utilizes it and taking away the 12-volt battery, which is no longer needed.
Updated Porsche Macan Gets Sportier Looks and More Equipment
The Porsche Macan is getting a mid-cycle refresh that will make the crossover sportier than ever before, thanks to its 911-inspired looks. It will also get brand-new equipment inside the cabin.
Exterior
The exterior of the new Macan will follow the features from the 911 sports car, just like the latest Cayenne and Panamera. Up front, there are the familiar four-point LED headlamps that are standard on every trim. The grille and the side vents have been revised with the grille featuring horizontal slats only. The side vents no longer have daytime running lights at the top. The vents below are wider and the center outlet is rectangular. These make the Macan seem wider.
The side remains unchanged, though there are new wheel designs available in either 20 or 21 inches. At the back, the revised taillights now have LED strip that we saw on the 911 and the Panamera. The rear is finished off with a new diffuser with round exhaust pipes.
There are three new colors available for the Macan: Miami Blue, Mamba Green Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic, and Crayon.
Interior
Porsche made big changes in the Macan’s cabin. The obvious upgrade is the larger infotainment screen, which is now an 11-inch diagonal display. The German automaker removed the A/C vents and put them in smaller units below. The enhanced PCM system also removed most of the buttons for a cleaner center stack display.
The GT sports steering wheel is another major change. It was inspired by the 911 and now has new controls, a mode switch, and the Sport Response Button. That last feature is offered with the Sport Chrono Package. Other features include Connect Plus module and optional Traffic Jam Assist, an ionizer, and a heatable windscreen.
Powertrain
The new Macan has an enhanced chassis that enhances “neutrality while maintaining stability and improving comfort.” The engine lineup will start with the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet. The 3.0-liter V-6 should be able to produce 340 horses and 339 pound-feet or 360 horsepower and 369 pound-feet.
The range-topping Macan Turbo will use the same 3.6-liter V-6 with 400 horses and 406 pound-feet. The Performance Package will increase the output to 440 horsepower and 443 pound-feet. There will be two diesel models: one with 211 horsepower and another with 258 horsepower. Both will have 428 pound-feet of torque.
3 Things You Should Know About The 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster
Though it’s about to retire, nothing could stop Porsche from fitting the current-generation 911. Spy photos of an uncovered Porsche 911 Speedster have been revealed by TopSpeed , and let’s just say, the sports car looks absolutely sexy.
Exterior
Save for its soft top, the two-seater 911 Speedster followed the styling cues of the 911 GT3, which is available in coupe only. The bumper is identical to the GT3 with its large vents on the sides and wide intake on the middle.
And just like the GT3, the rear fenders are wider, which is enough to house the middle-mounted exhaust with two pipes. The engine lid has a unique and interesting-looking spoiler, but this could change as the car nears production.
Interior
The interior of the 911 Speedster will be better than the 911 Carrera. That’s about the only info we can get from the rumors. The interior can be a cross between the standard 911 and the GT3, and it could have the standard features available for the Carrera T. These features are the Sport Seats Plus package that carries with it sportier, four-way adjustable seats with integrated headrests and contrast stitching.
When it comes to the technology available, we’re pretty sure that the 911 Speedster will be fitted with the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with online navigation and real-time traffic information, the Connect Plus module, and the Track Precision app.
Performance
The new model will most probably carry the same engine as the Carrera GTS, though this will fail to be faster because it lacks the aerodynamics. The 3.0-liter flat-six engine should give 450 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It will be paired to a seven-speed PDK transmission that will enable the Speedster to reach 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
The Speedster will cost more than the 911 GT3 because there will only be 1,948 units produced. The Speedster might cost a whopping $150,000 before options.
