Porsches are renowned for their every day usability, although it's hard to believe this is the main reason for which people buy them. However, in its most recent commercial, Porsche promotes the practical side of its 911, Cayman and Boxster sports cars.
The ad is made up of four short fragments called ‘Snowmobile’, ‘Pickup Truck’, ‘Getaway Car’ and ‘School Bus' that show a 911 Carrera 4S, a Cayman, a 911 Carrera GTS and a 911 Turbo involved in everyday activities like shopping or picking up the kids from school. As a bonus, Porsche released a fifth fragment that didn't make it to the 30-second ad, called ‘Pet Carrier’. Take a look at the videos after the jump.
The 2011 Geneva International Motorshow plays host to the world premiere of the RUF Rt 12 R. The latest supercar from the Porsche tuning specialist is based on the 911 Turbo having received a bevy of modifications including a engine kit that pushes the output of the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat six from 500HP and 650Nm (700Nm with the overboost function) to 730HP and 940Nm (693.3 lb-ft) of peak torque for a top speed in excess of 370km/h (230+ mph). A six-speed manual gearbox transfers power to the all-wheel drive system
Other upgrades include ceramic brakes, 19-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35 tires at the front and 325/30 at the back, an aero kit and an adjustable suspension. RUF also reduced the weight of the 911 Turbo through the use of exotic materials such as the carbon fiber wings, front luggage cover and bucker seats. The price of the Rt 12 R is set at €279,000 or about US$386,400 at today's exchange rates.
Technical details:
Coupé form Carbon-Fibre rear spoiler Lightweight front with carbon fibre wings Carbon fibre front luggage cover Optional carbon roof Aluminium doors with lightweight interior fittings Synthetic side and rear windows Carbon bucket seats Rollcage and crossbar integrated into the interior paneling (IRC), disc diameter 380 mm front, 350 mm rear Forged aluminium wheels with central locking nut, 9J x 19 front, 12J x 19 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, 245/35 ZR 19 front, 325/30 ZR 19 rear 6 cylinder bi-turbo boxer engine Displacement 3.8 l Maximum power 537 kW (730 bhp) at 7,000 rpm Maximum torque 940 Nm at 3,500 rpm 6 speed manual gearbox 4WD standard, rear while drive only available as option Top speed over 370 km/h Dry weight (DIN) 1,495 kg Price: 279,000.00 Euro (excl. VAT)
The new 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is Porsche's ultimate street-legal track racer and a fitting farewell to the current 911 series, codenamed 997, which will soon be replaced by an all-new model set to be unwrapped at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September.There’s a lot to like about the new GT3 RS including the fact that it is fitted with the largest engine ever to be mounted on a factory-approved 911; a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six unit that develops 500 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, 50 horses more than the standard GT3 RS. It is also the most powerful 911 naturally aspirated engine with 125 horsepower per liter. The engine carries the crankshaft from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car, while the forged pistons' connecting rods are made from titanium. The impressive output and peak torque of 460 Nm (339 lb-ft) at 5,750 rpm help the sports car achieve stunning performance, such as the Nürburgring-Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes 27 seconds, 1.7 seconds faster than the Carrera GT and 6 seconds faster than the GT3 RS. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed sports transmission with gearing designed for the circuit. Porsche says the car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and to 200 km/h (124 mph) in under 12 seconds. The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 uses motor racing suspension components and weight-saving materials such as carbon fiber for the bonnet and front wings, plastic for the rear windows, light bucket seats and even weight-optimized carpets. As a result, the car tips the scales at just 1,360 kilograms (2,998 lbs) with a full tank of fuel. The power-to-weight ratio is an amazing 2.72 kg/hp, as very few production cars drop under the threshold of 3 kilograms per horsepower. On the outside, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is finished in white as standard and comes with optional “RS 4.0” decals. It is also distinguished by the wide track and low stance, a large rear wing with adapted side plates and central twin tailpipes. The front bumper sports lateral air deflection vanes, which make their appearance for the first time on a production Porsche. They increase downforce on the front axle and in combination with the rear wing push the car onto the road with an additional 190 kg (426 lbs) of aerodynamic force at top speed. The car will launch in Germany in July 2011 with a starting price of €178,596, taxes included. In the U.S., the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 will cost $185,000 (excluding destination charges) and will go on sale in late 2011. Production will be limited to just 600 units worldwide.
While checking out the latest preview trailer for Electronic Art's [EA] limited edition racing game "Need for Speed: The Run", we noticed that among the new cars included in the special package are the Lamborghini Aventador, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S. Since we've already seen the other cars, the surprise here is the new Porsche 911 which makes a very brief appearance in the trailer at around 59 seconds into the video. EA's trailer only shows the 991's rear air vent and the headlamps. According to Electronic Art's press bit, the "Need for Speed: The Run" will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC with sales set to start in North America on November 15 and in Europe on November 19.
By taking a kitbashed GM-sourced LS1 V8 engine and slotting it into an AWD Porsche 996, LS1tech forum member “1dirtyZ” has set out to create something truly unique. Sure, it’s unconventional and perhaps a little sacrilegious...but just look at the Porsche donor car. It’s a wreck, the victim of a catastrophic engine fire. It has a ruined interior and a body that’s been damaged both by fire and rust. It would have spent the rest its days rotting away in a car wreckers yard if 1dirtyZ had not rescued it. And even though this confabulation of All-American grunt and German precision engineering is not yet finished (it doesn’t have a rear bumper, for one), it certainly runs and can even be driven around a dirt race track. You can check out our gallery of in-progress images below and a handful of videos showing the V8-powered Porsche 911 running. All it needs now is a name. Wheels dubbed the R35 Nissan GT-R Godzilla so should we maybe call this science-project-gone-wrong “Cloverfield”? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
