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As a pilot of historic racecars, Hans Herrmann still takes part in many vintage car events for the Porsche Museum.
Stuttgart. Hans Herrmann, one of the most successful and best known works racing drivers at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, will celebrate his 85th birthday on 23 February 2013. Born in Stuttgart in 1928, this long-distance specialist was considered one of the most successful and dependable racing drivers of his era.
His motorsports career lasted from 1952 to 1970, during which Hans Herrmann won over 80 overall and class victories.
Hans Herrmann 1961 test driving the Porsche 787 in Hockenheim.
Hans Herrmann started his racing career in early 1952, piloting a privately-owned Porsche 356 1500 in mountain races, rallies, and endurance races. A year later he and Richard von Frankenberg took overall fifth place in the Lyon-Charbonnieres rally.
Porsche works driver Hans Herrmann turns 85.
Porsche racing chief Huschke von Hanstein thereupon hired him for the Porsche Works team. Herrmann drove the 550 Spyder at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, and together with Helmut Glöckler came in first in the 1.5 litre displacement category right off the bat.
Sebring 1956: Hans Herrmann with Porsche Typ 550 Spyder.
In 1953, at the age of 26 Herrmann won the title of German Sportscar Champion and got the attention of legendary Mercedes-Benz racing chief Alfred Neubauer, who hired him for his works team. Hans Herrmann piloted the Mercedes W 196 Silver Arrow in the premier category of motorsports, teaming with top drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling. Parallel to that, in 1954 he continued to drive for Porsche in the smaller displacement categories. In the 550 Spyder he won widely noted class victories in the Mille Miglia and Carrera Panamericana.
1.000 km Nürburgring, Porsche 718 RSK: Porsche employee Huschke von Hanstein in conversation with Hans Herrmann, 1959.
When Daimler-Benz pulled out of racing in 1955, Herrmann went on to drive Formula 1 races for Maserati and BRM, as well as other races as a Borgward works driver. In 1957 he became European Vice “Bergmeister” – Mountan Champion – before returning to the Porsche works team in 1959. Together with Joakim Bonnier, in 1960 Herrmann took the overall victory at the Targa Florio in a Porsche 718 RS60 Spyder, and the Formula 2 championship in a Porsche 718/2. He also won the 12 Hours of Sebring with Olivier Gendebien. In 1963 he left Porsche KG and joined Carlo Abarth’s racing team.
Hans Herrmann 1970 at 1.000 km Nürburgring with Porsche 908/03 Spyder.
In 1966 Herrmann returned to the Porsche works team, not only driving in all the major long-distance races and European Mountain Championship races, but also doing countless test drives in Weissach. With pilots Hans Herrmann, Jo Siffert, Vic Elford and Rolf Stommelen, in 1969 the team took the World Sports Prototype Championship for the first time. In 1970, at his eleventh Le Mans race Herrmann capped off his career with a bang, winning the first overall victory for Zuffenhausen in a Porsche 917 KH.
He took this motorsports achievement as a suitable time to retire from active racing, after 42 years on the track. Since then Hans Herrmann has lived with his wife Magdalena near Stuttgart, successfully operating his company “Hans Herrmann Autotechnik.” As a pilot of historic racecars, he also takes part in many vintage car events for the Porsche Museum.
Major Porsche racing victories by Hans Herrmann
1952 ADAC-Deutschlandfahrt 356 1st place (class)
1953 24 Hours of Le Mans 550 Spyder 1st place (class)
1953 Grand Prix Germany, Nürburgring 550 Spyder 1st place (class)
1954 Mille Miglia 550 Spyder 1st place (class)
1954 Carrera Panamericana 550 Spyder 1st place (class)
1956 12 Hours of Sebring 550 A Spyder 1st place (class)
1956 Grand Prix Germany, Nürburgring 550 Spyder 1st place (class)
1960 Targa Florio 718 RS 60 1st place (overall)
1960 12 Hours of Sebring 718 RS 60 1st place (overall)
1966 Grand Prix Zeltweg 906 Carrera 6 1st place (overall)
1967 1000 km of Spa 910 2nd place (overall)
1968 24 Hours of Daytona 907 1st place (overall)
1968 1000 km of Nürburgring 907 2nd place (overall)
1968 12 Hours of Sebring 907 1st place (overall)
1968 1000 km of Paris 908 1st place (overall)
1969 1000 km of Nürburgring 908 2nd place (overall)
1969 24 Hours of Le Mans 908 2nd place (overall)
1969 1000 km of Monza 908 2nd place (overall)
1970 1000 km of Nürburgring 917 2nd place (overall)
1970 24 Hours of Le Mans 917 1st place (overall)
Just an ordinary picture to tickle our cheekbones……
Note..auto journalist Georg Kacher in the light blue
Amazing image of the assembly workshop of Porsche 918 Spyder prototypes. It shows nine.
For those who follow 918 Spyder, each news is very good. An image of the assembly workshop prototype 918 Spyder . Obviously, they are not all there, but still counted nine 918 prototypes. Some are equipped with supplied “Martini“, others recover 917 sets of prototypes involved in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the past.
The place where all the 918 prototypes are…..
Power up: the Porsche 918 Spyder
The future is an exciting place, and here’s one of the people bringing it closer. Meet Dr Frank Walliser, who takes us behind the development of one of Porsche’s most thrilling leaps in innovation, the Porsche 918 Spyder.
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The final series of the 918 Spyder will be presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 when the first deliveries are scheduled for the end of next year.
Stuttgart. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most successful race car in the world. Since 1998, 2,395 units of the near standard vehicle for customer sport were produced.
The new edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsports version of the future 911 GT3 and as such is the first race car that is based on the seventh generation of the sports car icon from Zuffenhausen.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
The 911 GT3 Cup will be run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013.
The car for one-make racing made its debut on the occasion of the end of motorsport season “Night of Champions” celebration at the R&D Centre in Weissach.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre six-cylinder flat engine. It generates 460 hp (338 kW) at 7,500 revs, surpassing the predecessor by 10 hp.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
A six-speed dog-type gearbox developed by Porsche Motorsport which is operated via shift paddles at the steering wheel for the first time in a Porsche brand trophy race car transmits the power to the rear axle.
The single piece race wheels with centre mount were also newly designed by Porsche Motorsport.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres.
A newly developed race braking system further improves the excellent endurance qualities compared to its successful predecessor. The 380 millimetre slotted and inner-vented steel brake rotors at the front axle are decelerated by six-piston aluminium fixed callipers. The rear axle features a four-piston version.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
During the development of the new car a particular emphasis was put on the driver safety. A newly designed safety cage protects the pilot in case of a roll or a collision as does a newly developed race seat which is distinctively shaped around the head and shoulders and can be adjusted individually with the help of padding. A rescue hatch in the roof provides easy access for primary medical attention and for the extrication of the driver.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
“The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit,” says Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard, who was significantly involved in the development of the new vehicle.
“The car is excellently balanced. The new axle geometry is enormously positive for the handling. Apart from that the new Cup 911 is great fun to drive.”
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Like its predecessor the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on the same assembly line as the road legal models.
At the Motorsport Centre in Weissach it receives a general set-up for the circuit and is tested by a professional race driver before delivery to the customers. The basic price for the vehicle, which is available exclusively in white, is 181,200 Euro plus the country-specific value added tax.
Porsche Design unveils the luxury brand’s first women’s handbag
One Design, Different Style: the TwinBag
Stuttgart. Porsche Design is set to launch the TwinBag, its first women’s handbag, for the Spring/Summer 2013 season. Distinguished by a very innovative carrying concept, the new handbag will be available in all Porsche Design stores around the world and in the luxury brand’s official online store from March 2013. The launch of the TwinBag rounds off Porsche Design’s fashion and lifestyle range for women.
Sketch Porsche Design TwinBag
Porsche Design is revolutionising women’s handbags with a puristic new design and a novel carrying concept. The TwinBag combines simple elegance with timeless beauty. The main highlight is the clever carrying concept: adjustable handles allow the Porsche Design TwinBag to be worn as either a handbag or a shoulder bag.
Porsche Design meets Made in Italy
Each TwinBag is produced in the Italian city of Florence, by dedicated and experienced hands and benefiting from knowledge passed down through generations. The selection of materials is also typical of Porsche Design. The luxury brand’s handbags are made exclusively from the finest vegetable-tanned leather and enhanced with timeless high-quality metal fittings.
Porsche Design TwinBag
The Porsche Design TwinBag will be available all over the world from March 2013 in all Porsche Design stores and in the luxury brand’s official online store.
Sketch Porsche Design TwinBag
Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a particular focus on technically inspired products. The brand was founded in 1972 by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, whose products have stood for functional, timeless and purist design ever since. The products are designed in the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria and sold around the world in the company’s own stores, shop-in-shops, high end department stores, exclusive specialist retailers as well as the official online shop (www.porsche-design.com/shop).
Le Mans 1987: Roland Kussmaul, 961-race driver Kees Nierop and Peter Falk (from left to right)
Stuttgart. Former Porsche engineer and race manager Peter Falk will be marking his 80th birthday on 27 November 2012. Peter Falk was a Porsche AG employee for more than three decades.
Not only did he play a vital role in the development of many legendary sports and racing cars such as the Porsche 917, as racing director he was also primarily responsible for the greatest successes of the Porsche 956/962 in the Group C Sports Car category.
In 1959 Peter Falk began his career with Porsche as a young road testing engineer in the vehicle testing department. There he not only played a crucial role in the development of the original 911, he was also behind the wheel for the first race of the brand-new Porsche 911, taking a very respectable fifth overall at the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally with co-driver Herbert Linge.
In the following years, many race car types from the 906 all the way to the 917 were designed under his responsibility as the head of pre-series and race car development with which Porsche established itself among the leaders in international motor racing.
Rallye Monte-Carlo, 1965: Porsche Race Driver Herbert Linge (right) and Peter Falk (left) with the Porsche 911 2.0 Coupé.
From 1973 to 1981 Peter Falk was the head of road testing for series development of the 911, 924 and 928 models. His special areas of expertise were bodywork and transmissions as well as track testing and endurance tests.
As the head of racing development and racing director, starting in 1982 Peter Falk was responsible for the highly successful era of Group C 956 and 962 sports-prototype racing cars. With seven overall Le Mans wins and eleven world championship titles, this racing car project proved to be the most successful in company history. Two overall victories at the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984 and 1986 were additional high points in his career.
Peter Falk, 1968.
As the head of chassis development, from 1989 until his retirement in 1993 Peter Falk was responsible for many successful vehicle projects. He thus had a key role in the development of the 911 derivative 993 as well as advance development of the 911 derivative 996 and Porsche Boxster. Peter Falk also remained very active in the motoring world after his retirement. In addition to his work as a participant in and organizer of classic car rallies, Peter Falk is high in demand as an interview partner on automotive topics.
The world’s first black timepiece, and at the same time luxury brand Porsche Design’s first product: The “Chronoprapgh I”.
40 Years of Porsche Design
Stuttgart. The world’s first black timepiece, the legendary exclusive spectacles and the Porsche 911 – for decades, all these products have stood for a unique design by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche: In 1972 he founded the “Porsche Design Studio” in Stuttgart, the head office of which was relocated to Zell am See in Austria in 1974.
Starting today, the Porsche Museum is marking the company’s 40th anniversary with a special exhibition: from 13 November 2012 to 17 February 2013, visitors can experience the most important, most interesting and most extraordinary products as well as how Porsche Design came to exist.
40 Years of Porsche Design
The focus of the anniversary exhibition is on the “Porsche Design” brand, which in recent years has been developed into one of the world’s leading luxury brands with its own sales network. F.A. Porsche designed numerous classic men’s accessories such as watches, spectacles and writing implements, which achieved worldwide recognition under the “Porsche Design” brand. In parallel, with his team, he designed a plethora of industrial products, household appliances and consumer durables for internationally renowned clients under the “Design by F.A. Porsche” brand. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche won numerous honours and awards for his work as a designer.
40 Years of Porsche Design
For example, the “Chronograph I”, a milestone in the watchmaker’s craft, is a compulsory exhibition piece. The world’s first black timepiece, and at the same time luxury brand Porsche Design’s first product, created a furore in 1972 because the automatic chronograph – considered unthinkable at the time – was designed in matt black throughout and provocatively unadorned. With this chronometer, F.A. Porsche was anticipating a trend that is part and parcel of today’s watch industry and even then was considered to be revolutionary. In addition to the chronograph, the visitor will also be presented with other products from the accessories and spectacles range. For example the Porsche Design P’8478 exclusive spectacles will be on display, already purchased by more than 7 million wearers. Writing implements and pipes will also feature in the exhibition.
The adjustable “Antropovarius” lounge chair is also on display as the “Alternative Motorcycle Concept”, AMK.
A highlight of the special exhibition is the grand piano, which the Porsche Design Studio designed for the Bösendorfer piano factory in 2003. This grand piano symbolises the studio’s design output, characterised by a clear, functional design language, meticulous choice of materials and top quality workmanship. The adjustable “Antropovarius” lounge chair developed by the Porsche Design Studio in 1982 in collaboration with the Institute of Ergonomics of the University of Munich will also be on display as will the “Alternative Motorcycle Concept”, AMK, devised in 1980 as an alternative solution to the car and to conventional motorcycles.
The Porsche Museum is marking the company’s 40th anniversary with a special exhibition from 13 November 2012 to 17 February 2013.
In addition to a selection of special design developments, the visitor will also gain an insight into the everyday creative life of Porsche Design’s employees. This is where those who are interested will discover not just the individual steps in creating the product – from conceiving the idea through to design – but also the sources of inspiration. For example, in the case of the pipe, it is explained that when it came to the cooling ribs, F.A. Porsche took his lead from air-cooled single cylinder motorcycle engines. The Porsche museum also looks back at the life’s work and man that was F.A. Porsche, who created legendary cars such as the 904 Carrera GTS and Porsche 911. In the process the visitor will find out things such as why in 1974 F.A. Porsche decided to locate the Design Studio in Zell am See.
At 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, the visitor has the opportunity to experience the special exhibition in the course of a one hour themed tour.
The Porsche Museum is using the anniversary exhibition as an opportunity to extend its tour programme. At 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, the visitor has the opportunity to experience the special exhibition in the course of a one hour themed tour at a price of four euro per person. The Store at the Porsche Centre in Stuttgart Zuffenhausen also offers a ten per cent discount on Porsche Design products upon presentation of the museum entrance ticket.
The volume “Porsche Design 40Y – The Book” is also being published in time for the anniversary, available in both German and English for 98 euro in the Porsche Museum shop as well as in book stores. In the course of more than 570 pages, the reader is acquainted with an insight into the history of Porsche Design.
The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is eight euro for adults and four euro for concessions. Further information is available on the Internet at http://www.porsche.com/museum.
Dennis van de Laar, Connor de Phillippi, Levin Amweg, Alex Riberas Bou, Jeffrey Schmidt, Pieter Schotthorst (l. – r.), Porsche Junior Programme, Vallelunga
Press Release29/10/2012
Porsche Junior Programme …… Stay tuned for more updates from this post.
Six finalists at evaluation drive in Vallelunga
Porsche Motorsport International Scholarship
Latest video from the shootout on the Porsche press database
Stuttgart. A video from the Porsche Motorsport International Scholarship on the Autodromo di Vallelunga, which is contested today
Porsche Junior Programme
Fifth video from the final of the process on the Porsche press database
A further video from the final of the Porsche Junior process on the Autodromo di Vallelunga, which is contested on Monday and Tuesday
Porsche Junior Programme
Fourth video from the final of the process on the Porsche press database
A further video from the final of the Porsche Junior process on the Autodromo di Vallelunga, which is contested on Monday and Tuesday (10/29 & 10/30)
Stuttgart. Six young pilots aged from 18 to 20 years will front each other to determine who receives intensive support in the 2013 season as a Porsche Junior in the Carrera Cup Deutschland.
Dennis van de Laar, Pieter Schothorst, Jeffrey Schmidt, Alex Riberas Bou, Levin Amweg, Connor de Phillippi, Porsche Junior Programme, Vallelunga
Porsche Junior Programme
Third video from the final of the process on the Porsche press database
Stuttgart. A further video from the final of the Porsche Junior process on the Autodromo di Vallelunga, which is contested on Monday and Tuesday
At the finale of the international youth selection process, two Swiss drivers Levin Amweg (18) and Jeffrey Schmidt (18), two Dutchmen Dennis van de Laar (18) and Pieter Schothorst (20), a Spaniard Alex Riberas Bou (18) as well as American Connor de Philippi (19) will undertake a comprehensive test programme this Monday and Tuesday in Vallelunga (Italy) with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Porsche Junior Programme – 6 Finalisten – 6 Finalists
Stuttgart. A video from the final of the Porsche Junior process on the Autodromo di Vallelunga, which is contested on Monday and Tuesday,
In the lead-up, the six finalists had come out on top in an extensive selection process against young talents from around the world. Factors taken into account were fitness, mental strength, demeanour and technical understanding.
Pieter Schothorst, Dennis van de Laar, Levin Amweg, Connor de Phillippi, Alex Riberas Bou, Jeffrey Schmidt, Porsche Junior Programme, Vallelunga
Now working alongside engineers on the track, the junior drivers, all of whom were successful in various national and international formula race series, will be tested for consistent times over a race distance as well as in simulated qualifying laps. Moreover, candidates must demonstrate their skill in handling the media with television interviews and photo shoots.
Porsche Junior Programme 2013 – Second video from the final of the process
Stuttgart. A further video from the final of the Porsche Junior process on the Autodromo di Vallelunga, which is contested on Monday and Tuesday.
In the weeks following the selection process, two pilots will be chosen after careful analysis of all data and given support in their 2013 Carrera Cup Deutschland campaign as Porsche juniors. Porsche provides a large part of the season’s budget. The junior pilots choose their own race team based on a defined set of criteria from Porsche Motorsport
Dennis van de Laar, Levin Amweg, Pieter Schothorst, Connor de Phillippi, Jeffrey Schmidt, Alex Riberas Bou, PorscheJunior Programme, Vallelunga
Aside from financial funding as well as support from an experienced coach who accompanies the two drivers on and off the race track, the Porsche juniors receive assistance similar to the internationally successful Porsche factory pilots.
Fitness tests with constantly adapted training plans as well as media coaching, technical seminars and sponsor obligations are also part of the programme. In the 2012 season, both Porsche juniors Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Klaus Bachler (Austria) started the programme which initially runs for four years.
Porsche has intensively supported talented youngsters in motorsport since 1997. T
Stuttgart. With the artistically designed wall calendar “Mega City”, Porsche offers twelve good reasons to look forward to the future now.
Form, colour and technology combine in the official Porsche Calendar 2013 to create a unique symbiosis, promising unusual Porsche moments throughout the year.
Porsche Calendar: Mega City 2013
Month for month, the multiple award-winning Porsche Calendar 2013 in the format 59 times 55.5 centimetres guarantees an exciting year. “Mega City” displays the full sporting spectrum of the Porsche range – in a completely unexpected setting. Rather than design graphics, this year’s Porsche Calendar features striking perspectives based on realistically photographed vehicles, shown against a futuristic Mega City backdrop.
Porsche Calendar: May 2013
Contrasts in harmony: the colours of the automobiles are reflected in the tones of their surroundings, creating a harmonious whole.
Porsche Calendar: June 2013
There is also an overview page presenting all the calendar motifs, together with information on the individual vehicles.
Porsche Calendar: January 2013
This year, too, the official Porsche Calendar comes with an exclusive, 40 millimetre diameter collector’s medal showing the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (Type 991) on the front and the calendar motto with the number of the year, 2013, on the reverse side.
The official Porsche Calendar with the medal costs 39 Euro and is available as of now in Porsche Centres worldwide, and on the Internet at http://www.porsche.com/shop.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Team Felbermayr-Proton: Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti
Stuttgart. The World Endurance Championship showcases the world’s fastest sports cars in the Gulf region on 29 September. At round six of the new long distance championship in Bahrain, the Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) und Richard Lietz (Austria) are keen to score their second win of the season with their Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Team Felbermayr-Proton: Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda, Paolo Ruberti
More reports from qualifying and the race over the course of the weekend.
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Porsche pilots set sights on second win of season
The race
The six hour race is contested on the Bahrain International Circuit close to Sakhir. On the 5.407 kilometre track, two Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup races are held each year as support to the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Porsche drivers
Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz, the winners of the race in Spa-Francorchamps, share the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the hotly-contested GTE Pro class against strong opposition from Ferrari and Aston Martin. Christian Ried (Germany) and his Italian teammates Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti, the winners of the season-opener in Sebring, contest the GTE Am class the 2011 model year Porsche fielded by Felbermayr-Proton.
The vehicle
The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is the top model of Porsche Motorsport’s customer racing vehicles. For the 2012 racing season, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR received extensive modifications. Additionally, the race car was fitted with a new front splitter and an adapted rear wing after Le Mans.
The schedule
The six hour race starts on Saturday, 29 September, at 16.00 hrs local time (17.00 CEST). Eurosport 1 shows highlights on 2 October at 00.15 hrs.
Quotes before the race
Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport: “Motorsport fans in Bahrain already know and love the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. At the World Endurance Championship, we are now looking forward to showing them some racing action with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – our top model of customer racing vehicles – and to win them over with its performance.”
Marc Lieb: “The track is very flowing and huge fun. The decisive factor will be how well we can set-up the car for the track and the very high temperatures. Our performance in Sao Paulo was very good in the second half of the race. In Bahrain we now have to try to maintain that pace over the entire distance.”
Richard Lietz: “I competed on this circuit in 2006 with the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. It suits our car very well. In the many fast corners our aerodynamics could turn out to be a decisive advantage. I think we have the speed to win. Our minimum goal is to finish on the podium.”
The World Endurance Championship
Sports prototypes and GT vehicles race in four different classes in the World Endurance Championship: LMGTE Pro, LMGTE Am, LMP1 and the LMP2. They start together but are classified separately.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Team Felbermayr-Proton: Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz
Richard Lietz, Team Felbermayr-ProtonChristian Ried, Team Felbermayr-Proton
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Team JWA-Avila: Paul Daniels, Joel Camathias, Markus Palttala
Porsche 918 Spyder-Prototyp auf der Nürburgring-Nordschleife
One year before its production launch, the plug-in hybrid super sports car from Porsche AG is already proving its superlative dynamic performance potential far surpassing all expectations placed in it. Dr. Frank Walliser, overall project leader for the 918 Spyder:
“By turning in a fabulous time of 07:14 minutes, the 918 Spyder prototype has already fully confirmed the viability of its future concept after just a few months on the road.”
Dr. Frank Walliser, Gesamtprojektleiter 918 Spyder
The lap time of the Porsche 918 Spyder prototype is one of the best ever clocked for street-legal vehicles with standard production tyres.
Porsche 918 Spyder-Prototyp auf der Nürburgring-Nordschleife
The course was only available to the development team from Weissach for one lap, and it had to be started from a standstill.
Porsche 918 Spyder-Prototyp auf der Nürburgring-Nordschleife
The plug-in hybrid super sports car with over 795 hp was equipped with production tyres from development partner Michelin as well as the optional “Weissach” package, which integrates modifications that boost driving performance.
Porsche 918 Spyder-Prototyp auf der Nürburgring-Nordschleife
It’s the little things that make a classic complete. Porsche crests for the Porsche 356 and the early 911, of course, “Made in Germany”.
An essential and much-loved detail of the Porsche 356 and the early Porsche 911 is now available again. Following extensive research, the experts at Porsche Classic have reproduced the original Porsche crest.
The Evolution of Porsche Crest
The relaunched crest is true to the colours and materials of the original and is, of course, “Made in Germany”. The new Porsche Crests are available for the front hood handle of all Porsche 356 (model year 1954 – 1965) and for the hood of the early 911 models (model year 1963 – 1973). As of August 2012, you can order them via your local Porsche centre.
1. Production of the special tool: engraving
Still in the Classic product range are the 911 Porsche Crests for the model years 1974 – 1998.
Such an unmistakeable and sought-after symbol has naturally had a very colourful and sometimes unusual history and been copied many times.
2. Stamping of the blanks
To eliminate all doubt, the experts at Porsche Classic delved deep into the history of the crest, which was first suggested as a quality seal for the Type 356 at a meeting between Ferry Porsche and US importer Max Hoffman back in 1952.
3. Brazing of the fixing pins
In the same year, advertising manager Herrmann Lapper and designer Franz Xaver Reimspieß produced a preliminary design that is still used to this day with just a few minor differences in detail. Reimspieß, who is also said to have designed the Volkswagen logo in 1936, sketched a magnificent crest that symbolised the roots of the company as well as the dynamism and quality of its products.
4. Polishing of the crests
At the centre of the golden shield, the horse of the official coat of arms of Stuttgart is depicted along with the name of the city. The composition is surrounded by the red and black state colours and the stylised antlers from the crest of Württemberg-Hohenzollern. The all-encompassing Porsche logo acts as a protective “roof” over all the design elements.
5. Silver and gold plating of the crests
In contrast to the current crest, the Porsche logo on the original crest was only embossed and was not black. In addition, the red elements of the crest were actually more orange in colour to reflect the Württemberg-Hohenzollern state colours.
6. Application of the enamel coating
The Classic experts charged with reproducing the crest went a lot further than merely ensuring that the colours were true to the original. The crest is being produced using special tools based on original drawings. The silver and gold plating is being applied using the same technique as the original and the colour and enamelling are being meticulously applied by hand.
7. Quality check of the final crest
The new “old” crest has also had to undergo the same quality tests as the original. This involved the simulation of a stone impact test using a ballistic firing range at the Research and Development Centre in Weissach. The crest also spent 240 hours in the salt spray chamber.
The Porsche crest passed these challenging tests with flying colours, thus proving its credentials as a genuine quality product, 100 per cent made in Germany.
The Evolution of Porsche Crest
This symbol, steeped in history, signals a continued long life for classic Porsche models.
Paraphrasing from “Excellence was Expected”:
The design was created by Ferry Porsche (on the proverbial napkin sketch) at the request of Max Hoffman, and refined/finalized by Erwin Komeda. The emblem first appeared on the steering wheel hubs of Porsches in 1953.
Prototype Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini Racing design
New edition of a successful partnership
918 Spyder prototype in attractive Martini Racing design
July 31st, 2012 Press Release
Stuttgart. Driving trials of the Porsche 918 Spyder are entering the next phase. A permanent fixture of the test programme for the 918 Spyder – and in the tuning process for all Porsche vehicles – is the 20.8 km long challenging Nürburgring-Nordschleife race circuit. After all, a lap time of less than seven minutes and 22 seconds is one of the development goals of the innovative super sports car with a plug-in hybrid drive.
Prototype Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini Racing design
The 918 Spyder combines a high-performance internal combustion engine with electric drives at the rear and front axles to achieve extraordinary driving performance and excellent efficiency. The system power of all three drives together is 770 hp. The car’s NEDC fuel consumption is forecast to be only around three litres per 100 km, which is equivalent to CO2 emissions of about 70 g/km.
Prototype Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini Racing design
The monocoque, consisting of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), reduces the car’s weight and delivers remarkable rigidity and precision. Other highlights are the car’s fully variable aerodynamics, adaptive rear axle steering and “top pipes” exhaust system which routes the pipes upwards. All of this makes the Porsche 918 Spyder a super sports car for the future, even though the styling of the prototypes is reminiscent of historical models.
Prototype Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini Racing design
The latest test vehicle is now turning laps in the legendary Martini® Racing look of many historic Porsche race cars, particularly from the 1970s. More than nearly any other race car design, the Martini® Racing look quickly attained cult status in those times and is still in vogue today. Martini® was already the official partner of the Porsche factory team between 1973 and 1978.
Back then, the attractively designed “Martini® Porsche” race cars with their numerous victories were a centre of conversation. These victories included finishing first overall at Targa-Florio in 1973, winning the Sports Car World Championship in 1976 and overall victories at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1976 and 1977.
Porsche Typ 917 Kurzheck (“Short Tail”) Coupé (1971)
As early as 1971, a Porsche 917 finished first in the legendary endurance race in Le Mans with the support of Martini®. Whether a Porsche 908, 917, 935 or 936 or one of various 911 RS or RSR models, common to all of these race cars was the memorable Martini® Racing design implemented in a wide variety of forms.
Now, a new edition of this successful partnership is making the Martini® Racing design exclusively available to the innovative 918 Spyder. Porsche AG and the Martini® brand, represented by Bacardi & Company Limited of Switzerland, have once again signed a partnership agreement to make this possible.
Drivetrain: Parallel full hybrid; 4.6-litre V8 mid-engine with drysump
lubrication; hybrid module with electric motor and
decoupler; electric motor with decoupler and gear unit
on front axle; electrical system recuperation; four
cooling circuits for motors, transmission and battery;
thermal management.
Engine Power: > 570 hp (V8 engine)
~ 90 kW (hybrid module on rear axle)
~ 80 kW (electric motor on front axle)
> 770 hp (combined)
Suspension: Double-wishbone front axle; electro-mechanical power
steering; multi-link rear axle with adaptive electromechanical
system for individual rear wheel steering;
optional electro-pneumatic lift system on front axle.
Brake system: High-performance hybrid brake system with adaptive
recuperation; ceramic brake discs (PCCB).
Energy supply: Lithium-ion battery with 6.8 kWh capacity (BOL
nominal), 202 kW maximum power and mainscompatible
plug-in charger.
Performance: Top speed > 325 km/h
purely electric > 150 km/h Acceleration: 0 – 100 km/h < 3.0 s
Consumption (NEDC): Total ~ 3.0 l/100 km CO2 emissions: Total ~ 70 g/km Range: Purely electric > 25 km * Provisional specifications
Podium LM GTE Am (l.-r.): Franck Rava, Anthony Pons, Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo (IMSA Performance Matmut) Pedro Lamy, Jack Leconte, Patrick Bornhauser, Julien Canal (Larbre Competition) Niclas Jonsson, Michele Rugolo, Tracy Krohn (Krohn Racing)
Stuttgart. Less than four minutes were missing for Porsche to clinch its 99th class win at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, IMSA Performance Matmut, Nicolas Armindo, Raymond Narac, Anthony Pons[slideshow]
With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the IMSA Performance Matmut team, Frenchman Nicolas Armindo, Raymond Narac and Anthony Pons had led the field just a few laps before the flag dropped on the 80th running of the long distance classic in the Sarthe. But in the final minutes, tyre damage robbed the 2011-spec 911 of all hopes for victory. Nevertheless, the joy over second place was huge for the French Porsche customer team.
IMSA Performance Matmut (l.-r.): Anthony Pons, Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo
“For our team and partners, Le Mans is the most important race of the year,” said team owner Raymond Narac.
“To have finished second with such a great team effort is a success that we will all savour for a long time. Thank you also to Porsche for the unbelievable support.” Nicolas Armindo said, “We focused all our work on this race. Achieving class victory at the dress rehearsal in Spa was wonderful, but it’s nothing compared to the feeling of climbing the podium here in Le Mans.”
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, IMSA Performance Matmut: Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo, Anthony Pons
In the GTE Pro class the race was over during the night for the two Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports and Felbermayr-Proton.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports: Spencer Pumpelly, Patrick Pilet, Seth Neiman (79) – Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Marco Holzer (80)
Porsche works driver Patrick Long (USA), who shared the Flying Lizard 911 with his German works driver colleagues Joerg Bergmeister and Marco Holzer, slid on gravel, which another vehicle had just spread on the track in the first chicane, hit the stack of tyres and retired after 114 laps.
“I didn’t have a chance to bring the car safely back to the pits,” he said. It was not the first problem that the number 80 vehicle had to contend with in Le Mans. In the first race lap, a broken shock absorber cost several positions, and later tyre damage caused even more time loss. “The race wasn’t going well for us right from the start,” said Joerg Bergmeister.
“Still, we kept fighting. You never give up in Le Mans, a lot can happen here right to the end. It’s just a shame we couldn’t finish the race.”
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports: Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Marco Holzer
The unexpected early retirement of the Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GTE Pro class came after 184 laps when Marc Lieb (Germany) came to a standstill on the infamous Hunaudières straight with gearbox damage.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Team Felbermayr-Proton: Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Wolf Henzler
“I wanted to shift up but couldn’t get any gears in,” said Marc Lieb, who at the time was running in fourth place with his works driver colleagues Richard Lietz (Austria) and Wolf Henzler (Germany). The trio had won in Le Mans in 2010.
“It’s such a shame we couldn’t take home points, especially at this race. Up until our retirement we were running really well. We experienced a few hiccups along the way, but mostly things were good. A podium result would have been possible.”
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Team Felbermayr-Proton: Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Wolf Henzler
In the GTE Am class, Porsche had another iron in the fire for 17 hours with last year’s 911 run by Felbermayr-Proton. Team owner Christian Ried (Germany) and his Italian teammates Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti, class winners of the season-opening round in Sebring, were running a promising fourth in the race.
But after 222 laps, the Porsche Cup winner Gianluca Roda had to park the 911 trackside without any drive.
However, Porsche works driver, Patrick Pilet (France) and Americans Seth Neiman and Spencer Pumpelly secured fourth place with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports.
Taking up the race as pole-sitters in their class, they could defend their top position in the early phase of the race, only to be temporarily thrown out of the top ten after a journey into the gravel.
“First and foremost, thank you to all the teams and drivers for their superb effort,” said Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “Regardless of the result, we must analyse the race so that we can talk to the authorities of the WEC about a more balanced grading of our cars in the GTE Pro class for the second half of the season.
We will also immediately begin preparations for the next races with the teams, as the championship classification is still open. We look forward with optimism.”
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Round four of the World Endurance Championship is run on 26 August in Silverstone/Great Britain.
Result
GTE Am class
1. Bornhauser/Canal/Lamy (F/F/P), Chevrolet Corvette, 329 laps
2. Armindo/Narac/Pons (F/F/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 328
3. Krohn/Jonsson/Rugola (USA/S/I), Ferrari F458 Italia, 323
4. Pilet/Neiman/Pumpelly (F/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 313
5. Belloc/Bourret/Gibon (F/F/F), Chevrolet Corvette, 309
8. Daniels/Palttala/Camathias (GB/SF/CH), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 290
This is the World Endurance Championship
Sports prototypes and GT vehicles contest the World Endurance Championship, for which double points are awarded in Le Mans. They are divided into four classes that start together but are classified separately:
LMGTE Pro class: This class is reserved for slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
LMGTE Am class: Like the LMGTE Pro, but the regulations stipulate that only last year’s cars are eligible and there must be no more than one professional driver per vehicle.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 440 hp and a 900 kilogram minimum weight.
SOURCE: Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, IMSA Performance Matmut: Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo, Anthony Pons
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, IMSA Performance Matmut, Nicolas Armindo, Raymond Narac, Anthony Pons
Podium LM GTE Am (l.-r.): Franck Rava, Anthony Pons, Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo (IMSA Performance Matmut) Pedro Lamy, Jack Leconte, Patrick Bornhauser, Julien Canal (Larbre Competition) Niclas Jonsson, Michele Rugolo, Tracy Krohn (Krohn Racing)
IMSA Performance Matmut (l.-r.): Anthony Pons, Raymond Narac, Nicolas Armindo
“993” was the company’s internal name for the version of the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between late 1993 and 1998. This was the final model of the air-cooled engine cars which are regarded by many as the last “real” Porsches.
Like the previous and current generation of the Porsche 911, there were several variants of the car manufactured, varying in body style, drive-trains, and technical specification. The ultimate model within the range has always been the GT2.
The GT2 is the racing version of the 911 model range. By the mid-1990s most of the sanctioning bodies of road racing had placed severe limitations, if not outright bans on the use of all-wheel drive systems. It was in this atmosphere that in order to take their turbo-engine 993 racing.
Porsche created the RWD-only GT2. The deletion of the front drive-train also brought with it the benefit of significant weight savings to the competition car.
To qualify the car for racing a limited number (57 in total) of street GT2s were created for homologation purposes, which are now highly prized and valued by Porsche 993 collectors.
The car is one of only 20 GT2 Club Sports ever produced; supplied new in Germany On the 8th March 1996 to Gernot Haverkamp of Delmenhorst.
From Porsche AG that # S392148 is the only GT2 ever produced in Blood Orange!
Accompanying the car is:
– Factory Build Specification Sheet
– Original Handbook Pack
– Original Fahrzeugbrief
– Varies Service and Maintenance Invoices dating back to 1996
– Historical UK MOT’s and tax discs
– Immobiliser and spare keys
Hexagon Classics offer a unique opportunity to own one of the only 20 road going Club Sport derivative of the 993 GT2; with only 28,236 miles from new this is without doubt is one of the finest and most highly collectable 911’s of all time.
POA
There’s no estimated pricing listed on the website, but if you’re interested hit the source link.[Source: Hexagon Classics]
A variety of small exhibits from Porsche Clubs worldwide.
The Porsche Museum is presenting today, “60 Years of Porsche clubs”
This Porsche 911 Carrera S was brought out in a limited edition of 50 units exclusively for American Club members.
Stuttgart. The Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, museum is presenting a new anniversary exhibition: In 1952, 13 Porsche drivers founded the world’s first Porsche Clubs in Germany. The Porsche Club scene now numbers more than 181,000 members worldwide.
One highlight of the special exhibition is the Porsche 914/6 GT from 1970.
The special exhibition displays rare Porsche models like the 914/6 GT or the 968 Turbo S.
To mark this 60th club anniversary, the Porsche Museum is putting on a special exhibition until 26 August 2012 featuring, in addition to twelve vehicle exhibits, very rare photographs, personal documents and small exhibits from club members.
Exclusively to Porsche Club members: Porsche is offering the 911 Club Coupe, limited to only 13 units.
The sports car manufacturer is also using the anniversary as an opportunity to thank club members for their steadfast loyalty over the decades and their deep commitment: Based on the 911 Carrera S, Porsche is offering the 911 Club Coupe, limited to only 13 units.
This special “911”, available exclusively to Porsche Club members, will make its debut appearance in the Porsche Museum.
With an extensive optional equipment offering and the newly developed Powerkit upgrade to 430 hp (316 kW), the SportDesign package and the lavishly refined interior, Porsche Excusive is exploiting every angle of the extensive individualisation offering to the utmost. The 911 Club Coupe is painted “Brewster Green” as are the 20-inch SportTechno wheels.
The exclusivity of the 911 Club Coupe is underlined by the illuminated door entry guards bearing the model designation and anniversary logo.
The exclusivity of the 911 Club Coupe is underlined by the decorative trim with lettering individually created for each customer as well as the illuminated door entry guards bearing the model designation and anniversary logo.
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche provides a rare vehicle from his private collection for the special exhibition: a 911 Turbo S (993).
One vehicle will remain with Porsche in honour of the Porsche Club universe. Porsche Club members have until 16 July 2012 to register their right to purchase one of the twelve remaining unique vehicles at www.porsche.com/911-club-coupe. The twelve winners will then be determined by a legally certified draw. The 911 Club Coupe will be offered in all markets worldwide with the exception of China and India. In Germany the vehicle costs 142,831 euro excluding VAT.
Also on show in the Porsche Museum for the first time will be the 911 T Coupé.
Also on show in the Porsche Museum for the first time as part of the “60 years of the Porsche Club” special exhibition will be the 911 T Coupé. Last year, Porsche Classic experts were commissioned by the Porsche Club of America to restore a 1973 vintage US version of this model under the motto “Revive the Passion.” This unique vehicle was raffled among American Club members in a tombola.
Also the Porsche “Jagdwagen” Type 597 has proudly his own Porsche Club.
The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is eight euro for adults and four euro for concessions.
Development of the Porsche super sports car enters next phase
918 Spyder prototypes commence trials
Stuttgart. The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has taken the driving trials of the super sports car of the future a step further with completion of the initial prototypes. The 918 Spyder will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first customers receiving their vehicles before 2013 is out.
“What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG.
The prototypes, their camouflage harking back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars, signal the final touches to the 918 Spyder. The focus is on the interplay between the highly sophisticated individual drive components. The combination of combustion engine and two independent electric motors – one on the front axle and one in the drive line, acting on the rear wheels – poses completely new demands on the development of the operating strategies.
“They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” said Wolfgang Hatz.
These operating strategies and the development of the software to go with them are one of Porsche’s core competences. Both of them have a major influence on the extreme driving fun to be had with the 918 Spyder and they make possible a unique combination of minimal fuel consumption and maximum performance. The initial results of the driving trials are in line with the high expectations placed on the 918 Spyder.
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The super sports car is designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for extraordinary performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a racing machine boasting more than 770 hp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the region of three litres per 100 kilometres. Moreover, Porsche is breaking yet more new ground with the technology demonstrator with spectacular solutions such as the full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque with unit carrier, fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and the upward-venting “top pipes” exhaust system. In the process, the 918 Spyder is offering a glimpse of what Porsche Intelligent Performance may be capable of in future.
SOURCE: Porsche AG Media database
Product and Technology Communication
Product Communication
Stuttgart. She came, saw and was victorious: Maria Sharapova, the glamorous world star of women’s tennis, hopped around the Porsche Arena’s Centre Court like an excited teenager. Overjoyed, she blew kisses to the crowd after crowning her first appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with a title. Playing the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Sharapova dominated the match between the world’s two most successful tennis players.
Matthias Müller, Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Porsche AG, Maria Sharapova
The world No. 1 didn’t get a sniff against the, on paper, No. 2. The audience in the full-to-capacity Porsche Arena were treated to some world class tennis during Sharapova’s 6-1, 6-4 win. It was thrill a minute tennis. Sharapova now leaves Stuttgart with 115,000 dollars prize money, a Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and the promise to return to Stuttgart to defend her title.
The tennis queen from Russia kicked off as if a match against the current world No.1 is the simplest thing in the world. Impressive considering she had lost her four previous finals against Azarenka, two of which came this year at the Grand Slam tournament in Australia and in Indian Wells.
Markus Günthardt, Turnierdirektor, Matthias Müller, Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Porsche AG, Maria Sharapova, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender der Porsche AG und der Porsche SE, Christian Dau, Leiter Corporate Social Responsibility Porsche AG, Anke Huber, Sportliche Leiterin (l-r)
But the Russian doesn’t rate statistics:
“The most important thing is what you do on the court,” she said.
And she moved Azarenka all around the Centre Court with powerful and accurate groundstrokes and hit aces at will when at the vital moments. 6-1 with three breaks after 30 minutes – it looked as if it was going to be a very short final.
Siegerin Maria Sharapova (RUS)
That things took a little longer was down to the number one, who didn’t want to say farewell to the Porsche Arena after a great week without putting up a fight, even though she was slightly hampered by a wrist injury.
Siegerin Maria Sharapova (RUS)
“Yes it’s true about the injury but I’m not going to look for any ex-cuses,” she said. Victoria Azarenka fought back and even saved four break points at 2-all but shortly afterwards was forced to admit defeat.
Sharapova broke Azarenka to lead 4-3 and soon afterwards closed out the match on her serve for a 6-1, 6-4 win in 84 minutes.
She was visibly overjoyed at winning on her debut at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. For minutes on end she celebrated with the crowd, hugged her crew and eventually drove her new snow white Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet onto Centre Court with Matthias Müller, the President and CEO of the Porsche AG beside her.
Matthias Müller, Vorsitzender des Vorstandes der Porsche AG, Maria Sharapova
The key was given to her by Matthias Müller and the winner’s trophy was presented by Dr Wolfgang Porsche, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Porsche AG and the Porsche SE. The victor also had a presenta-tion to make. On behalf of her colleagues, she handed Dr Wolfgang Porsche the cup for the best and favourite tournament. The WTA players had once again voted the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as their favourite event in 2011.
“The week has been a lot of fun,” she said. “The crowd has been great to me and I was ex-tremely motivated to finally win a final against Victoria.” It was plain for all to see during the tournament week in Stuttgart.
Immediately before the match, the world renowned Stuttgart Ballet provided another tourna-ment highlight. The audience on Centre Court was enthralled by the four dancers belonging to the Stuttgart company performing the piece titled “Sit Back” which was specially choreo-graphed for the tournament by Louis Stiens.
Stuttgart Ballet
Stuttgart Ballet
Last year’s singles winner Julia Görges stood once again on Centre Court on finals day. To-gether with Anna-Lena Grönefeld, her Porsche Team Germany teammate, the world No. 21 was this time trying to win the doubles title. But the two Germans were however defeated 6-4, 7-5 by the Czech duo of Iveta Benesova/Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Press Release – Cayenne GTS with 420 hp and sporty chassis – Sitting like in an SUV, driving like in a sports car: the Cayenne GTS
Porsche Cayenne GTS
Stuttgart. The SUV with the driving fun of a sports car is entering its second generation. In Beijing, at the Auto China 2012, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is celebrating the world premiere of the new Cayenne GTS.
Its concept: concentration on sporty performance.
Its recipe: a more powerful engine, more dynamic power development, a tauter chassis with lower ride height, emphatically sporty equipment. In the process, the new Cayenne GTS doesn’t just fill the gap between the Cayenne S and the Cayenne Turbo but also differentiates itself clearly from the other models with its own special character.
The Cayenne GTS’s bonnet conceals a 420 hp (309 kW) uprated V8 engine, based on the Cayenne S power unit. Power transmission is ensured by the eight-speed Tip-tronic S with integrated auto start/stop function.
Porsche Cayenne GTS
An especially dynamically tuned en-gine and transmission design reinforces the emphatically sporty characteristics, ena-bling short bursts of speed at any time. The Cayenne GTS sprints from a standing start to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, reaching 160 km/h in 13.3 seconds. The top speed is 261 km/h and the NEDC fuel consumption 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres.
The specially tuned chassis ensures thrilling driving dynamics. It is more tautly tuned, equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and lowers the body by 24 mm relative to the Cayenne S. As a result, the new Cayenne GTS is even closer to the road and moves with the sports car’s trademark composure and agility.
The Cayenne GTS’s looks openly proclaim its pronounced sportiness with eye-catching features such as the front-end borrowed from the Cayenne Turbo, frames and trims in high-gloss black, prominent side skirts and wider wheel arches as well as a distinctive roof spoiler with twin-wing profile. The prevailing ambiance of the inte-rior is sporty elegance, the GTS features a leather interior with Alcantara elements as standard. Front sports seats with eight adjustment options are also featured as stan-dard in the new Cayenne GTS.
The Cayenne GTS will come to market in July 2012 with a price tag in Germany of 90,774 euro including value-added tax.
Matthias Müller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG, paid tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s services to the sports car manufacturer:
“We mourn the death of our partner, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. As the creator of the Porsche 911, he established a design culture in our company that has shaped our sports cars to this very day. His philosophy of good design is a legacy to us that we will honour for all time.”
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was born in Stuttgart on 11 December 1935, the oldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche.
Ferry Porsche (left) in his office with his son Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (ca. 1960)
Even his childhood was shaped by cars, and he spent much of his time in the engineering offices and development workshops of his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche. In 1943 the family accompanied the Porsche company’s move to Austria, where he went to school in Zell am See.
After returning to Stuttgart in 1950, he attended the private Waldorf school. After leaving school, he enrolled at the prestigious Ulm School of Design.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in his Design office (1963)
In 1958, F.A. Porsche, as he was known by his colleagues, joined the engineering office of what was then Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG. He soon proved his great talent for design by sculpting the first model of a successor to the 356 model line out of plasticine.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche next to Modell Typ 911 (1968)
In 1962 he took over as head of the Porsche design studio, creating a worldwide furore one year later with the Porsche 901 (or 911). With the Porsche 911, F.A. Porsche created a sports car icon whose timeless and classical form survives to this very day in what is now the seventh 911 generation.
Porsche Typ 901 (T8), next to model: Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1963)
However, in addition to passenger cars, F.A. Porsche also concerned himself with designing the sports cars of the 1960s. His best-known designs include the Type 804 Formula One racing car or the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, now considered to be one of the most beautiful racing cars ever.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1989)
In the course of the conversion of Porsche KG into a joint-stock corporation in 1971/72, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, along with all the other family members, stood down from the company’s front-line business operations.
In 1972 he founded the “Porsche Design Studio” in Stuttgart, the head office of which was relocated to Zell am See in Austria in 1974. In the decades that followed, he designed numerous classic gentlemen’s accessories such as watches, spectacles and writing implements that achieved global recognition under the “Porsche Design” brand. In parallel, with his team, he designed a plethora of industrial products, household appliances and consumer durables for internationally renowned clients under the brand “Design by F.A. Porsche”.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (1965)
A strong and clear design concept typifies all product designs created in his design studio to date. The credo of his design work was:
“Design must be functional and functionality has to be translated visually into aesthetics, without gags that have to be explained first.”
F.A. Porsche: “A coherently designed product requires no adornment; it should be enhanced by its form alone.” The design’s appearance should be readily comprehensible and not detract from the product and its function.
His conviction was: “Good design should be honest.”
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche received numerous honours and awards both for his work as a designer as well as for individual designs. For example, in 1968 the “Comité Internationale de Promotion et de Prestige” honoured him for the outstanding aesthetic design of the Porsche 911 while the Industrial Forum Design Hannover (iF) voted him “Prizewinner of the Year” in 1992.
Ferry (right) and Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in the Porsche Design-Studio (ca. 1959)
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche retained a close lifelong association with Porsche AG as a partner and member of the Supervisory Board. For example, even after stepping down from front-line business operations, he contributed to the design of Porsche’s sports cars over many decades and repeatedly steered the company in the right di-rection. This was especially the case for the difficult period Porsche experienced at the beginning of the 1990s.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche with model 911 S Targa (1968)
From 1990 to 1993, F.A. Porsche served as President of the company’s Supervisory Board, thus playing a major role in Porsche A.G’s eco-nomic turnaround. In 2005, he stood down from his Supervisory Board role in favour of his son Oliver and assumed the mantle of Honorary President of the Supervisory Board.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche will be buried in the family grave at Schüttgut in Zell am See, attended by his immediate family. An official funeral service will be held in Stuttgart at a later date.
Stuttgart. The world’s top tennis players are ready for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska won the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the dress rehearsal for the world’s best in the run-up to the long standing tournament in Stuttgart, with a 7-5, 6-4 victory in the final against the Russian Maria Sharapova.
She duly celebrated the biggest success of her career. Together with the Miami finalists, 19 of the world’s Top 20 will be lining up in the Porsche Arenafor the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix from 21 to 29 April. It is a new record.
The million dollar tournament in Miami was also an important stopover en route to Stuttgart for the Porsche Team Germany members.
The player to progress the furthest wasSabine Lisicki, who, despite putting on a good performance against the world No. 8 Na Li from China, only narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal place.
Sabine Lisicki, Porsche Team Deutschland
“I played well and have moved another step forwards. It gives me extra confidence,” said the German. In Stuttgart last year, she won the doubles playing alongside the Australian Samantha Stosur and reached the quarterfinals of the singles.
This time around? “I’ll try to be more consistent in my play and win the important points. Then everything’s possible.”
Sabine Lisicki, Porsche Team Deutschland
Sabine Lisicki in Miami Seaquarium
Sabine Lisicki in Miami Seaquarium
Sabine Lisicki in Miami Seaquarium
And Angelique Kerber, who this year won her first ever WTA title in Paris and stood in the semifinals of the Indian Wells tournament, is also looking forward to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. “It’ll be one of the highlights of my year,” said the 24-year-old.
Angelique Kerber, Porsche Team Deutschland
She’s certain the early loss in Miami, where she was defeated in her opening match by the strong Chinese Jie Zheng, won’t set her back:
Angelique Kerber, Porsche Team Deutschland
“There’s bound to be days when things don’t go well but I’ve learnt to deal with them. I look forwards.”
For Barbara Rittner, the Porsche Team Germany captain, the tournament in Miami was highly positive. She was especially pleased with the display of Mona Barthel, who swept aside Jelena Jankovic, the former world No. 1.
Mona Barthel
Mona Barthel
And naturally the news that there is nothing standing in the way of the long-injured Andrea Petkovic making a return in Stuttgart. With a view to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Fed Cup play-off against Australia, which will be played in the Porsche Arena on 21 and 22 April, she is also very confident:
“The girls are right on track, I’ve got no worries.”
Tickets for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Fed Cup are available via Easy Ticket Service (telephone +49 711-2555 555, Internet http://www.easyticket.de) or at the Porsche Arena box offices during the tournament week.
Porsche Everyday Dedeporsches Blog 