Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of Baby Cayenne spy shots

Porsche almost slid a fast one by spy photographers recently when it began testing a new baby Cayenne SUV prototype at the famed Nurburgring race track in Germany. The thing looks for all the world like an actual Cayenne SUV, but photographers first noticed its diminutive proportions, then its sharply raked D-pillar, and then the different cut lines around its door. Soon it became apparent that this was no Cayenne, but rather a prototype for a new, smaller Porsche SUV that's likely based on the upcoming Audi Q5. Like most people, we've always thought the idea of a Porsche SUV is kind of silly, but make it smaller and lighter and we get commensurately more interested. Click after the jump for more analysis from the spy photographers themselves.


[Source: KGP Photography]

Click on the image above for high-res shots of this wacky scene

Running diesel vehicles on biofuels is a good thing, right? Not always, according to Greenpeace Argentina. It seems that the export of soybeans from Argentina is causing more pollution than was initially estimated. Also, too much of Argentina's native forests are being mowed down for the soybeans. These issues are in stark contrast with two of Greenpeace's stated charters: (1) catalyzing an energy revolution to address the number one threat facing our planet: climate change and (2) supporting sustainable agriculture by encouraging socially and ecologically responsible farming practices.

No Greenpeace protest would be complete without some sort of outlandish stunt, and this one follows suit. Because most of the Argentinian biodiesel goes to Germany, a Mercedes-Benz M-Class and a Porsche Cayenne were made to look like bulldozers by men and women wielding German flags. The two SUV's were surrounded by fake tree stumps. Once again, Greenpeace has done an admirable job of catching plenty of attention. Whether the group's wacky efforts have any effect, though, is another matter entirely.


[Source: Argentina Auto Blog - translated]

Click above for a high-res gallery of Porsche pictorials, courtesy of Car.

Every time we hit up our local newsstand, ten minutes is inevitably spent flipping through the automotive masterwork known as Car. Unfortunately, we have a hard time justifying the exorbitant price tag, so it's a rare occasion when we walk up to the register and plunk down our hard-earned $10.95. But when the August 2008 issue hits the shelves, it's coming home.

Car is doing a 60-year retrospective on Porsche, looking back on the storied marque from Stuttgart to attempt to find the ultimate model to wear the crest. Thankfully, the cash-strapped among us can join in the fun. Car is running dozens of features on its website that correlate with its print issue, including new and archived reviews, stories of Porsche's racing triumphs and videos, plus one absolutely addictive game that's kept Editor Neff sated while recovering from another trip to the dentist.

Naturally, no Car-created retrospective could be complete without stunning photography to match the mag's pithy prose. We've assembled a small gallery of some of our favorite pics from the website, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't go to Car Online to enjoy the features first hand.

If you love racing games, have a PS3 or PC, and have no problem parting with a hefty $349, Fanatec's wireless steering wheel is right up your alley. Sure you can get a gaming steering wheel for a lot less money, but it won't come fully equipped with a 6+1 shifter, three working pedals, and an official seal of approval from Porsche. Fanatec spent seven years coming up with a setup that was worthy of the Porsche name, and the end result is pretty damn sweet. The steering wheel is adorned with real leather, it has three feedback motors, a key-shaped 1GB memory stick for storing settings, and both the wheel and pedals are completely free of wires.

There is no question that $349 is probably too much to spend on a gaming wheel, considering a PS3 only costs $399. But if you spend as much time in the virtual world of video games as you do out in the real world, this may be as close as you'll ever get to driving a Porsche, and it costs a lot less than the real thing.Thanks for the tip, Rick!

[Source: Engadget]

Under proposed new fuel economy rules set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), automakers with powerful short-wheelbase models are going to feel some pain. The agency is considering a plan to create two sliding scales of efficiency for cars and trucks of different sizes. Automakers will be assigned fuel economy standards based on the "footprint" (short wheelbase = small footprint) of their vehicles, and the number of vehicles they sell. Companies like Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, independent luxury brands with high-performance models, will be hit the hardest. Interestingly enough, Toyota, Chrysler, and General Motors, big players with diverse model lineups, won't feel as much pressure.

Conforming to the tough new proposed rules may be very expensive. As a result, some industry executives expect some automakers, such as Porsche, just to pay the fines--it's less costly than changing a model lineup. Regulators are under the gun to adopt a policy by April 1, 2009. In the meantime, the NHTSA will be taking public comments over the next two months. Time to send 'em a letter...

[Source: Autoweek]

It's far too early to come up with suitable jokes to make, so we'll just give you the facts. According to Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Police are investigating a case of corporate eavesdropping in the form of a baby monitor that was found in the hotel room of Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking. Wiedeking was in Wolfsburg, Germany visiting Volkswagen headquarters for a board meeting when a security firm found the monitor behind a sofa in the CEO's room. An investigation is underway, however, it deserves noting that the alleged spying took place in November of last year and that Der Spiegel isn't citing any specific sources for their story.

[Source: Forbes]

Following word that Porsche will incorporate direct injection and the 7-speed Doppelkupplung gearbox into the 997 refresh, we've come across an official document that details what we can expect when the latest iteration of the 911 arrives. We're not posting the document itself, but by now a quick Google search will reveal it to you if you're that interested.

The changes coming apply to the 2009 Carrera, Carrera S and their C4 and Targa variants. Look for the 3.6L base engine to get a 20-horse bump to 345 ponies, while Carrera/Targa S models see the 3.8L mill's output jump to a very healthy 385 horsepower. Both engines also get a commensurate increase in torque. The good news is that despite the added muscle, both the 3.6 and 3.8 are expected to consume less fuel and have cleaner emissions numbers.

As we've seen in numerous spy photos, new front and rear bumpers update the fascias. Lighting updates are also on the way, with standard bi-xenon headlights on the base car, plus LED daytime running lamps and LED taillamps across the board. New wheels will hide upgraded brakes, and word is that the Carrera 4 models will get additional cues that visually set them apart from the 2-wheel-drive cars. Inside, a new steering wheel tags along with the Doppelkupplung, and drivers can expect a freshened instrument panel boasting simplified controls and a host of improvements to the multimedia and nav system offerings. All the changes will be officially revealed/confirmed in June. As for when we can expect the skinny on any updates to the Turbo, GT2 and GT3, your guess is as good as ours. Thanks for the tip, Matthew!

Click the image above for a high-res gallery.

We've all watched the ALMS Porsche RS Spyder in racing, read the reviews about Porsche's track-ready 997 GT3 RS, and checked out the new Boxster RS 60 Spyder. Maybe some of us (Porschephiles?) have even dreamed about someday owning a classic 1973 911 Carrera RS (pictured above). Porsche's "RS" designation stands for "Renn Sport," or racing, and it is reserved for the highest performing models in the company's lineup.

Wait a second. Doesn't Audi also offer a slew of "RS" models too? They have their hot RS4, RS6, and the lightweight RS8. Now they have plans to bring out a high-performance version of the TT to be called the TT RS...

Not so fast, the team at Porsche is saying. Naming it the "TT RS" is stepping over that thin line drawn in the sand. Furthermore, the "RS" suffix is Porsche's, and it won't be slapped on an Audi anytime soon (especially as Porsche continues to increase its ownership in the Volkswagen Group). Audi may continue to use "RS" as a prefix, but that's about it. Well, that was easy, don't you think?

[Source: Winding Road]

You are looking at the new Klipsch® Palladium P-39F floorstanding speakers -- designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA. The speakers are a collaborative effort between Klipsch and BMW. Klipsch is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers, while BMW DesignworksUSA... well, they design things. In addition to spitting out automobiles like the 3 Series sedan and the Z4, they have applied their artistic wizardry to products including espresso machines, wind turbines, and commercial jets. This is one of their latest products, a pair of speakers sure to please the audiophiles among us.

The five-foot tall speakers, with flush-mounted cones and horns, are beautifully finished with a horizontal zebra-grain veneer. Each is mounted on a brushed aluminum base. According to the press release, "The new speaker design celebrates Klipsch's hallmark horn-loaded technology, which delivers high-efficiency sound with low distortion, controlled directivity, flat frequency response and wide dynamic range." (Translation: they look really cool, and sound really great.) Oh, the price for all of this audible prestige? They'll run you about $15,000/pair when they become available this summer.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Click above for high-res gallery of ALMS action from Long Beach

With Champ Car going the way of the dodo bird after this year's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, it looks like the American Le Mans Series is poised to take over top billing at America's Monte Carlo. The street course around downtown Long Beach, California is quite a track, with a long tradition of motorsport excitement. Everything from Formula 1 to CART to Trans-Am have run here, but very few series can match the thrill of four different classes running into the dusk like the ALMS presents. This year's sophomore running of the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach showed exactly why the series deserves more support and coverage than it gets. Not only was the on-track action enthralling, but the huge crowds that Long Beach always attracts seemed to go ga-ga over the prototypes and GT cars wearing names like Porsche, Aston Martin, Corvette and Ferrari. In case you haven't seen the race yet, the results are after the jump. Don't let that stop you from clicking through the massive high-res gallery however.

All photos Copyright ©2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.