Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Porsche 911 C4 and C4S

Well, you knew this was coming. Porsche has followed up the debut of its freshened 997 rear-wheel-drive range with the introductions of the all-wheel-drive 2009 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S. Visually, the C4 and C4S are immediately distinguishable from their 2WD counterparts via the red reflector strip spanning the width between the taillamps. That's a nice touch that brings back some fond memories of the 911s of our youth. The C4's rear bodywork is also wider than that of the 2WD cars. Up front, you'll find the same schnoz introduced a couple of weeks ago.

As with the Carrera and Carrera S, the C4 range also gets the new, direct-injected engines and the optional seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) twin-clutch gearbox. Power is up, and so is efficiency, while emissions output goes down. The Carrera 4's 3.6L flat six makes a stout 345 horses, and the step-up Carrera 4S pumps out 385 ponies from its 3.8. It's not just the engine and tranny that are new -- the previous car's all-wheel-drive system has now been replaced by Porsche Traction Management, which trickles down to the C4 from the mighty 911 Turbo. Want to scoff at lousy weather and still drive a 911? Come October (in Europe) your new ride will be waiting.


[Source: Porsche]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Porsche 997 Carreras

The 2009 Porsche 911 has been formally unveiled, sporting lightly -tweaked styling, and important changes under the skin. The 3.6L and 3.8L engines to be found under the engine covers of Carrera and Carrera S models are new, featuring gasoline direct injection for the first time, and bringing more power and improved fuel economy in tow. The 3.6L engine now produces 345 horsepower (a 20-horse increase), while the 3.8 in Carrera S gets a 30-horsepower boost, coming in at a very healthy 385 HP. Both engines' fuel economy and emissions output levels are improved, with the Carrera Coupe boasting a 24 mpg (US) combined-cycle figure.

Also contributing to the cars' improved performance and fuel economy is the new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that arrives for 2009. Dubbed Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), it replaces the Tiptronic S in the Carrera and Carrera S. Visually, the 2009 Porsche 997 is freshened with bi-Xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, and restyled taillamps that now use LED illumination. Also in back, you'll see that the Carreras get ovoid dual exhaust outlets, while the Carrera S cars get a pair of double-barreled tips. The cars arrive in Europe next month with a U.S. launch to follow later in this year.


[Source: Porsche]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Gemballa Avalanche 600 GT2 EVO.

We've already sampled the mind-blowing power of the 997 Porsche GT2, but for Gemballa, it's never enough. The German tuning firm is offering a new kit for both the GT2 and its all-wheel-drive sibling, the Porsche Turbo, in the form of the Avalanche 600 EVO. As it's name would imply, Gemballa has coaxed 600 hp (not to mention 619 lb.-ft. of torque) from Porsche's turbocharged flat-six through the use of a new intercooler, race exhaust and a retuned ECU. The dash to 62 mph is dispatched in 3.5 seconds and the top speed has been increased to 199 mph.

To compliment the 911's newfound power, Gemball has fitted its Avalanche body kit, which includes a new hood, front spoiler and bumper, EVO wing and a host of air inlets and outlets. The stock suspension has been pulled in favor of a coilover setup hidden behind 405 mm front and 380 mm rear discs and Gemballa "Racing Black Edition" wheels sized 20x9-inches in front and 20x11.5-inches out back. Aluminum pedals and door plates are available to spruce up the interior, along with leather, carbon and alacantara trim, new carpet and a 340 mm steering wheel with optional "F1" paddle shifters. For interested in being corrupted by absolute power, we've posted the press release after the jump.


[Source: Gemballa via WCF]

click above image to see more shots of the Nissan GT-R p0wn the Porsche

We'll start by saying that it's not exactly hearsay, but it's not anywhere near official, either. Take one 997 Porsche Turbo that has lapped the 'Ring in 7:40, practically fast enough to form one of those Stargate SG-1 vortexes behind it. Then take one Nissan GT-R, benchmarked against that Porsche Turbo, and flog that baby around the 'Ring as fast as possible. Add a few reporters on hand with stopwatches. And when the GT-R flies past the finish line, the reporters discover those stopwatches have come to rest after just 7:38.

So the story is that the GT-R is two seconds faster than the 911 Turbo on the Nurburgring. And the Skyline in the photos doesn't even look to be the mad-gunner EVO-spec version. If that's the case -- and yes, that's a big if -- and say you allow for the inaccuracy of handheld stopwatches and add two seconds, so the GT-R did the same time as the Porsche Turbo... Well, we're not crowning a victor, or speculating about the whats and whys, or what will happen when the real timed laps in production versions are done... we're just saying that's pretty good. That's all.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Click the pic above for more high-res images of the EDO Competition 911 GT2 R.

Don't be deceived. Although the front clip of this EDO-tuned GT2 may look like the 997 variant that debuted last week in Frankfurt, it's actually a carbon fiber replica that makes use of the headlight design employed on the new breed of 911s. Obviously, there's much more to the EDO Competition GT2 R than just a facelift, as evidenced by its massive fender flares, extreme body kit and Chicago-style deep-dish wheels.

The GT2 R gets a series of upgrades, beginning with the engine, which benefits from a new exhaust and a retuned ECU bumping power output to 542 HP and 557 lb.-ft. of torque. The stock suspension has been ditched in favor of KW adjustable coilovers, while the brakes have grown to 380 mm up front and 350 mm in the rear, clamped by 4-piston fixed calipers.

The rolling stock is comprised of 18-inchers at all four corners, measuring 10-inches wide up front and a massive 13-inches in the rear. All four wheels are shod in top-of-the-line Michelin Pilot Sports, sized 235/45 in front and 335/30 out back.

Top speed: 205 MPH. 0-62: 3.8 seconds. 0-124: 11 flat. Bad-ass factor: immeasurable.

[Source: EDO Competition]

Tuners just can't get enough of the 997 Turbo, with a list so far including SpeedART, TechArt, Edo, Rinspeed, and 9ff. That latter tuner even rings three bells by winning the HP competition, the top speed run, and being a convertible. The Swiss modifier fiddles with the ECU, swaps out the stock turbos for its own units, installs a high-flow exhaust, new air filter, and a strengthened clutch. Sportech also adds hi-po brakes with 6-pot calipers, a sports suspension, and a new front spoiler and rear wing -- and some hot wheels. Then it tunes the entire thing in four stages: from a 530-hp Stage 1 package to a 580-hp Stage 4 time-bender that digs holes in the road with 564-lb-ft of torque. Top speed is 210 mph. We never complain about anyone who adds to the already fantastic 997 Turbo, but in such a crowded and nandrolone-infused field, this latest entrant could sound, well, excuse us for saying so, but... tame.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Click image for photo gallery

In the wake of the Porsche 911 GT2 brochure leak on Thursday, Carscoop has posted the first official images of the mighty new 'bahn-stormer. They're clearer than the ones included in the brochure sca, which you can view by click ing here. The car'sessentials break down as follows:

2008 Porsche 911 GT2

• 3.6-liter twin turbo flat six
• 530 horsepower at 5,600 rpm
• 505 lb.-ft. of torque from 2,200 to 4,500 rpm
• 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds
• 0-100 mph in 7.1 seconds
• Top speed of 204 mph
• Curb weight:: 3,175 lbs
• Titanium exhaust
• 6-speed manual gearbox
• Launch control system

The brochure spells it all out in greater detail, but suffice to say that the new GT2 is one of the most serious sports cars to come from Porsche -- ever, and it appears to be more than worthy of the "Respect Required" tagline the automaker applies to it. Click the gallery below for the newest photos. We'll add to it as more become available.

[Source: Carscoop]

Click the image above for a gallery of the SpeedART BTR-XL 550.

SpeedART has already released it's aero-enhanced modifications for the 997 Porsche Turbo in the form of the "Bi-Turbo Racer" kit, but where there's more money to be had, a German tuner is more than happy to oblige.

The "BTR-XL" package ups the ante by adding an adjustable front chin spoiler, adjustable rear wing, revised air intakes, a rear diffuser and a set of side skirts, all in an effort to increase down force at speed. All the parts can either be had painted to match the exterior hue or left with the tell-tale weave of carbon fiber, assuring that anyone within eye-shot is aware that you've got more money than you know what to do with.

New 20-inch rolling stock fill the wheel wells and cover a sports suspension and brake package, while a sport exhaust, with a "sound switch" and some ECU tuning increase output to 550 HP.

Naturally, the interior gets a bit more trick, with the addition of new a steering wheel, short shifter and sport seats, as well as something SpeedART defines as "etc." Etcetera it is – all of it.

[Source: SpeedART]

Click image to enlarge

Porsche has announced that the current iteration of the iconic 911 sports car, the Type 997, has reached a milestone. The 100,000th 997 has rolled out of Zuffenhausen, and the significance here is not the number, but how quickly it got there. The first 997 was completed in April 2004, and no other 911 generation has reached the 100,000 car mark in so short a time. The landmark vehicle, shown above, is a Guards Red 911 Carrera S with a manual transmission which will be delivered to a German customer. How'd Porsche get to the number so fast? Well, obviously there's demand for the car, and production capabilities have only improved over the years. We wouldn't be at all surprised to see the next-gen 911 repeat this feat.

[Source: Porsche]

Click the image above for a gallery.

We can't imagine having 780 HP on tap in a convertible, but 9ff has realized the ridiculousness and created what's likely to be the fastest drop-top in the world. The German tuning haus has taken the 997 Porsche Turbo convertible, stroked the 3.6-liter six to four-liters, modified every conceivable part of the motor, all in an effort to reach a top speed of 237 MPH.

On the outside, the only thing that distinguishes the TRC 91 from its "sedate" ancestry is a set of 20-inch rollers, upgraded brakes, a revised front grille to increase airflow, a couple of aero bits and a trunk lid made entirely out of carbon fiber.

The 4.0-liter mill was actually de-tuned from the hardtop model, which creates 910 HP and 671 lb.-ft. of torque, and allows the rear-engined rocket to make it to 60 just after you count to three. Insanity. But it's our kind of madness.

[Source: Motor Authority]