Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Review: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-porsche-911-carrera-4s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-porsche-911-carrera-4s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-porsche-911-carrera-4s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

A 1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa was deposited in my driveway during the spring of 1999. A good friend left it in my care while a contractor remodeled his garage. I'd never driven a Porsche, let alone a 911, but I would tend his car for three full months. With a 3.0-liter flat-6 hung way out back, the 180-horsepower engine was noisy, its open chassis flexible, and the whole thing smelled like dirty motor oil. Regardless of its rudimentary technology and semi-backwards handling tendencies, it was an absolute challenging thrill to drive. One decade later, déjà vu, as a brand-new 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is sitting in the driveway. A direct descendant of the classic SC, it represents the pinnacle of Porsche engineering and the latest iteration of the rear-engine sports car. A week with the car reveals some surprises, exposes a few pitfalls, and confirms many theories. Read about all of them after the jump...

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage - 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S


All photos Copyright (C) 2009 Michael C. Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Review: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even with the world-class handling and amazing power of the 2008 Porsche GT2, a relatively mundane component stood out - the seats. Yeah, we didn't expect to come back from Daytona and do an entire post just on seating technology, but yet here it is. Then again, maybe it's OK to be so fascinated by these chairs, as they're they #1 interface between driver and vehicle.

Live Photos Copyright (C)2007 Eric Bryant / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 introduction: The world's best seats

2008 Porsche 911 GT2 introduction: The world's best seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911 GT2911 turbofeaturedGTIIPASMporscheporsche 911Porsche MotorsportPSMRennsportRennsport IIIturbo GT2Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Pinch Us: Autoblog drives the 2008 Porsche GT2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/pinch-us-autoblog-drives-the-2008-porsche-gt2/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/pinch-us-autoblog-drives-the-2008-porsche-gt2/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/pinch-us-autoblog-drives-the-2008-porsche-gt2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's just before noon on a Thursday morning as I saunter down pit row at Daytona International Speedway and slide into the supportive sport bucket seat of a 2008 Porsche 911 GT2. I fiddle a bit with the seat and steering column adjustments until I'm comfortable, then double-check that my seatbelt is secured. It's hot and humid, but that's not why I'm perspiring - this cold sweat is a sign that my body's survival instincts are on edge, and for good reason. Fortunately, I've received personalized instruction from a quartet of legendary drivers and a complete technical briefing courtesy of Porsche Motorsports engineers, and there's little left to be learned without actually driving the car. I depress the heavily-weighted clutch pedal, muscle the short-throw shifter into 1st gear, bring the revs up, and...

A typical car-nut daydream? No - this was Autoblog's trip to the North American introduction of the third-generation Porsche 911 GT2. The folks from Zuffenhausen brought their latest no-holds-barred supercar to Daytona Beach, and allowed a select group of journalists to compare this latest effort to two other very capable 911 variants - the Turbo Coupe and GT3.

Gallery: 2008 Porsche GT2 intro


Porsche provided the vehicles for testing. Autoblog does not accept travel or lodging from automakers when attending media events.

Live Photos Copyright (C)2007 Eric Bryant / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Pinch Us: Autoblog drives the 2008 Porsche GT2

Pinch Us: Autoblog drives the 2008 Porsche GT2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911 GT2911 turbofeaturedGTIIPASMporscheporsche 911Porsche MotorsportPSMRennsportRennsport IIIturbo GT2Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[SEMA 2007 Spotlight: Bilstein offering more stiff selections]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/sema-2007-spotlight-bilstein-offering-more-stiff-selections/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/sema-2007-spotlight-bilstein-offering-more-stiff-selections/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/sema-2007-spotlight-bilstein-offering-more-stiff-selections/#commentsFiled under: ,

Although the big news from Bilstein is the upgrade from its PSS9 system to the PSS10 (essentially, adding one more level of damping to their struts), more impressive is the firm's new Electronic Ridecontrol system. Essentially, it's similar to Porsche's PASM system, without integration between the ECU to gather inputs from the throttle position sensor, traction control and steering angle sensor. Pushing the dash-mounted blue backlit button changes the strut's firmness from "Comfort" to "Sport," all within fractions of a second. The "Comfort" selection is still about 50-percent stiffer than stock, and currently it's available for the BMW E46, E90 and E60, along with the Mercedes E-Class (W211). Bilstein plans to develop the system for a number of other high-end applications, specifically the entire Porsche range, from the Boxster to the 996 and 997 911s. MSRP is just a few bucks over $3,000.

Gallery: Bilstein at SEMA

SEMA 2007 Spotlight: Bilstein offering more stiff selections originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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