Autoblog

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]

The Chevy small block V8 has been around in one form or another longer than many current GM engineers have been alive, but continuous updates continue to keep the venerable powerplant relevant. GM is currently developing the world's first overhead valve Direct Injection engine, giving the 6.2L test engine big gains in horsepower and torque while bumping fuel economy from 3% to 6%.The 6.2L currently pumps out up to 403HP without DI in the Escallade, but Dave Sczomak, development engineer-GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering, says the technology will bump power to "well over 450HP."

Perhaps even more exciting is the possibility that the anxiously awaited Camaro may receive a variant of the engine. The mere thought of the ultra-sexy Camaro packing over 450HP without added boost could make us want to have a smoke. While we're hoping the Camaro gets the DI engine, the halo status of the Corvette makes the two-seater a shoo-in for the improved engine. That would give the base 'Vette nearly 500HP, and it boggles the mind to imagine the output of a Z06/SS/Blue Devil.

Editor's Note: There's no reason to believe GM wouldn't drop the DI V8 in both Corvette and Camaro. Back in December, a source we spoke to who was familiar with Camaro powertrain discussions told us that there was a faction pushing for seriously big power in the Camaro. When we asked exactly how big, the individual smiled and held up five fingers. We'll learn how that pans out in due course. Then in January at NAIAS, Ed Peper specifically told us that there were no concerns with having Camaro step on Corvette, power-wise, as the two cars have such different market positioning -- sports car vs. muscle car. Plus, the ZR1 ensures that there will be a Corvette with power that greatly exceeds that of Camaro anyway. No matter how things play out, there's good reason to expect some real excitement.

[Source: Motive Magazine via GM Inside News]

In typical fashion, Ferrari had an impressive presence in Geneva this year. While their corporate cousins across the aisle made a big splash with the unveiling of the Maserati GranTurismo, the marque from Maranello wasn't showing any substantial new products of their own.

As we reported earlier, Luca di Montezemolo – president of Ferrari, chairman of Fiat and veritable don of the Italian automotive industry (also tipped as the potential future president of Italy) – hinted at the unveiling of the 430 Challenge Stradale (an eight-cylinder road car that "will embrace the know-how of weight reduction and high performance learned from our F1 experience") at the upcoming Frankfurt show in September. Montezemolo also spoke about some historic Ferrari paint colors that have been recently resurrected, including a 612 Scaglietti on display in Grigio Ingrid, a shade of gray that was originally commissioned from Pininfarina by Italian filmmaker Roberto Rossellini for a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM that he bought for his wife Ingrid Bergman.

The Ferrari stand also featured the F2007 Formula 1 car, just over a week before the season kicks off in Melbourne, a 599 GTB Fiorano, a 430 Spider and two 612 Scagliettis, flanked by a team of suitably luscious models, all of which you can see in our high-resolution image gallery below.

The motorsport press rumor mill is grinding away at full speed on a juicy bit of gossip and speculation that Michael Schumacher is being groomed to take over as head of Scuderia Ferrari. After his retirement, Schumacher took on a role as a special advisor to Ferrari chief Jean Todt. It was supposed to be a low-key, backstage kind of position that would let the seven-time world champion continue to impart his experience to the team, but it apparently hasn't been as hands-off as they made it out to be: Schumacher has reportedly made more visits to Maranello and sat in on more key meetings in the past few months since his retirement than he did during the entire 2006 season.

An unnamed source inside Ferrari was quoted as saying that Schumacher's current level of involvement points to only one conclusion: that he's preparing to step in as team leader -- and it would make sense. A lot of F1 pundits said that it would be entirely likely for Schumacher to head up a team after retiring from active racing, but how could he leave Ferrari for another team? Ferrari today is the house that Michael built. He brought in the key staff, revamped the way the team works and turned it into a winning tour de force. Jean Todt has been looking to step away from directly managing the team since being promoted to overall head of Ferrari, but hasn't been able to up to this point. He's needed a capable successor.

Of course, Schumacher's representatives have denied it up and down, but it's hard to avoid the logical conclusion when all the pieces fit.

[Source: F1i]