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[See For Yourself: Porsche Panamera production starts in Leipzig]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/see-for-yourself-porsche-panamera-production-starts-in-leipzig/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/see-for-yourself-porsche-panamera-production-starts-in-leipzig/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/see-for-yourself-porsche-panamera-production-starts-in-leipzig/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Porsche Panamera assembly begins at Leipzig - Click above for a high-res image gallery

After years of anticipation and ramp-up, Porsche has finally begun production of the Panamera four-door model at its factory in Leipzig. But don't take our word for it, you can go and see for yourself as the German automaker has re-opened the factory to the public.

While preparing the German assembly plant, where the Cayenne is also built, for production of the Panamera, Porsche had shut down the location for eight months, during which some 22,000 square meters of capacity were added to accommodate the new assembly line. Now that the renovations are complete, visitors are once again welcome to tour the facility, free of charge, by booking online. So if you find yourself headed to Saxony, why not take a swing by? If not, you can check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.


Gallery: Porsche Panamera assembly at Leipzig



[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading See For Yourself: Porsche Panamera production starts in Leipzig

See For Yourself: Porsche Panamera production starts in Leipzig originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>leipzigporscheporsche assembly plantporsche factoryporsche factory toursporsche leipzigporsche leipzig assembly plantporsche panameraPorscheAssemblyPlantPorscheFactoryPorscheFactoryToursPorscheLeipzigPorscheLeipzigAssemblyPlantPorschePanamerasaxonyThu, 14 May 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi to reveal TT-RS Roadster at Leipzig Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/audi-to-reveal-tt-rs-roadster-at-leipzig-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/audi-to-reveal-tt-rs-roadster-at-leipzig-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/audi-to-reveal-tt-rs-roadster-at-leipzig-motor-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Audi TT-RS - Click above to enlarge

Audi rolled out the fixed-head version of its new TT-RS a couple of weeks ago at the Geneva Motor Show, but a topless version was nowhere in sight. There's a reason for that: this weekend at Germany's Leipzig AMI show, the automaker will be expanded the stylish coupe with a open-top version.

Predictably, the TT-RS Roadster gets the same 340-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter five cylinder as the coupe, which in this case should get the topless TT-RS to 62 mph in just 4.7 sec by putting the power down through all four wheels. The brakes also get a major upgrade with cross-drilled rotors all around, as does the suspension.

Elsewhere on the Audi stand in Leipzig, the A5 and S5 Cabrio and A4 all-road quattro will get their German premieres. Press release after the jump.


Gallery: Audi TT RS and Roadster


[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi to reveal TT-RS Roadster at Leipzig Motor Show

Audi to reveal TT-RS Roadster at Leipzig Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Audi TTaudi tt-rsaudi tt-rs roadsterAudiTtAudiTt-rsAudiTt-rsRoadsterconvertibleLeipzigroadsterTTWed, 25 Mar 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW X1 to offer both all- and rear-wheel drive]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/bmw-x1-to-offer-both-all-and-rear-wheel-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/bmw-x1-to-offer-both-all-and-rear-wheel-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/bmw-x1-to-offer-both-all-and-rear-wheel-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW X1 Concept


In a move that marks a significant departure from its current direction, BMW will offer both all- and rear-wheel drive versions of its upcoming BMW X1 model. Up to this point, consumers have only been offered all-wheel-drive mechanicals under the skin of the BMW X6, BMW X5 and smaller BMW X3. The German automaker cites weight savings and gains in efficiency as the reason why its newest and smallest SAV loses its front driveshafts, but be assured that it's also a cost-saving maneuver as automakers squeeze to keep prices down. As the models will appear virtually identical from the outside, BMW will offer the rear-wheel-drive version with a special "sDrive" badge to differentiate it from the xDrive-equipped all-wheel-drive model (of course, you'll have to squint to discern the badge differences between a rear-wheel-drive "BMW X1 sDrive28i" and the all-wheel-drive "BMW X1 xDrive28i"). Built on the 3 Series platform (and set for production at the same Leipzig plant), the showroom version of the X1 is expected to look much like the X1 Concept shown in Paris last week. There has been no word on when we'll see it on this side of the pond, but those in Europe should look for the X1 to appear in showrooms sometime in 2010.

Gallery: BMW Concept X1


Gallery: BMW X1 LIVE


[Source: Autocar]

BMW X1 to offer both all- and rear-wheel drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMW X1BmwX1LeipzigProductionrear-wheel driveRear-wheelDrivesDriveX1 ConceptX1ConceptxDriveThu, 09 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche's Panamera production push spurs ?150 million Leipzig investment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/porsches-panamera-production-push-spurs-150-million-leipzig-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/porsches-panamera-production-push-spurs-150-million-leipzig-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/porsches-panamera-production-push-spurs-150-million-leipzig-in/#commentsFiled under: ,


Orange buildings show planned expansion. Click to enlarge.

Earlier today, we covered AutoWeek's latest report on the Porsche Panamera. This week, Porsche held the "topping out" ceremony for that car's new production facility in Leipzig. Part of a €150,000,000 expansion of the Leipzig plant, where the automaker already builds the Cayenne SUV, the Panamera facility is joined by a new logistics center, and the existing Cayenne manufacturing facility will be expanded to include, among other things, an apprentice workshop. That figure, according to the Automotive News, is a quarter more than initially planned.

According to Porsche, once all the work is completed, leipzig should be able to build up to 50,000 Cayannes and Panameras annually once the four-door GT's production line fires up in 2009. As for the Panamera, its engines will be manufactured at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and its painted chassis will come from VW's Hanover facility. Final assembly will take place in Leipzig. The new car also means that 600 new jobs will be required in Leipzig, and another 500 in Hanover. Porsche's announcement concludes by saying that the new Panamera facility's facades should be installed by the end of this summer, after which the automaker will be able to begin installing the production equipment.

Porsche's full press release can be found after the jump.

[Source: Porsche AG]

Continue reading Porsche's Panamera production push spurs ?150 million Leipzig investment

Porsche's Panamera production push spurs ?150 million Leipzig investment originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>150,000,000cayenneleipzigpanameraSat, 14 Apr 2007 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche Panamera update: New renderings, production issues]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/porsche-panamera-update-new-renderings-production-issues/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/porsche-panamera-update-new-renderings-production-issues/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/porsche-panamera-update-new-renderings-production-issues/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The April 16th issue of AutoWeek is hitting mailboxes across the country, but for those of you without a subscription or who are too lazy to make it to the mailbox, they've produced a new rendering of the Porsche Panamera.

Stuttgart's latest deviation from its core products is said to debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, likely sporting a turbocharged 4.8-liter V8, producing 400 to 520 HP and clocking the trek from 0 to 60 in around four and half seconds. The engine, lifted from the recently updated Cayenne, should allow the Porsche sedan to reach a top speed of 180 MPH when making unencumbered runs on the Autobahn.

The article goes on to state that a 300 HP 3.6-liter V6 is also planned, supposedly utilizing a gas-electric hybrid setup that can make up to 400 HP while running on pure electricity -- albeit for brief periods of time.

As for AutoWeek's renderings, there's not too much to differentiate these newest images from ones we've seen in the past. The only marked difference is the C-pillar that looks particularly bloated and malformed when matched to the rest of the Panamera's sleek lines.

You can check out the renderings and read AutoWeek's article here (registration required).

[Source: Autoweek]

Porsche Panamera update: New renderings, production issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>928leipzigpanameraporscheSat, 14 Apr 2007 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche Panamera test mule in the open]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/porsche-panamera-test-mule-in-the-open/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/porsche-panamera-test-mule-in-the-open/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/porsche-panamera-test-mule-in-the-open/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Even though we've stood in front of it in Frankfurt, talked to the people instrumental in its existence and even told you when and where it will be produced, it still strikes us as odd to write about a four-door Porsche. It's coming, whether we're ready for it or not, and this latest sighting is evidence that the guys and gals in Stuttgart are hard at work.

The front-engine, rear-wheel drive, four-seater has been caught testing in a variety of guises, this, however, is the first time we've actually been given a taste of what the production car will look like. The front end screams Porsche design, with headlamps pulled straight from the concept and a front clip that is taking heavy cues from the Turbo and Cayman. Unfortunately, from the a-pillar on back, it's less noteworthy and more, well, unfinished.

Hopefully, if Porsche is still on schedule, we'll start seeing Panameras leaving their birthplace of Leipzig and heading to dealers late next year, ready to do battle with the Maserati Quattroporte and CLS55 AMG.

Thanks to Gary for the tip!

[Source: Caradisiac]

Porsche Panamera test mule in the open originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caymancls55 AMGCls55Amgfrankfurtleipzigmaserati quattroporteMaseratiQuattroportepanameraporscheturboThu, 14 Sep 2006 01:37:00 EST<![CDATA[It's official: Porsche Panamera to be built in Leipzig]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/20/its-official-porsche-panamera-to-be-built-in-leipzig/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/20/its-official-porsche-panamera-to-be-built-in-leipzig/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/20/its-official-porsche-panamera-to-be-built-in-leipzig/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Porsche announced that it will invest $153 million in its plant in Leipzig, Germany, in order to build the automaker's four-door Panamera coupe. The size of the plant will quadruple with the investment, and staffing will more than double, rising to 1,000 from 400. Porsche recently halted production of the Porsche Carrera GT supercar in Leipzig, but the Cayenne will continue to be manufactured in the city. The body work and paint for the Panamera will be completed at Volkswagen's plant in Hanover, Germany.

[Source: AFX News Limited via Forbes]

It's official: Porsche Panamera to be built in Leipzig originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 May 2006 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrera gtCarreraGtcayennefour-door coupeFour-doorCoupehanoverleipzigpanameraporschevolkswagenSat, 20 May 2006 08:02:00 EST