Porsche
List: Ten Cars We Are Looking Forward To In Los Angeles
With the LA Auto Show rapidly approaching, a few manufacturers have dropped us some tantalizing crumbs in the past couple weeks about what we can expect. From hybrids and well kept secrets to a few caged beasts, here is a glimpse into what we are looking forward to when the show kicks off on November 17.
Quick Drive: 2011 Porsche Panamera 3.6
For me, there is a certain excitement that comes when driving a Porsche—any Porsche, really—I suppose because long experience with the brand has proven that there’s an unbreakable social contract at work. When you climb into vehicle that wears the famous Stuttgart badge, you can rest assured that it was designed and built by serious men and women who understand quality and solidity and, above all, care just as much about the qualitative aspects of driving as you do.
Spy Shots: Porsche Boxster Driven Hard At Nürburgring
Today, we got these spy shots of the Porsche Boxster testing on the Nürburgring. They don’t really reveal anything since the last time we saw it, but we sure love to see the car getting rowdy at the track.
Spy Shots: Roding Roadster Looks Odd, Goes Fast
Not every fast car can also be classically pretty.
Winding Road Issue 63 Is Now Available!
In this issue of Winding Road, we go supercar crazy when we get behind the wheel of the stunning Ferrari 458 Italia.
Driven: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
The Mercedes-Benz Vision CLS show car back in 2003 at the Frankfurt auto show absolutely stole the three-day press event. Rarely is there such a universally big positive reaction to anyone’s “vision,” especially when we’re talking about skeptical journalists. Even we loved it shamelessly.
Driven: 2010 Lexus IS350C F Performance
I’m going to go out on a fairly robust limb and say that there are plenty of drivers who a) like convertibles and b) like performance cars and c) would love to find convertible performance cars that are basically as good as their coupe siblings. Unfortunately, with the exception of cars like the Porsche Boxster that are designed from the outset as roadsters, mostly this doesn’t happen. Instead, physics intervenes, and the process of adding the convertible feature adds weight, raises the center of gravity, and reduces torsional rigidity. None of those changes improve driving dynamics. Of course, different manufacturers manage these tradeoffs with differing levels of artistry, but it’s not nice to (try to) fool Mother Nature.
Secondhand Gems: Five-Figure Supercar Bargains
Not everyone is flailing about in an economic freefall. That’s not to say it’s time to throw caution to the wind, but for those who still have a few bucks in the bank, you should know that six-figure supercars weren’t exactly immune to the financial crisis.
First Look: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster
When automakers come out with limited edition models, it may seem like the manufacturer is trying to stimulate sales for a slow-selling model. Porsche, however, doesn’t have slow-selling models, and when the Stuttgart-based manufacturer comes out with a limited edition, it is often considerably more than nice paint and badges. Such is the case with this limited edition 911, the Speedster.
Ask It: 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo
We have just taken delivery of a 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo. Unfortunately, the 500-horsepower all-wheel-drive monster is sitting outside in a torrential downpour, which means we don’t have any images of it yet. Powered by a biturbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six, the 911 Turbo is about as bonkers as you can get a 911 without slapping a “GT” on the boot. 480 pound-feet of torque is on hand, with an additional 36 pound-feet available during overboost. Putting the power to the road is a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK for short).
First Look: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
The Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera, Audi A7, Volkswagen CC, and to a lesser extent the BMW 5-Series GT all owe a large part of their existence to the success of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Unveiled in 2004, the CLS was a segment buster, responsible for creating the four-door coupe craze that has been such a huge part of the luxury segment over the past six years. It has grown it bit long in the tooth though, so Mercedes is updating the CLS in time for the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
List: Top 25 Power-Dense Powerplants
Power density may not be in the lexicon of the average gearhead, but this idea is arguably as important as power-to-weight ratios and zero-to-sixty times. Power density, also known as specific engine output, is the amount of power produced by each liter the engine displaces. It is expressed in terms of horsepower per liter (hp/L). Automakers, especially those of performance vehicles, strive to hit the magical 100 horsepower-per-liter mark, which is where the recognized range of serious sports cars start.
Can-Am Cars In Detail Publishes This Month
We’re starting our holiday wish-list a little early this year. Can-Am Cars In Detail, a book by Can-Am journalist Pete Lyons, will be out later this month.
Porsche Gives 918 Spyder The Greenlight
Porsche has just announced that there will be a production version of the 918 Spyder Concept Car. The plug-in hybrid debuted at last years Geneva Auto Show and was arguably one of the most popular cars on the stand.
Preview: Porsche 918 Spyder
This is the Master Landing Page for the Porsche 918 Spyder. From now on, as we further review this car, we will be updating this page with whatever fresh content we create. Future drive reviews, updated specifications, videos, and other relevant information will all be found right here, in one convenient spot.
Winding Road Issue 60 Is Now Available!
In this issue of Winding Road, we drive the all-electric version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG stealthily around Norway to see what the silent Gullwing is made of.
Throw Down: Mazda RX-8 R3 Stands All
We were recently lucky enough to have Mazda’s RX-8 R3 in the Winding Road office for a week. Truly touched by the car’s utter brilliance for a relatively small sum of money, Editorial Director Tom Martin declared that he could justify the Mazda’s abilities versus any sporting car on sale today.
Blog: Is The Jaguar XJ A Panamera Beater?
Well, folks, after a day spent driving the new XJL and the Panamera back to back, I’m here to tell you that the luxury sedan market has new players intent on upsetting the proverbial apple cart. As Seyth indicated in his coverage of the new XJ, Jaguar is back in a big way. As a measure of just how far Jaguar has progressed, my recent time in the XJL suggests that Porsche, more than BMW or Mercedes, is the required comparison. Lexus really doesn’t merit mention in this company. How times change.
Winding Road Issue 59 Is Now Available!
In this issue of Winding Road, we put the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG up against the Jaguar XFR for some serious driving. Find out who came out on top.
Blog: What Is The Lotus Evora?
As I stepped into the Lotus Evora, it occurred to me, as it might to you, that I knew the car had received its share of plaudits, but I wasn’t exactly sure what character was really being delivered. “Well”, thought I, “let’s see.”
Third Look: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR
In spirit, this Altima stuck me as a rather “American” car. Sure, the final assembly point is Smyrna, Tennessee, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean that the overall Gestalt of the car struck me as consistent with what the former Big Three have done well over the years.
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