Always denied by the Germans, the baby Cayenne is slowly coming to light with some prototypes spotted on the Nurburgring. The new VAG group associates have launched the possibility that Porsche will use the base of the new Audi Q5 to make its own compact SUV, as has already happened for the Cayenne with the Volkswagon Tuareg and the Audi Q7.

The spirit should be sporty with V6 engines but also V8 coming from the big sister, sports handling and power from 280 to 500 hp, with technological pearls such as direct injection and double-clutch shift on arrival on the restyled 911. There’s also a possible hybrid version and as we’ve already seen for the Cayenne, a V6 3.0 TDI Audi engine. Perhaps this last news is what hurts fans more than a Porsche range with two SUVs.

Via | MotorAuthority.com

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With a rightly proud media release, Porsche demonstrates its victory in the 10th International Engine of the Year competition in the category of Best Performance Engine.

The 3.6 cylinder boxer turbocompressed that equipes the 911 Turbo and the GT2 has been awarded by the English in Engine Technology International, thanks to excellent votes from 65 journalists of the field, from 30 countries. Judging criteria includes performance, consumption and technological innovation.

After a victory in the three and four litre classes in 2007, Porsche is celebrating this new important recognition, “putting in the backgroun rivals such as Ferrari, Nissan, BMW and Audi”. The 911 Turbo engine has been equipped for the first time with a variable geometric turbine (VTG) which, thanks to the control of exhaust gas on the turbine, enables an optimum use of the compressor, improving it especially at lower revs.

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12 years after its debut the Mercedes Slk is celebrating 500,000 cars sold: a prestigious achievement favoured by the German market (with two thirds of the total not exiting German borders) and by the refined exclusivity of the folding roof, distinctive element separating it from the competition.

The second edition of the Sportlich, Leicht and Kompakt (sport, lightweight and compact), recently rejuvenated by the specific restyling, has reached the level of 190,000 vehicles while the Kompressor cements its position as the favourite car - already at half the expected sales.

Thanks to enr

Via | Motorauthority

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After much talk and a raft of spy shots, finally we have the secret documents destined for Porsche dealers, published by the Rennteam forum, in which all the modifications for the 911 model year 2009 appear. Internet tentacles have now permitted this too.

The biggest news is obviously the increase in power, obtained thanks to the help of direct injection: the 3.6 Carrera boxer will increase by 20 hp and also in Nm (345 hp and 390 Nm), while the 3.8 S will reach 385 hp and 420 Nm. The increase in performance is implicit while the CO2 levels will diminish meaning all the engines will comply with Euro 5 norms.

Front headlights and rear lights are newly designed (the front will be LED’s) and external modifications will also include new colours. For the mechanics, the braking system will change, becoming bigger and able to support the increase power. Ufficial presentation of photos is expected for June 6 (the 25th for the cabrio), with sales starting July the 5th.

Via | Rennteam
Thanks to Advisor.

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World Car Fans have published some spy shots of the Porsche 997’s “facelift”, sparking rumours about the next Carrera 4 which could be equipped with a new all-wheel drive system supplied by Swedish company Haldex.

Presumably the Carrera 4 will not be equipped with simple electronic friction systems (as on the Golf 4Motion, for example) but with something similar to the new XWD Haldex included on the next Saab, that distributes torque evenly and should include an electronic limited slip differential.

In addition to the possible new 4WD system, the revamped look will include new bumpers, LED driving and rear lights, and a new direct injection engine.

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The Porsche Cayenne GTS represents in some ways the provocative last front in the world of SUVs. With the Cayenne we’ve seen the entry of a paradox, an oxymoron, an open contradiction in the roots of this category of off-road (remember the first ML?) and the extravagance of feeling like you’re on the track.

In one corner of the ring of the Fifth Gear Shootout there is the Cayenne: steel spring technology, PASM, electronic suspension-checks, V8 with direct injection, but with a body lowered by 24mm (to the face of the lightest dirt road). It confronts a more “canonic” BMW X5 4.8i which, despite having 50 bhp less, does 0-100 km/hr in 6.5s - only four-tenths more than the Porsche, thanks to weighing a good 195kg less!! Who would have thought it would prevail on the track?

The BMW can count on excellent traction, guaranteeing road grip on the exit of corners. The example sampled by Vicky was also equipped with electronic suspension and 19″ alloys that did the rest. But the Cayenne, especially in sports mode, when you feel 50bhp extra and the more rigid body structure, it’s a true sports car in disguise.

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Blunt denial from Stockholm regarding recent rumors that had Porsche nearing 75% control in Volkswagon. In a press release distributed in the course of the afternoon the company has underlined that it would be an understatement to say that the purported operation would be difficult to realize: speculation of the last few days would not take into account the “composition of VW’s shareholders”.

From the moment in which Land of Lower Saxony - second VAG shareholder - holds more than 20% of the package, the probability of acquiring almost all the rest of the quota becomes highly unlikely.

Where do these rumors appearing in all the automobile and global press come from then? Simple, at least according to Porsche: the responsibility is all the fault of analysts and investors. Truth or bluff?

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Who knows whether Porsche will have the “courage” to ornate the back of the Cayenne with the word ‘diesel’? Probably, given that the choice to adopt a diesel motor has not been considered by the German manufacturer as an embarrassment from which to hide, but as a first and necessary step in the process of beating emissions (and increasing sales).

A shame though, to listen to Emg, that the Cayenne diesel will not count on the monstruous V12 6.0 of Audi origin, but will be sacrificed in favour of the greater lightness of the V6 3.2 biturbo at 300 horsepower. Notable is the single terminal exhaust encased in pipes too large for their relatively smaller size.

Continue reading: Spy photo: Porsche Cayenne diesel

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Even the Germanic precision and work ethic of Porsche can come across stumbling blocks. The factory in Zuffenhausen has reportedly halted production of the 911 due to an unforeseen incident in an area within the German plant.

An explosion in the paint room has forced a three day suspension in production, according to Porsche AG. The cause is as yet unknown and thankfully there were no severe casualties.

The production line would normally build about 160 units of the 911 daily. To make up for the lost time, Porsche has stated that the plant workers will have to work added shifts on Saturday. However, this sudden explosion will not affect the production of the Boxster/Cayman and the Cayenne, built respectively in Finland and in Leipzig.

Via | Autoblog ES

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Autocar’s Chris Harris, whom we have got to know from other interesting test-drives on the website, presents us with a face-off that will really get the fans going. The new Nissan GT-R is pitted against two german competitors. In place of the Porsche 997 Turbo, its ‘natural’ competitor (it has the same horsepower and it was the target of Nissan engineers), we find instead the BMW M3, which is within the same price-range and the Porsche 997 GT3, more extreme and expensive but with a driving experience similar to that of the Japanese monster.

Continue reading: Video: Autocar drives the Nissan GT-R, BMW M3 and the Porsche 997 GT3

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