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.

Continue reading: Porsche judged the "Best Performance Engine Award"

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.

Continue reading: Porsche 911 model year 2009: changes

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.

Continue reading: A Haldex system for the next Porsche Carrera 4 ?

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

Continue reading: Porsche to temporarily suspend production of the 911

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

Porsche are planning to update their most powerful racing 911, the 997 RSR, with a view to it competing in the GT2 category in the 2008 season. After eagerly watching its little sister, the 997 GT3 Cup S, the RSR performed with prowess in a busy 2007 season. It notched up victories in the 24-hour Leman and Spa and achieved overall victory at the Nuerburgring 24 hours.

Other than changes to the front aerodynamics, the principle modifications are concentrated beneath the skin of the creature. The Sachs suspension has a greater range of adjustability and the 3.8L Boxer engine has undergone a few optimisations in order to achieve 465bhp at 8000 rpm, with maximum torque of 430Nm at 7250 rpm. The maximum engine speed is fixed at a good 9400 rpm.

Continue reading: Porsche 997 RSR 2008

Porsche 911 GT2 997

Porsche has finally announced the new 911 GT2, after both the brochure and official pictures were leaked. The 911 GT2 “vintage 997″ will be shown to the public at the Frankfurt auto show in september and will be “the most powerful 911 so far homologated for road use”.

The 911 GT2 will share its underpinnings with the 911 Turbo, but it will feature larger air intakes at the front, a larger rear wing and a souped up engine, with 50 ps more than the standard Turbo: power output will be 530 ps at 6,500 rpm, maximum torque will be 680 Nm between 2,200 and 4,500 rpm.

Weight has been kept down to 1,440 kg and the 911 GT2 boasts performance data considerably better than the turbo: 3.7 seconds from 0-100 km/h with a top speed of 329 km/h. Traction is rear wheel drive only, with a 6-speed manual gearbox. You can find the full text of the Porsche press release below the fold.

The 911 GT2 will be available in dealerships in Europe in november 2007, with a price of € 189,496 (inc. VAT, in Germany).

Continue reading: Porsche 911 GT2 - officially announced

Someone leaked the official brochure of the Porsche 997 GT2, the car that is going to be the most powerful roadgoing 911 ever.

The 911 GT2 is the most extreme version of the 911 range, the flat-6 engine will have a 3.6-liter capacity, two variable geometry turbines, VarioCam Plus variable valve timing and lift. The GT2’s engine will output 530 ps at 6,500 rpm (50 more than the Turbo) with a maximum torque of 683,91 Nm, flat between 2,200 and 4,500 rpm.

Acceleration from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) will take only 3″6, from 0-100 mph (0-160 km/h) in 7″4. Top speed will be 204 mph (328 km/h). The 997 GT2 will weigh 1.428 kg, not a featheweight, but on the same level as the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Ferrari F430.

Continue reading: Porsche 911 GT2 - leaked brochure