As is customary in the West, during the Christmas season, retailers decorate their stores accordingly for the holidays. But while most are content with a tree and some flashy ornaments, a Porsche dealer in The Netherlands came up with the crazy idea of covering a spanking-new 911 Carrera S in milk-chocolate.

Before the chocolate mix was applied on the car, the 911 Carrera S was carefully wrapped in plastic. All in all, Porsche Centrum Gelderland said that the pastry chef in charged used around 175 kilos or about 386 pounds of milk chocolate for the body along with a few kilos of white chocolate for the lights and trim.

The 'sweetest' 911 Carrera S in the world will remain in the dealership until the end of the year and until then, the temperature in the showroom will be kept under 27 degrees Celsius to prevent the chocolate from melting.

Source: CarScoop

Porsche is prepared to share the Panamera and 911 platforms with other Volkswagen Group brands, according to new boss Michael Macht.

Macht said Porsche will pursue co-operative projects now that it
is part of VW. “Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW, as well as having its own production and research and development capabilities. It is important to 
use synergies as well as having independence,” he said.

These synergies include Porsche components being offered to sister firms. “The Panamera platform could be used by other brands for models that are in development and at the concept stage,” Macht said.

When asked if the 911 platform was also on the table, Macht said it “could be made available to other VW brands”. But apart from the Cayenne’s V6, Porsche will not use any other VW Group engines. “Engine development is a core value for Porsche,” Macht said.

Source: AutoCar

So you take your first look at the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera and you feel that it’s not that much different from the 2008, or even the 2007 model. Whereas other automakers like to completely redesign their vehicles every couple of years, Porsche is one automaker that follows the philosophy “If it ain’t broken - don’t fix it.”

However, if you have 169,300 euros ($169,300 USD) laying around in your bank account, Porsche will make your 911 very exclusive. At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Porsche will unveil the new 911 Sport Classic, bringing back the tradition of a small series built in very limited numbers. More in the jump!

Customized by Porsche’s Specialist Department over the last 3 years, the 911 Sport Classic pays a tribute to the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7 with unique “ducktail” style spoiler.

Power from 3.8L straight-6 with Direct Fuel Injection has been increased by 23-hp for a total of 408-hp. It is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and also features Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, PASM sports suspension that lowers the entire car by 20 mm or 0.79″ and custom-made 19-inch wheels. The interior comes with a wide-range of upgrades and is finished in Espresso Nature natural leather, providing a great contrast to the exterior Sport Classic Grey.

Sales will begin January 2010. Only 250 units will be made.

Source: eGMCarTech

According to Team Speed, a new 997.5 Turbo S is coming, and coming soon. When? Spring 2010. And how much power? Pure speculation, but 540 to 550 hp sounds about right. And figure on standard ceramic brakes, RS-style center lock wheels, and some sort of unique bodywork (more strakes?) to differentiate it from mere mortal Turbos. But like all rumors, this could prove totally false. But if it's true, look for the Porsche Turbo S to going up against Nissan's similarly steroidal Godzilla GT-R Spec-V on that one road in Germany...

Source: AutoBlog

Turns out Porsche will unveil not one, but two fresh editions of the evergreen 911 at the upcoming 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. In addition to the new 911 Turbo revealed recently , the company is updating the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which it describes as "the definitive track-ready, street-legal 911."

A new normally aspirated 3.8-liter flat-6 kicks out 450 horsepower, an increase of 15 hp over the standard GT3. The six-speed manual gearbox has shorter ratios and shorter gearshift travel — ideal for the track. The engine also sits on dynamic mounts that automatically adjust damping and stiffness to speed and driving conditions and exits through a titanium exhaust system.

Another track-oriented detail: a purpose-built, specially tuned version of Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) that lowers ride height. Ultra-wide wheels — 9 inches in front, 12 in the rear — make for a wider front and rear track, so the bodywork has been modified accordingly. Porsche fits 245/35ZR19 sport tires in front and whopping 325/30ZR19s in the rear.

To drive the point home, the car gets an oversize carbon fiber rear wing and is plastered with in-your-face exterior graphics.

U.S. customers will see the new 911 GT3 RS show up in dealerships next spring, priced at $132,800.

Source: Edmunds

Rather than let the aftermarket have all the glory, Porsche has decided to up the Turbo's performance for 2010. But not just in terms of power. Egged on no doubt by the pesky Nissan GT-R, Porsche is performing a complete character change for their newest Turbo, including less weight, RWD bias and a more sporting character.

The big news is of course the engine. Goodbye 3.6-liter six, it's been fun. Hello 3.8-liter directed injected flat-six from the Carrera S. Coupled to two variable-vane turbos, power is now 500 hp. And because it's direct injected, mileage increases from 22.1 mpg to 24.1 mpg with the manual. Should you opt for Porsche's 7-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (dual-clutch) gearbox, mileage improves from the old Tiptronic's 20.8 mpg to a very impressive 24.8 mpg. Also gone (kinda) are the silly dual-action faux-paddle shifters. Replacing them are F1 style right-is-up, left-is-down wheel-mounted paddles -- a welcome improvement, though we'd still prefer column-mounted shifters like on Ferraris and Godzilla. And you can still opt for the inferior dual-action buttons if you like.

The fun continues with a reprogrammed Porsche Traction Management system that distributes torque between the front and rear differentials via an electric multi-plate clutch. Still not convinced? The PSM (Porsche Stability Management) has been re-calibrated to provide more thrills. New RS Spyder rims are also available to decrease unsprung weight. In a word, yes please.
Pricing is listed for the coupe and cabriolet at $132,800 and $143,800 respectively, with an on-sale date of November 2009 in Germany and January 2010 here in the United States.

Source: AutoBlog

The standard Porsche 911 Turbo's 480HP 3.6-liter bi-turbocharged flat six is by no means a slouch, but where there's power, there's always space for even more power. Or at least that's what Porsche tuning specialist Sportec believes. The Swiss based tuner revealed a new version of its 911 Turbo based SPR1 that lifts the 3.6-liter flat six's output to a staggering 858 horsepower at 8,200 rpm and 642 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,800 rpm. Power is transferred to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Weighing in at 1,345kg or 2,965 lbs, the power-to-weight ratio is 637 horsepower per ton. According to Sportec, the SPR1 takes a mere 3.0 seconds to hit 62mph (100km/h,) with 186mph (300km/h) coming in just 18.9 seconds. The Swiss firm said that the supercar has recorded a top speed in excess of 236mph or 380km/h at Nardo, Italy.

Other highlights of the SPR1 include titanium connecting rods, a flat carbon fiber under floor, active suspension and F1 style ceramic brake discs plus composite (carbon / Kevlar) body panels, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, an integrated safety cage and a leather / alcantara interior.

Source: CarScoop

A 51-year-old man died in Germany this morning while behind the wheel of a prototype for the next-generation Porsche 911. The victim, a Porsche engineer, was driving the vehicle on the A5 autobahn south of Frankfurt at approximately 2:45am when he lost control and slammed into a guard rail.

Speaking with Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a spokesman for Porsche said the engineer "was one of the most experienced test drivers" and had been working for the company for 25 years. He also confirmed that the prototype was for the new 911 and that it was covered with fake panels to mask parts of the vehicle's appearance.

Local authorities are still investigating the accident but eyewitnesses claim the prototype was driving at a high rate of speed before the crash. The location of the accident was midway between Frankfurt and Heidelberg, in the German province of Hessen, and the particular stretch of road where the accident took place had no speed limit.

Source: Motor Authority

Porsche's redesigned 911 GT3 will debut in early March at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show and will go on sale later this year in Europe. The automaker has announced U.K. pricing, which will start at $116,500.

Engineered for the racetrack and the street, the new 911 GT3 boasts a larger, 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine. The normally aspirated flat-6 gets a boost in output, to 429 horsepower, thanks in part to improved cylinder-head gas flow and adjustable VarioCam camshafts.

The car sprints from zero to 60 mph in less than 4.1 seconds and can reach a top speed of 194 mph. More in the jump!

On the new 911 GT3, the Porsche Stability Management system enables the driver to deactivate the stability control and traction control in separate steps at the touch of a button. The Porsche Active Suspension Management gets stiffer springs and stabilizer bars, and the car features lighter wheels with ultra-high-performance tires. Brakes have been upgraded, and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes are available as an option.

Porsche also offers several track-oriented options, notably active engine mounts, as well as an optional front-axle lift system that provides additional ground clearance on bumpy roads. An optional aerodynamics package bundles modified air intakes and outlets with LED taillamps and bi-xenon headlamps.

Source: Inside Line

Porsche Motorsport has upgraded the GT3 RSR, the long-distance racecar based on the 911, with a larger engine and better aerodynamics for 2009. Last year's Nürburgring winner enters the new year with a redesigned front end that incorporates louvered air outlets on the hood and a rear wing with a wider adjustment range. Porsche also fitted lighter brakes and wiring harness, and is offering an optional air-conditioning unit.

To cope with new restrictions on air intake, Porsche bumped the flat-6 engine from 3.8 to 4.0 liters. The new power plant delivers 444 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque and is fitted to a six-speed sequential gearbox. Inside, the GT3 RSR gets a new multifunction display on the dashboard, as well as a programmable multifunction onboard supply system control device.

Porsche Motorsport said it already has built 20 GT3 RSRs in Weissach for delivery to private customers. Prices start at around $495,000.

Source: Inside Line

Of course 9ff didn’t need to make a drag-racing Porsche but creating a car faster than the Bugatti Veyron is enough justification to build the new 9ff’s 1300-hp Porsche 911 DraXster.

Power comes from a 4.0L twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine that makes a total of 1300-hp with a maximum torque of 878 lb-ft. That allows for a 0 to 161 mph run in just 9.5 seconds. Top speed and quarter-mile run figures are unavailable.

Pricing is also unavailable but we’re guessing 9ff isn’t planning on producing many units since maintaining high-speeds with a 1300-hp Porsche 911 that weighs just 1168kg isn’t safe or healthy for the car during long distances.

Source: eGMCarTech

One way to make your older Porsche 911 unique: Throw in a blown LS1 engine. The wing actually acts as the radiator in this creation which boasts "the slower you go, the cooler it gets". Have fun changing the plugs!

Source: Toy Jet via FullThrottleV6

From Top Gear's host, Jeremy Clarkson’s Supercar Showdown DVD, we can enjoy this clilp comparing the Audi R8 to the Porsche 911 GT3. Sabine Schmitz, queen of the Nurburgring, drives the R8 and takes on the Stig in the Porsche. See how they stack up! And yes, I know this was filmed awhile ago..

Two days after the current 911 received J.D. Power and Associates' 2008 initial quality crown, Porsche disclosed details on the updated 2009 model coming in September.

Four new 911 Carrera versions will feature more powerful engines that for the first time get direct fuel injection. The 2009 911 also gets Porsche's new seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.

Porsche will boost the price of the new 911 by $2,100 for the entry Carrera Coupe, to $76,460, including shipping. The costliest Carrera, the S Cabriolet, increases by $2,700 to $97,660.

More numbers after the jump!


• A 911 Carrera with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Porsche-Doppelkupplung, or PDK, will sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Its 3.6-liter engine makes 345 horsepower, 20 hp more than the current model.

• A 911 Carrera S with the PDK will make the 0-60 mph run in 4.3 seconds -- 0.2 seconds faster than the car equipped with the six-speed manual, Porsche says.

• The car's 3.8-liter engine makes 385 hp, up 30 hp from the current model. Porsche says the 911 Carrera S now has a top speed of 188 mph.

There are other changes to the 911: light-emitting diodes for the daytime driving lights; larger air intakes in the front bumper; and a dual-arm design on the door-mounted rear view mirrors. Inside, there's a new version of the audio control system with a touch screen, Bluetooth technology, and USB and digital music player connections.

Source: Automotive News

Car and Driver is going to get a LOT of heat for their latest write-up pitting the BMW M3, Nissan GT-R, and the Porsche 911 Turbo up against each other. One would say it's a coin toss between the GT-R and 911 since the M3 really isn't in the same league (both price and performance), yet C&D insists that it is the most well-rounded and deserves the trophy. There has been a rumor for awhile now that BMW and C&D are buddy-buddy and this is only going to fuel that flame war.

BMW is already preparing a gift basket and will be mailing it to C&D shortly.

Source: Car and Driver