New Porsche 911 Shows its Panamera-Style Snout in South Africa

Once again, Carscoop's photographers have caught the all-new generation of Porsche's 911 sports car series testing. However, this time, they snagged a barely camouflaged prototype not in Germany, but in South Africa. And even though our man with the camera wasn't able to capture a crystal clear shot of the front end of the 2012MY 911, it's fairly obvious that the styling is heavily influenced by the Panamera.

From there on, despite some changes here and there such as the exterior mirrors that are mounted on the doors instead of on the window frame, the redesigned tail lamps and a slightly lower roofline, the basic silhouette and proportions remain the same. An extensive aerodynamic package with an active front spoiler and variable air-intakes, is believed to be in development.

We expect more differences inside the cabin with some fresh bits and pieces borrowed directly from the Cayenne and Panamera parts bins.

The new model, codenamed '991', may look eerily similar to today's generation of the 911, but underneath the body there's a revised platform that has grown a few inches in length and width. Furthermore, Porsche's engineering team is also said to have made good use of exotic and lightweight materials to reduce the sports car's overall weight.

The 911's engine lineup will be revised with upgraded six-cylinder boxer units boasting the latest technological advancements including direct injection and start/stop systems for gains in power as well as reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. At launch, Porsche will offer two variants - the Carrera and more powerful Carrera S models, with the Turbo and other versions such as the GT2 and GT3 to follow down the line.

Delivering power to the rear or to all four wheels will be a standard six-speed manual gearbox (depending on the model) joined by an optional seven-speed PDK (Porsche Doppel Kupplung) twin-clutch transmission with shift paddles behind the wheel.

Chances are that Porsche will choose its home show in Frankfurt, Germany, next year to present the world premiere of the new 911.

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Topcar jumps on the Porsche Cayenne Tuning Bandwagon with Vantage GTR 2

Topcar might be a newbie in the industry, but the Russian tuning firm is churning one proposal after the other. Following a display of project cars at this year's Essen Motor Show, the company has unveiled its latest package in the form of the Vantage GTR 2 for the latest Porsche Cayenne.

Limited to 50 units, the package overhauls the SUV's looks with a full bodykit comprised of carbon Kevlar and carbon fiber components, including front and rear bumpers, bonnet, ultra-wide wheel-arches and a rear diffuser. New two-tone black and white alloy wheels complete the exterior make up. Furthermore, the Moscow-based tuner offers multiple performance upgrades with the output ranging from 550 to 750 hp.

By Csaba Daradics

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A Video Tour of the Porsche Classic Workshop

Porsche Classic is a specialized workshop owned by the German automaker, responsible for repairing, servicing and even restoring classic vehicles, like this 1973 911 T Coupe. Every year, a team of 30 highly trained specialists work on around 250 cars, keeping Porsche's heritage alive. According to the Stuttgart-based company, more than 70 per cent of all Porsches ever built are still on the roads today, which is pretty impressive if you think about it. Video follows after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

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VIDEO: New Porsche 911 GT2 RS "Driven to Extreme"

Gordon Robertson is back. Having previously tamed the GT3, the chief driving consultant of the Porsche Experience Center at Silverstone now takes on another of Stuttgart's iconic 911s: the GT2 RS.

Capable of 620 hp and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, the 911 GT2 RS is the most powerful road-going Porsche ever built. It accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.5 seconds and hits the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark in a staggering 9.8 seconds. Clearly, you need some impressive skills to drive pace the GT2 RS through a twisty circuit, but for now, you can enjoy Mr. Robertson at work in the video after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

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More Power, Please: Wimmer RS Tunes Porsche GT2 RS to 703HP

With 620-horsepower on tap from the twin-tubo'd boxer engine for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of just 3.5 seconds and top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph), we'd argue Porsche's 911 GT2 RS is lighting quick. However, German tuning house Wimmer RS has a mind of its own when it comes to performance even if we're talking about a sports car that will be produced in a limited run of just 500 units.

The tuner's upgrades are concentrated on the 911 GT2 RS' 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer which benefits from a remapped engine controller, optimized turbochargers, a sport air-filter, new air-intake and a valve-controlled sport exhaust system along with sport catalysts.

These modifications bump output from 620 to 703-horsepower, while peak torque rises from 700Nm to an even more impressive 810Nm or 597.5 pound-feet. According to Wimmer RS, the powered-up 911 GT2 RS can now complete the sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds and pass the 200 km/h mark after just 9.5 seconds (stock model: 9.8 seconds), while continuing up to a top speed of 356 km/h or 221.2 mph.

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2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R

A couple days ago Porsche released a press statement saying that it will unveil a new “mid-engine sports car” at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, it’s 2011 Porsche Cayman R. The Porsche alphabet reserves the letter R for very special sports cars: R for responsive and refined – but most especially for racy. The new Cayman R combines all these attributes without compromise. 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R has further developed the car by reducing weight, increasing horsepower and raising agility and handling to new heights.

Weighing 55 kg less than the equivalent Cayman S, and the new mid-engine coupé from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is designed for spectacular road behaviour, the 330 hp Porsche Cayman R has been created for one reason: pure, distilled driving dynamics. With its highly-tuned sports suspension and vigilant attention to weight savings, the new Cayman model offers a driving experience even more precise than that of the acclaimed Cayman S. The 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R makes its world debut today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R

Power for the 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R comes from a tuned 3.4L inline 6-cylinder engine making a total of 330-hp allowing for a 0-62 mph time of 5 seconds when mated to a 6-speed manual and 4.9 seconds when mated to Porsche’s 7-speed PDK transmission. Adding the optional Sport Chrono packages brings the 0-62 mph time down to 4.7 seconds. Top speed for the 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R comes in at 175 mph with a 6-speed manual and 174 mph with the PDK.

For interior 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R has features Alcantara and leather upholstery, sport seats, strap door handles and a painted console color-keyed to the exterior. Under the skin, the suspension has been enhanced with shorter, more rigid springs and there are customized anti-roll bars on the front and rear axles (the ride height is about 20 millimeters lower than the Cayman S).

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R

Tracing its lineage back to the famous mid-engined 904 coupes of the 1960s, the Porsche Cayman R celebrates its world premiere at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17, 2010.

The new 2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R will go on sale from February 2011, priced from £51,731 ( $66,300 ) and the price in Germany will be EUR 69,830 inclusive of 19 percent VAT and country-specific equipment items. Go to www.porsche.com/cayman-r-live to listen to the Porsche press conference broadcast live from the Los Angeles Auto Show starting 7:55 p.m. German Time.

2011 Porsche Sport Cars Cayman R