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Porsche shows off 918 Spyder Prototype

Filed under: Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche has officially put the finishing touches on the first prototypes of the company's 918 Spyder, complete with a black-and-white livery scheme that pays homage to the 917 racers of old. Production is set to commence in a little over a year, and the German sportscar manufacturer says buyers can look forward to taking possession of the first examples by the end of 2013. The plug-in hybrid will command a heady price tag, though. Porsche has confirmed the company will ask a whopping $845,000 per model, each with a 500 horsepower 4.0-liter V8 engine and two electric motors.

Altogether, the gas-electric drivetrain should be good for a 3.1-second 0-60 sprint and a top speed of 199 mph. Perhaps even more impressive is the news that the 918 will be able to propel itself with electric power at speeds of up to 94 mph. That little fact helps account for the news that the vehicle should be able to return around 78 miles per gallon on the EU cycle. Scroll down for the brief press release, but not before checking out the high-res gallery.
Continue reading Porsche shows off 918 Spyder Prototype
Porsche shows off 918 Spyder Prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Porsche says no baby Boxster, no rush on Pajun

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Porsche

Just days after reporting that Porsche had plans to introduce the Pajun, a competitor for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class that would slot just below the Panamera, Automotive News quoted Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller saying the Pajun was not a done deal but could become reality in five or six years.

Automotive News was referencing an interview Mueller gave to German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung, in which he also says the company has no plans for an entry-level Porsche below the Boxster until at least 2014.

"We would do no good to the brand if we were to lose traditional Porsche customers," Mueller told the newspaper. In another interview with German business publication Wirtschaftswoche, Mueller said, "Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche."
Porsche says no baby Boxster, no rush on Pajun originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Patrick Long has the best morning commute ever

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Porsche

One of the benefits of being a Porsche factory driver is that you get to get coffee for Hurley Haywood. And if you're Le Mans winner Patrick Long, according to this little spot for the Porsche Sport Driving School, you get do it from behind the wheel of a 911 GT3 and on a damp, drift-ready track.

But since Patrick Long apparently lives under a bridge, we'd like to know where he puts the troll and if he lets the three billy goats gruff pass whenever they want. And where he gets his coffee. Have a look below to see the video.
Continue reading Patrick Long has the best morning commute ever
Patrick Long has the best morning commute ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Porsche plans E-Class competitor, codename Pajun

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Porsche, Rumormill, Luxury

German car magazine Auto Bild reports Porsche is planning build a sedan that will slot below the Panamera and compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Citing no sources (so a grain of salt is recommended), the magazine claims the four-door, codenamed Pajun, will cost no less than $84,000 and be ready for production no later than 2017.

In September 2011, Car claimed the Pajun could spawn coupe, convertible and even a shooting brake variant. Back then, rumors swirled about powertrain options that included a 550-horsepower V6, 600-hp V8, plug-in hybrid and an Audi-sourced diesel.

Hopefully, Porsche is also working expeditiously to find a better name than Pajun, which in Korea is a seafood pancake, in Finnish it means willow, and, according to Google's translation, in Welsh it means - wait for it - Cajun. That's the name Porsche was using to refer to its smaller-than-Cayenne SUV before changing it to Macan in February. Clever coincidence.
Porsche plans E-Class competitor, codename Pajun originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Porsche Macan CUV takes shape

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Crossover, Porsche, Luxury

Our spy photographers have given us our first clear glimpse at the upcoming Porsche Macan. While the test machine we see here wears some Cayenne camouflage, there's little hiding the small CUV's roof line.

Based on the Audi Q5, the Macan will boast plenty of suspension tweaks by the minds at Porsche to put the crossover more in line with the sports car maker's stable. Likewise, while the Macan will borrow a host of gasoline and diesel powerplants from the Volkswagen parts bin, each one will be tuned for more horsepower than we've seen so far.

There's also some indication that Porsche may lift the hybrid system from the Q5 into the Macan's bones, as well. That means buyers would see a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder coupled to a 44-horsepower electric motor.

Porsche may also look to offer a more athletic three-door version of the Macan later down the line to more effectively compete with the likes of the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.
Porsche Macan CUV takes shape originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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