Check out the Dell Store on CNETOne of the few European sports cars at the 2009 International Auto Show in San Francisco that people were allowed to get behind the wheel of was the 2010 Porsche Boxster S. I had to get in on the act, and I must tell you that all I wanted to do was punch the gas pedal and go for a joyride. And for those of us who may never get such an opportunity, here's a video of the 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder in action on the roadway. Boy, what a sweet view it is.
This new Boxster model is a few hundred pounds lighter than its predecessors to optimize its performance, yet it retains its midengine design and high-end sports car sensibility. But, alas, this video is not about the 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder's statistics--it's all about its aesthetics. As you can tell, this Porsche is poetry in motion against a backdrop of green and mountainous highways. The swiftness of the Boxster Spyder can easily be felt merely by watching a video clip of this car in action, and you'll only wish that you were behind the wheel feeling the wind rushing against your face in this fine automobile. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
The Porsche Boxster Spyder borrows design elements from a bygone era.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Sport car companies enjoy the luxury of pushing design to the extreme, putting issues such as passenger comfort and cargo area aside. At the Los Angeles Auto Show we found a selection of new car designs that are as beautiful as they are impractical. Porsche showed up with a convertible that makes it more difficult to lower the top than in its other models. Lotus' newest car may be more accessible than its previous models, but you will still need the moves of a break-dancer to get inside. And the second generation of the Spyker C8 Aileron takes car design into the world of art.
Check out all these cars, and a special eco convertible, in our slideshow.
I finally made it out to the 52nd Annual International Auto Show at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco yesterday, and I'm sure glad that I made the trip. Today is the final day of the show that started over this last Thanksgiving weekend, and in case you can't or didn't make it out to the Moscone to see it all in person, here's an in depth highlight reel to show some of what you may have missed.
Yes, I know the soundtrack to this clip is kinda annoying, but this web video is quite comprehensive in covering many vehicles and manufacturers who participated in this year's show in San Francisco including the Porsche 911, Lamborghini Murcielago, Audi R8, BMW, a few Chryslers (for whatever that's worth), auto racing vehicles and more. This video includes a few of my faves from this year's event and it also leaves out several personal highlights that I will be spotlighting for the next few or more blogs, so get ready
Dear readers, while I am a current resident of the great state of California, I will always consider Dayton, Ohio, to be home sweet home. And while it's unfortunate that I am unable to make it home for the Thanksgiving holiday, I have this cute little Web video to remind me of the good-ol' Midwest as CarAndDriver.com takes the 2010 Porsche Panamera for a 24-hour tour of Dayton and its surrounding suburban Ohio neighbors.
The premise here is that the CarAndDriver.com guys are going to take turns driving the 2010 Porsche Panamera sport sedan all around the Dayton, Ohio region nonstop for 24 hours to see what they think about driving the car and being in it for an extended period of time. The reviews and comments are generally positive, with many of the test drivers rating the Porsche Panamera with high regards. But what makes this clip special to me is all the beautiful architecture and green scenery of rural Ohio, reminding me so much of home. If you are able to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with your family, please do so and let your loved ones know that you cherish these times together. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
If you're a Porsche fan, I'm sure you may have a curiosity about how these revered automobiles are made. I'm in the same boat as you, and I found this neat little video that puts you right on the production line and watch these fine German assembly workers work their magic in putting together the much-talked about 2010 Panamera - Porsche's very first sedan model.
Unfortunately there's no real audio or narration to help guide us through this process, but I have been able to discern a few details about what you see going on in this video. Porsche has done everything possible to make the Panamera as light as possible but still maintain the sports car power that it is known for. Instrumental to that notion and the sports car handling of this car is due to its unique make of advanced steel, aluminum and magnesium as well as the centrally placed V8 engine that sits as low and far back under the hood as possible. Also throughout this video we get to see everything from the installation of the bi-xenon headlights, the doors, the leather upholstery, the bucket seats and more. It's neat - check it out.
I was doing research for last week's blog about the gas guzzlin' class of 2010 automobiles, and along the way I had read some not-so-positive notes about the 2010 Porsche Cayenne GTS and its rather low gas to mileage ratio. That's too bad; it looks nice on the outside.
Also along the way I began picking up some articles about the 2010 Porsche Panamera, which reportedly marks the German auto maker's first stab at designing and manufacturing a sedan. But if you're thinking that Porsche has traded in horsepower for childproof locks and wood panels, you couldn't be farther away from the truth.
What Porsche has done with the Panamera is put together a sedan with a faux-hatchback rear that still maintains Porsche's signature body style and plenty of kick under the hood. The basic Panamera's V8 revs up in the neighborhood of 400 or so horses, but the twin turbo is said to clock in at more than 500 horsepower--try that in your station wagon! And don't forget about the Panamera's 28 luxury options all at your fingertips. Price tag? I'll let you speculate on that; all I know is I can't afford it.
This exceptional Web video comes from the car geeks at Edmunds.com as they have fun-fun-fun on the Autobahn along the beautiful Bavarian mountains. The driving environment is almost as breathtaking as seeing the Panamera hugging the curves and blasting through the fog. You can tell by the headlights that it's a Porsche, but only once it passes would you say to yourself, "Whoa, was that a Porsche with four doors? Is the world off its axis or what?" Stranger things have happened my friend, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Space-age design: The mPower Emergency Illuminator is set to hit stores in March, 2010.
(Credit: mPower)Flashlights are becoming more and more sophisticated, as well as rather expensive. Case in point: the upcoming mPower Emergency Illuminator, which made its press debut this week at an event in New York. Designed by the Porsche Design Studio to be "a stylish product with emergency utility, it will cost somewhere between $250 and $300 when it comes out in March of 2010.
Aside from the fetching design, the mPower Emergency Illuminator boasts some innovative battery technology. One battery "tube" stores two CR123 batteries, while the other has what's called an OnCommand Reserve Battery that the company says has a minimum 20-year shelf life and will deliver "power on command when and where you need it."
While the special reserve battery isn't rechargeable and will wear down if you use the flashlight a lot, it will never degrade just sitting around in its tube. In other words, you could never turn this torch on for years, and it would still work the moment you need it--according to mPower. Replacing the backup battery will cost you around $25, though that price may go up with inflation over the years.
It's also worth noting that the flashlight has a built-in USB port for charging cell phones and other gadgets. If there's juice available from the CR123 batteries, your device will draw power from them; if not, it will charge up via the backup battery.
Comments? Would you rather have this model or the battery-free LED quick charging flashlight from 5.11 Tactical?
With 983 firm orders at launch, Porsche's new four-door Panamera is breathing life into the brand and will help the company record flat or slightly increased sales this year, said Michael Bartsch, COO of Porsche Cars North America.
"We now have a new level of floor traffic and inquiry, and there is a multiplier effect," Bartsch said in an interview. "This is bringing a level of business back to the dealerships and is allowing them to start the process of recovering."
Porsche's overall sales in the United States were down 32 percent to 14,310 units through September after declining 25 percent in all of 2008 to 26,035 units.
Bartsch expects to receive about 1,200 Panameras in the United States this year, with about 200 kept as demonstrator models. Next year, Porsche plans to produce 20,000 Panameras, and the U.S. market is to get 4,000 to 6,000.
Bartsch won't forecast Panamera sales in the United States in 2010 because of uncertain market conditions.
In 2008, Bartsch said sales of passenger cars that range in price between $80,000 and $100,000 totaled 25,756 units. This year, he said sales in that category will come in at about 19,000.
"This market is still extremely volatile," Bartsch said. "Panamera competes against the Mercedes-Benz S class, BMW 7 series, Audi A8 and the Maserati Quattraporte."
The Panamera went on sale October 17 in the United States. Prices start at $90,775, including shipping. Because the sedan is a first for the brand, Panamera is being advertised on TV--a rarity for Porsche, which normally sticks with print ads, the Internet, and motorsports to promote its high-performance cars.
On October 15, Porsche began airing a TV spot called "Welcome to the Family," as part of a campaign that includes print, Internet, direct mail, and dealer promotions.
In addition to the advertising campaign, 197 of Porsche's 202 dealers are launching the Panamera with lavish parties, often partnering with upscale retailers or magazines.
(Source: Automotive News)
The Panamera featured in this promo video rolled into dealerships this weekend.
The four-passenger sports car is available with two engine options, a 400-horsepower, 4.8-liter V-8 and a 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged version of the same block, that goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds flat.
The Panamera is positioned to compete with to the Audi A8, BMW M5 and 7 Series, Maserati Quattroporte, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG's retro design evokes the 300 SL.
(Credit: CNET)
With all the very expensive new cars being unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show, you would think the economy never went into recession. It did, and yet here they are, a parade of new automotive objects of lust from the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, and Rolls-Royce. Some emphasize sport, some luxury, but all have way more of each than your standard economy sedan.
Leading the parade is the spectacular new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a monster of a supercar with retro styling evoking the gull-winged 300 SL. Porsche shows off a couple of 911s, the styling only slightly updated but big improvement where it counts: in the engine, transmission, and suspension. Ferrari comes up with a replacement for the F430, managing to improve on that already fantastic supercar. And then there's Abarth, which offers up a tribute to Ferrari in the form of a heavily modified Fiat 500.
A number of convertibles follow, the tops chopped off of an Audi R8, Lamborghini Reventon, and Maserati GranTurismo. And finally, a couple of stately sedans from Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce take the floor.
