The Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG decided only a few weeks ago to put this high performance, mid-engined sports car into production. The innovative plug-in hybrid drive of the Porsche 918 Spyder produces the on-the-road performance of a purebred super sports race car, but with maximum efficiency and minimum emissions at the same time.

Source: Porsche Press Release
Photo Courtesy PCNA

Vorsteiner has released V-RT series aerodynamic & performance enhancements for the 911 Turbo.  The core focus of the V-RT series is to maximize performance by optimizing the power to weight ratio of the vehicle. This achievement is made possible by producing our aerodynamic line with state of the art dry carbon fiber vacuum technology. This technology enables Vorsteiner Carbon Fiber products to exhibit higher stiffness and strength compared to other steel and aluminum components while simultaneously reducing weight up to 40%.

V-RT Carbon Fiber Aerodynamics
The V-RT front end features a newly redesigned front bumper cover that is constructed out of carbon fiber composite (CFRP). The front bumper exhibits a performance focus with the new sporty add-on carbon fiber chin spoiler and larger duct openings to feed air into the front radiators, along with the elimination of the fog lights for improved visual styling and weight reduction. The Vorsteiner Rear Bumper and Decklid of the 911 Turbo meet the demand for performance and visual design.

The rear of the V-RT continues the same sport performance motif as the front bumper with the use of lighter carbon fiber material construction throughout the body components. The carbon fiber decklid and carbon fiber wing blade increases rear end down force, which improves handling.

To complete the light weight aerodynamic package, a replacement carbon fiber roof panel was produced which significantly improves the handling around the track while removing 55 lbs from the highest point of the vehicle

Reducing Rotational Inertia
A key component to improving acceleration, braking, and power to weight ratio are the wheels and tires you choose for your vehicle. For this reason we have coupled our lightweight carbon fiber aerodynamics with our forged 1-piece monoblock aluminum wheels and high performance Michelin PS2 sport tires.

The 1-piece and 3-piece forged wheels for Porsche 911 have a new exclusive center locking option that enables faster wheel changes and improved road performance.

For more information please visit: www.vorsteiner.com/VRT

Stuttgart/Atlanta – August 25, 2010 – Porsche factory drivers Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas  (France),  along  with  former  Porsche  factory  and  current  Audi  pilot  Mike  Rockenfeller (Germany)  -  winners  of  this  year’s  24  Hours  of  Le  Mans  -  return  to  the American Le Mans Series (ALMS)  as  teammates  in  the  Porsche  911  GT3  R  Hybrid  for  the  October  2  Petit  Le  Mans  race  at Road Atlanta.

The  innovative  Porsche  911  GT3  R  Hybrid  features  two  electric  motors  on  the  front  axles,  each developing 60 kilowatts to supplement the 480 horsepower normally-aspirated rear-mounted engine.  At  the  1,000  mile  or  ten  hour  race  (whichever  comes  first)  which  serves  as  the  finale  for  the American Le Mans Series season, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will not be eligible for points, as hybrid technology is not yet included in the GT regulations.

“Our  priorities  are  to  further  develop  the  hybrid  technology  and  to  optimize  the  fuel  consumption under racing conditions. Nevertheless, I’m very interested to see how we compare to the GT2 cars,” says Timo Bernhard.

“Nowhere is the competition in the GT segment as hard as it is here in the USA,” adds Dumas. As a driver pairing, Bernhard and Dumas have already notched up many historical victories, including the ALMS title in the LMP2 prototype class in 2007 and 2008, the overall win at the 2008 Sebring 12 Hours, as well as three overall victories at the Nürburgring 24 hour race from 2007 to 2009. In January, Rockenfeller claimed victory in a Porsche-powered Daytona Prototype at the 24 Hours at Daytona race.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, which demonstrated the potential of its groundbreaking technology over the first 22 hours and 15 minutes at this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race and led the overall classification   for   more   than   eight   hours,   exemplifies   the   philosophy   of   ”Porsche   Intelligent Performance”. Under braking, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid converts kinetic energy into electrical energy and stores it in a flywheel that spins up to 40,000 rpm. During acceleration, this energy is delivered to the front wheels, supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption, increasing the cruising range and lessens the need for refuelling pitstops.

The 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car is one of three different hybrid technologies from Porsche, and joins the Full Parallel Cayenne S Hybrid and the 918 Spyder Plug-In Hybrid concept recently announced for production.

Source: Porsche Press Release

Photos Courtesy PCNA

Since August 16, 2010, Andreas Schwarz (40) has been in charge of the emotional GEMBALLA brand. Schwarz reserved the rights of the old company that had already been broken up by liquidators and shut down, and founded a new company, GEMBALLA GmbH. The company headquarters are located at Mollenbachstraße 17 in Leonberg.

“With a totally new company and an investment of millions, we are now looking towards a secure future”, says managing director (CEO) Andreas Schwarz. The educated Swabian is a sports car expert, who has many years’ experience in upgrading and marketing luxury high-class automobiles. Together with investor Steffen Korbach, the new creator of GEMBALLA cars has made cost-efficient plans.

“As well as the rights to the name, we’ve also purchased some assets and are starting off with 22 employees”, Schwarz continues. “We plan to continue the GEMBALLA design line following the old models. We’re already working on various concepts for the Porsche Panamera and the new Porsche Cayenne among others.”

The main goal: to expand and develop the GEMBALLA brand as a manufacturer. Without facing too much time pressure. Currently, Andreas Schwarz is making plans in motor tuning and the marketing of parts such as bodykits, rims, brakes and suspension systems.

“We’ve got enormous potential in this area that can be taken advantage of – the recognition of the GEMBALLA name with its near 30-year tradition really helps”, says Andreas Schwarz.

That is why we will see automobile creations from GEMBALLA in the future – with a breath of fresh air for the brand and reliable business under the GEMBALLA name. The showroom in Leonberg is now open for customers and all interested parties.

Source: Gemballa Press Release

ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. – August 22, 2010 – Klaus Graf (Germany) could almost see the checkered flag as he wheeled his race-leading Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder around turn #12 of the 14-turn, four-mile sports car course at Road America, and then he felt a sudden loss of power.  The more powerful Lola/Judd of Johnny Cocker (England) was four seconds behind, but gaining fast, and a slower GT Challenge car was blocking Klaus’ path.

Graf had emptied the fuel tank – the team kept him out there near the end as it their only chance to win the race overall – and the charging Cocker passed him only 200 yards from the finish.

“We were saving fuel like crazy in the last 30 minutes as we were trying to complete the race with just one stop.  The yellow flags helped us out, but we knew it would be hard to hold off the former LMP1 Lola/Judd.  Still, we could have held them off if we didn’t run out of fuel, and the car started to lose power three turns from the end.  I just couldn’t hold him off, and we were barely able to make it up the hill to the finish line.  The Muscle Milk team did a great job
of rebuilding this car after Mid-Ohio, and Timo Bernhard’s stint at the start put us in a position to win.  It was great to have Greg Pickett here this weekend – he motivated all of us to succeed.  We picked up a couple of points on the Highcroft team, and we are still in the running for the championship,” said Graf.

Timo Bernhard (Germany), the Porsche factory driver who was substituting for car owner Greg Pickett, who was injured when the car crashed at Mid-Ohio two weeks ago, was also disappointed with the close second-place finished, but thought the team produced an all-out effort.

“It was a nice weekend to be here with Muscle Milk Team CytoSport. The team welcomed me really well and I got accustomed to them quickly. It’s not always easy to come in for just one race weekend but that wasn’t the case here.  At the Start, there was nothing I could do as the quicker cars on the straight overtook me. But afterwards I stayed in their reach for the first half of my stint, but, near at the end,  althoughI was starting to get a lot of oversteer, I still was able to make it to second place before my stop.  We then had a great driver change and pit stop and gained a position in the pits. Everything was going great, but unfortunately in the last corner we ran short of fuel and lost the win. It’s tough to take but you have to see the positive side of it; the team gained a little bit back in the championship points and I think we can be proud of the outcome,” said Bernhard, a two-time LMP champion in the Penske Porsche RS Spyder, including an overall win at Road America in 2007.

The reason the team was able to attempt to finish the race on one fuel stop was the frequency and length of yellow flags during the first part of the race, enabling the car to go more than one hour and 25 minutes without a pit stop to begin the race.  LMP cars normally have to stop for fuel every 65 – 75 minutes.

In the GT class, Patrick Long (USA) and Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) turned in a gritty performance to finish second in class in their Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, extending their driver points lead from eight to 18 points.  Bergmeister, who started the car from the fourth position on the grid, was not optimistic about his chances to pick off the BMW and Corvettes that qualified ahead of him.

“At the start, I lost a few positions to the other cars that were faster on the straight line. Over my stint, I was able to regain some positions; after the first stop, the car was really good.  The guys did an awesome job on the pit stops – when I turned the car over to Patrick, they got him out of the pits ahead of the No. 62 Ferrari and the No. 90 BMW and we gained several positions. A great result today and we advanced in the drivers’ championship points – now leading 119 to 101 – we’ll need everything we can get as we go into the last two races,” said Bergmeister.

The bigger-engined BMW got by Long on the re-start after the drivers change, and, while he was never able to regain the lead, he spend the last 60 minutes fighting off the Corvettes and the Ferrari to keep his position.

“This was absolutely the hardest hour of racing I’ve ever experienced.  On the final restart, we were in the lead, and it was tough watching the  BMW (the No. 90) pass me on the outside as we got to start finish.  But I knew I had to keep my head down because I had [Jan] Magnussen – Corvette, [Gianmaria] Bruni – Ferrari and [Oliver] Gavin -Corvette behind me -
three of the best road racers in the world. From there, it was about holding them back while I tried to gain on the BMW. It was an hour of the craziest lines and raw, flat-out driving – we were running at such high speeds and we were all searching for inches of racetrack to try and advance.  I’ve never been thrilled with second but I guess there’s always a first time for everything – we are all delighted with the result today,” said Long.

The two other Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs in the race also had a good showing, although the overall finishing position doesn’t tell the whole story.  The Seth Neiman/Darren Law Flying Lizard entry finished ninth in class, but had a flawless run and crossed the finish line on the same lap as the class leaders. And the Team Falken Tire Porsche of Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers finished tenth in class, but were winners of the Michelin Green X Challenge for GT cars, an award that combines performance with fuel efficiency and overall carbon footprint.

In the ALMS GT Challenge class for matched Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) and Tim Pappas (USA) scored their fourth victory of the season in their Black Swan Racing Porsche, and now have a commanding 21-point lead in the championship standings, despite the fact that they missed the opening event at Sebring and finished eighth at Long Beach.  Team owner Pappas, who has improved his racing skills since teaming with the defending Porsche Supercup champion, credits the hard work of the crew along with the experience of Bleekemolen for their success.

“He’s really helped me learn how to be a better driver, and I’ve done a better job of handing him the car in good shape to put us in a position to win.  I feel that Jeroen and our good preparation and pit work has been the key to our success,” said Pappas.

The Galen Bieker/Robert Rodriguez Porsche was second in GTC, followed by the veterans Vic Rice and Shane Lewis in third.

The next race in the American Le Mans Series will be Sunday, August 29, at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada (near Toronto).  The race will begin at 3:00 PM EDT, with the delayed, same day broadcast starting an hour later at 4:00 PM EDT (the race will be shown in its entirety).

Source: Porsche Press Release

Photos Courtesy Porsche, AG

Klaus Graf (left) and timo Bernhard (right) practice driver change in the Muscle milk Porsche RS Spyder at Road America.

ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. – August 16, 2010 — Fans of the American Le Man Series are getting the treat they thought would never be seen again after the successful Penske Racing run with the Porsche RS Spyders 2006 – 2008; Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) back in the United States reunited with the famous Weissach-built LMP prototype.

Bernhard will join the regular Muscle Milk/Team CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder driver Klaus Graf (Germany) for the upcoming race this weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., while Dumas will co-drive with Graf at Mosport International Raceway near Toronto the next weekend.

The duo will step in for Muscle Milk owner Greg Pickett who was injured in a testing crash recently at Mid-Ohio, suffering back and rib injuries, which have forced him out of the Muscle Milk car.

Round Seven of the American Le Mans Series at Road America will be telecast live by SPEED TV on Sunday, August 22, at 3:00 PM Eastern time. Live radio coverage will also be available www.americanlemans.com as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. The ALMS web site also has live timing and scoring, plus press notes for all on-track sessions, as well as steaming video of the race’s qualifying session on Saturday.

“I’m very much looking forward to driving the RS Spyder again in the USA, and of all places at Road America, one of the most beautiful race tracks in America,” said Bernhard.

“Road America has all you can ask for as a race car driver. Quick corners, long and short, elevation changes, technical corners and flat out ones. I have good memories of that track since I won there two times in the GT class and two times in LMP2. My best memory, though, was the overall victory against the LMP1 cars with the Porsche RS Spyder and Team Penske.
At Road America, the setup is important since it is a challenging racetrack with all the elevations and heavy braking zones. But I’m very confident for the race. Klaus and the entire Muscle Milk Team CytoSport have had great performances this year. And with the Porsche RS Spyder we have the right tool to be successful,” he said

Timo has great memories of the classic 4.018-mile, 14-turn sports car circuit. In 2002, he celebrated his first-ever ALMS win in the Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS (with Joerg Bergmeister), and won again with Alex Job, Joerg and Porsche in 2004. In 2006, after stepping into the Maassen/Luhr Penske Porsche RS Spyder when Penske decided to separate Sascha and Lucas for maximum championship points, Bernhard and Maassen won the LMP2 class over teammates Luhr and Ryan Briscoe. In 2007, he celebrated a commanding overall victory at the wheel of the RS Spyder, defeating the more powerful LMP1 prototypes. In the RS Spyder, Bernhard has a total 16 wins and two championship titles (with Dumas) in the American Le Mans Series from 2006 to 2008. Also, while on loan to Audi for this year’s 24 hours of Le Mans, along with Dumas and former Porsche factory driver Mike Rockenfeller, Bernhard scored his first overall win at Le Mans. He also holds overall wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring (with Penske) and the 24 Hours at Daytona (with the Racers Group).

Entering the American Le Mans Series event at Road America sitting in second place in the points standings, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport will be counting on Bernhard’s expertise aboard the Porsche RS Spyder to help them close the gap to the Highcroft Racing Honda Performance prototype which has taken a 23-point lead following the team’s absence at Mid-Ohio. The Muscle Milk squad will also be searching for a tenth podium finish in as many starts since returning to the ALMS in 2009. Last season at Road America the team finished third in-class after starting fourth on the LMP2 grid and serving a one minute and 30 second stop-and-hold penalty. This year, the team boosts an LMP2 win at Sebring and an overall win at Lime Rock.

Geoffrey Carter, team manager for Muscle Milk Team CytoSport, is anxious to get back on the track after missing the event in Ohio. He credits both his Muscle Milk crew and Porsche Motorsport for getting the car rebuilt so quickly after the crash.

“We wish Greg a speedy recovery and can’t wait to have him back in the car. Until then, we have been very fortunate for the amazing support from our partners at Porsche. Not only have they been instrumental in helping us get our car back together, but they have given us access to Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas for the next two races. These guys have championship pedigree in the Porsche RS Spyder and should make a stellar combination with Klaus. It is not every day you get to call on two guys who won this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans as your replacement drivers,” said Carter.

In GT, factory drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) will try to write another chapter in the thrilling story that has become the 2010 ALMS GT championship. As the front-runners in the fiercely-contested class, the pair wants to earn crucial points in their Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on the way to defending their 2009 title. With three races left on the calendar, the points’ leaders are facing immense pressure – but Joerg Bergmeister is staying cool and calm.

“When you have such strong opposition at every race from the likes of Ferrari, BMW and Corvette, you get used to the stress,” says the four-time Road America winner.

Understandably, Bergmeister has a soft spot for the sports car track nestled in the Wisconsin countryside.

“It’s my favorite circuit. Very fast, very hilly, very challenging. That’s just what race drivers love,” said Bergmeister.

So far this season, the Bergmeister/Long have won their races at Long Beach, Laguna Seca and Lime Rock, placing them eight points in front of the fastest Ferrari in the championship stakes. With BMW also as a contender for the title and Corvette improving at every race, the situation promises to be exciting and dramatic at Road America, where the smallest mistake costs a lot of time.

“Everything must run really smoothly, strategy included,” says Patrick Long. “We have to totally concentrate and we can’t afford to make one mistake – not in the pits nor on the track. If we can manage this, then we’ll still be on course for the title after this race.”

The points’ leaders expect support in helping Porsche with manufacturers points from two other Porsche 911 GT3 RSR racers. Darren Law (USA) and Seth Neiman (USA) pilot a Flying Lizard Motorsports entry, with works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Bryan Sellers (USA) manning the Team Falken Tire Porsche.

In the GTC class for matched Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, reigning Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) joins forces with Timothy Pappas (USA) at the wheel of a Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, with which they have already scored three victories in 2010. In a tight battle for the championship are the second and third-place teams: the TRG Porsche of Henri Richard and Andy Lally, and the Alex Job Racing Battery Tender entry of Bill Sweedler and Romeo Kapudija.

Source: Porsche Cars North America

Photos Courtesy PCNA

1972-73 Porsche 917 Interserie Spyder née 1970 Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K Coupe

San Francisco, CA – August 19, 2010 – Bonhams & Butterfields celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of its renowned motorcar auction at the sunny Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley with resounding success. Comprising a very diverse and newsworthy selection of 102 cars – of which 77 sold (a 74% sell rate). The auction represented three major collections headlined by the Michael Amalfitano collection of competition cars, which blew through all pre-sale expectations and set the tone for a buoyant two-day sale.

A world record for any Porsche sold at auction was achieved with the ex-Jurgen Neuhaus/Jurgen Barth 1972-73 European Interserie and David Hobbs/Mike Hailwood Gulf-JW Automotive team 1972-73 Porsche 917 Interserie Spyder neé 1970 Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K Coupe realizing $3,965,000. (Chassis no. 917 026 (until Le Mans 1970)/917 031)

Many other strong prices were attained for the rarest and freshest offerings, which included the ex-works, Gerhard Mitter/Lucien Bianchi Nurburgring 1000 kms-leading 1967 Porsche 910 Endurance Racing Works Coupe that sold for $797,000.
( Chassis no. 910-026 )

Ex-Works, Gerhard Mitter/Lucien Bianchi 1967 2-liter Porsche Typ 910 Endurance Racing Works Coupe

“We are very honored to have been selected to offer these incredible motorcars at auction,” says Mark Osborne, head of Bonhams’ Motoring Department. “We are very pleased with the results and the satisfaction of having met or exceeded the expectations of our discerning and growing clientele.”

Source: Bonhams Press Release

Photo Courtesy Bonhams

The Panamera Turbo Powerkit features two new turbochargers with titanium aluminum turbines, and engine management has been adapted to provide a further improvement in engine response. Maximum torque rises to 750 Nm (compared to 700 Nm in the standard production Panamera Turbo). If in Sport Plus mode, which is included in the Sport Chrono Turbo Package that is part of the Panamera Turbo Powerkit, torque rises to 800 Nm. This is an increase of 30 Nm over the standard Panamera Turbo fitted with the optional Sport Chrono Turbo Package and in Sport Plus mode.

In Sport Plus mode, the Panamera Turbo accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 3.9 sec – 0.1 sec faster than the production car. Top test track speed is 305 km/h compared with 303 km/h (188 mph) in the standard Panamera Turbo. In line with Porsche Intelligent Performance – more power with less fuel and less emissions – a Panamera Turbo with the Powerkit consumes no more fuel than the 500-horsepower production model. The official EPA fuel economy figures for the Panamera Turbo are 15 mpg city and 23 highway, and like its Panamera siblings the Panamera Turbo is not subject to the gas guzzler tax.

As a Porsche Exclusive option, the Powerkit is available next month for $21,730. Porsche Tequipment will offer the Powerkit as a retrofit upgrade beginning in November 2010.

Porsche also offers its Panamera customers its new Sport Design Package that includes a unique, exterior color painted front fascia with widened black air intake grilles. Other components include separate side skirts and the standard, exterior color rear underbody apron with diffuser and fins. Available in October 2010 as a Porsche Exclusive option or a Porsche Tequipment retrofit upgrade, the Sport Design Package is $4,590. On request, side skirts are available separately for $1,390.

Porsche also now offers the new 20-inch Panamera Sport wheels. The light alloy multi-spoke wheel is 9.5 inches wide on the front axle and 11.5 inches on the rear axle. They are available from Porsche Exclusive in GT silver metallic, black, or in the exterior car color. They also will be available from Porsche Tequipment in GT silver metallic and black.

The Panamera Turbo Powerkit is only available on the Panamera Turbo. The Sport Design Package and the Panamera Sport Wheels are available on all Porsche Panamera models (Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo). Pricing varies by model.

Since its U.S. introduction in October 2009, the Panamera has received numerous awards and recognition. The Panamera Turbo was named Playboy Magazine’s 2010 Car of the Year. Others include an Edmunds Inside Line Editors’ Most Wanted Award, inclusion in Edmunds.com’s Top Recommended Vehicles list, two Car and Driver Editors Choice Awards (Sports Sedans and Luxury Sedans), inclusion in kbb.com’s list of 2010 Top 10 Road Trip Cars, Bloomberg Car of the Year, the Most Inspired Design award in Ward’s Auto Interior of the Year competition, About.com Cars Best New Cars of 2010, and NADAguides.com’s Car of the Month for January 2010.

Source: Porsche Press Release

Photos Courtesy PCNA

Sixty Years of Porsche Fun, Sixty Fun Facts About Porsche

Throughout Porsche’s 60-year history in America, Porschephiles of all ages have delighted in uncovering and sharing the intriguing details that have always differentiated their favorite automotive marque. Along the way, they’ve also added uniquely American trivia to this ever – growing collection of fun facts – such as the date of the first-ever Porsche Parade (August 29, 1956, Washington, D.C.).

To celebrate this anniversary year, here is just a small sampling from the thousands of memorable moments, local lore and historic achievements that fill the Porsche history book:

1. The 1898 Lohner-Porsche Elektromobil was the first car in the world with brakes on all four wheels.

2. Prof. Ferdinand Porsche chauffeured Archduke Franz Ferdinand in a Lohner-Porsche in 1902.

3. During WWI, Prof. Ferdinand Porsche designed heavy transport vehicles: flatbed trailers with the wheels powered by individual hub-motors.

4. Beutler Carrosserie turned closed 356s into open ones – completing its first custom cabriolet in 1947, three years before Porsche came to America and a full seven years before the 356 Speedster was introduced.

5. U.S. importer Max Hoffman displayed the first U.S. Porsches in his New York City showroom by late 1950.

6. In 1952, US auto maker Studebaker contracted Porsche to develop a new car and engine.

7. Hoffman conducted Porsche 356 test drives on Park Avenue, an accomplishment that could not be proficiently duplicated today.

8. Hoffman’s Porsche dealer showroom was designed by famous Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is now a modern office building with a Mercedes-Benz dealer on the street level. Hoffman also contracted Wright to build his home in Rye, NY.

9. In addition to importing the first Porsche models to the United States, Max Hoffman also raced Porsches. Several of Porsche’s initial U.S. racing victories can be attributed to him.

10. Hoffman is also credited for the birth of the Porsche Speedster, with the intention of producing a lower-cost Porsche to compete with the Austin Healey 100, Triumph TR-2 and MG models in the United States.

11. In 1952, Hollywood dealer John von Neumann wanted to race a Porsche, so he ordered a 356 without paint or upholstery to modify it himself.

12. The Porsche logo/crest was designed in 1952 on Dr. Ferry Porsche’s napkin as he sat opposite U.S. importer Max Hoffman in a New York restaurant.

13. In the original 356 Speedster, a tachometer was not standard, nor were padded seats, sun visors or heaters.

14. An exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in 1953 featured 10 automobiles, including a 1952 Porsche 1500 Super.

15. The first Porsche to appear at the New York Auto Show was in 1954 and was called “a snappy Porsche roadster.”

16. The Porsche Club of America was founded in 1955, only five years after Porsche was introduced to the United States.

17. The word “Continental” appeared on the side of the 1955 Porsche Coupe and Cabriolet, but only in North America.

18. The Porsche of America Corporation was founded in 1956, taking over national representation of the brand from Max Hoffman.

19. The inaugural Porsche Parade took place in greater Washington D.C. on August 29, 1956.

20. The first appearance of a Porsche at the historic 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race was in 1956, piloted by Hans Herrmann.

21. One of the first U.S. Porsche brochures in the 1950s featured a pair of woman’s gloves on the cover with a set of Porsche keys. The tagline read: “The keys to miles of pleasure . . . ”

22. British automotive weekly publication Autocar became the first outlet to test a Porsche in April 1956, a Porsche 356.

23. The first Porsche series-produced roadster was aptly named the America Roadster for its intentional distribution entirely within the United States. It was completely unpublicized in Europe and only 16 models were ever built.

24. The first vertical-drive German inline engine was displayed at the 1958 New York Auto Show along with several other “firsts”, including the first diesel outboard motor.

25. Jean Behra drove the first single-seat Porsche race car in the 1958 Formula 2 race at Rheims, France.

26. The “D” in the 1959 “Speedster D” takes its name from the Drauz Factory of Heibronn.

27. The 1950s Porsche airplane engine (based on the 356s 1.6 L) could power a helicopter when mounted vertically.

28. Rear seats, headlights, and higher bumpers were the prime accessories fitting a new Porsche in 1960. The starting price for one of these new models was a whopping $3,400.

29. Porsche withdrew from the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in 1960 in protest over organizers requesting that the manufacturer use a particular brand of gasoline.

30. Porsche’s production of diesel tractors peaked in 1960/61 with 150,000.

31. The first American citizen to win a Formula One Championship victory at a U.S. track while driving a Porsche was Dan Gurney in 1961.

32. Dan Gurney also won Porsche’s first world championship Grand Prix victory at Rouen, France in 1962.

33. The 911 was originally the 901, until Peugeot informed Porsche of its trademark rights on cars named with a “0″ between two numbers.

34. At the end of its production in 1965, Porsche 356 models were being produced exclusively for the American market.

35. 1966 was the first full production years for the 900 series Porsches and one-half was shipped to the United States, while one-quarter stayed in West Germany.

36. The 907 prototype, developed in winter 1966/67, was the first Porsche to go faster than 300 km/hr (186 mph).

37. In 1967, a Targa version of the popular-selling 911 model was introduced. It included a stainless-steel rollbar to provide a solution to suspicions that the United States would outlaw open-top convertibles.

38. Porsche’s 914/4 model was sold as the “VW-Porsche” in Europe but only had the Porsche crest in the United States.

39. More than 100 dealerships marked the increasing popularity of Porsche models in the United States by opening simultaneously on November 1, 1969.

40. The 1970 Porsche 914 was initially ruled as unsafe for driving in the United States because it lacked proper side marker lights on its front end.

41. The first ever Porsche “drivers’ school”, a precursor to the current Porsche Sport Driving School, was conducted on May 29, 1971 at Mitchell Field, Long Island, NY.

42. The 1975 Silver Anniversary limited edition was built in both coupe and Targa body form, painted in diamond-silver metallic and individually numbered starting with

43. For the 1976 912E, “E” stands for Einspritzung, meaning “fuel injection,” because the car had Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection.

44. The 924/944 water-cooled Porsche models were designed by an American, Tony Lapine.

45. The first few Porsche 924 Turbos to come to the United States had black and white-checkered flag fabric on the seat inserts and door panels.

46.Porsche partnered briefly with Indianapolis 500 racing in 1980 for the first time in its long motorsports history on the Formula One racing circuit.

47. The Interscope Porsche, developed for racing in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1980, was originally unveiled at a press conference at Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York City.

48. The enduring success of the 911 model is owed to American CEO Peter Schutz, who in 1980, after seeing the proposed end of production in 1981 on a chart, extended the line with a marker and told Helmuth Bott to “make it happen.”

49. It is largely believed that Peter Schutz was selected as CEO of Porsche from 1981 to 1986 because as an American, it was hoped that he would revive dwindling U.S. 911.

50. The success at the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1981 is due to combining chassis from three 936 models with experimental engines developed for U.S. Indy Car racing.

51. Porsche began promoting vacation delivery in 1982: order the car in the United States, take delivery in Europe, drive around the continent and return the car to the factory to have it shipped home

52. The Porsche 928 in the film Risky Business is actually a total of four cars ranging in years from 1979-1981. Each car had different options such as interior colors, wheel designs and even paint colors. The production crew had to be very careful about which part of the cars they filmed to make it look like only one vehicle was used in the movie.

53. Al Holbert set a FIA international class speed record while driving a stock 928 S4 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1986. His speed: 171.110 mph.

54. Porsche 911 engines were air-cooled for an astounding 34 years before switching to a water-cooled format in 1998 to meet increasingly stringent environmental rules and Porsche’s desire to provide more power while reducing fuel consumption.

55. In 1992 it took 125 hours to build a Porsche 911. By 1994 the factory was down to 80 hours, thus reducing the cost of the cars.

56. The Porsche 911 RS entered the United States in 1993. The “RS” stands for “Rennsport,” German for “race sport” or racing. It had no sunroof, A/C, backseat or power steering.

57. Porsche was the first auto manufacturer to make passenger air bags available, optional or standard.

58. The names for both the 911 Carrera and the new Panamera Gran Turismo came from Mexico’s historic Carrera Panamericana race, where Porsche scored many victories.

59. Notable past and current American celebrities who are or were Porsche enthusiasts include James Dean, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Ralph Lauren, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and Patrick Dempsey.

60. The correct pronunciation of Porsche is “Porsch-eh.”

Source: Porsche Cars North America
Photos Courtesy PCNA

After being shipped over from Germany by plane, engineers handed the keys of the new 918 Spyder Hybrid to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car drove under its own power which comes from the mid mounted 3.4 liter V8 out of the RS Spyder as well as in all electric mode which powers just the front wheels.

The 918 Spyder prototype combines high-tech racing features and electro-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities: An emission level of just 70 grams CO2 per kilometre on fuel consumption of three litres/100 kilometres (equal to 94 mpg imp) truly outstanding even for an ultra-compact city car, on the one hand, combined with the performance of a super sports car and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph) plus, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT, on the other.
Source: tangentvector