Not only is Flying Lizard offering a discount to PorschePurist readers on all their excellent gear (see the second half of this post for more details), they are offering our readers a chance at a private and intimate “behind the scenes tour” of the Flying Lizard Paddock. If you’re a Porsche race fan and plan on attending this year’s ALMS series premiere at the Mobil1 12 Hours of Sebring then don’t miss this chance of a lifetime!

Flying Lizard’s Team Manager, Eric Ingraham, will lead a small group of PorschePurist’s readers on a tour of the Flying Lizard Paddock for a chance to see what really happens as a world class race team prepares for one of the biggest races of the season. In order to keep the tour as intimate and detailed as possible, we want to limit the group to just ten (10). This way, not only can we tour the paddock areas, but we may also enter and explore the trailers*, view the cars, meet more of the team and possibly, just possibly some of the drivers (but no promises).

The tour will be on Thursday the 18th of March from 5:15 pm to 5:45 pm. If you are interested in taking part in this exclusive behind the scenes look, and plan on being at Sebring Thursday afternoon, then here’s what you need to do. Simply respond to this post in a comment below letting us know you want to attend – make sure you fill out the form completely to include a good email address (Read this post for help on commenting if you need it). We will then randomly pick the winners and contact each one of you individually by Monday the 15th.

At first we were going to select contest winners from first responders, but that gives an unfair advantage to those of you who receive our newsletter via RSS vs. email. For those of you who do get PorschePurist via email, make sure you click through to the site to leave a comment on the post (don’t simply reply to your newsletter email).

As the attendance is so very limited -and exclusive access to the paddock like this so rare – please, please, please only enter if you are 100% sure you can make it! If you have other questions just let us know.

Now about that discount for the Flying Lizard Merchandise

Last, but definitely not least, is a 10% discount on all Flying Lizard Merchandise. This discount is available to any and all PorschePurist.com reader between March 11, 2010 and March 18, 2010. Simply enter “PorschePuristSebring″ (it IS case sensitive) on the first page of your cart and the savings will be automatically applied!

Remember, the discount code “PorschePuristSebring” gets you 10% off all Flying Lizard Merchandise and is only good online. We recently received a bunch of Flying Lizard Gear and were impressed with the overall quality. Included in our bag of swag was a woman’s hoodie for me and a couple of co-branded items for John.

What’s co-branded? These items (such as the Casual Dress shirt and the Team Cap) are branded with both the Porsche Motorsports and the Flying Lizard logos. It’s a great way to show your loyalty to our favorite automotive marque and racing team at the same time. We’ll give you a full review on Flying Lizard Gear in our next post.

For now, enjoy the saving, good luck with the contest and I hope to see you at Sebring!

Related Porsche Posts
Interview with Flying Lizard Joerg Bergmeister
Interview with Flying Lizard Patrick Long

*The Fine Print: It’s possible some areas of the paddock may be unavailable during our tour if their is any proprietary race set-up taking place or anything else that must remain behind closed doors for competitive reasons. Regardless, it will be a very exciting tour.

[Photo Credit: Flying Lizard Paddock by Andrew Granieri]

Anyway, Mike decided to sign up for a month of iRacing and the email below are his thoughts. Mike will tell you right out that he’s not a racer. What he is, is a world class gamer. So his review comes from that point of view.

“I can tell this is the real deal because I can’t keep my damn car off the wall. The experience seems very accurate but at the same time, very difficult. I figured out their problem….and yes, it is theirs, not mine. The delta between accuracy and overall experience is all in the seat of your pants. To properly control a car, real or dead-on accurate simulation, I need to rely on ALL senses. With iRacing I have my ears, (but the audio kinda sucks) eyes and tactile senses. The force feedback wheel enhances things a bit, but to truly control a car, you need to feel it in the seat. Feel the G’s. Feel the give of the car. Feel the torque so you know when it is about to break traction. Without that all you get is over-steer, slide, spin, grass, wall and finally a car with a gimpy wheel that handles worse than before. I think they were over ambitious with accuracy and forgot to consider the differences between a real car and a sim.

Games like the Need For Speed series, Forza, Grid and Gran Turismo give you a great simulation / gaming experience because they know it needs to be fun, so they make up for what you lack through more forgiving handling and driver assists while still giving you a good feel for car performance and track characteristics. I did learn something about myself as it relates to this. I do it for fun, and not necessarily for a challenge so iRacing is not for me. I found my line so to speak.

They do have a unique approach to this. It is every bit what real racing is. The logistics of race events are there. The ethics and expectations mirror real racing organizations, and the rewards and penalties are real enough to influence behavior. They have a code of conduct as if it were real-world, but use a demerit system against your license when you drive badly, risk yourself or others and cause damage. Points go against you and effects your ability to compete in certain events with other classes of driver. The level of detail all aims toward a professional experience both on and off track. [Most likely] a real racer would love this but might agree on my points of simulation vs. real.”

Mike’s review may sound negative, but in reality, it’s a compliment to the designers of the system and their intent to make it as true to life as possible. What say you?

How many of you are signed up with iRacing and what do you think? Does it truly give you the real feel of a race car? What are you using for a racing set-up? Force feedback wheel? More? Let us know because next week we’ll look at sim racing with a set-up as close to the real thing as possible from someone with hours and hours of seat time racing the real thing.

Related Porsche Posts
Can Driving Games Help Improve Your Track Skills?

[Source: Mike Sirois and 993C4S]

Meanwhile, if you’re not able to keep up with each Porsche Motorsport post here on PorschePurist.com and would prefer a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the world of Porsche Motorsport, there is no better way to stay in touch than by reviewing the monthly Porsche Motorsport Newsletter. Filled with interesting facts and figures about past and upcoming races, along with changes to team and crew, the Porsche Motorsport Newsletter is an easy way to keep up-to-date on this year’s racing activities.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid: Porsche Intelligent Performance

110 years ago, Ferdinand Porsche developed the first vehicle with hybrid drive. Porsche now takes up this visionary concept in racing with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The race car, which contests the Nürburgring 24 Hours, features a 480 hp boxer rear engine, plus two electric motors on the front axle. Charged during braking, each flywheel generator supplies 60 kW (ca. 80 hp). An intelligent electronic control utilizes the stored energy predominantly to reduce fuel consumption. When overtaking, drivers can call up this additional power for six to eight seconds at the press of a button. On March 2nd, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid celebrated its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Porsche Fitness Camp: Sweat for Success

On the island of Fuerteventura Porsche works drivers as well as Porsche Junior Marco Holzer conducted their annual intensive fitness training. Firstly, they underwent a performance analysis in Potsdam University’s sports medicine department as well as a very thorough physical examination. Seven hours of weight and endurance training were scheduled daily. Sports medicine specialist Prof. Dr. Frank Mayer: “Even prior to the training, all drivers were in extremely good physical condition. Thanks to the particularly intensive program they now head into the new season with an extra boost in fitness.”

American Le Mans Series: Test-Fest in Sebring with Record Turnout

Four 911 GT3 RSR, an RS Spyder and seven 911 GT3 Cup: With twelve race cars, Porsche customers made up the largest contingent at the ALMS winter tests in Sebring (22/23 February), which with 28 vehicles marked a record number of participants. As reigning champions in the GT2 class, Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long will be joined by Marc Lieb to compete with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports. The driver pairing Wolf Henzler/Bryan Sellers pilots a GT3 RSR for the Falken Tire team for the first time. Jeroen Bleekemolen joins up with team-owner Tim Pappas in Black Swan Racing’s GT3 RSR. Richard Lietz joins regulars Darren Law and Seth Neiman in the second Lizard Porsche. Greg Pickett, team principal of Cytosport Racing, runs an RS Spyder. He shares the cockpit with Klaus Graf. Sascha Maassen lends the team support at three races. The seven 911 GT3 Cup vehicles race in the GT Challenge class. Season-opening: 20th March, Sebring.

UAE GT Championship: René Rast Beats Points’ Leader

Pole position, fastest lap and victory: With an immaculate performance, René Rast had the upper hand at the fifth of eight races in the UAE GT Championship on the last weekend in February. In the cockpit of a Mühlner Motorsport Cytech Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S, the reigning Carrera Cup Deutschland champion put a stop to Corvette pilot Karim Al Azhari’s four-race winning streak on the Yas Marina Circuit. Supercup ace Sean Edwards took the flag as third in an ARM Porsche.

European FIA GT Championship: Strong 911 GT3 R contingent

Three top teams plan to bring the 480 hp 911 GT3 R to contest the European FIA GT3 Championship: The Belgian ProSpeed Competition team – 2009 GT2 champions with Porsche – as well as Mühlner Motorsport (Belgium) and Trackspeed Racing from England.

Central American & Caribbean Racing: Four starts, four wins, champions

Putting in an immaculate performance, Jacinto Peynado from the Dominican Republic won the Campeonato Centroamericano y del Caribe de Automovilismo 2009, central America’s most important race series. The Porsche dealer prevailed in the 911 GT3 Cup at the first two races and also proved unbeatable at the last two races.

Matmut Carrera Cup France: Heading for Le Mans 24 Hours

The Matmut Carrera Cup France celebrates the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s first overall victory at Le Mans with a very special event. Several hours before the start of the 24 hour race (12 June), a championship round of the popular race series, now in its 24th year, takes place for the first time on the “big” circuit. Also on the calendar of the 2010 Matmut Carrera Cup France are traditional tracks like Spa, Monza and Magny-Cours.

GT3 Cup Challenge Australia: “Man the lifeboats” at season-opening Bathurst

Torrential downpours at the season-opening round of the GT3 Cup Challenge Australia (12/13 February) at Bathurst, about 200 kilometres west of Sydney: In the first corner, the Porsches of reigning champion Matt Kingsley and vice-champ Sven Burchartz touched, punting both into retirement. Only two clear laps were possible before pole-sitter Rodney Forbes saw the flag as winner. Race two was cancelled due to flooding on the track.

GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East: Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal clear favourite

With four rounds still to run in the GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal (Saudi Arabia) already looks set to become champion after claiming three wins from the last four races in Abu Dhabi (5/6 and 20/21 February). Prince Khalid Al Faisal ranks second. Sheikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa celebrated his first GT3 Cup Challenge win at the seventh round (20th February).

GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand: Craig Baird well on way to sixth title

With just three championship rounds left on the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand calendar (19-21 March, Taupo), five-time champion Craig Baird is on course for another title. Notching up two third positions and a fifth place on the Manfeild Motor Racing Circuit (12/14 February), the 39-year-old earned himself further points. Matt Halliday, 2009 Supercup Rookie of the Year and Baird’s toughest rival, experienced a weekend of mixed fortunes: Unbeatable in qualifying, third was his best result.

Carrera Cup Great Britain: Record-setting man and team to compete

Tim Harvey is unstoppable: With Red Line Racing, the 48-year-old professional contests his eighth full Carrera Cup season. During this time, the 2008 champion and triple vice-champion has secured 24 race wins. Harvey, however, faces plenty of opposition: Motorbase Performance plan to bring a record six 911 GT3 Cup racers. Parker Racing with 2009 champion Tim Bridgman, as well as the Celtic Speed squad also take up the challenge. Porsche Cars Great Britain takes care of its motorsport customers in its new motorsport centre and at the race track from the 1st March.

Porsch Race notes

• Five young race drivers are excited about being chosen as “Porsche Motorsport Talents”: Niall Breen (23, Ireland), Jono Lester (20, New Zealand), Tim Sandtler (22, Germany), Harald Schlegelmilch (22, Latvia) and Ferdinand Stuck (18, Germany) asserted themselves over tough competition and will be supported in their 2010 campaign in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup or Carrera Cup Deutschland.

Related Porsche Posts
Cayenne Powered Porsche Wins at Daytona
Flying Lizard Motorsport Merchandise
Porsche Motorsport Newsletter: 2010 Volume 1

[Source: PCNA]

The Porsche 918 Spyder concept combines high-tech racing features with electric-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities. Faster than a Porsche Carrera GT, it offers the performance of a super sports car with acceleration from a standstill to 60 mph in under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 198, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes. At the same time, planned emission levels of just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer on fuel consumption of approximately 78 mpg U.S., is off the charts, and better by far than today’s ultra-compact city cars and hybrids.

Innovative Powertrain Combines Race-Bred V8 Engine with Electric Drive

This open two-seater is powered by a high-revving V8 developing more than 500 horsepower and a maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm – as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower (160 kW).

The V8 combustion engine is the next step in the evolution of the highly successful 3.4-liter power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned mid-ship, in front of the rear axle, giving the car excellent balance and the right set-up for supreme performance on the race track.

Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that feeds the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a fixed transmission ratio.

The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. A further point is that the car’s kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes, thus providing additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.

Four Distinct Driving Modes

A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles. In the Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.

The Sport Hybrid mode uses both drive systems, but with the focus on performance. Most of the drive power goes to the rear wheels, with Torque Vectoring serving to additionally improve the car’s driving dynamics.

In the Race Hybrid mode the drive systems are focused on pure performance with the highest standard of driving dynamics on the track, running at the limit to their power and dynamic output. With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance.

With the hybrid drive system offering this wide range of individual modes and applications, the 918 Spyder is able either to achieve lap times comparable to those of a thoroughbred racing car, or the extremely low emissions and high fuel economy figures of a plug-in hybrid.

Advanced body structure and design offer more than just good looks

Like the drivetrain, the lightweight body structure of the Porsche 918 Spyder also bears out the car’s DNA carried over directly from motorsport: The modular structure with its monocoque bodyshell made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFP) and liberal use of magnesium and aluminum not only reduce weight to below 1,490 kg, or 3,285 lb, but also ensure supreme driving precision thanks to a high level of torsional stiffness.

Reminiscent of highly successful, legendary racing cars such as the Porsche 917 and the current Porsche RS Spyder, the 918 Spyder, with its design concept so typical of Porsche arouses powerful emotions. The combination of racing car dimensions, clearly structured design with perfectly balanced surfaces, and innovative details throughout, creates an ideal synthesis of form and function – following Porsche’s design DNA.

The smooth balance of tradition and progress gives the car a powerful stance on the road. Variable aerodynamics, typical of Porsche, ensures both visionary and traditional highlights especially around the rear spoiler. The striking rear hoods extending out of the headrests, in turn, not only fulfill an aerodynamic function on the 918 Spyder, but also accommodate retractable air intakes with a ram air function.

High-tech Interior Provides Glimpse into the Future

The driver and passenger are not only embedded in contoured sports bucket seats but also form part of the cockpit, which provides a synthesis of efficient functionality and ergonomic high-tech operation. Additionally, the cockpit offers a glimpse at the potential interior architecture of future Porsche super sports cars. The three free-standing circular dials for road speed (left), engine speed (middle) and energy management (right) would appear to come directly from a racing car in the ‘60s, bearing out that unique philosophy of driver orientation so characteristic of Porsche.

The center console rises up towards the front in the 918 Spyder and houses a touch screen for intuitive control of the car’s functions, serving to reduce the number of visible controls and maintain the principle of direct operation.

The control units relevant to the driver are mainly concentrated on the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, while the variable driving modes are supplemented by a switch enabling the driver to call up various drive programs and serving as the push-to-pass button for E-boosting. Instrument illumination, finally, varies from green for the consumption-oriented running modes to red for the performance-oriented driving programs.

The Porsche 918 Spyder concept also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance. In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.

Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.

Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long electric range, the Porsche 918 Spyder concept represents an essential milestone in Porsche’s strategy on the way to genuine electric-mobility.

Related Porsche Posts
Video Introduction the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept
2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid
Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Race Car
Will the Cayenne Save Porsche from Cafe?

[Source: PCNA]

The post below has pictures and specs of the Porsche 918 Sypder!

Related Porsche Posts
Porsche Goes Back to the Future with the 918 Spyder Concept – spec and pictures

[Source: Porsche on YouTube]

Case in point was a recent visit to our friends at the Road Scholars. Every trip to see Kevin and Cam is a memorable experience due to the many incredible Porsches that pass through their hands for both restoration and sale. What we weren’t expecting to find was a uniquely modified Porsche 914 parked in the rear of their shop. In fact, it was only from a quick glance through a back window that we happened to notice an extended rear-end where we weren’t expecting to see one. A Porsche 914 pick-up truck – really? We had to know more.

Porsche 914 Pick-up Truck is the Love Child of Renowned Metal Fabricators and a Massive Porsche Salvage Yard

Dick Troutman walked into the Aase Brother’s shop in southern California to buy a Porsche 914-6 they had for sale and told co-owner Dave Aase that he was interested in making a pick-up out of it.

For those of you unfamiliar with him, Dick Troutman is one half of a team (his partner is Tom Barnes) known for their success at building sports cars for amateur road racing in the 1950s. While probably best known for their Scarab body creations, Troutman and Barnes were intimately familiar with Porsche as well – having built many other custom creations including Porsche “poopers”, and a four dour 911 among others.

Recognizing a good opportunity when he saw one Dave Aase sold the 914-6 to Troutman and asked if he would mind constructing an additional pick-up for he and his partner/brother (Dennis) out of their 1972 914. Troutman obliged and the result is the Porsche 914 featured in this post.

The Aase Brother’s used the 914 pick-up as a shop truck to transport all sorts of parts for their dismantling business. Dave remembers that a VW magazine did a feature on the pick-up, and had a full page spread with Renee Vaughn (adult entertainer) posing on the car. The pick-up was painted brown at the time and had Aase Brother’s business advertised on the rear quarters.

Road Scholars acquired the car from a Porsche collector who walked into the Aase Brother’s shop in the mid ’80’s and had to have the freshly painted 914 pick-up. As you can see from the many pictures below, the execution of the metal work to construct the pick-up bed is fantastic and a true statement of Troutman’s skill level.

Road Scholars has no intention of selling their unique Porsche 914 pick-up. In fact, they intend to use the truck as the original owners did, as a shop truck for their restoration business. As Road Scholars co-owner Cam Ingram says, “It’s a fun (dare I say) practical Porsche to drive and brings smiles to every one’s faces while going down the road.”

In our opinion a heavily modified Porsche is either a thing of beauty or something gone so horribly wrong it’s tough to look at. This 914 pick-up is and example of a modification done right. So, what’s the best, or wackiest, Porsche modification you’ve seen?

Related Porsche Post
Outlaw Turbo Porsche 356
Porsches Covered in Gold and Tweed
Flat Black Porsches

As we prepared to write a long an information post about everything that is great about the new Porsche Cayenne, we discovered a series of videos that provides an informative and entertaining look on everything from performance to design of the new Cayenne. If, after watching the videos below (there are quite a few of them) you still want even more information and pictures, feel free to watch our slide show and read Porsche’s press release, with technical details included, found at the end of this post.

Performance of the new Porsche Cayenne

Design Consideration of the new Porsche Cayenne

The new Cayenne and the Environment

Safety of the new Porsche Cayenne

Comfort Features of the new Porsche Cayenne

Overview of the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Models

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, the new Cayenne. Wow! Let’s not even talk technology for a second, how about simple and pure aesthetics. Say what you want about the earlier version Cayenne, with this new generation, Porsche designed a beauty inside and out. The completely new Cayenne design leaves no doubt that it is part of the Porsche family. Its sporting character is evident from all angles, and its Porsche shape and design highlights are more distinct than ever before. The new Cayenne is 1.9 inches longer than its predecessor, and an added 1.6 inches in wheelbase ensures extra space and greater versatility. But despite larger exterior dimensions, the new Porsche Cayenne looks far more compact and dynamic.

Inside, the luxurious interior features a high center console that, like the Panamera, rises up at an incline to meet the dashboard center stack with high-quality fittings and a touch-screen infotainment interface. Porsche’s traditional set of five round instruments in the drivers gauge cluster includes a high-resolution circular TFT screen to the right of the tachometer. It can be used to change radio stations, vehicle settings, or access the navigation system or view the map. Rear-seat comfort is much improved, as well. The bench slides fore-and-aft by 6.3 inches, while the backrest can be adjusted to three different angles (the dogs are really going to like this feature).

Not only does the new Porsche Cayenne sheds weight and gain space, it looks more more sleek and compact thanks to a special combination of materials as well as changes in the overall vehicle concept. One such change is a new all-wheel drive system reducing weight significantly on all models. Porsche claims that despite an even higher standard of safety, the Cayenne S is 400 lbs lighter, which not only improves fuel consumption and lowers emissions, but also boosts performance, agility, and handling. Led by a technologically advanced full hybrid model, the all-new, next-generation Porsche Cayenne sport-utility vehicle will debut at the Geneva motor show in early March. In line with the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, the entire range, from the entry level Cayenne with a V6 engine to the 500-horsepower Cayenne Turbo, all deliver improved performance while using less fuel and producing fewer emissions than ever before.

The New Porsche Cayenne will make its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show (press days: March 31 and April 1, public days: April 2-11). The Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo go on sale in July as a 2011 model, and U.S. pricing will be announced soon. Porsche dealerships will offer the Cayenne and Cayenne S Hybrid in the fall.

The performance of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a V6

The highlight is the new Cayenne S Hybrid featuring a highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6.

Through continuous interaction between the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid focuses on maximum efficiency. Depending on driving conditions, either drive unit can operate independently or together. The 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the 333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds. With peak torque at 427 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm, the Cayenne S Hybrid’s performance is on par with a V8- powered Cayenne S.

The Cayenne S Hybrid’s two drive units are connected by a decoupling clutch. A hybrid controller constantly coordinates their complex interaction, and intelligent management of the clutch makes the transition among various driving modes seamless. Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h or almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra ‘boost’ to the gasoline engine.

What makes the Cayenne S Hybrid unique is its ability to cruise at high speeds on electric power alone. The gasoline engine can be completely switched off and disengaged from the drivetrain at speeds of up to 97 mph. Christened by the Weissach engineers as ‘sailing’ – or cruising — mode, the drag forces exerted by the combustion engine and their braking effect are eliminated in the interest of lower resistance and fuel consumption.

All new-generation Cayenne SUVs set high standards for efficiency and performance. Compared with the former models, fuel consumption is down by up to 23 percent in the New European Driving Cycle and CO2 emissions are significantly reduced, despite the increased performance. Actual EPA-certified fuel economy figures will be available when the cars go on sale in North America in July.

A new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission with a wide range of gear ratios and the Automatic Start Stop function (first introduced on the Panamera) contribute to these improvements. So does efficient thermal management of the engine and transmission cooling circuits, on-board electrical network recuperation, variable deceleration fuel cut-off and the Cayenne’s intelligent lightweight construction.

The completely new Cayenne design leaves no doubt that it is part of the Porsche family. Its sporting character is evident from all angles, and its Porsche shape and design highlights are more distinct than ever before.

The Cayenne V6 and V8 engines are more powerful and more fuel efficient The entry-level Cayenne with its 300-horsepwer 3.6-liter V6 engine and mated to the new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission consumes 20 percent less fuel in the New European Driving Cycle than its predecessor.

Fuel consumption is also down significantly on the high-torque Cayenne S. Its 4.8-liter V8 produces 400 horsepower, 15 more than the previous model. When combined with the overall weight savings, performance is markedly increased, yet fuel consumption is down by 23 percent in the New European Driving Cycle.

The Cayenne Turbo, with its 500-horsepower, 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 also consumes 23 percent less fuel than its predecessor despite its improved performance and acceleration.

Together with the Cayenne S Hybrid, three of the new Cayenne models produce less than 200 grams of CO2 per kilometer. At 193 g/km, the Cayenne S Hybrid is not only the cleanest Cayenne model, but also the cleanest vehicle in Porsche’s entire portfolio.

Related Porsche Posts
2011 Porsche Cayenne Torture Testing in Dubai

[Source: PCNA, Youtube]

Related Porsche Posts
A Video Introduction to the 2011 Porsche Cayenne

It appears, that the Cayenne might just be set up to save Porsche once again. Let’s explore. In Tuesday’s post “Is Your Porsche an Endangered Species?” we outlined the proposed changes to the current CAFE regulations that could possible endanger Porsche’s future in the US. What we didn’t do is discuss all the details, let’s look at a few of them now:

1. The new regulations require 42 mpg for cars and 26 mpg for light trucks for a fleet average of 35.5 MPG.
2. The MPG requirements pertain to an entire fleet vs. any one particular model under a brand umbrella.
3. Therefore, a company can design one particular model to meet or exceed the minimum while having others that don’t weight against that average.

Hmmm. Maybe a Baby Boxster or entry level 914ish Porsche isn’t so far out of the realm of possibilities….

Even more interesting is this statement by Germany’s Focus Magazine, “The new law says that size determines the allowable mileage of a car. A car with a bigger footprint has wider parameters than a small car. This rule favors US manufacturers, who are heavy on pick-ups. Porsche is hit hard. A sports car manufacturer has to contend with an unfavorable relationship between size and consumption.”

Has anyone else heard rumors about the soon to be released Cayenne sporting a longer wheel base? Could the statement above be part of that decision making process? The Cayenne isn’t known for it’s lack of thirst, but with the introduction of the Cayenne Hybrid S, the possibility of a Cayenne diesel on US shores and the sheer number of Porsche’s “pepper” being sold, it just might help the average. Couple this with the concept of a “baby boxster” (or some other entry level Porsche) and savvy political maneuvering and I think we’ll still be buying our Porsches in 2016.

Source: [TTAC, Focus Magazine, NHTSA]

In May of 2009 President Obama proposed a 5% year over year increase to the current Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) MPG requirements. Starting in 2011 and ending in 2016, these changes would see the current requirements rise all the way to 42 MPG for cars and an average of 35.5 MPG for the fleet. Assuming these ammendments get written into law this May as planned, Porsche would be in a world of hurt.

What about VW you say? Wasn’t that part of the strategy behind the proposed takeover merger? Well, yes and no.

Remember way back when in the days of Wiedeking, when Porsche was going to take over VW and bankrupt all the nasty hedge funds that had shorted their stock? If so, you probably remember a lot of the talk around the reasons for Porsche’s play for VW. Most of that chatter centered around CAFE. The idea was that with all those fuel efficient VWs (and other makes) now part of the Porsche corporate umbrella, any possibly new CAFE rulings could be handled by averaging the fuel efficient VWs and other TDI toting technology with Porsche’s passion for petrol.

Unfortunately, as we all now know, Wiedeking’s master plan didn’t go so well and Porsche not only didn’t take over VW, but ended up getting taken over themselves in order to survive. The problem with this according to Bertel Schmidtt at the Truth About Cars is, “Porsche would have had to be under Volkswagen’s umbrella in the year 2009 [in order to count for the new CAFE regs]. They weren’t.”

Fortunately, for all of us, Porsche received a stay of execution through a special dispensation that sees them through 2016. However, if the proposed rules do go into effect, Porsche would basically need to increase their Corporate fuel efficiency 10% a year, every year. Something that is “technically impossible” according to Porsche-Lobbyist Stefan Schläfli (Schläfli helped to negotiate Porsche’s reprieve until 2016).

Worst Case Scenario

Under the current CAFE rules Porsche already pays a small fine of a few hundred dollars per car; something that is easily absorbed by Porsche or passed along to you/me the consumer in the MSRP. However, under the new laws, the federal government would be able to collect a maximum fine up to $37,500 per car. An amount not even the most well heeled Porsche owner would want to pay and certainly nothing VW would absorb.

Of special political note is the fact that the culmination of these new regs don’t go into effect until 2016, the year that President Obama would leave office assuming he was re-elected (which is looking highly unlikely at this point).

Alarmist? You bet. Possible? Probably not, at least not in our opinion, but it does make for an interesting headline. What say you? Is our beloved Porsche in danger here in the USA? Or, is it political suicide to deny those of us that want it our right to buy a Porsche (and many other German luxury brands for that matter).

Related Porsche Posts
Is it the Right Time to Buy the Porsche of Your Dreams?

[Source: Bloomberg, TTAC, The Financial Times, Autoblog]