Porsche

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Porsche adds beauty to beauty, names Maria Sharapova ambassador

Maria Sharapova owns a Porsche, she’s famous, she’s athletic and she’s stunning. That’s the ideal combination for the German sports car manufacturer. It has signed Sharapova to a three-year contract as a brand ambassador. Sharapova, 26, of Russia, is a four-time Grand Slam winner and is currently ranked N0. 2 in the world. “Maria Sharapova is an exceptional athlete. She combines top performance in her sports with elegance and power. These are precisely the qualities that are embroiled in our sports cars,” said Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller. “Her profile and charisma are an ideal fit for Porsche. She is also highly respected around the world and enjoys an outstanding reputation.” Sharapova was rewarded with a white Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet

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Toyota dominates new ALG top resale value rankings

Toyota and its automotive Lexus and Scion families combined for nine top spots among 22 vehicle categories in the annual list of highest projected resale values offered by ALG, Inc. The Southern California source for automotive residual values provides the list for buying or leasing consumers. The reason: Depreciation is the largest percentage of overall vehicle ownership costs. Among mainstream brands, Honda was top-ranked for resale value, followed by Hyundai and Scion. Among premium brands, Acura was top-ranked followed by Infiniti and Audi. Toyota, however, had the most vehicles chosen at the top of their category Category Rankings Sub Compact, Honda Fit; Compact, Hyundai Elantra; Midsize, Honda Accord; Fullsize, Hyundai Azera; Sports Car, Scion FR-S; Alt-Fuel Vehicle, Toyota Prius c;

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Porsche Macan, not Cajun, confirmed as Porsche’s newest SUV

Porsche has announced its upcoming compact SUV will be called Macan, not Cajun as previously announced. The name Macan originates from the Indonesian word for tige, which describes the core characteristics of Porsche’s new all-terrain vehicle — suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics. “The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of an SUV and is a genuine Porsche," said Bernhard Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG. The new car will bebut at the Porsche factory in Leipzig, Saxony, in 2013. The site is currently being expanded into a fully-fledged production plant including body assembly line and paint shop. With 500 million euro of investment, it is one of the biggest building projects in Porsche

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Porsche Reunion 2011 at Laguna Seca gets Speed TV slots

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, held Oct. 14-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and presented for the first time on the West Coast, will be broadcast on Speed TV five times beginning at noon (PST) Nov. 13. More than 350 of the rarest Porsches competed in the famed track on the Monterey Peninsula with more than 1,300-plus Porsches staged in the traditional car corral area. Here's the schedule (all times are PST): Sunday, Nov. 13, noon; Monday, Nov. 14, midnight; Saturday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 30, 11 p.m; Thursday, Dec., 1 a.m. Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV was the final event of the race season for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which also included Ferrari Racing Days; Continental Tire Sports

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Ferrari Italia 458 outdrives Lotus, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz

The Ferrari 458 Italia has outdriven 10 of the word's most renowned cars, Audi to Mercedes-Benz, Lotus to Porsche, according to Motor Trend. The automotive magazine named the Ferrari 458 Italia as the "2011 Best Driver's Car" after the 11-lap racetrack drag race and racetrack hot-lapping. Motor Trend drafted a crew of 25 editors, photographers, video producers, championship-winning race driver Randy Pobst and Le Mans class winner/TV host Justin Bell, to test, review and film the cars in the competition's history over six days. The competition required daily driving, hot lapping on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, plus the full battery of Motor Trend performance tests. "The 458 Italia is easily the best mid-engined Ferrari road car yet," said Angus MacKenzie,

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2012 Porsche 911 Carrera ready for North American debut

The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera, the redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon, will make its North American debut October 14 at Rennsport Reunion IV at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The new 911 will be shown alongside the world’s most noteworthy Porsche race cars for three days. The three-day occasion will be highlighted by on-track competition featuring hundreds of treasured vintage and current Porsche race cars. Every chapter of Porsche’s motorsports history will take to the track, from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-50s through the legendary 917 and 956/962 of the 70s and 80s to the GT3 RSR of the last decade. To additional celebrate the unveiling of the new Porsche 911 Carrera, a special tribute will

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Steve McQueen's Porsche 911s sells for record $1.375 million

The 1970 Porsche 911s formerly owned by actor Steve McQueen and featured in his film Le Mans sold August 20 for $1.375 million before a packed house at RM’s Monterey, California, auction, establishing a record price for a 911 sold at auction. Built to 1970 specification and with a full complement of factory options, the Slate Grey 911s stars in the film’s legendary opening sequence as McQueen’s character, Porsche driver Michael Delaney drives through the French countryside, reflecting on life, death, and racing. In addition to its starring role in the film, the Porsche 911s was used as McQueen’s personal transport during the movie’s production, later joining his own stable of extraordinary motor cars in California. The sale of the

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New Porsche 911 set to debut at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

The new Porsche 911 is set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Porsche 911 is an enigmatic vehicle which has a presence of its own, not to mention the breath taking power it holds in the rear engine. It’s the latest offering by the German auto manufacturer, well known for the fleet of Carrerras and Cabriolets. The new 911 will likely stand out among its automotive siblings. Above image is a “leaked” image of the automobile, although its specifications won’t be released until the Frankfurt Motor Show. Porsche has kept the designed as promised, without major changes. But the new 911 have slimmer tail lights, downward mirrors and an electric parking brake. James RaiaA sports,

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New green, lots of green, Porsche hybrid will debut in 2013

Porsche has announced its 918 Spyder hybrid sports car, the carmaker’s most expensive model ever, will be priced at $845,000 in North America and will be available to buyers in November 2013. The vehicle, which will be priced at $1.09 million in Europe, will have appropriate production number, 918. The two-seat Porsche plug-in hybrid will accelerate to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds. It features a 500-horsepower V8 engine and 218-horsepower electric drive system. The car’s lithium-ion battery can be recharged in three hours. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday

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Steve McQueen's Porsche from LeMans set for Monterey sale

The 1970 Porsche 911S once owned by Steve McQueen and featured in his movie Le Mans will be auctioned August 19-20 at Monterey Auto Week by RM Auctions. Built to 1970 specification, complete with air conditioning and a full complement of factory options, the Slate Grey 911S stars in the film’s opening sequence. McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, drives through the French countryside, reflecting on life, death, and racing. The Porsche 911S was also used as McQueen’s personal transport during the movie’s production, later joining his own stable of motor cars in California. The collection included a Jaguar XK-SS, multiple Ferraris, Porsches, airplanes and motorcycles. “There is no more iconic racing film than “Le Mans” and no more charismatic owner of

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Porsche set to debut second hybrid, Panamera S

Porsche will unveil its second production hybrid model, the Panamera S Hybrid, later this year, adding another chapter to the carmaker’s Intelligent Performance development philosophy. The new Panamera model produces 380 horsepower is the most fuel efficient Porsche in history. Optional low-rolling-resistance tires developed for the Panamera helps hybrid performance sedan deliver its impressive NEDC fuel economy figure. But even with standard performance tires, the Panamera S Hybrid’s estimated mpg will be just under 27 mpg. (The official EPA fuel economy estimates will be available closer to the car’s on-sale date.) The Panamera S Hybrid sets new standards in terms of Porsche performance as well as hybrid efficiencies. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and has

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Porsche debuts new single seat hybrid sports car

Porsche unveiled its 918 RSR, single-seat hybrid coupe based on the 918 Spyder that debuted last year, at the Detroit Auto Show. Its will be produced in limited numbers next year. The 918 RSR has butterfly doors, a carbon-fiber body and a roof-mounted air intake that spins as the car moves. The racing stripes and the number 22 honor the Porsche 917 that won the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans. The engine of the new Porsch gets 767 total horsepower using flywheel technology at the wheels and a six-speed racing transmission with paddle-shifters at the steering wheel. It’s based on the same configuration found in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS hybrid. Wolfgang Durheimer, Porsche‘s chief of development, introduced the

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Porsche Boxster Spyder 2011 car review

Porsche is among few automakers that can successfully charge more for a model with fewer features than a less-expensive model with more features. One of the classic Porsches is the 1950s Speedster, which was a bare-bones soft-top. It was fairly inexpensive (for a Porsche) to attract more American buyers. And its lighter weight helped it win races. The 1950s Porsche 550 Spyder was even more bare-bones, but was a successful competition car not really designed for comfortable road driving. Actor James Dean raced a Speedster and later got killed on a rural California road while driving his new 550 Spyder to a race in which he was to compete. Now we have the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder, a throwback to

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Smart ForTwo, Porsche Cayman among 2010 sales losers

The automotive industry followed a disastrous year in 2009 with an encouraging sales year in 2010. About 11.5 million cars and light trucks will be sold in the United States this year, an improvement from 10.4 million in 2009. Automotive industry experts forecast sales of 12.8 million in 20111 and 17.1 million by 2015. But while several manufacturers’ brands — Buick, Cadillac, Infiniti, Ford, Hyundai and Jeep — had banner years in 2010, several manufacturers had dismal sales years.   Mostly notably, Mazda and Suzuki had the worst sales years in 2010, combining for half of the top-10 poorest-selling cars by percentage when compared to 2009 sales. According to a tabulations and forecast for final December sales, Forbes.com reports the

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Porsche Cayenne, 2011: The Weekly Driver car review

The extensively redone 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV finally looks like a Porsche. The bland appearance of its predecessor, however, didn’t stop it from being Porsche’s top seller here soon after it arrived in America in March 2003. Porsche always had been a sports car company, but it ignored protests from many Porsche owners and its often rabid fans when it introduced the Cayennne. But business is business, and Porsche needed the money the Cayenne would produce. Besides, it has lots of pride and was tired of seeing its sports cars sitting in garages next to expensive SUVs from competitors. As it turned out, Porsche has sold more than 280,000 Cayennes worldwide, with about 88,000 bought in the United States through

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Rare Porsche models honored for automaker’s 60th anniversary

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, Porsche Cars North America embarked on a quest to find the oldest Porsche sold in America via The Porsche Classic Search. It encouraged individuals to submit documentation their Porsche was one of the earliest in its category sold in the United States. With awards and bragging rights at stake, the entries are an impressive collection of finalists, including the oldest U.S.-retailed model found, a restored 1952 Strawberry Red 356 Cabriolet. Among the hundreds of submissions from Porsche owners across the country since last August was a rare 1952 356 Cabriolet owned by Dr. Robert Wilson of Oklahoma City, Okla. Wilson’s car was imported in November of 1952 by Austrian businessman Max Hoffman, in

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