Porsche 911 2008 News

Hot on the heels of the international launch of the new Porsche Carrera Coupe and Cabriolet come the updated all-wheel-drive models.The rear-drive Carrera 2 models go on sale on September 20, with the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 variants in showrooms on October 25.Porsche Australia said the rear-drive versions outsell the Carrera 4 two to one and pricing for the new 911 series would be announced in the coming weeks.Pivotal to the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models is the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) which is now electronically controlled, replacing the former all-wheel drive with its viscous multiple-plate clutch.The new PTM system was first developed for the 911 Turbo and has been modified for the Carrera models.Porsche claims that, together with the mechanical limited slip differential now fitted as standard to the rear axle, it improves stability, traction and agility.With the previous viscous clutch, up to 40 per cent of torque could be directed to the front axle. The new electronically controlled PTM system delivers a variable torque split, and is able to distribute up to 100 per cent of traction to the front or rear wheels.Porsche claims PTM gives a faster and more precise transmission of power in all driving situations.The 911 Carrera 4 models share their new flat-six engines with Direct Fuel Injection with the two-wheel-drive Carrera 2 and Carrera 2S as well as the new semi-automatic, seven-speed, double-clutch (Porsche Doppelkupplung) transmission.Depending on the model, the all-wheel-drive 911 Carrera offers up to 8.5 per cent more power, fuel economy improved by up to 12.9 per cent, and 15.4 per cent lower CO2 emissions than the previous generation.Output of the 3.6-litre power unit is up by 15kW to 254kW, while the Carrera 4 Coupe with PDK transmission offers fuel consumption of 10.1L/100km which is slightly higher than the rear-drive models.The Carrera 4S with its 3.8-litre engine gets a 22kW boost to 283kW and overall fuel consumption down in the case of the Carrera 4S Cabriolet with PDK to 10.7L/100km.All new 911 models have subtle styling changes, while the Carrera 4 models are 44mm wider across the rear panels. A further distinguishing feature is a new reflector panel between the rear lights.They also get a new Porsche Communication Management with touch-screen, and compatibility with Bluetooth, USB and iPod. 

It‘s business as usual for two of Australia's biggest racing series, despite being for sale. The Porsche Carrera Cup and the Mini Challenge are on the market after current owner Ian Sherrin decided he was too busy to run them.Sherrin's company, Motorsport Event Management (MEM), owns the category management rights for both series.After a rapid expansion into motorsport in recent years, including running cars in both series and Targa Tasmania, Sherrin says he has too much on his plate.He runs six cars in the Mini Challenge and two in the Carrera Cup.“After owning a category and a multiple-car race team in the same category for the past two years, it's time to concentrate on one or the other. I think this is the right decision to make,” he says.MEM will run both series for the rest of the year while a buyer is found.Porsche Cars Australia managing director Michael Winkler will help.“We'll work with Ian to have an arrangement in place by the end of this season to ensure a seamless and smooth transition into 2009. Until then, it's racing and business as usual,” Winkler says.The news is abrupt for Mini, with the series only three rounds old. But the company confirmed it remains committed.“Mini is confident that any sale of MEM will be to a suitable purchaser who will continue to manage the increasingly popular Mini Challenge series exactly in line with the arrangements Mini put in place with MEM,” Mini national manager Justin Hocevar says. 

Imported cars are hardest hit by the new LCT threshold but some of our homegrown brands also suffer.

The potent Porsche GT3 RSR has received aerodynamic upgrades for 2008. Only 35 of the thoroughbred coupes are being released globally.At a price tag of $600,000 a pop, the GT3 RSR is very much at the top of the 911 pecking order.Some of the upgrades run off the back of Porsche's highly successful RS Spyder program, which was raced to devastating effect in the American Le Mans Series last season under the leviathan Penske Racing organisation.There are some aerodynamic refinements, a more optimised suspension and a clever new sequential transmission with software passed down from the RS Spyder LMP2 prototypes.The GT3 RSR has a new front end and is unmistakable with its over-the-top 'flicks' on the front bumper.Newly designed side air outlets give the car more stability through less drag and better down force.It is more the scientific improvements that have embellished the RSR as the nerve centre remains the same with the 3.8-litre boxer engine remaining at 342kW of power at a screaming 8000rpm with 430Nm of torque at 7250rpm. The rev limit is set at 9400rpm.Among other changes the sequential gearbox is said to be considerably lighter than the one it replaces.The GT3 RSR comes out of the Weissach facility in Germany which also produces the awesome RS Spyder, 911 GT3, 911 GT3 RS, 911 GT3 Cup car and the yet-to-be-released 911 GT2.Among its more notable exploits on the racetrack the 911 GT3 RSR's resume is headed by a win at the Le Mans 24-hour last year in the GT2 class and in the Nurburgring 24-hour. Porsche 911 GT3 RSREngine: six-cylinder boxer, water cooled, 76.4mm stroke, 102.7mm bore, dry sump, individual throttle butterflies, four valves a cylinder, electronic MS 4.0 engine managementPower: 342kW @ 8000rpmTorque: 430Nm @ 7250rpmTransmission: 6-speed sequential jaw-type shift, single mass flywheel, three-plate carbon fibre clutch, rear drive, limited slip differential 45/65 per centBody: basis is GT3 RS of monocoque of hot-galvanised steel, optimised front and underfloor aerodynamics, adjustable rear wing, 90-litre safety fuel tank with fast filling function, air jack, welded safety cage, bucket racing seat on driver's side only, six-point safety harness which can accommodate the HANS (head and neck support) device, electric fire fighting systemWheels: front, 3-piece BBS light alloy (11j x 18-34) central bolt; rear, 3-piece BBS light alloy (13jx18-12.5) central boltWeight: approximately 1225kg complying with ACO (Le Mans rulemakers) regulations, 1200kg complying with FIA (world motorsport body) regulations 

You can have them all for a fraction of the price.P1 is a multi-million dollar version of a car-rental company but you need to be quick if you want to be a part of the action.Less than a year after launching its Melbourne office, memberships in the exclusive and expensive rental company are running out.More than 135 Australians have signed up and the company will limit its membership to 200 to make sure there are enough cars to go around.“We'll never go above 200 members,” says James Ward, general manager of P1 in Victoria, “basically to maintain a ratio of five new members for each new car.”Though only 29 vehicles are spread across the company's three Australian locations — in Richmond, Sydney and the Gold Coast — the quality of the cars and motorbikes has seen the company lay out $29 million on equipment.Set up by former Formula One world champion Damon Hill in 2000 in Britain, the club came to Australia in December 2006. The Richmond branch opened last March.Members can join for $4550 and pay annual charges ranging from $27,000 to $36,500 to have access to a dream garage.P1's roster includes three examples of the Lamborghini Gallardo, a Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 430, Ferrari 575M, Aston Martin DB9, Bentley GT Continental, Porsche 997 GT3, Porsche Cayman S, Audi RS4 Avant, Lotus Exige, Hummer H2, and a Ducati 1098 and BMW K1200 for bikers.Packages give customers a bank of points to use through the year.As is befitting the cost, the company offers a range of services. They drop off the cars anywhere they are required and can store and wash the customer's personal car.“It's as much about the car as it is about the service,” Ward says . “It's whatever suits our customers.” 

As Australia's new car juggernaut rolls on towards the magic million sales mark, the number of available models continues to swell. Already recognised as one of the most diverse and competitive car markets in the world, Australian importers continue to add to the mix.With half the year nearly gone, buyers have taken almost 500,000 new vehicles into their garages with some of the traditional biggest selling months still to come.At least three new marques will arrive in Australian showrooms in the second half of  the year; Hummer, Mahindra and Skoda,  testament to the vibrancy of what is, in world terms, a minor market.However, it is the expanding model range within existing brands that will drive the Aussie market over the million mark for the first time.Over the next six months more than 50 new or revised models will arrive in Australian new car showrooms. Here's a look at what's coming soon:ASTON MARTINDip your lid in style in September with the V8 Roadster, a gorgeous extension of the Vantage. AUDI Audi starts its end-of-year program in September with the R8, the biggest, baddest Audi in the garage The Supercar looks with enough performance to keep most on their toes. Also on the cards for October is the A5, Audi's first coupe since the TT. An all-new platform which comes as a front-wheel-drive and quattro. In November the V8 4.2 TDi may answer some questions for the Q7, including on fuel economy. BMW You'll have to wait until October for the new M3, but the latest offering from the M garage has something special. It's the first V8 for an M3. CHRYSLER A Sebring convertible, topless cousin of the sedan launched in early 2007, arrives in December. DODGE The Nitro SUV joins the Caliber for Dodge next month and the US marque backs that up with its Avenger sedan in August. FIAT The baby Ritmo, sold as the Bravo in Europe, will be Fiat's second passenger offering in Australia when it lands in October. Expect petrol and diesel. FORD The rush to oil-burners continues with the Focus getting the honour of being Ford's first passenger diesel next month before the Focus CC, the drop-top concept that set hearts aflutter at Frankfurt two years ago lands in October. The other big news for Ford is the return in November of the Mondeo for a third tilt at Australia. HOLDEN The key second-half model from the General is the VE Ute, bringing all the developments in the VE sedan to the working man's Holden. HONDA The Civic Type-R is razor-sharp styling built around a high-revving fun package. Next month. HUMMER The iconic offroader from the land of the large truck opens its Aussie account in October, a couple of months later than anticipated as a result of production delays for the H3. Surprisingly agile with real offroad ability. HYUNDAI An important second-half for the Korean marque. It starts with the popular Santa Fe SUV finally getting the 3.3-litre V6 from the Sonata to give it some extra punch. In October, the new Elantra hatch joins the sedan in the Aussie line-up after a wait of almost 12 months. JAGUAR An October styling refresh for the marque's luxury sedan, the XJ, is all from the Big Cat this year before a big 2008. JEEP The second of Jeep's non-Rubicon Trail-rated soft-roaders arrives in August to join the Compass for duty around town. KIA The Carens compact people mover has never really taken off here. The new generation is a little bigger and more stylish. It will be powered by a four-cylinder petrol or diesel engine with five- or seven-seat capacity. On sale in October. LAND ROVERThe baby Freelander gets a complete makeover for this generational change. New engines and a new family look all go on show in July. MAHINDRAIndia's workhorse ute, the Pik-Up, starts to roll out to Australia in July. MAZDA A new generation and a new look for the little Mazda2. Sharper styling is the key to this one's October debut. At the same time Mazda will add a diesel option to its top-selling Mazda3 range. MERCEDES-BENZThe key model for Mercedes this year is the meat-and-potatoes C-Class. Bigger, brighter and ready to meet the masses it is available from July. Also on Mercedes' new-model list is an upgraded ML500 and R-Class in September, both getting the 285kW V8 engine. October is a big month for the three-pointed star with the crackingCL65 AMG (a bi-turbo V12 with 450kW and 1000Nm) and the more sociable S320 CDi, which marries diesel with uber-luxury. MITSUBISHI You have to love a fighter. Australia's “other” family car, the 380, wins a minor refresh with some interior updates from next month. In August the automatic turbo diesel, traditionally the model's top seller, completes the Triton range while in October the point guard for the red-hot Evo X (due late in the year), the new Lancer, promises look-at-me-styling and more punch than the current model. NISSANThe baby Micra finally gets the green light for Australia with an October date with sales. In November the X-Trail, a core model for Nissan and the compact SUV that set the benchmark for those who actually can go off-road, gets a full generational change. The Dualis arrives in December. A softer option to the X-Trail, it sits on a similar platform but is more plush. PEUGEOT It's all about size for the French manufacturer. In July the 207CC, the previous generation of which set the standard for accessorising small cars, is back and promising to reclaim the crown. Its far more focused and athletic sibling, the GTi arrives in August with its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. The station wagon derivative of the base 207 goes on sale in October. PORSCHEThe 911 turbo cabriolet proves Porsche's belief that if you can go fast in a sedan you should be able to go just as fast in a cabriolet. In September you can prove it for yourself. RENAULT August sees the Megane diesel join the Renault fleet, while the Clio Sport returns in November in an all-new guise. SAAB The new 9-3 will highlight Saab's first all-wheel-drive system in a completely renewed model range. All models arrive in November. SKODA Launches into Australia with a two-pronged attack in October. The Octavia medium-sized hatch and the quaintly named Roomster compact MPV will carry the flag initially. SMARTIn September the next next-generation smart ForTwo arrives, a little bigger and a little smarter. SUBARU The new Impreza is one of the most polarising styling departures of the year. In basic and WRX fettle the hatch arrives in September. A cult car heads mainstream and the jury is out. SUZUKIIf it ain't broke ... A freshen-up for the car that put punch back in Suzuki's local range, the brilliant Swift is in showrooms in October with the sedan version of the SX4 “tall hatch” joining the stable in September. TOYOTA The first product from Toyota's new “hot shop”, the Aurion TRD, arrives in August with a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 with sports manners and a load of plastic kit. Also in August is the generational change for Kluger with the SUV getting a substantial facelift and the 3.5-litre V6 from the Aurion. November brings the Landcruiser 200 Series and a TRD version of the HiLux. VOLVO The highlight for the Swedes in the second half of the year is the all-new generation of the XC70 due in November. About the same time the C30 will get the in-line five-cylinder diesel. VW A hot version of the Passat, the R36, is heading Down Under in November.