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  • 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Shaves 10 Seconds Off Nurburgring Lap Time

    2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Shaves 10 Seconds Off Nurburgring Lap Time October 15th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, October 15th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 3 Comments

    2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Shaves 10 Seconds Off Nurburgring Lap Time

    It seems like every few weeks or so either Porsche or Nissan comes out with a new Nurburgring lap time for their respective 911 Turbo and GT-R models. The last we looked, Nissan was claiming a 7m 26.7s Nurburgring lap time for its 2010 ‘Series II’ GT-R, while General Motors was boasting an even better time of 7m 22.4 seconds for its Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 supercar.

    While manufacturer claims should be taken with a grain of salt--there are just too many variables that can affect the lap times--the numbers always raise a multitude of questions, especially when a company like Porsche makes an announcement.

    The German sports car...

    It seems like every few weeks or so either Porsche or Nissan comes out with a new Nurburgring lap time for their respective 911 Turbo and GT-R models. The last we looked, Nissan was claiming a 7m 26.7s Nurburgring lap time for its 2010 ‘Series II’ GT-R, while General Motors was boasting an even better time of 7m 22.4 seconds for its Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 supercar. While manufacturer claims should be taken with a grain of salt--there are just too many variables that can affect the lap times--the numbers always raise a multitude of questions, especially when a company like Porsche makes an announcement. The German sports car manufacturer has posted a new time of 7m 39s for its latest 2010 911 Turbo, which is exactly 10 seconds quicker around the 13-mile Nordschliefe track than the non-facelifted model. For the 2010 model year, the 911 Turbo was given an extra 20-horsepower, better handling, and the optional seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Porsche even managed to shave 40-pounds off the car’s curb weight, so it’s no surprise that the 2010 model outperforms the previous car. [Autocar] Read More

  • First look at facelifted 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo

    First look at facelifted 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo August 6th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, August 6th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 11 Comments

    First look at facelifted 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo

    Following the release of the facelifted Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 models late last year, as well as the new Targa and GT3, comes the first details and images for the updated 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo.

    Once again, Porsche has continued its tradition of only implementing minimal changes to the styling of its AWD Turbo, opting to focus on changes taking place under the revised sheet metal instead.

    For the 2010 model year, the Turbo has been given more power, better handling, and you can expect a higher price tag too. The only exterior mods appear to be chrome headlight surrounds, restyled foglights and new wheel designs.

    To give its 485...

    Following the release of the facelifted Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 models late last year, as well as the new Targa and GT3, comes the first details and images for the updated 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo. Once again, Porsche has continued its tradition of only implementing minimal changes to the styling of its AWD Turbo, opting to focus on changes taking place under the revised sheet metal instead. For the 2010 model year, the Turbo has been given more power, better handling, and you can expect a higher price tag too. The only exterior mods appear to be chrome headlight surrounds, restyled foglights and new wheel designs. To give its 485 horsepower Nissan GT-R nemesis a run for its money, the updated Turbo gets a new 3.8-liter direct-injected engine that now outputs 500 horsepower – up 20 horsepower on the outgoing model and just 30 horsepower shy of the mighty GT2. With this level of power, the 2010 911 Turbo will be the fastest accelerating AWD production Porsche in history. The 0-60 mph run is tackled in just 3.2 seconds when equipped with the new 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox, while top speed rises to 194 mph. Expect to see the car, in both Coupe and Cabrio forms, make its debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Sales in the U.S. will start in January, priced from $132,800 for the Coupe and $143,800 for the Cabriolet. 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe and Cabriolet Read More

  • Video: Switzer Performance P800 package Porsche 911 hits the dyno

    Video: Switzer Performance P800 package Porsche 911 hits the dyno August 3rd, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, August 3rd, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 0 Comments

    Video: Switzer Performance P800 package Porsche 911 hits the dyno It's a classic recipe: take one high-performance sports car, add power to taste. How powerful you like it depends largely on your budget, but this time Switzer has made one for people not only with large bank accounts, but also with a huge appetite for speed. Starting with a stock Porsche 911 997 twin-turbo, the tuners end up with a car capable of sub-3-second 0-60mph runs and consistent 10.5-second quarter miles.

    That's nothing to sneeze at, and it's all the more impressive considering how much wasn't changed from the standard car. For instance, it still runs on standard 93 octane pump gas. It still uses the stock intake manifold and... It's a classic recipe: take one high-performance sports car, add power to taste. How powerful you like it depends largely on your budget, but this time Switzer has made one for people not only with large bank accounts, but also with a huge appetite for speed. Starting with a stock Porsche 911 997 twin-turbo, the tuners end up with a car capable of sub-3-second 0-60mph runs and consistent 10.5-second quarter miles. That's nothing to sneeze at, and it's all the more impressive considering how much wasn't changed from the standard car. For instance, it still runs on standard 93 octane pump gas. It still uses the stock intake manifold and throttle body, and it's an easier install process than the Switzer 911 GT2 Sledgehammer package it's based on. Delivering the power through a more street-friendly AWD system doesn't hurt things either, but once the twin Garret GT30 turbochargers - with custom billet compressor wheels - are strapped on and gases are piped through Switzer's custom exhaust and headers, the engine generates a full 800hp, giving the P800 package its numerical significance. Other upgrades include a carbon clutch, electronic boost control, Monster brand intercoolers, and custom ECU software. The P800 package is now available through Switzer Performance dealers, but you'll have to contact them yourself to find out how much it costs. To see and hear the car in action, check out the video of a testing dyno run below.800hp Switzer Performance P800 Porsche 997TTSwitzer Performance L5 800 package Porsche 911 hits the dyno Read More

  • Mcchip liberates 400HP from the Audi TT-RS with ECU mod

    Mcchip liberates 400HP from the Audi TT-RS with ECU mod July 29th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, July 29th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2 Comments

    Mcchip liberates 400HP from the Audi TT-RS with ECU mod German tuning firm Mcchip specializes in optimizing the vehicle management systems and electronic control units of cars to eke as much performance out of them as possible, and its latest product focuses on giving the new Audi TT-RS a significant boost in the performance department - not that the standard TT-RS was lacking in power to begin with.

    From the factory, the standard 2.5L turbocharged Audi TT-RS has 340hp being cranked out by the five-cylinder engine, and a fairly impressive 325lb-ft of torque. With a rather cheap adjustment from Mcchip, however, horsepower can be increased up to 380hp with a second stage to be unveiled by the... German tuning firm Mcchip specializes in optimizing the vehicle management systems and electronic control units of cars to eke as much performance out of them as possible, and its latest product focuses on giving the new Audi TT-RS a significant boost in the performance department - not that the standard TT-RS was lacking in power to begin with. From the factory, the standard 2.5L turbocharged Audi TT-RS has 340hp being cranked out by the five-cylinder engine, and a fairly impressive 325lb-ft of torque. With a rather cheap adjustment from Mcchip, however, horsepower can be increased up to 380hp with a second stage to be unveiled by the company later on that will lift this figure to around 400hp. Torque, meanwhile, is lifted to a massive 406lb-ft, giving the chipped Audi TT-RS performance to outpace rival sports cars – not bad for an engine displacing just 2.5L. The increases in performance are the result of higher boost pressure and optimization of the engine management system, and the extra power lifts the top speed of the Audi TT-RS to 186mph, rather than the standard vehicle's 155mph. Similarly, the acceleration time from standstill to 62mph is reduced from 4.6 seconds to a cracking 4.1 seconds, and while this is certainly an impressive figure perhaps the most impressive part of the tuned TT-RS is the price tag of the chip - just €899 ($1,275) for unlocking some real supercar rivaling performance. Additionally, Mcchip is offering some other modifications for the car that will be slightly more expensive than the chip - including 20-inch custom alloy wheels from Cargraphic that run for €6,600 ($9,357), as well as an adaptive shock absorber system that will set customers back €1,100 ($1,600).2010 Audi TT-RSMcchip Audi TT-RS Read More

  • Ford puts four-cylinder EcoBoost, Powershift plans on the table: 230hp, 2.0L

    Ford puts four-cylinder EcoBoost, Powershift plans on the table: 230hp, 2.0L July 21st, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, July 21st, 2009 Kenneth Hall 4 Comments

    Ford puts four-cylinder EcoBoost, Powershift plans on the table: 230hp, 2.0L Call it EcoBoost, call it TwinForce, it's a welcome addition to the Ford lineup for many buyers, packing more power in a smaller, more efficient engine. And soon the V6 version that debuted the twin-turbo technology will be joined by a four-cylinder, 2.0L 230hp version.

    That's the latest word from Ford, straight from a press conference in Dearborn, reports Edmunds. The engine has long been expected, however - we reported that it would be available, likely in the new Ford Fusion sedan, back in December.

    Like its 340hp, 3.5L V6 brother, the 2.0L engine could also see duty in an SUV or crossover, including the next-gen Ford Escape. Fuel... Call it EcoBoost, call it TwinForce, it's a welcome addition to the Ford lineup for many buyers, packing more power in a smaller, more efficient engine. And soon the V6 version that debuted the twin-turbo technology will be joined by a four-cylinder, 2.0L 230hp version. That's the latest word from Ford, straight from a press conference in Dearborn, reports Edmunds. The engine has long been expected, however - we reported that it would be available, likely in the new Ford Fusion sedan, back in December. Like its 340hp, 3.5L V6 brother, the 2.0L engine could also see duty in an SUV or crossover, including the next-gen Ford Escape. Fuel efficiency figures haven't been released, but expect highway ratings near 30mpg in some applications. Efficiency will be further boosted by the dual-clutch Powershift gearbox that will debut alongside the twin-turbo four-pot, also announced today. Ford expects the dual clutch cog swapper to improve efficiency by 7-9%. Not yet unveiled is an ethanol-injection system to cool the combustion chamber and decrease charge temps, increasing power and efficiency to near-diesel levels. Ford recently revealed the ethanol injection system in documents submitted to the Department of Energy for its Bobcat V8 engine, but so far no plans to fit it to the EcoBoost range have yet been announced. Read More

  • Production Volkswagen Bluesport roadster still a possibility?

    Production Volkswagen Bluesport roadster still a possibility? July 13th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, July 13th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 6 Comments

    Production Volkswagen Bluesport roadster still a possibility? When it first appeared in Detroit back in January the Bluesport concept stirred talk of the revival of the roadster segment, and especially the Porsche 914 and 356. Unfortunately, the Porsche's rebirth was ruled out last month, and this had led to fears that the same fate may ensue for a planned production version of the Bluesport concept.

    The original bad news came from VW's communications manager Christian Haacke at the launch of the new 2010 Polo. "The state we are at right now regarding Concept Bluesport is we are carefully calculating how to earn money with a niche car,' said Haacke. "It is a niche product and especially in crisis... When it first appeared in Detroit back in January the Bluesport concept stirred talk of the revival of the roadster segment, and especially the Porsche 914 and 356. Unfortunately, the Porsche's rebirth was ruled out last month, and this had led to fears that the same fate may ensue for a planned production version of the Bluesport concept. The original bad news came from VW's communications manager Christian Haacke at the launch of the new 2010 Polo. "The state we are at right now regarding Concept Bluesport is we are carefully calculating how to earn money with a niche car,' said Haacke. "It is a niche product and especially in crisis times like this it will be a challenge to come up with a volume we could require to earn money with it." While this appears disastrous for fans, VW has once again hinted at the roadster’s production at an exclusive public outing for the concept. Speaking with Auto Motor und Sport, Mario Fabiano, the concept’s project leader, said that a new mid-engine platform designed for the Bluesport could allow a production version to come to market with a price tag around the $30,000 mark. The Bluesport concept was not just a sporty two-seater - it had real eco-cred as well. Powered by a 2.0L four-pot turbodiesel, it cranked out 180hp (134kW) and a doubtless grin-inducing 260lb-ft (352Nm) of torque, nipping to 60mph in 6.2 seconds, all while managing 35mpg in the combined cycle. A production version could also feature the 265hp (198kW) 2.0L petrol engine destined for the Scirocco R, revealed Fabiano. To keep costs down, VW would share parts with a number of its other models. Take the concept for example, the brakes come from the Golf R32, the electromechanical steering system from the Polo and the suspension and 4Motion AWD system is a mix of both Polo and Golf components. Its current estimated release date is 2012.2009 Volkswagen Bluesport roadster concept Read More

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