Jalopnik: Porsche

Two European Automakers Meet Decade's "Voluntary" CO2 Targets; Success!

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Only two companies achieved the voluntary average CO2 target of 140 g/km that European automakers set for themselves in the late 1990's to avoid actual government sanctions. Fiat and Mini were the big winners with emissions of 138.2 and 139.6 g/km, respectively. The worst offenders were Porsche (275.6 g/km), Land Rover (249.2 g/km) and Jeep (218.7 g/km).

The figures were published by Clean Green Cars, which also pointed out that "Every manufacturer with average new car emissions significantly above 200 g/km of CO2 saw sales slump from January to June." Clearly, voluntary agreements are working. Why oh why then did the EU have to implement non-voluntary emissions targets for 2012? Press release below the jump.

Fiat tops the CO2 league; Porsche is rock bottom
Figures published exclusively by Clean Green Cars today reveal that Fiat and MINI are only mainstream manufacturers whose average tailpipe CO2 is now under 140 g/km. That figure was the target car makers' set themselves a decade ago in their voluntary agreement. Data for 2008 shows how far they have fallen short.

"Some manufacturers have delivered on their promise, but the vast majority have to raise their game significantly," said Jay Nagley of Clean Green Cars. "Porsche has the most work to do: bottom of the league, with CO2 emissions that actually went up slightly in the first half of 2008.

"What is interesting is that, as fuel prices rocket and the new car market falters, car makers with the highest emissions are being punished by the consumer. They have been complaining about pressure from the EU to meet what they say are 'unrealistic' targets. Now they are having to face much stiffer targets from the people that really matter: consumers."

Every manufacturer with average new car emissions significantly above 200 g/km of CO2 saw sales slump from January to June. Even bigger drops were reported last month by the five with the worst average CO2 output.

Porsche and Jeep sales were down by more than a half, Land Rover and Chrysler fell by nearly 30% while Subaru registrations plummeted 17.8%. As the total market only fell by 6.1%, there is clear evidence that high-CO2 cars are being heavily penalised.

[Source: Newspress/Clean Green Cars]

2010 Porsche Cayman S, Boxster S Revealed By Internal Renderings

Wes Siler — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

We have it on good authority that these renderings accurately show the 2010 Porsche Cayman S and 2010 Porsche Boxster S. In addition to the face-lifted looks, powertrain changes should make both cars faster and more fun to drive, with the Cayman S being boosted to 320 HP and 273 lb-ft of torque while returning better fuel economy. Make the jump for more details and analysis. Update: It looks like LSD will be optional on both models, although it's still not clear if it'll be mechanical or torque biasing.

These renderings appeared on the Cayman Club message board, where details of their origin were not known. Internal sources have now revealed to us that these are authentic representations of both new models.

We hate to say it, but it looks like two of the best sports cars on sale are getting better. Direct injection and revised variable cam profiles combine to deliver both improved power and economy, while the standard spec receives a welcome boost. But — and this is a big 'but' — ~~there's still no limited-slip differential~~, which, in our opinion was the only thing holding the current model back. Regardless, the current Cayman and Boxster are not just our pick of the Porsche litter, but our favorite contemporary sports cars, delivering the right blend of performance, handling and involvement, making them capable of embarrassing cars that cost several times the Cayman S' $59,100 price tag. Oh yeah, and expect that to increase as well.

The revised 7-speed PDK manumatic will cease being the manual's poor relation for 2010, now offering faster shift times and 911-like launch control.

It looks like the 911 Turbo-esque LED driving lights are just an optional extra, rather than an indicator of a new turbocharged model, as previously rumored.

• More power and torque in comparison to Cayman/S:
+20 HP / +25 HP and +27 Nm / +30 Nm (2010 Cayman: 265 HP, 221 lb-ft; Cayman S: 320 HP, 273 lb-ft)
• Performance differentiation in comparison to Boxster II/S II:
+10 HP/ +15 HP (2010 Boxster: 255 HP; Boxster S: 310 HP)

• Improved performance (driving dynamics, laptimes, fun to drive):
- increased power and torque: new DFI technology for S-model
- faster acceleration and take-off:

• PDK 7-speed with new steering wheel, shifts faster than manual gearbox

• Launch Control, with Sport Chrono package in conjunction with PDK
- improved driving dynamics/lap times: axle-differential-lock,

• PDK, PASM and 19" wheels

• Reduced fuel consumption:
-2% - 14% (with DFI Engine + PDK) vs. Cayman I

• Improved standard equipment:
6-speed MT, CDR 30, PSM+, drive-off assistant

• Light Innovation
- New double tube headlights
- LED front position lights,
- Bi-Xenon headlights incl. dynamic cornering lights and LED daytime running lights (option)

• Interior Change
- New CDR 30 with 5 inch screen
- New PCM 3.0 touchscreen (option)
- Air ventilated seats (option)
- New PDK steering wheel

• Style Change
- Front and rear end
- Mirrors
- Exhaust pipes
- Wheels 17" / 18 "/ 19"

• Light Innovation II
- LED taillights
- LED brake lights
- LED rear fog light

• Chassis Innovation
- Revised chassis setup
- Rear axle-differential-lock (option)
- Brake assistant
- Larger brake disc/caliper front

• Improved dynamics

• Powertrain Innovation
- New DFI-engine generation for 3.4 l
- New VC+ 2.9 l engine
- New 7-speed PDK (option)

• Improved fuel efficiency

[via The Cayman Club]

Jerry Seinfeld's Turquoise Porsche On eBay, What's The Deal With Yellow Seatbelts?

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

A one-of-a-kind 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S owned by Jerry Seinfeld just went on eBay, and it's the perfect gift for that Porsche fan who also loves observational humor. What makes this Porsche so unique? Other than making it through Seinfeld's ownership unrolled, it's the only one of its kind with the "Blue Turquoise" paint job and yellow seatbelts to match the yellow brake calipers. The seller claims "Some Porsche collectors view this 'S' as the ultimate one of the production run." We can't verify that claim, but if you have $209,000 it can be yours today. Vehicle description below.

Jerry Seinfeld Porsche Vehicle Description This 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo 'S' is the only one ever produced in the unique BLUE TURQUOISE color. The car was special ordered by Jerry Seinfeld and flown over to CA when the car was completed - this $4K charge is on the copy of the window sticker. I also have the certificate of authenticity and copies of some service records. Vin # - WPOAC2991VS375741. I also have a copy of the Jerry's original title.
Jerry put 7,839 miles on the car before he sold it on 4/14/05 and it has been in the hands of several collectors since that time. He had the special phone console installed at the dealer in Los Angeles as well as European springs added - everything else in 100% stock condition.

The car has zero flaws and I just had the car service at the local dealership here in Atlanta. The special ordered yellow seat belts are a beautiful blend w/ the stock 'S' brake calipers and is simply a breath taking Porsche. The car also features the carbon fiber steering wheel as well as the carbon fiber backed heated sport seats.

I am condensing my collection and it must go. Some Porsche collectors view this 'S' has the ultimate one of the production run.

[eBay Motors via Motive Formus]

$2 Sticker To Combat Australian VIN Tampering

Andrew Stoy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

The Australians are fighting the menace of VIN number tampering with new VIN stickers that cannot be removed or altered without being destroyed, making vehicle reconstruction and title washing significantly more challenging. Although we're not sure what's bigger news here, the fact that a cheap $2 AUS decal can markedly deter car thieves, or that the Aussies call VIN tampering "rebirthing." Join us for a collective shudder, and the full ~~afterbirth~~ details after the jump.

Although we expect automakers to scream about the new sticker destroying profitability and requiring at least 10 years of development work to implement, we think the program makes some serious sense. In fact, the numbers we've seen peg the potential savings at $240 million US dollars. Not bad for a cost per-vehicle of just $1.90.

Apparently, some automakers have already recognized the writing on the wall. Hyundai is installing the new tamper-resistant stickers on its entire Australian fleet, and Subaru, BMW, Audi and Porsche all used them on at least some models, resulting in improved theft rankings from NRMA Insurance. This all sounds like the kind of thing our friends at Unique Performance would be solidly against...if, you know, they weren't going to jail.
[Drive.com.au; (Photo Credit: Insurance.com)]

2009 Porsche 911 Targa Picked Out In A Sea of Porsches

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:40:00 EDT

One of the boys over at the Teamspeed forums managed to get some awesome shots of a field of brand-new 2009 Porsche 911's, and among them was one we haven't seen yet — the 2009 Porsche 911 Targa. We catch a glimpse of the new glass-roofed 911 in two different flavors — the Targa 4, and the Targa 4S, though we'd wager the differences between the two lie largely under the sheet metal. Sure does look a lot like last year's Targa with a reflecto-bar slapped on the tail. In any case, we'll be getting the complete details on this new, subjectively improved Targa when Porsche tells us all about it on July 28th.

[Teamspeed via GermanCarBlog]

Attack Of The Killer Lexus RX300!

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:40:00 EDT

It came from a northern Ireland supermarket parking lot, it had a lust for Porsche Boxster and Toyota Celica blood, and it would not stop until it had crushed both into submission: It was the killer Lexus RX300! Dun, Dun, DUUUUN!!!!! Local news reporters assumed it was the result of poor automatic transmission shifting skills, but those in the know won't be turning their backs on any RX300's any time soon... they're all out there, just waiting to crush your ride next.

Nobody seems to have been hurt here, but there are definitely some bruised egos. It's worth the trip over to the BBC website to check out the video, as it's rife with funny British words and pronunciations like "sa-LEE-ka," talk of bonnets, and amusing Irish accents. We're going to hell, we know. [BBC]

The Fastest Laps Of The Nurburgring: How The ZR1 Stacks Up

Mark Arnold — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Now that the 2009 Corvette ZR1 has set a lap time of 7:26.4, we've been trying to wrap our heads around just how fast that really is. Sure, it's faster than the GT-R, but we're wondering if there's anything that can make the ZR1 look slow. With the caveat that lap times vary depending on track conditions and driver skill, let's take a look at some of the fastest lap times around the the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and see what's what.

7:29.03 - Nissan R35 GT-R
The calling card of the new Nissan GT-R is technology witchcraft. On paper, you wouldn't expect much from a 3800lb car with a V6. But on the track, the grip of the trick AWD system channeling 480 HP from the twin-turbocharged engine is pure magic.

7:26.40 - Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
The instant legend. Keep in mind, there was reportedly a strong headwind on the main straight, which could have actually slowed things down a bit. Could the ZR1 possibly set an even faster time in the future?

6:55 - Radical SR8
With only about 360 HP, the Radical is not about raw power. Its strengths instead are a race-style chassis, complete with real downforce-generating spoilers. Or course, since the car only weighs about 1430 lbs, the Radical has an incredible power-to-weight ratio. A slightly less powerful 320 HP Radical SR3 Turbo has even run a 7:19 lap. Though we doubt you'll find one being valet-parked at the country club, the Radical is technically streetable. As such, it is the fastest road-going car around the Nordschleife.

6:11.13 - Porsche 956
If the ZR1 is fast, then this is warp speed. it's the fastest official lap time ever recorded on this configuration of the track. What makes it even more amazing is that this was 25 years ago, back in 1983.

[lap times]

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Bides Its Time In The English Weeds

Murilee Martin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

We've seen some pretty cool machinery parked on the street and photographed by Jalopnik readers, but here's one that may raise the bar to a new level. Spotted parked on a dirt road in West Oxfordshire by reader Battles, this Porsche sure does look like the real deal. Make the jump to read Battles' description.

While you guys were publishing some amazing DOTS finds on the site on Sunday, I had my own 'slam on the brakes-where's my camera?' moment.

I was driving through a village in West Oxfordshire, about 80 miles outside of London, when it caught my eye.

The off road parking appeared to be to take advantage of the shade but it could be down to lack of space on the drive due to presence of a 996 Targa, Bentley Conti GT and an E61 M5 estate.

It looks like a legit Carrera RS, probably the Touring model though I'm not positive. The paint finish was really amazing and the whole car was in remarkable condition. The UK vehicle registration database has it listed as a 1973 MY car but was first registered in the UK in April this year, so must be an import.

2009 Porsche 911 Carrera And Carrera S, Reviewed

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EDT

Though we've yet to get our Cheeto-stained hands on the 2009 Porsche 911, the testers at Popular Mechanics had the chance to roam the Stuttgart roads in a few variations, finding the new model to be Porsche par excellence. They also found the new Porsche's wizardly dual-clutch PDK gearbox to be a vast improvement over the previous Tiptronic transmission. And those famous Porsche flat sixes? Both the Carrera and Carrera S get power increases to 345 and 385 horsepower, respectively, while also improving fuel economy. It seems the minor visual tweaks hide the important and immediately noticeable physical changes beneath.

[Popular Mechanics]

2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4: AWD Bruce

Mark Arnold — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

For 2009, the entire Porsche 911 Carrera lineup has been given a refresh, and now we've got the details and first shots of the all-wheel-drive 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models. Thanks to direct-injection, the 3.6-liter flat-six in the Carrera 4 now makes 345 HP, and the 3.8-liter unit in the Carrera 4S makes a Bruce-tastic 385 HP. But the first thing you likely noticed was the new reflecto' bar bridging the LED rear lights that brings to mind the old air-cooled 911. All the other visual changes carry over from the rear-wheel-drive models, though as usual, the all-wheel-drive models have a slightly (just 1.73") wider stance. That's pretty precise, but hey, they're Germans. Check out all the uber-precise details in the press release below the jump.

New Engines, Double-Clutch Transmission and Electronically Controlled All-Wheel-Drive
Atlanta, June 25, 2008 - New engines, all-wheel-drive systems, transmissions, interior features and exterior cues will mark the evolutionary advances of the new 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models upon their introduction this fall when they join the already announced two-wheel-drive 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S.

Like the improvements to the rear-wheel-drive models, the combined changes for the Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S will result in enhanced performance coupled with better fuel economy and reduced emissions.

The output of the 3.6 liter engine in the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 increases by 20 horsepower to 345 hp. The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S with its 3.8 liter engine is equally impressive, with an increase of 30 horsepower to 385 hp.

The revolutionary PDK works in conjunction with direct fuel injection for the flat-six engines and electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system to provide these seemingly diverse improvements to performance, fuel-economy and emissions.

The new generation of the Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S replaces the former all-wheel drive viscous multiple-plate clutch system with a more dynamic electronically controlled PTM (Porsche Traction Management) system. This system, originally developed for the Porsche 911 Turbo and adapted for the normally aspirated variants, combines the driving pleasure typical of Porsche with a high level of driving stability, traction and agility, which is further enhanced by a (now standard) mechanical locking rear axle differential.

Standard on all versions of the new model are a proven six-speed manual transmission. As an alternative, the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S are available with the Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch, which replaces the Tiptronic S automatic transmission. The PDK offers faster gearshifts and better fuel efficiency. The PDK gearbox comes with seven gears shifting hydraulically without the slightest interruption of traction and pulling force.

The new generation of the Porsche 911 series visually stands out through discreet, but striking, modifications to the front and rear lighting. The new models come with BI-XENON™ headlights and new LED daytime driving lights. The redesigned rear-light clusters feature LED technology. For the first time in a 911, Porsche offers dynamic bending lights as an option, which moves in the direction the steering wheel and the car is turning.

The Porsche Carrera 4 models retain a rear muscular stance, as before, 1.73-inches wider than the two-wheel drive version. A new reflector trim bar between the LED rear lights gives the rear end of the new car even more character.

The most compelling interior upgrade is the new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) 3.0 which features a touchscreen for simplified operation of the audio system as well as the optional hard-disk-drive navigation system. Other important additions to PCM 3.0 are the new options of XM radio with XM NavTraffic capability, Bluetooth® connectivity, iPOD® port, USB port and auxiliary jack.

The 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S Coupe and Cabriolet models will be introduced in the U.S. on October 25, 2008. The 911 Carrera 4 Coupe is priced at $81,700, while both the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet and 911 Carrera 4S Coupe are $92,300. The 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is $102,900.

[Porsche]

Porsche Carrera GT Drifts Right 'Round Dubai Roundabout

Mark Arnold — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Dubai is no longer just a quaint desert outpost where car thieves merely steal police BMWs. Nope, the lack of proper law enforcement oversight is now showing up in more edge-of-the-seat ways. Because although taking a Porsche Carrera GT out for donuts and making sideways laps around a roundabout seems like a pretty good way to thrash a V10-powered Stuttgart supercar, it probably doesn't help so much with the law and order. [via autogespot]

Porsche Boxster Destroyed For Finnish Radio Promo

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Finnish radio station "NRJ" has done what many Porche 911-o-philes only dream of: They destroyed a Porsche Boxster in spectacular fashion. The station held a contest to determine whether to give away or destroy the baby Porsche, and 56 percent of the voters decided the Boxster was marked for death. NRJ decided the best way to carry out the execution was to drop the car from a 100-foot crane, ass-first. The resulting collision was the equivalent of a hitting a wall at 54 MPH. In reverse. Ouch. [Carscoop]

2009 Porsche 911 Faster Around The 'Ring, Still Not As Fast As The GT-R

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:20:00 EDT

The 2009 Porsche 911 is a touch faster than the 2008 version around the 'Ring, posting a 7:58 in Carrera S trim. This is also faster than a Cadillac CTS-V (barely) but still much slower than the Nissan GT-R dry time of 7:29. That's gotta hurt. Home turf, even. Though we doubt this will dissuade the dentists and accountants who get off on being able to correct their friends. "Porsh-uh, Sally, Porsch-uh."

To make Porsche feel better, many other companies will be racing around the 'Ring, lowering the average times. We're cool with the Audi R8 V10, and the TT-RS is probably pretty quick but... the 2010 9-4x? We're guessing the Porsche is faster than that. [InsideLine]

911-Powered VW Vans Are Everywhere!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The 911-powered '74 VW Transporter was the big winner in yesterday's Favorite PCH poll, but when was the last time you saw a Vanagon with a 911 engine? Outside of Germany, that is. Chris Hull over at Autofiends shot what we hope is such a Vanagon in SoCal; if it's for real, we approve strongly. [Autofiends]

Read Our Post About The 24 Hours Of Le Mans, Save 23 Hours And 58 Minutes (Spoilers)

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EDT

For those who didn't watch the entire 24 Hours Of Le Mans by subsisting on a diet of Bawls and Pop Rocks this weekend, we've got a short wrap-up for you. We'll leave the salient details for below the jump, just in case there are some of you out there that TiVo'd the festivities and are planning to dole out the oil-burning goodness four hours at a time for the next week. Needless to say, some cars won. Others didn't. There was weather. If you want to know more you're going to have to click the button that says "more."

LMP1 Class
The big news here was that the trio of Peugeots fell to the #2 Audi Sport North America car driven by Capello, McNish and Kirstensen. Hmm... the Audis winning Le Mans. Where have we heard that before? In case you were curious it was Audi, Pug, Pug, Audi, Pug, Audi. The drama continued all the way to the end with both the #2 Audi and the #7 Peugeot finishing on the same lap.

LMP2
Though not as exciting as some of the other classes, the LMP2 did feature the first Le Mans appearance by the Porsche RS Spyder. And how did the RS Spyder perform? The #34 in pimptastic purple won first, piloted by Van Merksteign, Verstappen and Bleekemolen. Sadly, the #41 Porsche piloted by Nielsen, Elgard and Maasen came in second. Why is that sad? Because their names are so much easier to spell.

LM GT1
The big showdown in the GT1 class was between the Gulf Oil Aston Martin and the Yellow Corvettes for class dominance. This year it was the 009 DBR9 of Brahbham, Garcia and Turner taking down the #63 C6R of O'Connell, Magnussen and Fellows for a second GT1 victory in as many years. As with the Audi-Pug race, this one also finished on the same lap. For the scorekeepers, that's Aston, Vette, Vette, Aston.

LM GT2
The GT2 was quite the happy story for us as the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT driven by Salo, Melo and Bruni owned the Porsche 911's. Why do we care? Those are some Houston, Texas boys and right now Houston sports fans will take any victory from any Houston team. Second place went to the Ferrari F430 GT campaigned by BMS Scuederia Italia. The final for GT2 was Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari, Porsche, Porsche.

[Photo: Getty Images/AFP, LeMans.org]

DOTS-O-Rama Sunday: 1984 Porsche 944

Murilee Martin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EDT

We're going to leave Oakland and head across the Bay to San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, where The Man forces me to work in his cruel salt mine. Only crazy people or drivers with handicapped parking permits try to park in SOMA; the '67 Olds Delta 88 we saw a while back is owned by a member of the latter group, as is this '84 Porsche 944. In fact, the Olds and the Porsche generally park on the same block, sometimes even in adjacent spaces. This 944 has its share of scuffs and dings, but it's in great shape for a daily-driven San Francisco car in its third decade of service!

Which Is The 2009 Porsche 911 Interior?

Mark Arnold — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

If you guessed the one on the left, you're right. This is the first official interior shot of the facelifted 2009 Porsche 911, though sometimes we wonder why Porsche even bothers trying to "update" their designs. Function over form, right?

[via AutoExpress, about.com]

Transformers 2 Call Sheet Leaked, Confirms Even More Autobots To Roll Out

Wes Siler — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:20:00 EDT

EXT SHANGHAI STEEL YARD Strike force in hummers & Trikes pull off HazMat suits EXT SHANGHAI SIDE STREET Kids run up to get ice cream. DOLLY FRONT SHOT Chinese kids. Headlight flare. THIN TRACK RIG BETWEEN KIDS TRUCK DIGITAL PASS THRU in front of Chinese kids. Wind kicks up. Two halves of Ice Cream Truck. One spins. Join together. Ice Cream Truck splits around Chinese kids. Leaves treats. DOLLY BACK OR CAMERA CAR REVERSE for POV shot of Ice Cream. POV kids. EXT SHANGHAI STEEL YARD GO CART & PORSCHE chasing all vehicles. Arcee motorcycle rip past Ice Cream twins EXT SHANGHAI STREET COVERAGE British SAS look at stacks. Leader tries to calm him. OVERLAP EXPLOSIONS. Ratchet soldier into window HANDHELD. Follow Lennox & team meet up with IRONHIDE. He drives up. EXT SHANGHAI STEEL YARD - BACKSIDE COVERAGE. Strike Force team searches thru interior steel yard. Old rail cars. EXT SHANGHAI STEEL YARD CONVERAGE. On actors - TO COMPLETE GO KART, Arcee & Stinger chase R8 Along street with stacks R8, Arcee, Stinger, Hummers, Trikes all race past Ice Cream Truck. Ice Cream Truck chases R8 thru alleys, Crashes, Splits in two, Twins fight LOW CAMERA R8 in bushes. Overlap explosion. R8 races away towards Backside EXT SMITHSONIAN AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Foursom getting ready to go inside-TO COMPLETE
INT SMITHSONIAN AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
Museum is now closed. Simmons w/ metal box. Leo distracts guards.
Simmons Tasers Guard. Duct tapes his hands together. Lets WHEELS out of box
Simmons drags Leo behind information desk
Sam & Mikaela come out (from hiding place. Film can & splinter
Sam & Mikaela run up to Simmons. Lets WHEELS out.
Sam & Mikaela walk past ENOLA GAY, WHEELS follows
Simmons uses radiation tracker. Leo talks over microphone
WHEELS pulls up in front of SR-71. Points. Simmons takes reading
Splinter glows. Leaps from Sam's hand. Drawn to SR-71. Hits it. Pulse Blast
Sam & Mikeala race to SR-71. Discover Decepticon symbo.
Jetfire transforms. Knocks Spce cpsule onto floor. Rolls to stop. Drops missles.
JETFIRE & group exit thru large doors to exterior. Simmons stops. Gets in capsule.

[via ComicBookMovie]

2009 Porsche 911 Adds XM, NavTraffic

Travis Hudson — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:20:00 EDT

One tidbit we missed during our first read of today's announcement of the 2009 Porsche 911: Not to be outdone by the likes of the Nissan Altima and Toyota Corolla, Porsche has decided to bite the bullet and include XM Radio and NavTraffic (with complimentary three-month subscription, no less). The 2009 911 will be the second vehicle from Porsche to include XM Radio; the Cayenne ~~minivan~~ SUV has been offering the satellite radio service for the past few years. Follow the jump for the full release.

XM RADIO AND XM NAVTRAFFIC TO BE AVAILABLE ON ALL 2009 PORSCHE 911 MODELS
911 is First Porsche Sports Car to Add XM Availability

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 9, 2008 - XM (NASDAQ: XMSR), the nation's leading provider of satellite radio, today announced that XM radio and its award-winning XM NavTraffic service will be available as a factory-installed feature on all 2009 Porsche 911 models. This will be the first time that XM is available in a Porsche sports car. XM is the exclusive satellite radio provider to Porsche.

XM radio has been available as a factory-installed feature for Cayenne models since 2005, and will now expand availability on all 2009 Porsche 911 models offering drivers more than 170 channels of music, sports, news, talk and entertainment coast-to-coast.

In addition to XM radio, the 911 will offer XM NavTraffic. Powered by NAVTEQ, XM NavTraffic is the nation's leading real-time traffic service, featuring comprehensive information and coast-to-coast updates every minute. With availability in 80 major North American markets, XM NavTraffic ensures that drivers have the most current and most detailed traffic and incident information at their fingertips, whether they're commuting or traveling.

"We are proud to partner with Porsche to make our award-winning XM NavTraffic service available as a feature in the entire 2009 911 model range," said Steve Cook, executive vice president, automotive, XM Satellite Radio. "The Porsche brand is known for its exceptional performance, and we're proud to deliver our advanced audio entertainment and traffic technology to drivers who expect nothing less."

"We are excited about offering XM Satellite Radio with the XM NavTraffic option to our 911 customers. This will be a great addition to our new for 2009 Porsche Communication System 3.0," said David Pryor, vice-president of marketing, Porsche Cars North America.

XM NavTraffic feeds data on incidents, such as accidents and road construction, directly to a vehicle's GPS navigation system via XM's satellite and ground network. The driver is alerted to these incidents through the navigation screen, allowing him or her to route around a jam before getting caught in traffic. Where available, XM NavTraffic provides real-time traffic information by using red, yellow and green color codes to indicate high, medium and low congestion levels.

All 2009 Porsche vehicles equipped with XM Radio and XM NavTraffic come with a three-month complimentary subscription.

2009 Porsche 911 Revealed With Direct Injection, Dual-Clutch

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:18:47 EDT

Not only do we get news this morning of a whole host of upgrades for the 2009 Porsche 911 lineup, we now finally get a look at the facelift that goes along with 'em. Just as we saw in the leaked information from last month, the newly refreshed Porsches get power bumps across the range, thanks to a direct injection system it'll get 20 HP more in the regular old 911 (345 HP) and 30 HP in the Carrera S (385 HP). To go along with that added grunt, the cars get the new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission able to shift itself without removing power from the wheels — whoa. It seems you can teach an old Bruce a new trick. Full press release after the jump.

Porsche today disclosed photos and details for the next generation 911 model series. Four new 911 models go on sale in September in North America - the 911 Carrera Coupe, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Coupe, and 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. All offer a higher level of performance thanks to their all-new flat-six engines displacing 3.6 and 3.8 liters respectively. And for the first time in a Porsche sports car, engines utilize direct fuel injection (DFI) and can be coupled with the new optional 7-speed double-clutch gearbox Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), racing inspired technology and a Porsche first. The result of these new technologies allows Porsche to once again boost performance of the 911, yet improve fuel efficiency by up to 13 percent as measured in the European driving cycle.
Maximum output of the 911 Carrera with its 3.6-liter engine is up by 20 horsepower to 345. The 911 Carrera S with its 3.8-liter engine is equally impressive, up by 30 horsepower to 385. With this extra power, the Carrera S now offers a top speed of 188 mph.The new generation 911 is available for the first time with the new Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), Porsche's double-clutch gearbox. The seven speed gearbox combines the driving comfort of an automatic transmission with the gearshift capacity of a sequential gearbox used in race cars. Since Porsche's double-clutch also boasts an automatic gearshift function, it replaces the former Porsche Tiptronic S automatic transmission on both the Carrera and Carrera S. PDK improves acceleration while reducing fuel consumption over the previous generation of Tiptronic S equipped 911s through optimized and adaptive gearshifts.
Porsche developed this gearshift principle for racing no less than 25 years ago. It features two parallel clutches to eliminate any interruption in power delivery and eliminates even the slightest break between gears. Porsche factory drivers benefiting from this technology were able to accelerate faster than their competitors and keep both hands on the wheel while shifting gears, thus avoiding even the slightest distraction. This pioneering achievement from Porsche's racing efforts now gives the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S even better performance. The Carrera equipped with PDK covers 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and the Carrera S reaches the same speed in 4.3 which is 0.2 seconds faster than with a manual six-speed gearbox. The customer in search of optimum driving dynamics even has the option to combine PDK with Porsche's optional Sport Chrono Plus including Launch Control. The result is high-speed acceleration free of wheel spin from a standstill and a racing shift pattern to further boost performance. The Carrera equipped with the Sport Chrono Plus accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds while the Carrera S sprints to 60 mph in an outstanding 4.1.

Exterior enhancements of the new 911 stand out clearly through innovations in design and technology. The refined front bumper has larger air intakes which signal an increase in power and the newly designed dual-arm exterior mirrors give a larger field of vision to the rear of the car. LED daytime driving lights and bi-xenon headlights will be standard on all new models, as well as LED tail and brake lights. This gives the 911 an even more distinctive style and a truly unique look from the front and rear. As a further option, Porsche now also offers Dynamic Cornering Lights on all models. In Porsche fashion, these new refinements do not change the drag coefficient of the 911 as it stays at a remarkable 0.29.

The latest Porsche Communication Management system, PCM 3.0, which includes a new touchscreen feature, will be standard on all new 911s. Along with this upgraded system, options such as a hard disk drive navigation system, XM radio with XM NavTraffic capability, Bluetooth® connectivity, iPOD® port, USB port, and aux jack will be available.

2009 911 U.S. pricing starts at $75,600 for the Carrera Coupe, $86,200 for the Carrera Cabriolet and the Carrera S Coupe, and the Carrera S Cabriolet is $96,800.

F1 Star Lewis Hamilton's Dad Crashes Porsche Carrera GT, Shows He's Like Son

Ray Wert — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:26:49 EDT

Yes, perhaps the old adage of "like father, like son" is actually true. We all know how much Lewis Hamilton loves the Porsches, right? We also know how much he loves diving head first into the walls too. Enter Anthony Hamilton, his father and manager. He was just out having some fun with his wife in a loaned silver Porsche Carrera GT yesterday in jolly good England, when he

"lost control of the 205mph £330,000 ($643,600) supercar just after he left home with wife Linda yesterday."

The Sun continues the story after the jump.

It SPUN through 180 degrees and HURTLED backwards through a wooden fence and a thick hawthorn hedge before coming to rest in a children's playground.
One witness claimed Anthony...lost it as he showed off to onlookers by revving the engine of the Carrera GT - which can do 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds.

Said Anthony Hamilton after the crash: "I am extremely sorry." Yeah, one would think you'd probably be pretty sorry — although we have seen worse wrecked Carrera GTs before. (Hat tip to David!) [via The Sun]

1987 Porsche 944S

Murilee Martin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EDT

This series has included quite a few Porsches so far, with a 356, some 912s, a couple of 928s, a pair of 914s, and- of course- a bunch of 911s. But what about the 944? Porsche sold quite a few of them, and not all have been turned into $500 race cars. For whatever reason, I just haven't found any 944s in Alameda... until now.

Porsche definitely got into the 80s thing with the sell-the-brand-name backlit PORSCHE lettering on the back of the 944.

The 944 is a beautifully engineered car, with near-perfect front/rear weight distribution and lots of shiny aluminum stuff... but just try to work on one! No, don't! You can buy a pretty clean 944 for peanuts (the '87 944S listed for $28,250 new, a few hundred bucks cheaper than the '87 Buick GNX), but the bill to replace a timing belt or clutch pushes the cost of ownership orders of magnitude higher.

This example seems to drive every day and looks decent in spite of paint fried by the California sun. Now I need to find a 924, of course, so we can look at some Porsche Malaisitude.

DOTS 1-200 • DOTS 201-250

The Cars Of Death Race

Ray Wert — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EDT

UPDATE:We've now got the first Death Race trailer! Almost a year ago, I had the opportunity to head out to Montreal and go behind the scenes of the new re-visioned movie "Death Race" starring Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane and yes, Joan Allen. Whereas the names of the characters they play may be the same, the storyline's anything but — this time the "Death Race" is set in what we'd been told was an "economic" prison sometime in the not-so-distant dystopian future. But we'll throw down more of that later. The really cool part was getting a first-hand look at some of the metal made into prison inmates very own PCH cars — and there's some really cool stuff to be seen. So without further ado, below the jump are the ten vehicles at the center of the new Paul W.S. Anderson-directed flick coming to a theater near you August 22nd, 2008 — along with all the details on the add-ons that make them "special" plus, because you're so good, a whole mess-load of screenshots. Enjoy and remember, small children are only worth more points because they're harder to hit.

1.) Frankenstein's Monster- 2006 Ford Mustang GT

Engine: Supercharged 4.6L V8
Ford Racing Exhaust System
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Suspension: Progress Technology adjustable coil over front struts and rear shocks
Progress Technology adjustable rear lower control arms
Progress Technology adjustable panhard bar
Wheels: 18" 2007 Ford Mustang Cobra wheels
Tires: Front- Toyo Proxes T1R 255/45 ZR 18
Rear- Toyo Proxes S/T 285/45 ZR 18
Brakes: Brembo Disc Brake System
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey Aluminum Racing Seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
RCI fuel cell
CNC Hand Brake
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

2.) Machine Gun Joe's Ram- 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 4wd

Engine: 5.7L V8 Hemi
Transmission: 5 speed automatic
Suspension: Rancho 9000 Shocks for front and rear
Firestone Air Bags for front and rear
Custom fabricated rear sway bar
Drivetrain: Removed front axles and front differential
Replaced rear axle with 1 ton dually axle
Wheels: Front- Stock 20" Dodge Ram wheels
Rear- Stock 16" dually wheels
Tires: Front- Stock tires
Rear- Toyo Open Country 265/75R 16
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Sparrco Racing Seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
RCI fuel cell
Tildon secondary hydraulic brake system
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

3.) Pachenko's Chop Top- 1966 Buick Riviera

Engine: Stock 430c.i. V8 "Nail Head"
Crane Ignition System
Transmission: 3 speed automatic
Suspension: Big block springs
KYB Gas Adjust shocks
Wheels: 17" Eagle Alloy Wheels
Tires: Front- Toyo Proxes T1R 255/45R 17
Rear- Toyo Proxes S/T 285/60R 17
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey Aluminum racing seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
RCI fuel cell
Tildon secondary hydraulic brake system
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

4.) 14K's 1980 Porsche 911

Engine: Stock 2.7L 6cyl.
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Suspension: Front and rear Bilstein adjustable coil shocks
Eibach racing springs
Wheels: 15" NASCAR style steel wheels
Tires: Front- Toyo Proxes TPT 225/60R 15
Rear- Toyo Proxes S/T 295/50R 15
Brakes: Stock Braking System
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey Aluminum Racing Seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
CNC hand brake
Jazz Aluminum fuel cell
Custom fabricated battery box

5.) Colt's Jag - 1989 Jaguar XJS

Engine: V12
Transmission: 4 speed automatic
Suspension: KYB Gas Adjust Shocks
Eibach Racing Springs
Custom fabricated front and rear sway bars
Wheels: 15" Aero Beadlock wheels
Tires: Front- Toyo Proxes TPT 225/60R 15
Rear- Toyo Proxes S/T 295/50R 15
Brakes: Stock Braking System
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey aluminum racing seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
CNC hand brake
RCI fuel cell
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

6.) Grimm's 300: 2006 Chrysler 300C

Engine: 345c.i. V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Suspension: Air Ride Technologies air suspension kit
Wheels: 20" American Racing Wheels
Tires: Front- Toyo Proxes 4 245/45ZR 20
Rear- Toyo Proxes 4 255/45ZR 20
Brakes: Stock braking system
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey aluminum racing seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
Tildon hydraulic secondary brake system
Custom fabricated fuel cell
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

7.) 1972 Buick Riviera "Boat tail"

Engine: 350c.i. V8
Crane Ignition System
Transmission: Turbo 350 3-speed automatic
Suspension: Big block springs front and rear
KYB Gas Adjust shocks
Custom fabricated rear sway bar
Wheels: Stock 1971 Buick Riviera wheels
Tires: Front- Toyo Spectrum 225/70R 15
Rear- Toyo Proxes S/T 275/60R 15
Brakes: Stock braking system
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey aluminum racing seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
RCI fuel cell
Tildon hydraulic secondary brake system
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

8.) 1979 Pontiac Trans Am

Engine: 350HO V8 Crate motor
Transmission: Turbo 350 3-speed automatic
Suspension: Big block coil springs
KYB Gas Adjust shocks
Custom fabricated rear sway bar
Wheels: 17" American Racing wheels
Tires: Front/ Rear Goodyear 215/65R 17
Brakes: Stock braking system
Stunt Modifications: Roll cage
Kirkey Aluminum Racing Seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
RCI fuel cell
CNC hand brake
Wilwood secondary rear brake calipers
Battery moved to battery box in trunk

9.) 1989 BMW 735i

Engine: 6cyl.
Transmission: 4 speed automatic
Suspension: KYB Gas Adjust shocks
Eibach Racing coil springs
Wheels: 18" American Racing wheels
Tires: Front/Rear Toyo Proxes T1R 255/40ZR 18
Brakes: Stock braking system
Stunt Modifications: Roll Cage
Kirkey Aluminum racing seats
RCI 5 point harnesses
Custom fabricated aluminum fuel cell
CNC hand brake
Wilwood secondary rear brake calipers

10.) The Dreadnaught

There are no words to describe this onslaught of mechanical strength called "The Dreadnaught." Check out the video to get a taste. Come on back later this week when we do a sit-down with Jason Statham and ask him what car he's got in his driveway.

Lewis Hamilton Does Los Angeles In A Techart Porsche

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:20:00 EDT

Having been banned from driving in France, other than when he's winning at Monaco, F1 phenom Lewis Hamilton set his sights on Los Angeles, where the girls are pretty and the cars are fast. Or is it the other way around? Either way, Mr. Hamilton is apparently in town and driving around the city in a loaner Techart 997 hardtop. Since this is Los Angeles, we're a bit surprised it wasn't a Techart 997 Cabrio, but we're sure no one is complaining. The folks over at Autofiends are worried he'll get pulled over and, because he's not Junior, won't be recognized. Our advice? Just tell the cops you're Alfonso Ribeiro. [Autofiends]

VW Caddy Carrera Cup Edition: A Diesel Porsche Van?

Mark Arnold — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT

When is a Carrera not a Porsche? When it's this VW Caddy Van Carrera Cup Edition, a special model evidently designed to be either a support vehicle for Porsche gentlemen racers, or a wanna-be racer for European handymen. We're not exactly sure if this has anything to do with Porsche and VW's on-again, off-again relationship, but the Caddy panel van has been decked out just like a 911 GT3 RS. Though you can only buy it in the land of meatballs, gummy fish and strangely hypnotic chefs — Sweden. So what goods does this track day van pack under the hood?

Powering the V-Dub Carrera van is the 140 HP 2.0-liter turbo-diesel. That's good for 0-to-60 in 10.6 seconds. We're not sure if that makes it technically the first diesel Porsche or not. Probably there's rules on that like you have to have an actual Porsche badge on the vehicle and it had to have been built by the German automaker that now pretty much owns this one. Whatever. Those are like technicalities. Either way, we'd be more than happy to run errands with this thing. [Bil.feber via CarScoop]

Turbine-Powered Porsche 928

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Does your 1984 Porsche 928 leave you wanting for more? Do you possess a latent desire to rev your engine to 30,000 RPM while roasting marshmallows over an open exhaust? By jove have we got something to scratch that itch. This Boeing 502-6 turbine-powered Porsche 928 is on the sales block and we're practically running to buy futures in Jet-A. Need an exhaust outlet? Chop a hole in the hood. Prospective buyers ask you questions? Reply in all caps and insult their intelligence. And check it out — it even runs! (Hat tip to fiat22turbo!)

[eBay Listing]

Project Car Hell: Porsche 928 or '58 Lincoln Continental?

Murilee Martin — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:20:00 EDT

What with all the racin' madness lately, I haven't had a chance to descend into the lake of burning 90-weight that is Project Car Hell for a few days. In our last matchup, we almost had an upset for the ages, with a Japanese car nearly beating a French car in the Dangel Peugeot Wagon versus V8 Fairlady poll. And that Peugeot was a tough one, too! You fans of Japanese Car Hell can feel proud... or ashamed, depending on how you look at it. Today we're getting away from the PCH Superpowers and mixing it up a bit, with a perennial German Choose Your Eternity favorite going up against a proud Detroit native.

We had a 928 here just a couple weeks ago, but the cool/hell equation is just irresistible with Porsche's front-engine V8 machine. It's fast, good-looking, sold for vast sums when new, and has a scary-sleazeball Tony Montana aura you just can't deny... and you can find them dirt cheap nowadays. Well, dirt cheap provided you're willing to fix ~~everything~~ a few things. How about a genuine Porsche 928 for just 600 bucks? Come check out this '82 in Connecticut, which is priced down in 24 Hours of LeMons territory. Come on, you know you can sell off more than a hundred bucks worth of stuff from this car, and you've got 3 months to go before the New England race! Or perhaps you want to make it a daily driver and ~~sell cocaine~~ commute to work with it. Either way, you'll need to do something about the transmission, because the seller describes it as "dodgy." We're assuming that means "inert hunk of leaky metal," but maybe it still sort of works! The color is "obviously black," which should count for something, and the engine starts. It also "smokes and is missing," which hand-wringers might interpret as cause for concern... but not you! You'll have that thing purring in no time- it's probably just the spark plugs, right?

Yeah, can't argue with the coolness of the 928, but how about if you're looking for something with a little more presence? You want a big classic Detroit luxomobile, but you'd rather take the bus than drive yet another Cadillac? We hear you brother (or sister), and we've got the solution: This 1958 Lincoln Continental, which could darken your garage for a mere grand. Now, you could probably sell off $500 worth of parts from this vessel and qualify for LeMons on the money front, but (fortunately for the other racers) this thing tips the scales well beyond the 4,000 pound shipping-weight limit called for in the rules. That's OK, because a car like this should be glamorous, with a gleaming paint job (or ominous black primer, which is also glamorous in our book) and spiffy snakeskin interior. Before you can get to the body, paint, and interior work (of which there'll be plenty), however, you'll need to deal with the running gear. The engine and transmission are out of the car, and that's usually not an indicator that they'll be in perfect working order. You get "all parts plus lots of extra parts and lots of extra chrome," which is a good thing as it's no picnic finding body and trim parts for late-50s Lincolns. At least the engine is the good ol' MEL 430, which is just common enough to make you think you should have no problem finding parts for it. Thanks to Brian B for the tip; Brian has sent in three separate tips and now gets a shirt plus an extra half credit towards...uh... additional PCH Tipster glory!

Junkman's Porsche Jagdwagen-O-Rama!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Apparently unsatisfied with the rarity of his Honda Coupe 9, Junkman also keeps a pair of Porsche 597 Jagdwagens. With only 71 made, Porsche's off-road military machine is a rare site indeed. Make the jump for Junkman's description.

Some pics (maybe in a couple emails) of our Porsche 597 Jagdwagens. As you probably know, a grand total of 71 were made between 1955 and 1958. All were handbuilt in the race shop right next to the 550 Spyders (I've got picstures) as prototypes, so no two were exactly alike. They were originally developed as a proposal for a light utility, Jeep-type vehicle for the German Army when it was reorganized ten years after WW II. Unfortunately, the DKW Munga was chosen instead of the 597. Some people say it was politics but it was probably economics. The Munga was a very basic, throw-away vehicle with a simple three cylinder, two-stroke engine. The 597 was typical of all Porsches; technologically advanced for its time (five forward gears, amphibious, the ability to climb a 65 degree grade, shift-on-the-fly 4wd, etc.) and, as a result, much more expensive.

When they didn't get the German Army contract, Porsche tried to market the vehicle to NATO countries. Finally, as a last ditch effort, it was marketed to consumers as a personal hunting vehicle for sportsmen. Hence the name "Jagdwagen" which roughly translates to "hunting car". OK, so it wasn't one of their greatest marketing successes but the people who griped about Porsche building the Cayenne when it came out sure didn't know the corporate history very well.

The green project 597 you see is the oldest existing model and was the one used for promotional brochures and press testing. We have all of the original parts. The restored green 597 is representative of what the majority looked like when new. Notice the Spyder seats and the 24v dynamo. It is also a matching numbers vehicle. The Speed Yellow Jagdwagen has been modified for modern day street use (lowered, 911 seats and dash, roll bar and 110 hp 912 engine). We have run a 1500 mile rally in it and it really upsets the Porsche purists. It is one of the very last ones made and we have all of the original parts so that it can be restored to its original configuration.

Porsche Cayenne Junior Spied Testing At Nürburgring

Mark Arnold — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:20:00 EDT

Think the Porsche Cayenne is a massive sacrilegious behemoth? Well, it seems that Porsche now wants to make another SUV that's not huge. What you see here is said to be Porsche's upcoming Audi Q5-based tall wagon. Shorter, narrower, and presumably cheaper than the Cayenne, this new offering will do battle with the BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander, Acura RDX, Infiniti EX, and Mercedes GLK, and the err... Audi Q5.

The Porsche will share engine options with the Audi, like the 3.2-liter V6. Another possibility would be a diesel, which would be a first for Porsche. Now if they could just find a way to stick a TDI V12 into the back of a 911...
[AutoExpress]

V8, Leather, And Hoonage: The '84 Porsche 928S Knows No Other Way

Murilee Martin — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT

The Porsche 928 may well be the most expensive car ever to get major TV advertising airplay, with the '84 928 listed at $44,000 (that's about 90 Gs in 2008 dollars). It seems wrong that the car in this ad has an automatic, but we can't argue with the sound of roaring engine and squealing tires. However, the 944 Turbo ad of the same era gets a higher rating on the Hoon-O-Meter.

Gaggle of Supercars Set Loose On I-75 In Florida

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:20:00 EDT

What good is having a supercar if you can't stretch its legs out once in a while? Well, if you have a big enough group with a pile of cash, you can. A group of high performance car owners hired the Florida police to block off a section of I-75 and escort them on a high speed club run near Naples. We can't speak to the veracity of the claim, but our forum poster claims the cops let 'em get up to about 120 MPH at times. Even though that barely scratches the surface of what these cars can do, it would still be a hoot to be in a giant group flying down the highway like that. Oh to be one of the idle rich. [more at E90 Forums]

Mmmm, Yeeah: Bill Lumbergh's Porsche Up For Sale!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

When it comes to iconic Nightmare American Workplace Boss figures, it's hard to beat Office Space's Bill Lumbergh. Remember how satisfied you felt when you saw the scene in which Bill's 911SC got towed away? Well, the "stunt car" used for that scene is now available for a mere $1,750. You don't get an engine and transmission, but you do get a lifetime supply of TPS Reports! Thanks to Teargas for the tip! Make the jump to see The Best Of Bill Lumbergh. [Craigslist Austin, go here if ad disappears)]

PCH, Franco-Prussian War Rematch Edition: Citroen CX 2000 or Porsche 928?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:20:00 EDT

In a stunning upset, the Borgward Hansa wagon handed Germany a one-sided victory over the Peugeot 304 in our most recent Choose Your Eternity poll. With France long reigning as the world's lone HyperGalactic PCH OmniPower, we would be remiss if we didn't give the French a shot at prying the oil-leaking, stripped-fastener-thread PCH CryptoChampion trophy from the Germans, in order to prove that the Borgward's victory wasn't just some one-shot fluke. That's why we're rolling out some Hell Project heavy artillery today, with a pair of undeniably cool- yet just as undeniably nightmarish- machines vying for long-term residency in your Garage Of Torture.

It wouldn't be fair to break out the H-bomb of French Hell Projects (the Citröen SM), because we're fairly certain that nothing on the planet can beat the SM in a Project Car Hell matchup. But how about the Citröen CX? The early CX has many of the features that made the SM so wonderful and terrible, but with the added bonus of having been manufactured by a company in complete financial shambles (and with the involvement of both the French and Italian governments). So head on down to lovely Plant City, Florida, and hand over $2,500 for this 1975 Citröen CX 2000 (go here if the ad disappears). The seller doesn't mention anything about mechanical condition, because it's totally unnecessary; you know this car doesn't run! All we get from the seller is "4 cylinder cinline,its standard with red interior seats and holds up to five people," which leaves a whole lot to your darkest imagination. But maybe it will fire right up, the hydropneumatic suspension will leap to the proper height, and you'll roar off into the Plant City sunset with a Hell-free car experience... but that ain't the way to bet.

We all know that Porsche engineers don't compromise performance for any reason, including the sanity of the mechanics who will one day work on their cars. So if long-suffering (yet well-paid) wrenchmen Hans und Günter have to sweat out 72 hours of labor (using all manner of single-purpose, Porsche-only tools) in order to replace some tiny component buried beneath a fiendish labyrinth of impossible-to-reach fasteners... well, if that's the way to make the car perform 0.0019% better, that's exactly how Porsche will do it! And the 928 might be the purest expression of that philosophy, with its engine compartment completely packed with one of the most complicated V8s that ever made a veteran mechanic weep with frustration. And it's not just the engine- the whole car is a lunatic monkeypuzzle, and it will drive you mad. Of course, all is forgiven when you actually get to drive your 928, but getting an affordable one to that point takes some work. Nothing you can't handle, though... right? Right! So come on out to Redding, California, and peel off twelve Benjamins for this running, driving '81 928 (go here if the ad disappears). Yes, just $1,200 for a running 928! It's not perfect; the seller admits that it "nees some luv." We can see evidence of some family strife in the car's description ("bought it to fix up with my boys but they think it is ugly i say they have no class, anyway here it is"), so here's your chance to swoop in and grab this jewel before the boys reconsider. Hey, did Porsche paint those wheels at the factory?