Porsche News - Storyboards - page 480

EV sports cars are gaining prominence in the automotive market

But Porsche faces challenges with supply chain issues for its upcoming 718 EV

The 911 EV is still under development and won't make it until the end of the decade or beyond

While a brand like Porsche is struggling in China, domestic automakers are rapidly advancing in EV technology, surpassing Western brands in several areas

Models like the MG (now part of Shangai Automobile Industry Corporation) Cyberster have taken the electric sports car market by storm

In the sedan segment, Cars like the SU7 by smartphone maker Xiaomi demonstrate Chinese progress in developing high-performance EVs

The SUV7 packs Taycan levels of performance for a third of the price, think somewhere in the ballpark equivalant of $30,000

Now, it appears that the Chinese EV maker BYD recently surpassed Tesla in terms of sales, is ready to enter the sports car segment with a potential Porsche 911 rival

Spy photos by CarNewsChina reveal a camouflaged BYD prototype, hinting at a sleek, low-slung two-door coupe

It is worth noting that while the concept reveled in April 2024 was a Speedster, the prototype that was spotted is a coupe

The prototype's design may be influenced by the Fang Cheng Bao Super 9 concept, styled by Wolfgang Egger

The German designer has been the Chief of Design at brands like Audi, Lamborghini and Alfa Romeo

The car is expected to utilize a tri-motor setup from the Z9, from BYD's luxury brand Denza delivering over 950 horsepower and around 300 miles of driving range

Predicted 0-60 mph time is under 3 seconds, that should put it on par with the Porsche 911 Turbo S

All-wheel drive and advanced torque vectoring are expected to enhance performance and handling

BYD's vertical integration and battery technology provide a competitive advantage. The potential for a competitive price point could disrupt the Porsche 911's dominance in the market.

Oliver Blume, Porsche's Chairman of the Executive Board, emphasized the company's bold strategy for the future, focusing on electrification, flexible drivetrains, and synthetic fuels

Porsche launched its "largest model offensive" this year, revamping its entire lineup. It achieved an industry-leading model age of 1.5 years by consistently refreshing and updating its vehicle lineup

The year began with the introduction of models like the Taycan facelift with a 300+ mile EPA range

This was followed up with the 992.2 series of the 911. Besides the base Carrera, Porsche introduced its first-ever Hybridzed 911 with the GTS trim in May

The highly-anticipated 992.2 GT3 was unveiled in October

Which was followed up with the manual-only 992.2 Carrera T

But Blume's highlight of the year has to be the launch of the all-electric Macan SUV

Developed from the ground up, joining Porsche's growing EV lineup while the gas-powered Macan remains available

The Panamera lineup was expanded to also include the GTS and Turbo S trims

Blume highlighted Porsche’s multi-drivetrain strategy, offering a mix of gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric options across its model range to cater to diverse markets

Synthetic fuels (eFuels) emerged as a key complementary solution in Porsche’s strategy, with production underway at the Haru Oni facility in Chile

Blume stressed the need for improved EV charging infrastructure and energy affordability

In China, Porsche focuses on maintaining exclusivity and performance rather than volume, while in Europe

Blume expressed optimism about Porsche’s future emphasizing its commitment to performance, exclusivity, and quality

The base 992.2 Carrera has a starting MSRP of $120,000, before options

But for similar money, here are five legendary 911 models from older generations

5. Porsche 991.1 Carrera GTS: Average value: $117,772

The last normally-aspirated Carrera GTS is one of the most sought-after modern 911s, with 430 horsepower and the option of a manual

Special editions like this 60 Years Anniversary are over $200,000

4. Porsche 997.1 Turbo: Average value: $102,640

This is the last time you could buy a 911 with a Mezger engine and a manual

The 997.2 update removes the manual from the Turbo S and introduces the first direct-injected flat-six

3. Porsche 997 GT3: Average value - $130,000, but can get close to $300,000

The 997 GT3 was also the last Porsche to feature hydraulic steering and a Mezger engine

This 997 GT3 RS 4.0 is the most radical and very last version of the car. Only 600 made

2. Porsche 993 Turbo: Average value: $210,114. Plenty of examples for around $100,000

The last air-cooled 911 Turbo is also the first to feature al-wheel drive and over 400 horsepower

1. Porsche 930 Turbo: Average value: $170,000, but can still be found for around $100,000

The turbocharged engine is the most exciting part of the Porsche 930 Turbo, but also the most dangerous

The car had violent tendencies, earning it the nickname "Widowmaker"

While test mules of Porsche's 718 EV have been spotted for over a year now and the Gas 718 will be discontinued next year, based on some recent reports, the 718 EV launch may be delayed

Porsche chose Swedish battery maker Northvolt as its sole supplier for the 718’s cells, but the company has filed for bankruptcy leading Porsche to look for alternative suppliers

Finnish supplier Valmet Automotive, tasked with assembling the 718’s battery packs, has been getting revision requests from Porsche, and is finding it challenging to match the dynamic thrill of its mid-engine sports cars with a battery-powered setup

Sports car buyers are a notorious traditionalist bunch, and replicating the weight distribution and the visceral feel of a 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-6 with a stick will be a challenge

The Mission R concept with its E-Core platform could be key to replicating that magical formula of the gas-powred model in the Porsche 718 EV

EVs don’t just have to be soul-less ballistic missiles off the line and the Hyundai Ioniq 5N is proof of that with its simulated gear shifts and engine noises

However, Porsche has already confirmed that this won’t be happening, as it wants to take a different direction for its all-electric sports cars

Also, recent sales figures for high-performance EVs suggest otherwise

Sales figures of the Taycan facelift haven’t picked up even with the facelift offering better range

The ability to soon charge at Tesla Superchargers doesn't seem to be helping the Taycan's case either

At the other end of the performance EV spectrum, slow sales aren't helping the all-electric Rimac Never hypercar either. Is this why Bugatti decided to go with a hybrid 16 cylinder, instead of going with electric propulsion?

Given this shift in the market, the German automaker has pledged to keep its V8s alive into the next decade and is even considering hybridizing future models initially planned as EV-only

As for the 718, should Porsche consider introducing some form of hybridization to its entry-level sports car lineup?

The 1975 Porsche 930 Turbo is the original Widowmaker

The 930's turbocharged flat-six developed up to 326 hp and 317 lb-ft, but it suffered from turbo lag

The turbo-engine overpowered the chassis, surprising many uninitiated drivers

But beyond the 930 Turbo, here's why the following 6 Porsche models can also be labeled as widowmakers

1. In 1965, Porsche entered the 904/8 Bergspyder in Targa Florio and secured second place

However, the ultra-light, flat-eight race car featured a very firm suspension, making it jump. They called it the Kangaroo

2. Early 911s were considered balanced cars, but they still had a dark side

Lack of chassis rigidity on the road cars and a rear-mounted engine was a recipe for the so-called pendulum effect

3. The 993 GT2 is the first and only air-cooled 911 GT2

Like all future models, the 993 GT2 was based on the Turbo, but was far less cooperative to the driver

4. The 996 GT2 was a homologation special like its predecessor

The first water-cooled 911 GT2 produced up to 483 hp and featured no traction control

5. The Porsche 997.2 GT2 RS is a modern-day widowmaker

The Turbo-based 997 GT2 RS features 612 hp, rear-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual

6. The Porsche Carrera GT is considered one of the very last analog supercars

Its motorsport-derived V-10 produced 603 hp and boasts one of the greatest engine notes

It features a six-speed manual with an intricate clutch system that was sensitive to bad drivers

Tire technology at the time couldn't keep up with the Porsche Carrera GT performance

To make matters more interesting, the Carrera GT featured not traction control system

20 years later, Porsche worked with Michelin to create new tires for the Carrera GT

The new rubber made the Carrera GT 16 seconds quicker around the Nurburgring

Swipe up to learn more about why these Porsche sports cars are dangerous and earned the reputation for being widowmakers.

The 992.2 GT2 RS is already in its early stages of development and should hit the scene by 2026

The test mule seen here, spotted by CarSpyMedia shows us a car that is disguised as a GT3 RS

The turbocharged rear-wheel drive GT2 RS models have always been similarly styled to the naturally-aspirated GT3 RS, albeit still featuring distinctive traits to set the two cars apart

But the sound profile is unlike the high-revving 4.0-liter flat-six

Instead, distinct turbo noises can be heard in the video, which could only mean one thing. What we're looking at could indeed be the 992.2 GT2 RS

The 992.2 GTS introduced the T-Hybrid powertrain, a version of which will be used in the next Turbo and GT2 RS models

The upcoming Hybird Turbo S is expected to make over 700 horsepower, which means the GT2 RS has to make close to 800

If we look back at the history of the 911 GT2, it started with the Porsche 993 back in the early 1990s. Only 194 examples were built

The 993 GT2 produced 424 hp while the GT2 EVO - 444. The 993 is the only air-cooled Porsche 911 GT2

The 996 GT2 was introduced in 2001 and it did not feature traction control

At 1,287 units, the 996 was the most mass-produced GT2

The 997 generation featured many firsts and lasts for the GT2. The GT2 RS was introduced for the first time

The 997.2 GT2 RS featured 100 more horsepower than the regular GT2. Over 1,200 examples were built from each

The 991.2 GT2 RS became the quickest car around Nurburgring, twice

For the first time, the GT2 RS was not offered with a manual. It came with a 7-speed PDK

To this day, the 991.2 GT2 RS with a lap time of 6:43.3 is the second-quickest road-going car, around the Green Hell

Swipe up to learn more about the future of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Porsche's dealership days can be traced back to the 1950s when New-York based European car importer Rick Hoffman, first brought the German brand stateside

In the 74 years that the Porsche brand has been in the U.S, the scale of operations has been vastly expanded

Part of Porsche Cars North America or PCNA established in 1984, Porsche today has over 200+ locations across the United States, with a variety of services and experiences on offer

Listed in the linked post are the contact details of all 202 Porsche Centers in the United States

Besides the standard dealerships, some locations qualify as a Porsche Classic Partners

Porsche Classic Partner dealers are specialized centers dedicated to the preservation and care of classic Porsche vehicles

Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Partner are all about offering extensive customization options to customers

Unlike regular Porsche dealers, Exclusive Manufaktur partners provide direct access to Porsche’s craftsmen and designers

Some dealerships offer Porsche Drive: A flexible vehicle subscription and rental service that allows you to experience various Porsche models without the long-term commitment or ownership

Porsche Studio is a luxury retail concept. The space focuses on high-touch services, offering bespoke vehicle customization consultations

Porsche Experience Centers are state-of-the-art facilities designed to immerse enthusiasts and potential buyers in the Porsche brand

Available in three locations; Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Birmingham Porsche Experience Centers offer everything from track and simulator experiences to corporate events, dining, and retail.

While most Porsche models are still proudly made in Germany, some of the operations have moved to other facilities, including overseas

To understand the scale of Porsche's current operations, we'll look at how and where the German automaker began making cars

The first Porsche factory was located in Gmünd, Austria, where the Porsche 356 was produced until the 1950s when production was moved to Germany

Production subsequently moved to Stuttgart in Germany

Here's a more recent overhead shot of this sprawling facility

A few models are built at the Zuffenhausen facility, including the iconic 911

The all-electric Taycan is also made in the same factory as the 911!

The 718 Cayman and Boxster models are put together in a separate factory in Osnabrück, in the German state of Lower Saxony

Apart from the Zuffenhausen factory, Porsche has another factory in Leipzig

Models like the Panamera and the Macan crossover are built here

Models like the iconic Carrera GT were built at the Leipzig facility

It is also worth noting that much of the development of both Porsche race cars and road cars happens at the Weissach facility, just outside Stuttgart

The Weissach also house several prototypes of both race cars and road cars

Outside of Germany, Porsche uses VW's Bratislava factory to build the Cayenne SUV

Porsche's first factory outside Europe is situated in Malaysia. It was inaugurated in 2022 and only manufactures the Cayenne

With China being one of Porsche's top markets, the German automaker has an R&D center in Shanghai

To get an idea about where every Porsche model has been built since 1948 and how many Porscehs were built over the past five years, swipe.

After its European debut, founder Jan Kalmar, of Kalmar Automotive, drove his most powerful creation the 9x9 for 3 days, in over 3 countries

Dring from Italy, through France, and onto the U.K., the 3,000km (approx, 1,860-mile) road trip is a small part of the real-life testing that goes into the 9x9 development

During the trip, the 9x9 inspired by the Porsche 959 saw everything from highways to mountain passes, to the Nurburgring where it set a lap time

An excruciating amount of attention to detail has gone into making the 9x9 usable in all conditions

Like the 959, the Kalmar 9x9 interior is similar to the 993, but in this case, we have a few 992 touches

Despite being a hypercar "resto-mod", Kalmar 9x9 has cruise control, bright LED lights, and adaptive suspension, among other sophisticated tech

What is essentially a retro hypercar, the Kalmar 9x9 is meant for long-distance cruising

The engine is a 3.7-liter, twin-turbo, flat-6. Here, it's mated to an 8-speed PDK automaic

With 930 horsepower and 767 pound-feet, the 9x9 is able to cross several countries at tremendous pace

At around 3,080 pounds, Kalmar 9x9 is almost as light as the lightest Porsche 992, the 911 S/T

The 9x9 will be available in 3 different variants, Standard, Sport, and Lichtbau, with each model prioritizing different aspects and application

Real-life testing of the 9x9 continues, in order to make sure everything works properly

Next stop - Ales, France, where the 9x9 will receive high-performance testing and lay down some numbers

Prices will start at $2.15 million

Deliveries of the Kalmar 9x9 will commence in July 2025

Swipe up to learn more about the Kalmar 9x9 and what goes behind Kalmar's "We test in public" approach.

From wearables to merchandise and gear, Porsche Design has an extensive list of products on sale today

While the PD brand has a loyal fan-base, brand caché has taken over and anything inspired by the Porsche brand sells

Take for example this 2.7-RS lamp

Or this frankly bizarre pair of shoes, designed to quite-literally look like a 911

Along similar lines, is this GT3-inspired stroller, that thankfully isn't real

But the madness continues with yet another Facebook find, this time a bag-pack designed to look like the rear-end of a Porsche 911

The main shell with features like vertical strakes that generally sit above the rear-air intake, found in entry-level 911 Carrera models. There's even a rear wing

Other defining features include details like the reflectors on the rear bumper

The pre-finished stage shows off a silver fabric layer, (designed to mimic paint I suppose) that wraps onto the shell. Spot the light-bar and Porsche script

Would you consider it over a more conventional bag-pack from Porsche design, which starts around $160?

This aerodynamic 911 bag is priced at $120 according to the Facebook listing

It's almost a decade since the first-gen Macan came out and Porsche's compact SUV offering, continues to remain popular

The new Macan Electric is here, but Porsche is still keeping the gas-powered Macan until 2026

For 2025, the Macan is available across four trim levels: Macan, Macan T, Macan S, and Macan GTS

Both the base Macan and the Macan T are powered by VW Group's tried-and-tested 2.0-liter turbo inline-4, producing 261 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque

On the other hand, the more potent Macan S and the Macan GTS feature a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, cranking 375 hp in the S guise and 434 hp in the GTS form

All Macan ICE models feature a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox and all-wheel drive

Design-wise, the gas-powered Macan remains more or less the same as the outgoing model. It gets LED lights, both at the front and rear, along with 19-inch alloy wheels

On the inside though, the Macan will remind you somewhat of the 991-gen 911 with its analog-digital gauges and the button-heavy center console

The 2025 Macan starts at $62,900 and goes all the way up to $89,000 for the range-topping GTS model

To learn more about how the gas-powered Macan compares against rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, swipe up.

Swipe up to read more about the gas-powered Macan

If you're a Porschephile, you've most likely heard of the Japanese Tuner RWB, or Rauh Welt Begriff

The brainchild of Akira Nakai, RWB has created close to 500 wide-body restomods since the 1990s, predominantly based on air-cooled 911s. Here are our top 10 picks

10. Like the animated Byamax, this RWB is a gentle giant

Despite the stock engine and transmission, this GT2-inspired 993 by RWB can take corners at blistering speeds

9. Aptly dubbed the RWB Targa, this 964 is the first Targa built for a U.S. customer, and the second RWB Targa ever made

Under the full RWB wide body hides a stock 3.6-liter flat-6 and a 5-speed manual. The KW3 coil-over suspension improves handling

8. Yoshiwara is one of the most unique RWB builds as it features a one-piece glass "Targa" top that extends to the rear deck lid

The clear-glass roof showcases the roll-cage and race-inspired interior

Some minor performance modifications include a new ECU, exhaust, and independent throttle bodies

7. Shinkiro is one of very few RWB Porsches built for Russian customers

This custom 930 was built by Nakai San in St.Petersburg and features a Mint Green paint

6. The RWB Rotana was to be the rawest race car and was meant to be an evolution of the RWB Stella Artoa – Akira Nakai’s first build and personal 964

The purple Rotana is a 993 Turbo and has received performance mods, including a GReddy turbocharger and a new exhaust, resulting in 575 horsepower

5. Rough Rhythms is not easy on the eyes. This RWB 993 boasts the widest rear end, at 2,080 mm

The 3.6-liter engine has been modified to 310 horsepower. The car is owned by a friend of Nakai San, who helped popularize RWB outside of Japan

4. Ichiban Boshi, an RWB 930 inspired by Porsche's legendary racing heritage and featuring the iconic Martini livery. Hence, the cool nickname

But that's not all. The engine has been heavily modified to produce 600 horsepower

3. RWB Adriana is the personal car of Nakai San, which was meant to go racing. It did and there is an interesting story behind it

The car made 300 horsepower from its 3.6-liter engine, but there were a few unfortunate events revolving around it

2. Jezebel is another car Nakai San built for himself, and it features a stunning Guards Red paint finish

This 930 was meant to be more of a daily-ish driver and features a fully restored interior with Alcantara seats

1. This RWB build, simply called 'Martini', is based on a 993 but features classic touches from the 1970s

Aside from the Fuchs-style wheels, the most prominent feature is the massive rear wing

Which one was your favorite RWB builds?

Swipe up to learn the interesting stories behind each of these RWB builds.