Porsche » Australian Car Advice

Porsche returns to ‘Ring with new 911

June 18th, 2008 23 Comments

Following the release of the next generation 911, Porsche has returned to the Nurburgring to settle a grudge.

With the Nissan GT-R setting the benchmark at an incredible 7:29, and a limit of 7:59 set by the Cadillac CTS-V to avoid humiliation, there was certainly very little room for error.

Porsche’s next generation 911

June 7th, 2008 27 Comments

Porsche has released details of the next generation of 911 sports cars, including a double clutch system, and launch control.

In a press release today, Porsche states that there will be two coupes, and two cabriolets, with new 3.6 and 3.8-litre engines featuring direct injection, and the optional new double clutch gearbox - Porsche-Doppelkupplung, or PDK in Porsche-speak.

2010 Porsche Cayenne spy photos

June 5th, 2008 8 Comments

2010 Porsche Cayenne spy photos

These prototypes photographed are not a smaller brother to the current Porsche Cayenne. Having surfed the web in the last few weeks, many media outlets have incorrectly reported that it could be named the Roxster – but it’s actually the first sighting of the icon itself: the new Porsche Cayenne.

The photos are of two different variants, the standard Cayenne (with square exhaust pipes - first one) and the Cayenne S (with two pairs of round exhausts -second one).

Luxury brands insulted by tax rise

May 13th, 2008 33 Comments

Luxury car manufacturers have today responded to the Government’s proposal to increase the luxury car tax from 25 percent to 33 percent.

Porsche, BMW and Audi have all released statements openly criticising the tax rise which has been labeled as counter-productive and harmful and that it will add to Australia’s inflationary burden.

Each manufacturer has independently argued that this proposal unfairly targets brands who invest in technology to reduce greenhouse gases and improve safety - declaring it a tax on innovation.

“Over the years luxury brands pioneered new safety technologies such as airbags, ABS brakes, and Electronic Stability Control. Today, mass market brands and their customers reap the rewards,” said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia.

Citing the tax hike as ‘disappointing’, Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann says that for over 100 years, Audi has been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering key technologies which are today taken for granted, even in mass market vehicles. The company was the first to introduce now basic safety features like safety glass, and even pioneered side impact and rollover testing.

This tariff increase will have serious ramifications for the competitiveness of the Australian automotive industry, and the car-buying public in general, says Hofmann.

They also argue that luxury car manufacturers are constantly investing in technology to reduce its emissions and create more fuel efficient cars, and that a tax system based on CO2 emissions would align better with the Government’s position on the environment.

“Increasing the tax burden on Australians who help fund innovation in cleaner and safer cars highlights a lack of appreciation for the role technology innovation plays in the market.” from BMW

“The Government has a direct interest in making cars safer and cleaner, yet has effectively put this kind of technology at risk for Australian buyers, a move that seems directly at odds with its green agenda.” from Audi

Porsche agrees that the new tax unfairly targets the innovators, and also questions the economic benefit of raising the luxury car tax, indicating the budget would be counter-productive, harmful and put at risk the jobs of thousands of Australians employed in the premium automotive sector.

“The high-end of the market has as much elasticity as the low-end. In fact, you could argue that the high-end has more elasticity as most purchases of premium and luxury goods are deferrable. For the Rudd Government to therefore suggest that an increase in tax would lead to an increase in revenue is overly simplistic and incorrect.” says Porsche Cars Australia managing director, Michael Winkler.

A one-third increase of the LCT from 25 per cent to 33 per cent would result in Porsche’s most affordable sports car, the Boxster, moving from $109,300 to $112,400 (+$3,100); while the price of Porsche’s most popular sports car – the 911 Carrera S – would rise from $227,600 to $237,700 (+ $10,100.)

The only consolation for luxury manufacturers is the Government’s scheduled reduction in tariffs on imported cars from 10 percent to 5 percent from 2010.

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2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S released

April 21st, 2008 21 Comments

Porsche has today announced the introduction of the latest Cayenne - the Turbo S.

With the regular 4.8-litre V8 twin turbo from the Cayenne Turbo having been tweaked, the Turbo S pumps out a colossal 404kW and a monstrous 750Nm.

Nissan GT-R .vs. Porsche 911 Turbo on Dyno

March 14th, 2008 32 Comments

It’s hard not to compare the Nissan GT-R to the Porsche 911 Turbo, after all, Nissan did use the German car as the benchmark in its development. But despite being faster to 100km/h and by all reports even faster around a race track, the GT-R is no where near the 911’s price tag and essentially, it is, just a Nissan… Right?

Not at all, the just a Nissan tag is quickly dying out with report after report showering the GT-R with more praise than Nissan could have ever envisioned. To add to Porsche’s worries, both cars have now been put on a dyno to find out, once and for all, which has more power and torque.

Porsche Cayenne GTS vs BMW X5 video

March 13th, 2008 14 Comments

It’s not everyday you see SUVs on a track, but the wonderful people at Fifth Gear have a lot of time on their hands:

Porsche takes over Volkswagen

March 7th, 2008 20 Comments

Although not exactly surprising news, German manufacturer Porsche yesterday announced that it will increase its 31 per cent voting stake in Volkswagen to a majority.

Porsche, best known for making practical supercars such as the 911, has long been expected to gain control, following the decision handed down by Europe’s highest court last year which struck down a German law that limited individual shareholders’ voting rights in VW.

Porsche stand 2008 Geneva Motor Show

March 5th, 2008 1 Comment

Porsche stand 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Facelifted Porsche Cayman spy photos

March 4th, 2008 5 Comments

Like many other manufacturers, Porsche is taking its new models up to northern Scandinavia for winter testing. Of course we had already sent our photographer there, disguised in the bushes waiting for the cars to drive past.

What you see here is the upcoming, face-lifted, Porsche Cayman. The 2009 Cayman will receive a revised front bumper with LED daylight driving-lights as well as re-designed and much rounder air intakes.

Spectacular GT2 finish at Sebring

February 14th, 2008 17 Comments

After a grueling 12-hours of racing at Sebring, just half a second separated the first placed Ferrari 430GT from Porsche’s brand new GT3 RSR with the winner of the GT2 class coming down to the wire. Their final joust on the last lap is nothing short of spectacular.