About Porsche

Lauren Woods asked:


In the world of the auto industry, there are brands that are accessible only to wealthy individuals. While most motorists dream of owning a luxury car, the prices of these dream machines put them beyond the reach of most consumers. That is why in choosing the best luxury brand in the United States, it is imperative that one should ask people who can actually afford them or who have been in and around such vehicles.

Recently, the Luxury Institute, an independent and impartial ratings and research institution known for specializing on gathering information on the preferences of high net worth consumers, undertook a survey to find out the best luxury brand. The results are in and for the third straight year, Porsche sits at the top of the list of the best luxury car brand today.

The Italian brand edged out other popular luxury car brand to take the top spot. Among its competition are Acura from Honda, Lexus from Toyota, and Infiniti from Nissan, German brands Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Other luxury brands are owned by Ford like Volvo Cars and Jaguar. According to the institute, the main reason why Porsche came out on top is its “consistently superior quality, exclusivity and uniqueness, measure of enhanced social status and its ability to make the client ‘feel special’ throughout the entire ownership experience.”

The respondents were also asked which luxury brands they will recommend or the brand of the next luxury car they will likely buy.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, the President and the Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Cars North America, is obviously thrilled after Porsche received the distinction. According to him: “Customer perception is everything in the luxury car market. This distinction helps us know that we are successfully delivering on our brand values in a very competitive automobile market.”

The United States auto market is one of the most competitive if not the most competitive market in the world and Porsche coming out with this distinction will surely boost the brand’s popularity among wealthy prospective car buyers. Aside from bringing to the table high level of performance, Porsche cars also offers reliability. While reliability is an integral part of Porsche cars, their performance can still be enhanced with aftermarket parts such as Stillen cold air intake systems.

In conducting the survey, the Luxury Institute facilitated an online survey of more than 1,600 Americans with an average income of $313,000 and a net worth of $3.3 million. Respondents of the online survey associate the brand Porsche with “power, style and excitement”, “value,” “elegance,” and “trust and respect”.

According to Milton Pedraza, the Chief Executive Officer of the Luxury Institute: “Wealthy consumers tell us that Porsche stays true to its core values and to its enthusiasts. Porsche remains an automobile that never loses its way on the luxury highway, even at high speeds.”



Melvin

Benjamin Hudson asked:


Porsche majority stockholder of Volkswagen and recipient of quality Volkswagen auto components such as VW oxygen sensors—have denied recently the accusations that it has used the Cayenne V6 exclusivity to boost profits.

The company was very pleased with its entry-level version of the Cayenne off-roader. Unfortunately the Volkswagen-powered V6 variant was not able to make it at the launching of the updated Cayenne.

The new Cayenne that was recently presented to the media in North-Eastern Victoria is part of a mid-life upgrade for the Cayenne large four-wheel drive which was first launched in the mid of 2003. The update that includes some major styling and mechanical modifications were not only employed on the new Cayenne but across the range.

The model range has increased from two to three and currently includes the entry-level Cayenne V6 with a price tag of $97,400. It’s the first under $100,000 new Porsche since the last 944 coupe created by the German sports car manufacturer in 1986.

The Cayenne Turbo (V8) and the Cayenne S (V8) both have bigger engines and delivers more power but despite the engine size, Porsche claims that these two Cayenne models deliver fuel economy of up to 15 percent. Aside from that, the styling changes were also made to a minimal just enough to freshen the two-toned SUV’s look and improves its aerodynamic performance.

Last 2004 the Cayenne sales reached only 562 but unfortunately for Porsche four-door by the year 2005 its sales plunge to 414 and further decline in 2006 at 332 units sold. But Porsche Cars Australia managing director Michael Winkler is optimistic that the new looks of the Cayenne plus the introduction of the V6 engine would finally help the range to recover.

Winkler also rebuts reports that suggest that a Porsche is slower than a fleet Falcon. He said that such damaging reports can put the Porsche brand in a bad light. The report that Winkler is pointing at the report found on the enthusiast magazines that claimed they have timed a Falcon and a Cayenne, and found out that the Falcon can reach 100km/h in less than 8 seconds while the Cayenne V6 is claimed to take 8.5 seconds.

BMW also boasts of a 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds performance time delivered by its X5 3.0 liter engine, which they claimed is 0.4 sec faster than Porsche. Even the diesel X5 is just 0.1 seconds off the Cayenne’s pace.

There was no way for the Australian media to verify whether the Cayenne V6 is really the fastest car in its class or whether it possess the level of performance and exclusivity that buyers expect since the Cayenne V6 was not present at the media launch. Porsche Cars Australia took six cars to Australia for the said launch and not one of them was a Cayenne V6—all were V8 models.

Winkler also denies reports that the Cayenne V6 will share the 3.6 liter V6 engine with a $20,000 cheaper Volkswagen Touareg together with the $84,900 aUDI q7 would not help the Cayenne at all. He said, “No, I don’t think they would know this. Remember, too, our engine is more powerful [by just 7kW] and has been engineered to suit the character and performance Porsche buyers expect.”

Porsche is expecting that the V6 variant to increase by at least 30 percent the demand for Cayenne. Winkler told drive.com.au in an interview that in case demand surpasses such target, Porsche would take steps to tighten supply.



Connie

P4BZ asked:


I think its the name of the place where Porsche originated but i have no idea. If you know the word (cos i know its german) what does it mean?

More likely to get the 10 points if you include a picture of the logo.

Todd

Benjamin Hudson asked:


Porsche has released a refined Cayenne line-up for 2008. These include the base, S, and the Turbo. Two of the considered significant changes include the angrier looking, more slated VW headlights and a revised front fascia with ribs cutting across larger vents.

The turbo model keeps its signature hood bulges. It will also be differentiated from the other two models by larger turn indicators that resemble the LED strips found on the front of the new 911 Turbo. Base and S models on the other hand, will have smaller, round indicators. It was recently announced that a refined Boxster with increases of five horsepower for each model will go along with the vehicle. With this, some automotive journalists think Porsche will give a similar increase to the Cayenne.

All three Cayennes, the base, S, and the Turbo, have the trade mark of larger gill-like front fascias. They also all have new engines and suspension options. The new line of V-6 and V-8 engines all feature direct fuel injection, as Porsche calls it the DFI, for greater power and efficiency. As an option, all three models will also have a new electronic suspension system called Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC).

Despite of its impressive performance and record-setting sales, some critics have (and are still) complaining that the first-generation Porsche Cayenne lack in character, and that misfortune continues with the 2008 Cayenne. It has a new face, mildly reworked interiors, and revised engines, but little else feels or looks different.

On a brighter side, the Cayenne S and Turbo are even more muscle-bound than before, with power increasing from 340 and 450 hp to 385 and 500 hp, respectively. Porsche says that highway fuel economy is up 15 percent for the Cayenne S and 11 percent for the Turbo – thanks to the new and improved direct injection or the DFI. The base Cayenne was supplied by VW with V-6 power manual-transmission which has been enlarged from 3.2 to 3.6 liters for an additional 43 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque. Active anti roll bars are now available on air-suspended models.

Coming standard on all Cayenne models is Porsche’s Stability Management (PSM), with its brake assist function, advanced trailer stabilization system and off-road ABS. These functions improve the brakes’ reaction speed, significantly reduce the yawing which can affect vehicles when towing, and optimize braking performance on loose ground. The static and, for the first time, dynamic bend lighting that come with the bi-xenon headlamps fitted as standard to the Cayenne Turbo likewise increase active safety. The system, which can also be ordered for the Cayenne and Cayenne S, is activated as soon a speed of three kilometers per hour is reached.



Agnes

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


The auto industry has always been a dynamic entity with car manufacturers improving their models year after year. One of these car companies dedicated to offering better versions of their current vehicle models is the German brand Porsche.

The company’s flagship for as long as we can remember is the 911, and for the 2008 model year, they will be introducing to the market a soft top version of the iconic model. This comes as no surprise since for the past twenty years, Porsche has been offering convertible versions of their flagship cars. The open top version of the 911 offers good advantages over the coupe. It is a known fact that convertibles have the most striking body style ever used by an automobile. This open top configuration of the Porsche 911 does not negatively affect the performance of the car.

Differing on the configuration of the roof, the 911 coupe and the convertible uses the same engine. The engine of both 911 units is a 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine. The engine is boosted with twin turbochargers and features the Variable Turbine Geometry which enhances further its fuel efficiency. The powerplant concealed by the 911 Coupe and Cabriolet can produce as much as 480 horsepower. This amount of power complements the lightweight design of the convertible, allowing it to go perform at a high level.

The torque produced by the standard engine can further be enhanced with Porsche’s “Sport Chrono Turbo Package”. With the optional package, the torque produced by the engine will reach 680 Nm. With that much torque, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet exhibits exceptional acceleration. With a manual transmission, the Cabriolet can reach speeds of 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill and the vehicle can accomplish such a feat in just four seconds. That time is shortened to just 3.8 seconds if the Tiptronic S Transmission is used.

The top speed of the cabriolet is rated at 193 miles per hour or 310 kilometers per hour. At that speed, the Cabriolet will need high quality brake components such as EBC rotors to keep the car’s power in check. While the Cabriolet is engineered as a high performance sports car, its fuel efficiency is quite a surprise. With its high power output engine, the cabriolet is rated to have a gas mileage of 21.9 miles per gallon.

While both the coupe and the cabriolet are designed to be lightweight, the cabriolet is 70 kilograms heavier than the coupe version of the 911. The 70 kilograms is the added weight of the reinforcements necessary to reduce vibrations of the car’s body especially on high speed operation.

Another added weight to the cabriolet is the rollover protection installed at the back of the second row of seats of the cabriolet. This variety of protective features makes the 911 one of the safest cabriolets in production today. Its soft top can be opened or closed according to the driver’s preference in just 20 seconds.

In terms of stability, the 911 Cabriolet handles and offers drive comfort just like its coupe counterpart. What gives the cabriolet its good stability is the Porsche Active Suspension Management. The said feature is standard on all trim levels of the Porsche 911 and in every body style. Other features which contribute to the cabriolet’s good performance are the Porsche Stability Management and the Porsche Traction Management. The latter is a feature which adjusts the power sent to the front or rear wheels according to the demand of the road. An onboard computer gives and allows for an instant reaction to the car’s traction needs. This makes the 911 Cabriolet one of the most responsive all-wheel drive system.

Enhancing its performance further is the convertible’s rear spoiler. The integrated spoiler is automatically deployed when the car reaches speed of 75 kilometers per hour or 120 miles per hour. The spoiler creates a negative lift for the rear axle making it the 911 Cabriolet the only convertible with that distinction. All in all, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet is one of the most advanced cars in its segment and come the 2008 model year, this will be one of the most sought after convertibles for performance enthusiasts.



Kim