The Porsche Taycan Turbo S has set an electric production car record at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, lapping the 7.7km-long circuit in an impressive 3 minutes 30.344 seconds.

For reference, that’s just 8.0 seconds slower than the 3:22.066 Porsche 911 Turbo, or 6.0 seconds slower than the previous 911 GT2 RS on the same track.

Piloting the Carmine Red Taycan is Porsche Track Experience chief driving instructor and former Bathurst 1000 winner, Luke Youlden, who also piloted the 911 Turbo.

“The lap time of the Taycan just absolutely blew me away. You drive it in a similar way to any other Porsche sports car. The turn-in, handling and acceleration were outstanding. The power out of the corners is definitely where it makes up a lot of time,” said Youlden.

The former racer also said the Taycan isn’t too dissimilar to a petrol-drive car: “It’s unbelievably dynamic. Even though it is a little bit heavier, the batteries are very, very low so the centre of gravity is extremely low, which obviously makes the handling and the braking exceptionally good.” It also has all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, plus the instant acceleration certainly helps around the 35-corner circuit.

“To be that close to the old GT2 RS lap record around here? Unbelievable. It’s extremely fast. We did repeated 2.5 seconds 0-100 km/h runs in this car and that sort of feel off the corner was also where the Taycan makes up most of its lap time. It’s unbelievable,” Youlden explained.

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Porsche has pulled the wraps off its new 992 version of the 911 Targa. Based on the latest-generation 911, the drop-top features a power-retractable targa roof that made its debut on the outgoing 991 version.

Like its predecessor, the automatic roof system includes a wraparound rear windscreen that cantilevers to allow the roof to be stowed in just 19 seconds.

Except for the new roof, the Targa’s styling is largely shared with the 911 coupe, meaning larger air intakes, a much wider front and rear track, flush door handles, a full-width taillight, active rear spoiler and integrated exhaust pipes.

Two variants will be on offer, the Targa 4 and Targa 4S, both powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-ltre six-cylinder engine in two states of tune and driving all four wheels. It delivers 283kW and 450Nm of torque in the Targa 4, and 331kW and 530Nm of torque in the Targa 4S.

Porsche says the 911 Targa 4 will hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, while the Targa 4S accomplishes the same feat in 3.6 seconds. Flat out, the Targa 4 will reach 289km/h while the Targa 4S will sit at 304km/h.

Transmission options include an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch, as well as Porsche’s new seven-speed manual, the latter only available with the 4S along with the Sport Chrono package.

Both models come with Porsche Active Suspension Management that automatically adjusts the damping characteristics, along with the Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) Plus with an electronic locking rear differential.

All 911 Targa 4 models rolls on 19-inch wheels wrapped in 235/40 tyres up front, and 20-inch rears wrapped in 295/35 tyres. The Targa 4S comes with larger hoops, featuring 20-inch front wheels with 245/35 tyres and 21-inch rear wheels with 305/30 tyres.

The Targa’s launch also coincides with the model year updates for the wider 911 range, which brings the addition of an optional Porsche InnoDrive with adaptive cruise control, as well as an enhanced Smartlift feature that remembers where the driver has activated the front axle lift on a given route and deploys it automatically.

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The new-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S brings unprecedented power, driving dynamics and comfort. We take a closer look at Porsche’s latest 911.

The new 911 Turbo S is powered by a new 3.8-litre boxer engine with two VTG turbochargers, which delivers 478 kW (650 PS, 51 kW (70 PS) more than its predecessor. Maximum torque is now 800 newton metres (an increase of 50 Nm). The Turbo-specific eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) cuts the sprint from zero to 100 km/h to 2.7 seconds (0.2 seconds faster), while top speed is unchanged at 330 km/h.

The leap in performance of this new generation is even more noticeable in the sprint from zero to 200 km/h: at 8.9 seconds, the new 911 Turbo S is one full second quicker than its predecessor. Thanks to the enhanced Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive, the transfer case can distribute significantly more torque, with up to 500 Nm being transferred to the front wheels. The new generation of the standard PASM chassis is also even sportier. Faster and more precisely controlled dampers provide significant advantages to the driving dynamics with respect to roll stability, road holding, steering behaviour and cornering speeds.

The dimensions of the 911 Turbo S have been increased: the body is now 45 millimetres wider above the front axle (1,840 mm), and the overall width is 1,900 mm above the rear axle (an increase of 20 mm). Modified track widths, further developed aerodynamics and the new mixed-size tyres contribute to its agility and sportiness: the track is now 42 mm wider at the front axle and 10 mm wider at the rear axle. The adaptive aerodynamics now include controlled cooling air flaps at the front, while the larger rear wing has been designed for even more downforce. For the first time, the 911 Turbo S transfers its power to the road with mixed tyres in two different sizes: it has 20-inch tyres with their unique 255/35 dimensions at the front and 21-inch 315/30 tyres at the rear. New equipment options underline the much sportier image of the all-wheel drive 911. These include the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sports chassis that has been lowered by 10 mm and the sports exhaust system with adjustable flaps that guarantees a distinctive sound.

The new front end with wider air intakes has a characteristic Turbo-look with dual front light modules as well as standard LED matrix headlights with dark inserts. The redesigned, pneumatically extendable front spoiler and the larger rear wing deliver 15 per cent more downforce. The muscular rear wing sections with integrated air intakes emphasise the sleek body of the 911 Turbo S. The new look of the rear is completed by rectangular tailpipes in high-gloss Black, typical of the Turbo.

The interior has a high-quality and sporty finish. The standard equipment list includes a full leather interior and carbon trim in combination with Light Silver accents. A newly designed two-tone interior will be available by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur as an option. This is characterised by a coordinated interplay of colours, materials and individual enhancements. The 18-way adjustable sports seats feature stitching that pays homage to the first 911 Turbo (type 930). High-quality graphic elements and logos in the instrument cluster complete the characteristic Turbo S features. The centre screen of the PCM is now 10.9 inches. Other features on board ex-works are the GT sports steering wheel, the Sport Chrono package with newly integrated Porsche Track Precision app and BOSE Surround Sound system.

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Porsche’s next hypercar was initially going to be all-electric but that might change, as Porsche is considering using a six-cylinder engine that was supposed to power a Formula 1 car.

Developed by a team of 40 engineers from Porsche’s LMP1 project, the electric hybrid engine was meant to be Porsche’s inaugural engine into Formula 1 as an engine supplier in the 2021 season, but that changed when Volkswagen Group decided to focus on Formula E instead.

But instead of letting it collect dust in the basement, Porsche is reportedly considering repurposing it for it next hypercar.

According to Autocar, Porsche had initially plan to offer the successor to the 918 Spyder as an electric car but abandoned the idea after an internal study concluded that solid-state battery technology would not be ready in time for adoption.

Instead the company is now considering using the F1 engine in conjunction in their upcoming plug-in hybrid hypercar.

Autocar goes on to report that Porsche continued to develop the six-cylinder engine even after plans to enter F1 were dropped.

Porsche might also draw on technology developed by Rimac, the Croatian hypercar in which Porsche recently bought a 15.5% stake.

Not much else is known about the new hypercar but it’s expected to arrive around 2025.

Note: Porsche 917 concept shown

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Porsche is entering a new era with the new Taycan, the brand’s first all-electric sports sedan. While we don’t yet know exactly what kind of performance is on offer with the Taycan, Porsche has unveiled the EV’s interior and we must say it’s pretty space-age.

Following Tesla’s approach, Porsche has gone all digital with the new Taycan cabin, fitting it with not two or three, but four digital displays that take up the entire width of the dashboard.

Porsche says the original 911’s cleanly styled dashboard from 1963 was the inspiration. The stated goal was to bring it into the present day. The raked centre console houses a vertically orientated 8.4-inch haptic touchscreen for audio, navigation and climate controls. Above it is a 10.9-inch infotainment screen, accompanied by a second identical screen for the passenger side, though the latter is optional. Lastly, an ultra-cool 16.8-inch curved screen serves as the instrument cluster.

The digital instrumentation can be set to one of four display modes:

• Classic mode evokes the rounded instruments typical of Porsche. A power meter replaces the rev counter in the middle instrument.
• Map mode replaces the central power meter with a map layout.
• Full Map mode omits the round instruments in favour of a navigation map displayed across the full display.
• Pure mode displays only essential driving information such as speed, traffic signs and navigation using a minimalist arrow.

There are also small, touch-control fields at the edges of the screen for operating the light and chassis functions. The instrument cluster is therefore wider than the steering wheel and reminiscent of the iconic original 911.

Every detail in the cabin has been reduced to the essentials. Like the Porsche 918, the Taycan has a compact direction selector switch in the instrument panel instead of the classic selector lever. This gives the centre console a cleaner look and creates storage space.

A reduction to the essentials and a clear approach are also evident for the air vents. Traditional, mechanically-operated louvres are gone, as airflows are now controlled both digitally and automatically. Called the “Virtual Airflow Control”, occupants can switch between “Focused” for fast, directional cooling and “Diffused” for draught-free air conditioning. If the optional four-zone automatic climate control is fitted, an additional 5.9-inch touch control panel with haptic feedback allows the system to be operated from the rear seats.

The Taycan is available with a wide range of interior and exterior configurations, in both traditional and modern styles. Interior colours Black-Lime Beige, Blackberry, Atacama Beige and Meranti Brown are exclusively available for the Taycan. The optional interior accent package also gives customers a choice of special contrasting colour schemes in black matt, dark silver or neodyme, an elegant champagne tone. The doors and centre consoles can be wood trim, matt carbon, embossed aluminium or fabric.

Due to be fully unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the Porsche Taycan is set to take on the Tesla Model S P100D in its quest to be the fastest electric sedan in the world.

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Old school and prefer naturally aspirated engines and manual transmissions? Porsche hears you and intends to keep building both for at least the next 10 years.

Speaking to Australian publication What Car recently, Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger likens driving a high revving, naturally aspirated engine with a manual transmission to be like medicine because “everybody is grinning and that’s healthy.”

“I think we have an advantage in the market over the competition because everybody has skipped and deleted the atmospheric engine and deleted even the manual gearbox. That’s a mistake!” he offered.

Preuninger says manual variants of some GT models make up half of the cars sold in certain markets, meaning there’s enough demand for them.

While he is all for old school, naturally aspirated mill and manual transmission, Preuninger is very conscious of the increasingly stringent emissions laws, which he says is what’s limiting the power outputs of future GT department engines.

That is why he believes Porsche’s GT models can co-exist harmoniously with the company’s upcoming all-electric Taycan.

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Porsche has taken the wraps off its Cayenne Coupé, a sleeker version of the Cayenne SUV as it joins the growing ranks of swoopy-roofed SUVs pioneered by the BMW X6.

“The significantly more steep roof line that falls away to the rear makes the Cayenne Coupé appear even more dynamic, and positions it as the sportiest-looking model in the segment,” said Style Porsche vice president, Michael Mauer.

As seen in the photos, the Cayenne Coupé features a sloping roof that has been lowered by 20mm relative to the 2019 Cayenne, complemented by restyled rear doors and 18mm broader fenders.

The redesigned rear end also gain an adaptive spoiler that is part of the Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA), which extends 135mm at 90km/h and above for increase downforce on the rear axle.

Additionally, the Cayenne Coupé comes with a panoramic fixed glass roof as standard, although customers can specify a carbon-fibre roof as an option.

Unlike the 5-seat Cayenne wagon, the Coupé comes standard with four seats, with the second row comprising two individual seats as standard. Rear seat occupants are seated 30mm lower than those in the full-sized Cayenne as well, thus offering ‘plenty of headroom despite the vehicle’s sporty lowered silhouette’. Alternatively, a conventional ‘comfort’ rear seat can be specified.

In terms of luggage capacity, Porsche says to Coupé comes with 625 litres of boot space with the seats in place, and 1,540 litres with the rear seats folded, or 600 litres and 1,510 litres, respectively in the Cayenne Coupé Turbo.

Standard equipment across the range includes speed-sensitive Power Steering Plus, 20-inch alloy wheels, Park Assist at the front and rear, a reversing camera, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Sport Chrono.

As the Coupé shares the same platform with the third-generation Cayenne, it shares most of its technical features, including the Porsche 4D Chassis Control, three-chamber air suspension, rear-axle steering and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) electronic roll stabilisation.

Inside, there’s the latest in Porsche Communication Management (PCM), where a 12.3-inch touchscreen provides access to infotainment and vehicular setups.

At launch, the Cayenne Coupé will be offered with two petrol engines – a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with 254kW and 450Nm of torque, and a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 with 410kW and 770Nm of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 9.4L/100km for the V6 and 11.4L/100km for the V8.

The base Coupé will blast from 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds before hitting a top speed of 243km/h, while the Coupé Turbo accomplishes the century sprint in just 3.9 seconds en route to a top speed of 286km/h.

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Porsche is set to build an additional four examples of the limited-run 911 GT2 RS after a cargo ship containing cars destined for Brazil sunk off the coast of France. 

The ship containing the four examples of the GT2 RS, named the Grande America, sank on March 12 after a fire broke out on board.

Its cargo included 2,000 cars, comprised of a mix of regular and performance-focused Audi models, along with Porsches ranging from the base 718 all the way to the GT2 RS in question.

A letter sent to the expectant owners, which one sent to CarScoops who have loosely translated it, confirmed that rather than give customers a refund, Porsche would instead restart production of the GT2 RS in April in order to reproduce these final four examples due to the irreplaceable nature of them.

“We are sorry to inform you that, due to a fire, a Grimaldi group ship, that was transporting your vehicle, sank on March 12, 2019. And for that reason, your GT2 RS can not be delivered,” the letter reads.

“As you may know, Porsche ended the 991 GT2 RS production on February 2019 and under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be possible to give you another car. But, due to the nature of the situation, and considering that you’re a loyal and highly valuable customer for our brand, Porsche has decided to resume the GT2 RS production in Germany, and your vehicle will be produced in April, with delivery scheduled for June.”

Just 1,000 examples of the GT2 RS were originally set to have been produced, and although the restart of production will take that figure to 1,004 units, still only 1,000 will end up seeing public roads.

The GT2 RS was previously the lap record holder at the Nürburgring with a time of 6:47.3 set in September 2017, before being beaten by the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in July last year.

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An image of what could well be the 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo has surfaced on Instagram, although Porsche itself is yet to confirm if it is indeed the new Turbo model.

In the post made by Instagram user Todd Schleicher, who notes himself as being a Porsche owner and enthusiast, the one shot that has simply been mirrored depicts what he claims is the next 911 Turbo from the rear three-quarter angle, with it appearing to have been taken inside Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory.

View this post on Instagram

What do we have here ? 992 Turbo ?

A post shared by Todd Schleicher (@t_schleicher) on Feb 21, 2019 at 7:10am PST

While there’s no confirmation on whether this is the next Turbo model, all the hallmarks of one are there, with its noticeably widened rear haunches sporting air intakes before them, a compact lip-style extendable spoiler, and a more aggressive rear diffuser with quad exhausts.

It’s unlikely that it’s the full-fat Turbo S model, however, as one of those spied tested on the Nürburgring late last year sported a larger, wider rear wing.

With no word yet from Porsche, this one mirrored photo and the claims of this being the new 911 Turbo are to be taken with a grain of salt, although the internet seems to be fairly convinced of it so far.

If, indeed, it is the new Turbo, expect it to improve on the outgoing model’s already hefty 427kW and 750Nm power and torque outputs, and to continue offering standard all-wheel drive when it finally arrives, although dates for an official unveiling and launch are yet to be announced.

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The first shots of the undisguised 2019 Porsche 911 have leaked online online ahead of the all-new model’s debut next week at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. 

The three low-res press photos leaked to US-based site Jalopnik display what is believed to be a Carrera 4S model in both silver and blue, with the set of shots revealing enough to mentally piece together what the new model will look like all-round.

Other than the horizontal taillight bar across the back end of the new 911, the overall design remains almost identical to the 991-series car it will replace, which debuted just a few years ago in 2016.

Little is known about the 992 as yet, although it is highly likely it will retain the 991’s 3.8-litre turbocharged flat-six positioned in the rear. It is also probable that it will continue to be offered with both a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and a six-speed manual on select variants too.

Most notably, however, Porsche is expected to reveal a plug-in hybrid variant, which would mark the first time the 911 had received some form of electrification.

The 992’s interior is also set to be given an overhaul, with spy shots leaked earlier hinting at a design sharing similarities with the cabin of the current Panamera.

The 992-series 911 will be officially revealed at the LA Auto Show which opens this Friday, November 30.

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