NYC Hotel Picks up Guests in a Porsche Panamera
While airlines work overtime to figure out new ways to add annoying fees that make tickets more expensive, hotels are working just as hard to give us freebies and perks.
One example is The Hotel Gansevoort Group, which operates two trendy hotels in New York City, and now transports guests to and from the airport in a 2011 Porsche Panamera 4S. Sweet!
"We're looking forward to transforming the perception of city driving," says Detlev Von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "Appreciating one of the world's greatest cities from the spacious interior of a Porsche Panamera is a great way to increase your pulse rate without adding an iota of stress."
The Panamera is the first four-door performance sport sedan from Porsche, with enough luggage room to hold four sets of golf clubs. But it’s not the first four-door Porsche. That would be the Cayenne, which is also Porsche’s first SUV.
The Panamera has the heart and soul of a 911, with legendary Porsche handling to steer around potholes, bicycle messengers who ride the wrong way on one way and pedestrians who walk into traffic while texting. Multiple driving modes can switch from sport-tuned suspension for highway driving, to a more relaxed suspension more suitable for city driving. The all-wheel drive can handle any kind of weather.
The Gansevoort hotels are most famous for their rooftop swimming pools and poolside bars, and their guest list of A-list celebrities.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Garia’s Pricey Golf Car[t]: Is The Recession Over Already?
There's no denying that the Garia Luxury Golf Car is a thing of beauty -- well designed, swanky, with clean, sexy looks. But we have to chuckle a bit at the company's press release, which touts the fact that the car[t] is manufactured at the same factory that makes the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Boxter and that its aluminum frame is built by the same company that "supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo". (FYI, we cook in the same kitchen where our mom makes Thanksgiving dinner, but with very different results.) The Garia's $17,500 price tag, on the other hand, is no laughing matter at all. For fun, we've included the full release below. Pass it around the office -- or to any Sultans of Brunei you might know.
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WORLD PREMIERE: THE GARIA LUXURY GOLF CAR
For the first time ever, the golf cart has been reinvented as a luxury golf car. And when we say car, we really mean it.
Built to the highest standards of the automotive industry The Garia features a double wishbone front suspension similar to those found in sports cars and inspired by Formula 1 cars. The drive train is built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes. The aluminum profiles in the frame are made by the same company that supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo. Hydraulic brakes on all four wheels with discs in the front and drums at the rear. The Garia is manufactured at the Valmet Automotive factory in Finland, manufacturer of the Porsche Cayman and Porsche Boxster.
Top it all off with an in-built refrigerator, hand-stitched seats and an exclusive personalization program where you can choose to have The Garia painted in your favorite color or matched to your other cars. With The Garia you are sure to get the most desirable golf car ever created.
Designed by Danish designer Anders Lynge, The Garia is innovative and unique. The Garia follows the renowned Scandinavian tradition of clear-cut and classic lines combined with functionality.
Still not satisfied? In 2010, The Garia will be street legal and available in the US market as an LSV (Low Speed Vehicle). The Garia LSV will be launched at the Geneva Auto Show in March.
Explore The Garia today at www.garia.com
Download pictures of The Garia here: http://garia.dk/garia-golf-
Prices start at USD 17,499/ Euro 13,999 (excl. delivery and taxes)
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait (For A Porsche Panamera)
Fact: we have not been especially kind to the Porsche Panamera. We've bashed its design, we've criticized it for watering down the Porsche lineup, and we've reveled in its imminent demise. Now that the first delivery of Panameras to the U.S. has been delayed for reasons unknown, you might expect us to dance a little jig of schadenfreude, but we have to admit that Porsche has acted very thoughtfully by offering impatient buyers a free set of luggage, custom-designed for the Panamera. Granted we ridiculed that luggage too, but hey, it's the thought that counts. [MotorAuthority]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Porsche CEO Resigns, Merger With VW Inches Closer
And so it begins: as we mentioned on Monday, this is a big week for Porsche and Volkswagen, as the two German automakers finally take action on their highly anticipated merger. Overnight came news of a major development, indicating that VW's buyout of Porsche is on track and picking up speed: in a surprise late-night meeting, Porsche's Wendelin Wiedeking stepped down from his position as CEO. Holger Härter, Porsche's CFO, has also stepped down.
Both Wiedeking and Härter had expressed vehement opposition to the Porsche/VW merger, and it's not surprising that both have fallen honorably on their swords rather than backing down from their opinions. As an official Porsche statement said, "In the last weeks Wiedeking and Härter have come to the conclusion, that the further strategic development of Porsche SE and Porsche AG is better off, if they are not on board as acting persons." Don't worry too much about the departing duo, though: as parting gifts, Wiedeking and Härter have been given very pretty golden parachutes worth 50 million and 12.5 million, respectively.
As you might expect, Wiedeking and Härter's departure is bound to generate a bit of schadenfreude in the auto world. After all, they're largely to blame for Porsche's current 10+ billion debt and for the company's seriously botched takeover attempt of Volkswagen last year. Their uppance, as they say, has come.
In the meantime, Porsche's CEO slot has been temporarily filled by Michael Macht, one of Wiedeking's fellow board members who has considerable experience on the production end. And back at the ranch, Volkswagen is meeting today to discuss final details of the merger. Still up in the air: the role of Qatar, which had hoped to invest in Porsche AG (the automaker), but may now throw its money behind Volkswagen, or Porsche SE (Porsche AG's parent company), or perhaps it'll just build more oil rigs. Stay tuned: more details are sure to come.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
A 914 Redux? Porsche Four-Cylinder Roadster Rumored
Ever since Volkswagen showed its BlueSport concept roadster--and ever since Volkswagen and Porsche engaged the clutches on their ego-driven takeover drama merger talks--enthusiasts have chatted up and dreaded the notion of a new four-cylinder Porsche convertible.
It's fair enough to assume the Porsche 914 might get a successor in today's new green era. Will Porsche also put four-cylinders in the potent Boxster convertible and Cayman coupe, too?
Reports from car sites around the Web suggest it's a growing possibility. Australia's Drive says Porsche board member Klaus Berning has given the most direct hints to date, saying a four-cylinder Porsche hasn't been confirmed, but also has not been excluded from future product plans.
"Never say never," Drive quotes Berning.
The 2010 Porsche Panamera and 911 are probably safe, but Porsche's already working on a hybrid Cayenne SUV, has a diesel Cayenne, and is fitting its engines with direct injection to boost fuel economy by more than 10 percent. In the past, the classic Porsche 944/968 lineup also sported four-cylinders, albeit in an age where 3000-pound coupes were considered obese, and a 5000-pound SUV wouldn't even be considered.
A turbocharged engine could be sourced from the Volkswagen parts bin, which will become a Porsche parts bin if the everlasting wrangling between the two companies ends. But the 911 and its boxer flat-six engine will remain sacrosanct.
[Drive]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Report: Porsche Considering New Entry-Level Boxster With Audi TTS engine
You know it's a recession when even the wealthy are hurting, and the state of Porsche is as good a measure of that metric as any. With sales stumbling and debts mounting, the time could be ripe for more volume-sales oriented models at the brand, including a new Boxster.
Porsche revealed in March that its sales have slipped by 27%. The Boxster faced the biggest downturn of any single model with a sales drop of almost 60% despite a recent facelift. But a new Boxster model, rumored to be powered by the engine from the Audi TTS, could change all of that.
The present base-level Boxster features a flat-six engine that puts out 255 hp and 213 lb.-ft. of torque. Sliding the new TTS engine as into the Boxster as it sits could mean an additional 20 hp and 44 lb.-ft. of torque, not to mention gaining the advantage of cost sharing.
According to Auto Motor und Sport, the idea of putting the TTS engine into Boxster has already been discussed by a joint Audi-Porsche product planning committee. In Europe, the cheapest Boxster runs for around 46,500 ($64,000), but with a TTS engine in place it has been estimated this figure could go down to 40,000 ($55,000). That's a savings of about 15%, which is huge in terms of modern car margins.
However, some obstacles may stand in the way of a Porsche-Audi tie-up. First is the problem with brand overlap now that Porsche, VW and Audi are all under one corporate roof, so to speak.
Second is the enthusiast reaction to the inclusion of an Audi engine in a Porsche vehicle, though with the Cayenne already sharing lots of underpinnings with the Touareg and Q7, it's not a new idea. Still, a TTS-powered Boxster would be the first modern Porsche sports car to be adulterated by such core non-Porsche parts.
Those with sharp eyes or a penchant for Porsche news may be comparing this news to rumors of a new 'baby' roadster model we reported on yesterday. The source for the new entry-level Boxster information says that it's not an either-or situation with the two new budget roadsters, but that both are being considered for production, though neither have received official approval.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Porsche Baby Roadster Still In The Works?
Porsche research and development chief Wolfgang Dürheimer recently denied claims the company was working on an entry-level roadster, but reports breaking in the German media today argue that it's still a distinct possibility.
Though the lightweight, mid-engined Porsche 914 was far from a perfect machine even for its time, it has developed a cult following that keeps it active in motorsport and show circuits to this day. And with Volkswagen now sitting on a new mid-engined platform developed for its Bluesport roadster concept - also tipped to be headed to production - the time could be perfect to capitalize on the synergy between the two companies once again.
Speaking with Automobilwoche, Porsche production manager Michael Macht said the car could be as priced as low as 33,000 to 35,000 ($45,500 to $48,250). Macht noted that such a pricing strategy wouldn't exactly fit in with the company's current market position but it could serve as a convenient entry-level fifth model.
A baby Porsche roadster, if built, would be a joint effort between Porsche and VW, though VW's massive corporate parts bin would likely serve as the basis for much of the running gear. Nosing around in that parts bin, VW's 1.4L turbocharged/supercharged TSI unit rated at 170 hp and 125 hp diesel four-cylinder look like prime candidates for such an application, though purists are certain to decry yet another diesel engine in a Porsche, particularly in a sports car.
Don't expect a limited-slip differential to be standard spec, either. In order to keep the car from vying too closely with the lower end of the Boxster range, Porsche will have to take some measures to keep the baby roadster in its class. At an estimated 2,200 lbs and 170 hp, the roadster could be expected to give the standard Elise a run for its money considering Porsche's reputation for chassis and suspension design. Fuel efficiency will likely be excellent given the light weight and small engine, too.
Of course, the program is still not officially confirmed and it won't likely be until very close to its unveiling, but if the entry-level Porsche roadster project does eventually see daylight, it could be just what the market ordered.
[Automobilwoche - sub. req.]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Spy Shots: 2011 Porsche Cayenne
While most automakers are recrafting their utility vehicle product plans, in the face of new fuel economy standards, Porsche's preparing to soldier on with its Cayenne SUV for at least a few more years.
The 2009 Porsche Cayenne is one of the more highly-rated sport-utes here at TheCarConnection.com. For 2011, Porsche's set to update the SUV, which was spotted in spy photos over at worldcarfans.com.
The updated Cayenne will take some cues, WCF reports, from the upcoming 2010 Porsche Panamera sedan. The new cabin gets sporty seats, a more refined control stack, and some new finishes and switches. Outside, as the spy shots indicate, the updates will be limited largely to revised taillamps.
The Panamera also may lend its powertrains back to the Cayenne, including the 400-horsepower version of its current 4.8-liter V-8. A Volkswagen-sourced turbodiesel Cayenne is likely in the cards, too, and the Cayenne Hybrid talked up over the past couple of years will also carry over its combination of an Audi-sourced, supercharged V-6 and electric batteries and motors.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2010 Subaru Legacy Sports Swept Design, New York Debut
Sporting a style very close to the concept that was shown in January at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2010 Subaru Legacy makes its official debut next week at the New York International Auto Show. The vehicle will go on sale this summer at Subaru dealerships across the country.
Phsyically, the 2010 Legacy is an inch longer overall and sports over three inches gained in wheelbase, height, and width. Despite these increses, Subaru claims just a 50 lb. weight increase for 3,379 lbs. total in the base model.
To our eyes, the 2010 Legacy looks remarkably similar to the Infiniti G37S sedan, down to the BMW-inspired Hofmeister kink (rear door glass protruding into the C-pillar). While the G - and this new Subaru - are undeniably handsome sedans, we're sad to see Subaru's low cowl and fantastically airy greenhouse go away. From pictures, it also appears the trademark Subaru frameless door glass is no more for the Legacy. From an engineering and rigidity standpoint this probably a good thing, but it's sad to us as it takes away some of that Subaru uniqueness and a touch of elegance.
Thankfully, Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive remains, as do its growly boxer engines. The base 2.5-liter gets a small bump to 170 hp, while the turbo moves up into WRX territory with 265 hp and 258 lb-ft torque, both available earlier in the engine's operating range. Subaru claims a 0-60 sprint of 5.9 seconds with the turbo, and hints that us hotfoot journalists should manage even better than that. A 6-speed manual makes its debut, as does a chain-type CVT that replaces the aging 4-speed automatic. The top engine option is a relatively huge 3.6-liter flat six, but at 256 hp and 247 lb-ft it doesn't come close to the Porsche flat six of identical size (Porsche 911 Carrera: 345 hp, 288 lb-ft), not to mention offering less power than the turbocharged Subaru 2.5. Let's hope it's got killer low-end twist and decent fuel economy.
The 2010 Legacy's front suspension continues with a MacPherson strut design but is now mounted to the engine sub-frame. In the rear, the multi-link arrangement has been replaced with a double-wishbone arrangement. Both changes were made in the name of increased stability, better handling, and more refinement.
New interior features include a voice-activated GPS navigation unit, ambient lighting, and 60/40 fold-down rear seats. Also new are an electronic parking brake and a revised hill-hold system for assist in parking on uneven surfaces.
Hey Subaru - will you ever give us your 2.0-liter boxer turbodiesel four offered in the European market? It would seem to resonate with iconoclast Subaru drivers who actually use their vehicles for moderate off-roading and mug-slogging, not to mention blowing away your gasoline engines' fuel efficiency.
[source: AutoWeek]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
