Porsche Panamera Turbo Allegedly Laps the Nurburgring in 7:56 , Beats the CTS-V by 3 Sec

If the report on German magazine Sportauto is true and rally legend and Porsche test driver, Walter Röhrl, did indeed lap the Nordschleife track in 7 minutes and 56 seconds with the new Panamera Turbo, then there goes Cadillac's claim for having the fastest sedan on the block. We remind you that the 556HP CTS-V's 7:59.32 run of the Nurburgring Nordschleife in May 2008, was thought to be the fastest-ever lap time for a production sedan.

To refresh your memory, the Turbo is the fastest and most powerful version in the Panamera range. Fitted with Porsche's all-wheel drive system as standard, it is powered by a 4.8-liter turbocharged V8 that makes 500HP at 6,000 rpm and 700Nm or 516 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm (770Nm or 567 lb-ft with overboost in conjunction with the Sports Chrono pack).

The Panamera Turbo reaches 100km/h (62mph) from rest in 4.2 sec or 4.0 sec with the Sports Chrono package, and can go on to a top speed of 303km/h or 188mph.

Aside from stirring fiery conversations on forum boards and websites as well as offering Porsche some bragging rights, we can't see any other use for these lap time records. Our opinion is that, as in the case of the Nissan GT-R and the Corvette ZR1, the Nordschleife lap times shouldn't be taken seriously by the majority of people that are actually interested in buying of one of these cars.

Via: Sportauto , Hat tip to Marcus!

More Porsche Cayenne Diesel Tuning Love by Cargraphic

Following in the footsteps of Techart, Germany's Cargraphic is the latest company to tune into the new diesel-powered Porsche Cayenne model by releasing a batch of performance and cosmetic enhancements. For a price of €1,184 or about $1,650 US, the tuner will upgrade the 3.0-liter V6 diesel's electronic control unit lifting output from 240HP and 550Nm to a hefty 290HP and 630Nm or 465 lb-ft. Coincidently (or not...), those are the same output figures achieved by Techart's engine kit.

Throw in another €1,422 and Cargraphic will happily equip your Cayenne Diesel with a suspension control module that reduces the vehicle's ride height.

The tuner also offers an appearance package consisting of a front apron with twin fog-lights (€2,136), a rear diffuser (€470), fender extensions (€1,232) and side skirts (€1,006) plus 20- to 22-inch alloy wheels..

Porsche Cayenne V6 Diesel Receives Power Boost and Aero Kit from Techart

Following its debut at the Geneva Salon earlier this year, Porsche tuning specialist Techart has released new details on its souped-up Cayenne V6 Diesel. The German company's comprehensive tuning program for Stuttgart's first-ever production diesel model covers everything from engine and chassis conversions to interior and aerodynamic styling upgrades with buyers being able to buy Techart's Cayenne as new or add the kit to existing vehicles.

Beginning with the engine, Techart's power kit boosts the output of the Cayenne's 3.0-litre diesel from 240HP to 290HP while peak torque rises from 550Nm to 630Nm (465 lb-ft) at 2,200 rpm, with more than 500Nm being available from around 1,100 rpm to beyond 4,000 rpm.

The tuner claims that while 0 to 60mph sprint time drops from 8.3 seconds to 7.7 seconds, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption on the combined cycle remain unchanged at 244g/km and 30.4mpg UK (9.3lt/100 km or 25.3mpg US) respectively.

For cars fitted with air suspension, Techart offers a new suspension control module that lowers the vehicle, reducing roll and further improving aerodynamics. The Cayenne Diesel rides on new 21-inch alloy wheels fitted with Michelin Diamaris 4X4 XL 295/35 R21 tires.

Complementing the chassis and engine upgrades, is a full aero kit with a front panel with a deeper front spoiler, side skirts and a new rear apron with an integrated diffuser.

The package also comprises of headlight and tail lamp trims, twin double oval exhaust pipes, a three-spoke TECHART sports steering wheel with a Porsche airbag, and interior trim upgrades that include light-weight aluminum pedals and footrest and leather edged luxury logo floor mats.

Buyers can also opt for 22-inch body color wheels shod in 295/30 R22 Continental tyres, an Aero or Turbo-look bonnet, plus numerous interior options ranging from individual trim components to customized leather upholstery.

In the UK, the Cayenne Diesel with Techart's Aerokit 1 package that includes the exterior and interior upgrades is priced as new from £53,000 ($85,500 or €61,500) while adding the engine updates rises the price to £55,500 ($88,700 or €63,900.

For customers that already own a Cayenne Diesel, the Aerokit 1 can be fitted from £15,000 ($24,200 or €17,500) and the 290HP engine kit from £2,500 ($4,000 €2,900).

Porsche to Celebrate 917 Race Car's 40th Anniversary at Goodwood Festival

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 917, the first Porsche to win Le Mans and one of the most recognizable and successful race car's ever to come out of Stuttgart. To commemorate the event, Porsche is planning to bring a collection of 917s to this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK including the 1970 Le Mans winner and the distinctively-liveried 917/20 'Pink Pig'.

According to Porsche, the 917s at Goodwood will be accompanied by an array of drivers that will be reunited with their race cars such as Richard Attwood, former F1 driver and 1970 Le Mans winner for Porsche, driving a 917; Brian Redman will be behind the wheel of the 917/30 CanAm racer; David Piper, who bought a 917 new from the factory in 1969, will be driving his own car while Jackie Oliver, who was the Le Mans winner in 1969, will meet again with the Gulf-liveried 917.

Sportec Porsche 911 Turbo SPR1 with 858HP and 236mph - 380km/h Plus Top Speed

The standard Porsche 911 Turbo's 480HP 3.6-liter bi-turbocharged flat six is by no means a slouch, but where there's power, there's always space for even more power. Or at least that's what Porsche tuning specialist Sportec believes. The Swiss based tuner revealed a new version of its 911 Turbo based SPR1 that lifts the 3.6-liter flat six's output to a staggering 858 horsepower at 8,200 rpm and 642 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,800 rpm. Power is transferred to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Weighing in at 1,345kg or 2,965 lbs, the power-to-weight ratio is 637 horsepower per ton. According to Sportec, the SPR1 takes a mere 3.0 seconds to hit 62mph (100km/h,) with 186mph (300km/h) coming in just 18.9 seconds. The Swiss firm said that the supercar has recorded a top speed in excess of 236mph or 380km/h at Nardo, Italy.

Other highlights of the SPR1 include titanium connecting rods, a flat carbon fiber under floor, active suspension and F1 style ceramic brake discs plus composite (carbon / Kevlar) body panels, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, an integrated safety cage and a leather / alcantara interior.

VIDEO: Porsche Panamera S and 4S V8 400HP, and Turbo V8 500HP in Detail

The way we see it, the new Porsche Panamera is one of those cars you either love or hate, but under no circumstances are indifferent to. Porsche knows this very well so the Germans are trying to make the best of it in terms of publicity by constantly releasing something new on their first-ever production sports saloon. This time we have a 20-minute long video of the Panamera that shows in detail the first three variants of the car that will be available for sale in September.

The Panamera S and 4S are moved by a 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine making 400 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 500Nm or 369 lb-ft of peak torque from 3,500 to 5,000 rpm. In the S, power is transferred to the rear wheels via a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optionally, a seven-speed double-clutch PDK transmission.

In this configuration, the five-door sports sedan the five-door sports sedan accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 5.6 sec or 5.4sec if you opt for the PDK transmission and the Sports Chrono Plus package, and goes on to a top speed of 285km/h (177mph) or 283km/h (176mph) respectively.

The all-wheel drive 4S which is offered only with the PDK transmission, goes from 0 to 100km/h 5.0 sec (4.8 sec with the Sports Chrono Plus package) and on to a top speed of 282 km/h or 175mph.

Currently the most powerful version of the Panamera is the all-wheel drive Turbo that is fitted with a 4.8-liter turbocharged V8 cranking out 500HP at 6,000 rpm and 700Nm or 516 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm (770Nm or 567 lb-ft with overboost in conjunction with the Sports Chrono pack).

The V8 Turbo engine is linked to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission with Porsche claiming a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.2 sec (-0.2 with the Sports Chrono) and a maximum speed of 303km/h or 188mph.

Porsche Four-Door Sedans of the Past or How to Make the Panamera Look Good

The famous automaker from Stuttgart is no stranger to controversy. And like the Cayenne SUV, Porsche's first ever production four door sedan, the all-new Panamera sports saloon received some decidedly mixed reviews in concern of its styling. But compared with some past attempts to create a four-door Porsche, the Panamera looks like a piece of art -okay, okay, maybe we're exaggerating a bit here just to make a point.

The first Porsche saloon you see pictured on your right hand was based on the late 1960's 911. It was a one-off custom creation built by California coach builder Troutman-Barnes with the blessings of Porsche.

It is claimed that the eerie-looking sports saloon with the rear suicide doors and the four-seat layout was crafted by conjoining two crashed 1967 911s.

In the mid-1980s, Porsche and AMG (then, an independent company) developed a fully working prototype of a four-door 928 S4 that could be viewed today as the Mazda RX-8's forefather. It featured an extended wheelbase, half-sized suicide rear doors and looks that kill - literally...

The bizarre-looking 1986 928 S4 saloon was delivered to the founder and CEO of American Sunroof Corporation (ASC), Heinz Prechter. In August 2002, the car was changed hands at the RM Monterey Auctions for $44,000, or $1,000 less than the low estimate.

And last but perhaps not least as there may be another custom built or concept Porsche sedan that we are not aware of, is the 989 prototype that was created under the watchful eye of Dr. Ulrich Bez, now in charge of Aston Martin.

Quite possibly the closest relative to the Panamera, the V8-powered 989 sedan project kicked off in the late 1980s but was terminated in the early 1990s as falling sales of the 928 made Porsche rethink the idea twice. Even though the Stuttgart-based automaker initially said that the concept model had been destroyed, later on, officials claimed that the 989 remains in storage hidden away from prying eyes.

Via: Insideline , Photo Sources: Tamerlane's Thoughts & Conceptcarz

Porsche Panamera Sports Sedan: New Album with 80 High-Res Photos

More Panamera photos? Well, why not, it's a hot summer weekend, news is slow today anyway and since Porsche showcased its four-door (five if you take into count the tailgate) sports sedan to the media, we now have a fresh batch of photos taken during the presentation of the car as well as a dozen or so new press pics.

When the Panamera begins arriving at Porsche's dealerships in mid September, it will be offered with two V8 engines cranking out 400HP (rear-wheel and all-wheel drive versions) and 500HP (exclusively all-wheel drive). A 300HP six-cylinder petrol engine and a V6 hybrid version will complete the range the following year.

Photos: UP and Porsche