2013 Porsche 911 Carrera pictures

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 

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Review, specifications, features and benefits

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera

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Porsche 911 Carrera

The new generation Porsche 911 Carrera is emerging from one of the biggest development steps in the long history of this classic sports car. Almost 90 per cent of all components have been redesigned or redeveloped. With its all-new lightweight body, further drivetrain efficiencies and new suspension systems, the Coupé offers the driver improved Porsche Intelligent Performance. This manifests itself in yet further enhanced driving dynamics, up to 16 per cent lower fuel consumption and emissions combined with even greater everyday practicality.

The Porsche 911 Carrera's design and proportions have developed in step with the technology. One of the most pronounced points of differentiation is the 100 millimetre (3.94 inch) longer wheelbase.The body on the other hand is only 56 millimetres (2.20 inch) longer overall lengthwise, the overhangs being shortened by 32 millimetres (1.26 inch) at the front and twelve millimetres (0.47 inch) at the rear. The Carrera's roof line is around seven millimetres lower than that of its predecessor and around six millimetres for the Carrera S. The maximum headroom remains virtually unchanged. For Coupés with a sunroof, which for the first time is of the electric slide/tilt type, headroom has even increased by 15 millimetres. With an overall length of just under 4.5 metres (176.81 inch) and a maximum width of approximately 1.8 metres (71.18 inch) the 911 Carrera remains the most compact sports car in its class.

The Porsche 911 Carrera's stylistic evolution is apparent from every angle. Viewed from the side, new styling, larger alloy wheels and the more convex windscreen contribute to the even jauntier, more coupé-like character. Typical of the revised, wider front end are the new headlights and larger side air intakes. The wider, variably extending rear spoiler emphasises the new 911 Carrera models' greater power output. Together with other aerodynamic optimisations, it also ensures significantly lower lift while retaining an equally good cd value. Redesigned, narrower LED technology rear lights complete the rear profile.

The Porsche 911 Carrera sets new standards in Porsche Intelligent Performance. The innovative aluminium-steel lightweight body, combined with a raft of new components and functions, benefits efficiency and driving dynamics in equal measure.

The new 911 Carrera is the first passenger car in the world to feature a seven-speed manual transmission as standard. It is based on the module of the optional seven-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK). The close ratio of the first six gears affords the driver outstanding acceleration capability, with the seventh gear's quasi overdrive attributes offering further scope for fuel economy.

The Porsche 911 Carrera is the first sports car that Porsche has equipped with an auto start/stop function. The system can save up to 0.6 litres per 100 kilometres based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The auto stop/start function is married with both the PDK and manual transmission as standard. The joint thermal management system for engine and transmission and on-board electrical system recuperation reduce the new 911 generation's fuel consumption by a further 0.35 l/100 km. As the new cooling design dispenses with ventilation openings in the underbody, it also affords aerodynamic advantages, which are of benefit to performance.

The "sailing" function, making its very first appearance in a sports car with the optional PDK transmission, can save up to one litre of fuel for every 100 kilometres in everyday driving. If the driver takes his foot off the accelerator, depending on the driving situation, the engine is disengaged from the transmission; the 911 Carrera continues on its way with the engine idling. Especially at higher speeds, this function taps additional potential fuel economies.

In the Porsche 911 Carrera, optimised fuel consumption is complemented by Porsche-style downsizing: The 3.4-litre engine delivers more power from a smaller displacement than its predecessor with a displacement of 3.6 litres. That means the Porsche 911 Carrera with PDK is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km CO2 emissions threshold.

With its completely revamped suspension featuring numerous redeveloped components, the Porsche 911 Carrera raises the driving dynamics bar yet another notch. The longer wheelbase alone, combined with the wider track width at the front, generates an entirely different geometry with more sure-footed tracking and roll stability at high longitudinal and cornering speeds.

With the new electro-mechanical power steering, the Porsche engineers managed to develop a system that combines Porsche's trademark precision and feedback with superior consumption and comfort for the very first time. As the system only requires power when steering, the electro-mechanical system saves at least 0.1 litres per 100 kilometres.

The new active Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), available for the Carrera S as an optional extra, expands the lateral dynamics boundaries yet again by a sizeable margin. PDCC is an active roll compensation system that detects the very instant the vehicle begins to roll when cornering, eliminating it almost entirely. The system makes for greater agility in every speed regime, improved cornering and stable load change behaviour. PDCC therefore represents a new highlight in terms of driving dynamics.

Making its debut in the Porsche 911 Carrera S, Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), featured as standard, ensures even better tracking and tracking stability, together with reduced sensitivity to load changes. Together with a seven-speed manual transmission, this system comprises a mechanical rear differential lock and variable torque distribution to the rear axle. In vehicles fitted with the Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), the even higher-performance PTV Plus comes with the electronically controlled, fully variable, rear differential lock. PTV or PTV Plus further improves agility and steering precision by means of selective braking interventions applied to the inside rear wheel. PTV and PTV Plus are also available for the 911 Carrera as an optional extra.

To complement the Porsche 911 Carrera's new exterior, the Porsche designers created an interior, the architecture of which takes its cue from the Porsche Carrera GT. The driver is now even more closely integrated with the cockpit thanks to the centre console rising up to the front with the high-mounted gear lever or gear selector located especially close to the steering wheel in typical motorsport fashion. The most important function and settings buttons for operating the vehicle are grouped in logical clusters on the centre console. Centrally located in the completely redeveloped dashboard, a larger seven-inch touch screen is used to control a rich array of functions. Naturally, the classic, established Porsche touches, such as the five round instruments with the centrally located rev counter and the ignition lock to the left of the steering wheel are also to be found in the new model. Also, both driver and front passenger are seated on newly developed sports seats with electric four-way adjustment. Additional sports seat versions with 14 and 18-way adjustment are also available as an option.

The new Porsche 911 generation made its debut in two versions

911 Carrera: 350 hp (257kW) 3.4-litre boxer engine; rear-wheel drive, seven-speed manual transmission, optional seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK); acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.8 seconds, with PDK in 4.6 seconds (4.4 seconds with Sport Chrono Package); top speed 289 km/h (179.6 mph), with PDK 287 km/h (178.3 mph); fuel consumption (NEDC) 9.0 l/100 km, CO2 212 g/km; with PDK 8.2 l/100 km; CO2 194 g/km.

911 Carrera S: 400 hp (294 kW) 3.8-litre boxer engine; rear-wheel drive, seven-speed manual transmission, optional seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK); acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.5 seconds, with PDK in 4.3 seconds (4.1 seconds with Sport Chrono Package); top speed 304 km/h (188.9 mph), with PDK 302 km/h (187.7mph); fuel consumption (NEDC) 9.5 l/100 km; CO2 224 g/km; with PDK 8.7 l/100 km; CO2 205 g/km.

2011 Porsche 918 RSR | porsche pictures |

2011 Porsche 918 RSR 

PORSCHE PICTURES
Review, specifications, features and benefits

2011 Porsche 918 RSR

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Porsche 918 RSR

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is continuing to extend its performance and high efficiency competence via intensive development work in the field of hybrid technology. With the Porsche 918 RSR, the manufacturer of sporty premium vehicles is presenting a high-end synthesis of 2010's successful hybrid concepts. The two-seater mid-engine coupé 918 RSR clearly reveals what happens when the technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R hybrid and the design of the 918 Spyder are transferred to a modern, innovative super sports car.

With its highly-efficient flywheel accumulator, the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car proved to be an attention magnet during competition racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, during the American Le Mans Series races (ALMS) in Road Atlanta/USA and the ILMC run in China's Zhuhai. It demonstrated its massive performance potential under realistic motor racing conditions against top competitors. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid, referred to internally as the "Race Lab" actually surpassed the high expectations of Porsche Motorsport. Competitiveness, high reliability and exemplary fuel efficiency combined with top performance underscored the Porsche technicians' basic idea of generating additional power in an intelligent manner. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid obtains its additional power from its own vehicle dynamics when braking. Porsche is now transplanting this technology into the mid-engine coupé Porsche 918 RSR, the motor sports version of the 918 Spyder concept car.

From the tradition established by classic Porsche long-distance race cars such as the 908 long-tale coupé (1969) and the 917 short-tail coupé (1971), the Porsche designers created a link to the postmodernism of the "form follows function" philosophy. In the Porsche 918 RSR, the lines' elegant flow is dominated by muscular wheel arches, dynamic air intakes and a pulpit-like cockpit. A visible fan wheel between the ram air intake tubes and a rear spoiler with RS Spyder dimensions additionally emphasise the racing laboratory function. The new "liquid metal chrome blue" colour which has been created underscores the sculptured curves of the forms, whilst the typical Porsche hybrid orange colour on brake calipers and the body's longitudinal stripes lends remarkable touches.

Motor racing technology also dominates within the particularly light, torsionally stiff carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque. The V8 engine is a further development of the direct injection engine from the successful RS Spyder race car and now offers an output of precisely 563 hp at 10,300/rpm in the 918 RSR. The electric motors on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW, i.e. a total of 150 kW, to the peak drive power of exactly 767 hp. This additional power, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimised flywheel accumulator.

In the Porsche 918 RSR, the two electric motors offer a torque vectoring function with variable torque distribution to the front axle. This additionally increases agility and improves steering response. Mounted upstream of the rear axle, the mid-engine is integrated with a racing transmission also based on the RS Spyder race car. This further developed six-speed constant-mesh transmission with longitudinally mounted shafts and straight-toothed spur gears is operated using two shift paddles behind the racing steering wheel.

The vehicle's functional equipment underscores its puristic motor racing character. Whether it be the characteristic doors which open obliquely upwards, the air intake in the roof between the wing doors, the quick-action locks on the front and rear CFRP lids, the two roof-mounted aerials for pit radio and telemetry, the RS Spyder-like small, lateral front flics or the air splitters beneath the front lip or no-profile racing slicks on 19" wheels with central locking, the vehicle can be clearly recognised as an experimental racing laboratory.

In contrast to the 918 Spyder concept car, unadorned racing atmosphere predominates in the interior of the Porsche 918 RSR. The figure-hugging bucket seat's brown leather covering cites the history of the gentleman driver; the gear flashes on the racing steering wheel and a recuperation display on the steering column in front of the display screen supply the pilot with information. Instead of the futuristic, ergonomically avant-garde centre console with touch-sensitive user interface from the 918 Spyder concept car, the 918 RSR's cockpit is split by a minimalistic console with rocker switches. Instead of a second seat, the flywheel accumulator is positioned to the right of the console.

This flywheel accumulator is an electric motor whose rotor rotates at up to 36,000 rpm to store rotation energy. Charging occurs when the two electric motors on the front axle reverse their function during braking processes and operate as generators. At the push of a button, the pilot is able to call up the energy stored in the charged flywheel accumulator and use it during acceleration or overtaking manoeuvres. The flywheel is braked electromagnetically in this case in order to additionally supply up to 2 x 75 kW, i.e. a total of 150 kW, from its kinetic energy to the two electric motors on the front axle.

This additional power is available for around eight seconds when the system is fully charged. In the successful 911 GT3 R Hybrid, this additional power can also be used as a consumption aid depending on the racing situation, e.g. to delay pit stops or reduce the fuel tank volume and therefore the weight of the vehicle.

With the new Porsche 918 RSR racing laboratory, Porsche is now elevating this motor racing hybrid concept to an experimental level. In the 918 RSR, "Porsche Intelligent Performance" equates to research into methods for further sustainable efficiency improvement under the intensified conditions of the race track, lap times, pit stops and reliability - a metier in which Porsche has been demonstrating its success for over 60 years.

Finally, the starting number, 22, pays homage to the anniversary of a further triumph. Back in the days when overall victories in Le Mans were not yet an entirely routine matter within the Porsche racing department, the pilots Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep were the first to cross the finishing line in 1971's 24-hour classic. The distance record set by their Porsche 917 short-tail coupé - 5335.313 kilometres (3315.21 miles) at an average speed of 222.304 km/h (138.13 mph) - did not remain unbeaten for an eternity, but for exactly 39 years until 2010. At the time, the 917 in the Martini colours was also an experiment and far ahead of its time: a magnesium space frame set new standards in Porsche's lightweight construction domain.