I spent a few too many hours playing with the configuration tool on the Porsche website for the new 911 (internal codename 991). I stumbled upon these CGI pictures of the new aerokit for the 911. I looks like the Aerokit only consists of new front lip and rear spoiler – the side skirts remain stock.

Porsche released a new video featuring the new 911. Hits dealers this February:

Porsche unveiled the new Porsche 911 today ahead of it’s debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Much has changed, yet little has changed. The new car has grown in overall length and wheelbase length. It’s shorter and 100kg lighter due to the use of more aluminum in the structure. Outside the car, new lighting and door mounted-mirrors are the most noticeable change. A strong character line runs across the lower profile of the entire car starting from the front bumper and ending in the rear bumper. Both engines are more powerful than the previous versions and both are more economical on fuel that the last.

One thing to note is the dramatic rise in price for the new 911, the Carrera starts at $82,100 and $96,400 for the Carrera S. This is a $4000 and $6000 increase, respectively from the 2011 models. This is no doubt a response to the much lower US Dollar. Canadian prices are not out yet, but will post about it as soon as I find out.

American Le Mans

My friend Mike was shooting at Mosport this weekend at the ALMS race. He was really close to this huge accident which took out one of the cars against the barrier. Debris went everywhere. Great shot.

Motor Trend did this video of these three cars in action. Definitely worth a viewing:

Porsche released a new 911 Turbo this year, complete with a brand new engine (3.8L direct injection, variable vane turbo) and added dynamic enhancements (dynamic engine mounts, torque vectoring). Wolfgang Durheime of Porsche describes many of the new features below:

Last year I published a list of cars with direct injection, looks like Winding Road beat me to it and published a an updated list. I love direct injection engines because it’s one of those technologies that defy the fuel economy/horsepower tradeoff. Direct injection engines have better fuel economy and higher performance.

Their complete list is on their website and it’s amazing how large this list is. Just a few years ago, only Audi produced cars with this technology, now almost every brand is represented.

Old Shift Buttons

New Shift Paddles

Porsche is known for some fantastic engineering. They invented synchros, which vastly improved the drivability of manual transmissions, now all cars have them. They’ve pushed the boundaries of flat-six engines, with naturally-aspirated engines producing over 400 horsepower. Since 2009, the majority of their cars have dual-clutch transmission and direct injection engines – technology that both increase performance AND increase fuel economy – usually a tradeoff and not a combination.

However, when introducing the PDK transmission, they choose a very unfortunately interface for the driver. They used steering-wheel mounted buttons, similar to their age-old tiptronic system introduced in the 90′s. Their competitors like Ferrari and Lamborghini use column mounted paddles instead – like F1 cars. By the way, Honda also has column mounted shifters – but on their cheapest car! The Honda Fit! Porsche’s button system is made worse by having the buttons push to shift up, and pull to shift down – counter to what the body naturally wants to do. While most drivers will get used to such system, it’s a surprising mistep from a company known for engineering and performance design.

With the launch of the 2010 Porsche Turbo, they have finally introduced paddle shifters. Right to shift up, left to shift down. However, it is an additional cost option on an already $150,000 car. *sigh*

This two-part video, in German, compares the two cars head-to-head, which are priced almost exactly the same in Europe:
Part 1:

Part 2: