porsche

Porsche engineers a new audio system

We've seen everything from toasters to coffee makers developed by Porsche Design, so it's always nice when they come out with something that's a little farther along on the high-tech evolutionary scale. And the Porsche Audio System fits that bill, at least where design is concerned.

What makes it different are the three dials that control the volume, AM/FM radio, and other functions, which are hollow for a good reason: There's a speaker in the middle of each one, in a 1.5-inch cone, complementing the 3-inch subwoofer in the back, SlashGear says. A separate … Read more

BlackBerry Pearl decked out in Porsche leather

As one might expect from its name, Goldstriker is known mostly for its custom finishes in precious metals and gems. And even though we've seen far worse in that department, its products are still--well, gold.

Yet the U.K. modder has apparently developed a sense of restraint, for it has come up with a beautifully done version of the BlackBerry Pearl in Porsche red leather, reserving platinum for the accents alone. The "Platinum and Nightfire Leather Edition" was the work of German designer Sascha Hildebrandt, according to Luxurylaunches. Even without the gold and diamonds, however, it still … Read more

Porsche's winter fantasy camp, Part 2

The Porsche Camp4 racetrack is perched more than 9,000 feet above sea level. So if the sight of the new Porsche 911 Carrera S to which I was assigned didn't take my breath away, the elevation certainly did. But armed with water, aspirin, and special acupressure wristbands to prevent motion sickness, I was ready to start my engine.

The one-day program was divided into four specific exercises: The skid pad, an obstacle-avoidance course, a slalom course, and the full track. The skid pad was a large circle cut into the snow. The goal wasn't to just drive … Read more

Winter driving tips from Porsche

Here are some winter driving tips straight from the Porsche Camp4 Colorado curriculum:

Cars respond more slowly on slippery surfaces. Always wait a moment after steering, braking, or accelerating to see how the car behaves before giving it more input. Visibility is greatly reduced in bad weather. Make sure you can see clearly, and turn on your headlights. Brake carefully and accelerate more gently. Get the car pointed where you want to go before getting on the gas. Be aware of reduced grip. Take corners at lower speeds. Brake sooner and longer than on dry surfaces. Apex later. Look for … Read more

Porsche's winter fantasy camp

When the weather turns cold, scores of well-to-do winter sports enthusiasts flock to the high slopes of Vail valley in Colorado for world-class skiing and snowboarding. But about 20 miles west of Vail Village, high upon a privately owned mountain, sits a secret winter wonderland: a racetrack made of snow and ice.

The twisty road course, built on top of a golf course, is the training ground for Camp4 Colorado, a winter driving school hosted by the Porsche Travel Club, an offshoot of the Porsche Sport Driving School. Here, with professional instruction, participants drive the Porsche 911 Carrera 4, the … Read more

Another hybrid Porsche on the way

Porsche announced today that it's developing a hybrid version of the Panamera, a four-door GT car that will debut in a traditional combustion engine version in 2009.

The hybrid system will use a combustion engine, plus an electric motor and an additional clutch, along with a battery pack to store power. The system can switch between the combustion and electric motor, or combine power from both, depending on driving conditions. And although we haven't seen specific technical data yet, this system sounds strikingly similar to GM's "two-mode" hybrid system, which can yield anywhere from zero … Read more

Six-wheeled Porsche 928 pickup

If you're worried by the prospect of the forthcoming Porsche Panamera sedan, you might want to look away now.

Not content with his existing collection of exotic sports cars, Harry Thoma decided to take an axel grinder and his unique design philosophy to a perfectly respectable Porsche 928 GTS.

The result is this six-wheeled abomination creation that, unsurprisingly, has heads turning on the streets of Germany. In addition to the enhanced bodywork, the three-axle flatbed also gets an engine upgrade from a 5.4-liter to 6.1-liter plant to assist with the extra weight.

While you might take issue … Read more

A Porsche that a kindergartener can drive

It's somehow reassuring to know that the Porsche brand, when not on the roadway, isn't scurrying off to proliferate among kitchen appliances. No offense to our friends and colleagues in the culinary arts, but it's somewhat disturbing to see the name of a racing legend applied to toasters and coffee makers.

So even though it doesn't have four wheels, we still appreciate this "Porsche Kinderbob" sled at least for being a transportation vehicle of some sort, as seen on GeekAlerts. And that way, if you can't afford a Porsche of your own, you … Read more

Porsche announces limited edition Boxster

Porsche is putting a bit more oomph into its somewhat ho-hum Boxster with a limited edition 2008 RS 60 Spyder.

The car is a nod to Porsche's racing victories of the 1960s, including its first overall win in the 1960 Twelve Hours of Sebring with its Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder, driven by Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien. In this vein, the RS 60 features a Porsche SportDesign aero kit on the front end, 19 inch SportDesign wheels, and special GT silver metallic paint.

While styling cues on the Boxster RS 60 Spyder evoke images of race cars … Read more

Cleaner and faster cars at the L.A. Auto Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show wraps up this weekend. I drove down to the Los Angeles Convention Center last week to check out the new BMW M3--which I hope to buy next year--and get a look at all the other new cars debuting there.

There were two clear trends at the show: higher performance and increased environmental sensitivity. The best new vehicles show improvements in both areas.

The new M3, for example, delivers 24% more power (414 hp!) from its new four-liter V8 along with 8% better gas mileage, along with more interior room than its predecessor and many new … Read more