When Andrew Blair turned his Porsche Boxster into a rolling resume his focus was to find a new employer and to do so quickly. Well, his ploy worked but it brought with it some unintended consequences. When we last heard from Mr. Blair he had just been “made redundant” as a construction project manager earning nearly $107,000 annually in Dubai. Unsure how he would continue to pay his bills he ingeniously decided to get the word out the best way he knew how (see the picture below):

What Andrew didn’t realize was the amount of attention his seemingly harmless, yet creative, marketing method would garner. Having caught the eye of the blogosphere and the international media. Mr. Blair’s story and stunt was seen everywhere from CNN and the BBC to places like my blog and many others. Some stories were sympathetic to Blaire’s plight others most definitely not. In fact, according to an article in The National “independent bloggers published news of a poor driving record and the Dh3,850 he owed in unpaid fines.”

The Good News

Mr. Blair is once again gainfully employed. This time as a consultant with a food and beverage company. The job is a result of a call from the company’s owner who saw the advertisement written on Andrew’s Boxster and called looking to see if he could purchase the car. It would seem the two hit it off from that conversation and Blair is back working at the same salary as his previous position.

The Bad News

Once news of Mr. Blair’s poor driving record and unpaid fines garnered international exposure, his beloved Boxster and billboard was quickly impounded. For the time being, Andrew is forced to take taxis to and from his new position. However, given his new job and financial stability, I’m sure the Boxster will find its way back on the streets of Dubai soon enough. What remains to be seen is if it will be Andrew behind the wheel or his new employer?

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[Source: TheNational.ae]

Stuttgart – February 26 – The successful Porsche RS Spyder customer project heads into the next phase. Two teams will again field a Porsche RS Spyder each at the Le Mans 24 hour race June 13 – 14, 2009. The NAVI Team Goh from Japan and the Essex squad from Denmark are eager to repeat the one-two finish of the RS Spyder in the LMP2 class last year. Porsche works drivers Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Emmanuel Collard (France) support the teams in their campaign.

Maassen, 39 years-old, who already piloted a RS Sypder last year in Le Mans, will contest the event for the Japanese-based NAVI Team Goh. His team mates are the experienced Seiji Ara (Japan) and youngster Keisuke Kunimoto (Japan). Ara, 34, won the overall classification in Le Mans back in 2004 with the Goh team, whilst the 20-year-old Formula 3 pilot, Kunimoto, will contest the endurance classic at La Sarthe for the first time this year. The team’s Porsche RS Spyder is the winning car from last year that the Japanese outfit obtained from Van Merksteijn Motorsport. With the regulations requiring a substantially smaller air restrictors, the 3.4-litre V8 engine now delivers 440 hp instead of 476. Moreover, the rear wing and the under-body have been modified to conform to the regulation changes. Michelin is the team’s tire partner.

Emmanuel Collard, 37, joins up with Casper Elgaard (Denmark, 30) and Kristian Poulsen (Denmark, 33) to drive for the Essex team. The squad, who secured second place in the LMP2 classification of the 24 hour event in 2008, will race Michelin tires for the first time. Both squads will conduct tests at the second round of the Le Mans Series in Spa on May 10.

“I’m very pleased that, with Goh and Essex, we have two highly professional customer teams contesting Le Mans with a Porsche RS Spyder,” says Porsche’s Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “Setting the quickest lap times of all LMP2 cars last year, the vehicle underlined its reliability and had the best efficiency of all participating sports prototypes. We have modified the cars to comply with the new technical regulations and I’m sure that both RS Spyder will again be very competitive in the LMP2 class.”

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Porsche Double Header

Consummate Professionals

[Source: PCNA]

A lot can happen in a month’s time. If you’re not able to keep up with each Porsche Motorsport post here on PorschePurist.com and would prefer a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the world of Porsche Motorsport, there is no better way to stay in touch than by reviewing the monthly Porsche Motorsport Newsletter. Filled with interesting facts and figures about past and upcoming races, along with changes to team and crew, the Porsche Motorsport Newsletter is an easy way to keep up-to-date on this year’s racing activities.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: 214 vehicles ready to race

It is the most popular racing vehicle in the world: No other thoroughbred race car is built in such numbers as the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Since September 2008, 214 units of the 420 hp racer for Porsche brand trophy series worldwide and the GT3 Cup S for long distance racing following the FIA GT3 regulations were built in the production plant at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Absolutely unique: Three race cars per day are assembled alongside the road-homologated Porsche 911 vehicles by the same employees on the production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. In the Porsche Motorsport Centre at Weissach, all vehicles are aligned prior to customer delivery, receive a basic set-up for the race circuit and are given a shake-down by professional pilots on the test track next to the Motorsport Centre.

International GT Open: Top customer teams return

Even stronger Porsche representation in the International GT Open: Factory driver Richard Lietz (shown on left) and Italy’s Gianluca Roda return as reigning vice-champions to go for the title in 2009 at the wheel of a GT3 RSR of Autorlando Sport. The successful French team, IMSA Performance Matmut, winners, amongst other titles, of the 2008 French GT Championship, debuts with at least three GT3 RSR. Works pilot Patrick Pilet joins forces with the French squad. Season-opener: 18-19 April in Imola, Italy.

Le Mans Series: Three works drivers in 911 GT3 RSR

Three factory pilots lend their support to customer teams in the race for the LMGT2 title of the Le Mans Series. Reigning LMGT2 vice-champion Marc Lieb and his colleague Richard Lietz pilot one of two GT3 RSR fielded by Felbermayr Proton. Patrick Pilet shares the wheel of an IMSA Performance Matmut GT3 RSR with his compatriot Raymond Narac.

Included on the entry list are 17 LMGT2 race vehicles. Five races, each over 1,000 kilometres, make up the calendar. New to the series is the night race on the Portimao circuit on the Algarve. Round one: 3 to 5 April, Barcelona.

SCCA Pro Racing Speed GT: Porsche title defender – eight manufacturers start

With 24 race cars from eight manufacturers, the SCCA Pro Racing Speed GT Championship in the USA enjoys a full grid. To date, four Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars are entered. Porsche is back as the reigning champion of the manufacturers, and in the last two seasons, the drivers’ champions sat in sports cars from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. The first of ten rounds takes off as part of the ALMS Sebring weekend from 18 to 20 March.

Farewell to top race engineer: Pit stop for Roland Kussmaul

Engineer, race driver, technician, team leader and test pilot: Roland Kussmaul contributed to Porsche history over four decades. Now the Stuttgart-based man has turned 65 and was given an official farewell at the Motorsports Night in Weissach. The farewell, however, is only a pit stop and not a chequered flag. In the future, the former head of the Performance Department at Porsche will be available as a consultant.

Kussmaul is not only regarded as a top engineer and race strategist, but also as an excellent test pilot, at home in all types of motorsport. In 1984 and 1986 he led the Porsche works team – himself in a 911 as “swift service man” – to overall victory at the Dakar Rally. As driver and co-driver, Kussmaul successfully started the WRC as well as in circuit racing. On the other side of the pit wall, he was responsible, as team leader, for many Porsche successes at all major long distance events.

Porsche Race notes

With a 0.167-second advantage, David Donohue claimed the narrowest overall victory in the 47-year history of the Daytona 24 hour race on 25 January at the wheel of a Brumos Racing Porsche-Riley. On the way to the 21st overall win for Porsche, the American shared the cockpit with his compatriots Darren Law, Buddy Rice and Antonio Garcia from Spain. Another triumph for Porsche in the GT class, where two 911 GT3 Cup of the TRG team drove to double victory. Already on 9-10 January, the German Land Motorsport squad had secured victory with a 911 GT3 Cup at the Dubai 24 hour event. Of the 81 vehicles in the field, eight Porsche finished amongst the top ten in the overall classification.

At the ALMS test days in Sebring/Florida at the end of January, Porsche customer teams sampled the quality of the new 911 GT3 RSR, which races in 2009 with an engine capacity enlarged to four-litres (ca. 450 hp/430 Nm) and with modified aerodynamics. Worldwide, Porsche delivers around 20 units of the 911 GT3 RSR to customers. The price of this high-performance racer is 380,000 Euro plus VAT specific to each country.

Porsche sends ten works pilots to race in 2009

Romain Dumas (France) and Timo Bernhard (Germany) pilot a Daytona Prototype in the Grand-Am. Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Emmanuel Collard (France), Wolf Henzler (Germany), Marc Lieb (Germany), Richard Lietz (Austria), Patrick Long (USA), Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France) join forces with top customer teams in major Grand Touring Championships and Sports Prototype racing.

Races in February: Start in Australia, final spurt in New Zealand

With two championship rounds, the GT3 Cup Challenge Australia takes off into a new season on 20-21 February on the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales. In New Zealand, heading into the fifth of six race weekends, Craig Baird is on track to successfully defend his title. The next race is on 27 February to 1 March at Manfeild.

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Porsche Double Header

Consummate Professionals

[Source: PCNA]

Think it’s a trick question? It’s not. The answer is quite simple. A Porsche is not a Porsche when it’s a PGO. According to their website, PGO Automobiles started its journey a little over twenty years ago with, in the driver’s seat, two Car enthusiasts whose initials gave the name to the brand: Prévôt Gilles and Olivier. At the time, the activity was turned towards the production of car replicas. Until the 90s, production is on a small scale.

In 1998, the creative drive of the PGO Automobiles team made it possible to present the prototype of a completely new and exciting car at the Paris Motor Show in 2000: The Speedster II. The aim was to offer customers a car with a neo-retro design, but possessing modern features in terms of design, engine and architecture. Thanks to the presentation of this roadster, PGO became a full fledged car manufacturer.

The PGO Speedster II

Perfect balance between tradition and modernity, the Speedster II is a neo-retro style two-seater roadster with centrally mounted engine. By adopting its elegant sobriety, its driver indicates its penchant for cars with timeless classicism.

With its modern design, rigid and light, you will discover the handling precision of a roadster initially designed as such. The Speedster II is an invitation to traveling with complete freedom and safety.

Performance and Specification of the Speedster II

Maximum Speed: 124 mph
0 – 62 mph: less than 7 seconds
HP: 138
Weight: 2160

If the specs above look at all familiar then you’re probably a fan of early 911s, specifically the 1973 911T (one of my favorite cars). While not an exact match, the numbers are very similar. What’s surprising to me is that the numbers are so similar. More than 30 years separate the two cars. You would think, and I expected, a much different performance footprint.

You might think as a self proclaimed “purist” that I would hate this car. Not so, I like the styling of the PGO (at least from the front and rear) but I’m completely turned off by the performance numbers. Have any of you had a chance to drive one of these? What are they like? How do they perform? Are the similarities to Porsche only skin deep? Or is there more to it than that?

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[Source: PGO]

Today’s post is the 2nd of a two part letter written by guest contributor John Killion. In the first part of this post John is tempted into a “den of infidelity” (his local Porsche dealer) where he ponders the possible breakup of a long-term relationship with his beloved Porsche 944. If you haven’t yet done so, I encourage you to read Part I of this highly entertaining letter before embarking on today’s journey…

But there’s the Cayman S. A dark mistress with fresh lines and curves, taut and hard-bodied with an athletic yet graceful figure, and for the first time in many years I felt moved to poetry. The carefully-placed lights reflecting upon her surface brought ancient words to mind and I tried to remember the line that follows, “She walks in beauty, like the night,” but all I could remember was something about stars and cloudless climes when suddenly her scent caught me unawares and I fell into a delirium the likes of which I am sure I could never properly explain. The dapper salesman moved in at just that moment, and when I looked into his eyes I could have sworn that his pupils morphed into vertical slits when he asked,

“Would you like to talk about financing, sir?”

And I was so deep in my passionate fever that I’m sure I mumbled in the affirmative while never even shifting my gaze from this Nordic floozy.

Your 944 is Not Welcome Here

I was vaguely aware of some big numbers flying around the room. I was also momentarily offended to learn that my 944 would not be welcome in the pre-owned section of his lot, but I found myself strangely unmoved to defend the point. Legal papers were appearing before my eyes but all I could see was the Cayman S winking at me through the glass, and I think I may have winked back. The dapper salesman handed me his pen and again I thought I saw those vertical slits as I considered my immediate fate. I could feel the terror sweat building on my brow. This wasn’t something that I had asked for, it had simply happened. It was totally unexpected. A chance encounter which could alter everything. I’m as much a victim of circumstance as… as…

I needed some air and took off through the back door so that neither one of them would see me in the depths of my shame. It was then that I became aware of the gnawing hunger which usually follows my greatest moments of embarrassment, so ignoring the protestations of the dapper salesman who seemed more concerned with getting his pen back I walked to the nearby diner for a brief respite from the dilemma I’d foolishly created for myself. But there was none to be had. From my seat at the counter I could see my Old Girl parked at the dealership, still pretty in her Copenhagen Blau dress after all these years, still willing to put up with my heavy-handed and clumsy shenanigans, still willing to give her all in a sometimes-futile attempt at making me look good.

John in his faithful 944

I chocked down my flavorless burger and tried to look away from my car. The sense of guilt was overwhelming and now that I was away from the Cayman’s exotic influence I began to wonder how I could’ve even entertained such a monstrous thought as I’d been harboring. I dropped a sawbuck on the counter and made my way for the door. I stealthily snuck back onto the lot while easily using the vast inventory of SUVs for cover and made my way to my car. Sliding into the driver’s seat I could see the dapper salesman entertaining another potential suitor who’d had the foresight to dress properly for the occasion… and it was painfully obvious to me that the Cayman S was sufficiently warmed to him that she’d already forgotten my impromptu and highly undignified retreat, which was about to be compounded by a blazing exit from the parking lot.

My car of course suspected nothing, and was only too happy to kick up her heals at my suggestion that we, ‘blow this clambake’. My sense of relief and escape was palpable as I side-stepped my clutch and wound out first gear, but a lingering feeling of guilt and betrayal would have to be dealt with. So in an adolescent attempt at making things right — and before I begin to file this ugly little incident into a special black hole of my memory — I steered my 944 into the local Toyota dealership where she always enjoys strutting her stuff in front of the debutants. “See my dear,” I gently said to her. “You still got it. Even after all these years.”

About the author: John lives deep in the woods of Plymouth, Massachusetts. In his garage lurks a track-ready 944, a lightened and lowered momentum machine of serious purpose, who shares her stable with a fat and frisky 928 S4. While the 944 has seen many, many track days, in all her nimbleness, the S4 spends her time street-side, ferrying John in unparalleled Porsche luxury from one gin mill to the other. It is the best of all possible worlds.

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Big news today from Porsche! Not only did they announce the debut of the new Cayenne Diesel along with the GT3 at the Geneva Motor Show, they provided us with more details on the upcoming Cayenne Hybrid and then stuck a golden nugget into the press release below. Sometime in late 2009 we shall be introduced to a Panamera Hybrid option. While the Panamera Hybrid has been discussed since early in 2008, today’s release marks the first official communication from Porsche regarding production and availability. It’s not 100% clear from the release if the Panamera Hybrid will be available in the U.S. or not. If it is, this will mark the fourth Panamera trim level announced for US sale (others to include the Panamera S, 4S and Turbo).

ATLANTA – February 20, 2009 —- Porsche AG, the Stuttgart, Germany-based high-performance car and SUV manufacturer, shared more information about its Cayenne S Hybrid, which will debut next year. Using a parallel full hybrid design with the electric motor between the combustion engine and the transmission, Porsche engineers have been able to drive at speeds up to 86 mph without at all using the combustion engine.

This engineering achievement allows the Cayenne S Hybrid to roll freely – or ‘coast’ — at highway speeds without the combustion engine on, greatly minimizing engine emissions and fossil fuel consumption. This differs from current hybrid concepts that deliver benefits mainly in city traffic. Porsche, in cooperation with Volkswagen, opted for the parallel full hybrid design as it also significantly improves acceleration, a concept that matches the company’s philosophy of offering outstanding performance and efficiency. It also fits in the current Cayenne design with minimal alterations and without affecting interior space or luggage capacity.

When it comes to market in 2010, the Cayenne S Hybrid is expected to emit some 20 percent less C02 than comparable combustion engine vehicles with similar power output. Covering a 0-to-100 km/h sprint in just 6.8 seconds, it earns its ‘S’ designation by delivering V8 performance and four-cylinder efficiency, all while complying with the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEVII) emission standards.

The Cayenne S Hybrid uses a supercharged Audi 3.0-liter V6 engine with Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), 333 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque from 2,900 to 5,300 rpm. It is mated with 52-horsepower three-phase synchronous electric motor that produces up to 221 lb-ft of torque and also acts as an alternator, and the combined power units are joined to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Also on board is a 154-lb. no- maintenance 38 kW nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. Measuring 13.7” x 24.9” x 11.5”, it fits in the spare tire well, thus not compromising luggage capacity.

The Hybrid Manager is the Cayenne S Hybrid’s “Heart”

The heart of these technologies is the powerful Hybrid Manager, which requires some 20,000 data parameters to operate (compared to a conventional engine control unit that operates on less than one-third of the data). Since a parallel full hybrid operates in three classic hybrid modes – power generated by the combustion engine and electric motor, power generated by the combustion engine only, and power generated by the electric motor only – the Hybrid Manager’s main function is to seamlessly coordinate these modes to deliver optimal performance and efficiency.

With a clutch being the key connection between the combustion engine and the electric motor, the Hybrid Manager has the tough job of providing smooth but quick switching among the three hybrid modes without delay or a noticeable transition felt by the driver and passengers. For example, the Cayenne S Hybrid can motor along solely on electric power for up to 1.2 miles with the combustion engine off, and the Hybrid Manager will fire up the engine as soon as the driver presses the accelerator, increase engine speed appropriately and engage the clutch to transfer power to the transmission without the driver or passengers noticing what is happening. And, it does this within just 300 milliseconds.

When driving with just the combustion engine, the Hybrid Manager also will ensure the engine is operating as efficiently as possible in reference to its load. It switches the electric motor to an alternator mode, so the fuel consumed by the combustion engine not only efficiently powers the Cayenne but also generates electricity that can be ‘parked’ in the NiMH battery. Finally, when the driver presses the brake pedal, the Hybrid Manager feeds as much energy as possible from the electric motor (again running as an alternator) to the battery.

The Cayenne S Hybrid also has electrically driven ancillary components such as the air conditioning compressor and the power steering pump.

Unlike conventional Cayenne SUVs, the Cayenne S Hybrid uses an eight-speed automatic unit. Porsche engineers added to the conventional transmission oil pump a new electrical drive pump to shift gears smoothly and efficiently also in electric mode. Top speed comes in sixth gear, and the two higher gears serve to further reduce engine speed to enhance fuel economy. Eighth gear, for example, enables the driver to ‘coast’ along without the combustion engine at speeds up to 86 mph.

Porsche expects the Cayenne S Hybrid to consume less than nine liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the New European Driving Cycle. EPA fuel economy figures are not yet available.

A similar hybrid system will find its way into the new Porsche Panamera four-door gran turismo sometime following Porsche’s fourth model line debut in late summer 2009

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[Source: PCNA]

The Swiss are most famously known for their banking and neutrality, so it’s fitting that Porsche chose the Geneva Motor Show as the location to premier the Cayenne Diesel and new 911 GT3. Why you ask? Simple, the Cayenne Diesel is probably the most controversial Porsche since….. well, the original Cayenne (forgetting about the Panamera for a moment) and in today’s economy it just might take access to a Swiss numbered account to purchase a 911 GT3.

Cost and controversy aside, the new Diesel Cayenne delivers impressive capabilities from a performance and fuel consumption standpoint. With 405 lb-ft torque available at 2000 RPMs, this baby packs some serious muscle but still slowly sips diesel at a rate equivalent to 30.4 MPG (giving a range of more than 620 miles). That’s a whole heck of a lot better than it’s much thirstier siblings. Unfortunately, at present, there are no plans for a state side model.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is the 911 GT3. More powerful, faster, crisper and more dynamic than its predecessor the normally aspirated GT3 comes just shy of the magic 200MPH mark with a top speed of 193 MPH from a six cylinder power-plant producing 435 HP (20 more than the outgoing model).

See below for the full Press Release.

Stuttgart. Two world debuts mark the highlights from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show: the 911 GT3 and the Cayenne Diesel. Presented for the first time to the public, these two models impressively symbolize the particular fortes of Porsche’s model range focusing on both tradition and the future – dynamic performance and superior economy.

Porsche 911 GT3

The new 911 GT3 is once again more powerful, faster, crisper and more dynamic than its predecessor, improving above all in its two core features performance and driving dynamics. Maximum output of the proven normal-aspiration six-cylinder is now 435 bhp (320 kW), up 20 bhp over the former model. Performance on the road improves accordingly, with the new GT3 now accelerating to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and achieving a top speed of 312 km/h or 193 mph.

High-tech aerodynamic modifications add to the new look of the GT3 and increase the car’s down-forces most substantially, more than doubling down-pressure over the former model. As a further improvement, the Porsche GT3 comes for the first time with particularly sporting PSM Porsche Stability Management switching on and off in individual stages.

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Porsche’s second new model launch in Geneva is the Cayenne Diesel. The combination of Porsche’s particularly dynamic and versatile SUV with a very economical, high-torque power unit offers significant advantages above all on long distances and when towing a trailer. Added to this there are the outstanding driving dynamics, safety and offroad qualities for which the Cayenne is widely lauded the world over.

From outside, the new model comes with the same looks and appearance as the Cayenne with its V6 gasoline engine and likewise boasts the Cayenne model designation on its tailgate.

Displacing three litres, the extra-smooth and refined V6 power unit develops maximum output of 240 bhp (176 kW), sufficient for a top speed of 214 km/h or 133 mph. What is even more remarkable is the engine’s superior torque peaking at a remarkable 550 Nm or 405 lb-ft at just 2,000 rpm.

Accelerating to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds with its Tiptronic S transmission featured as standard, the new Cayenne offers superior qualities also in its performance, thus ensuring that typical Porsche style in every respect.

Cayenne Diesel Delivers Performance and Fuel Economy

The absolute highlight of the new power unit is of course its supreme economy: Average fuel consumption of 9.3 liters diesel/100 kilometers, equal to 30.4 mpg imp, gives the new Cayenne with its 100-litre (22 imp gal) fuel tank an exceptional range of up to 1,000 kilometers or 620 miles.

The Cayenne Diesel comes exclusively with Porsche’s six-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. Likewise featured as standard in the Cayenne, PSM Porsche Stability Management has been specifically geared to the characteristics of the diesel engine, while intelligent PTM Porsche Traction Management provides an ideal symbiosis of very good on-road and off-road driving qualities, spreading out engine power appropriately between the front and rear wheels.

[Source: PCNA]

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