Argentine Dealer Signs Porsche-For-Wine Program to Offset Car Imports

Argentina's Industry Ministry signed an agreement with Porsche importer Grupo Pulenta according to which, the company will have to offset all car imports with equivalent exports of wine and olives.

The deal complies with local regulations that allow companies to import cars for sale only if they export goods of the same value. Grupo Pulenta, which aims to import 100 vehicles worth around $8 million this year, will therefore have to export wine and olive products to 18 countries, including the U.S. and neighboring Brazil.

The agreement comes two weeks after Volkswagen signed a deal with the Argentine government to increase exports from VW's Cordoba plant by 77 percent in 2011, so that the deficit between the company's exports and imports will drop around 70 percent.

Automobile sales in Argentina rose 43 percent in 2010 to a record 698,299 units, according to the country's Automobile Manufacturers Association. Out of these, 435,767 units were imported. Exports from Argentina's car industry reached 447,953 units last year.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Bloomberg

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New Porsche Panamera Turbo S Comes with Uprated 550HP V8

Porsche officially lifted the veils off the most powerful and fastest version of the Panamera to date, the new Turbo S. The latest addition to the sports saloon’s range features an uprated version of the standard Turbo model’s 4.8-liter force-fed V8 engine with improved turbochargers boasting titanium-aluminium turbine wheels and modified engine control management.

These changes boost output by 50HP to 550HP and peak torque from 700 to 750 Nm (553 lb-ft), while in the “Sport” and “Sport Plus” mode of the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo (as well as during kick-down in normal mode) the eight cylinder engine delivers 800Nm (590 lb-ft) courtesy of the over-boost function.

When using the Launch Control function, the Panamera Turbo S completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds [0-60mph in 3.6 seconds], and can reach a top speed of 191 mph (307km/h). In comparison, the standard Panamera Turbo needs 4.2 seconds and can go up to 303km/h (188mph).

Porsche says that despite the increased performance, fuel consumption of the Panamera Turbo S remains at the same level of the Panamera Turbo at 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined [US], or 11.5 km/lt in the combined European cycle.

The Turbo S comes equipped with several driving dynamics control systems as standard including the active roll stabilization system (PDCC), the PTV Plus that applies a variable torque split to the rear wheels, and the Sport Chrono Package Turbo, which tunes the suspension settings and engine control.

The only exterior changes include 20-inch Turbo II alloy wheels with increased rear axle track width, side skirts from the Porsche Exclusive range and the adaptive extending four-way rear spoiler. Inside, the Turbo S is available with a standard two-colour leather upholstery, with Porsche offering two new exclusive optional combinations of black/cream and agate grey/cream.

In the US, the new Porsche Panamera Turbo S will go on sale later this spring with a base MSRP of $173,200, excluding $975 for delivery and destination. In Europe, sales will start in June with pricing in Germany set at €167,076 including VAT.

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Porsche to Unveil New 550HP Panamera Turbo S this Week

*Standard Porsche Panamera Turbo pictured above

There have been rumors floating around the internet lately about a new flagship version of Porsche’s Panamera sports saloon named the Turbo S. We asked around and according to Carscoop sources, the new Panamera Turbo S is in fact real and it will be revealed by the end of this week.

The most potent model of the Panamera series to date is based on the Turbo model. It features a modified 4.8-liter turbocharged V8 engine delivering around 50 more ponies for a total output of approximately 550HP. Top speed is pegged at 307 km/h (191mph) and it will hit 100km/h (62mph) in 3.8 seconds. That’s compared to the standard Panamera Turbo’s 303km/h (188mph) top speed and 4.2 sec. sprint time.

We’ll have more on the new Panamera Turbo S as soon as Porsche comes out with full details.

Via: Worldcarfans

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Patrick Motorsports Rebuilds a Rare Porsche 906

Hands up who doesn’t like the Porsche 906? Not many, I guess, and that’s rather unsurprising. The 906 was the last of Porsche’s street legal race cars, built to homologate the Group 4 racing category. Weighing in at a lithe 1,300 lb (580 kg), the 906 featured a body comprising a lightweight tubular space frame and unstressed fibreglass shell. Most were fitted with a 220 hp (164 kW) 2.0 L six that gave it a top speed of 170 mph (280 km/h).

And with its mid-engine enclosed by a Plexiglas cover and those oh-so-fashionable gullwing doors, the 906 looked like a prop out of a science fiction movie. A 1970s science fiction movie to be sure, but that’s neither here nor there.

Patrick Motorsports (PMC) of Phoenix, Arizona has recently completed an intensive restoration on one of these cars, of which only fifty were produced. The so-called, “Full Concourse Quality Restoration” of this 1966-built model included the chassis, sub frame, fibreglass body and exterior paint.

The company went so far as to redesign and fabricate new gullwing door hinges and added a roof-mounted exhaust port to help cool the 906’s glassed-in cabin. They also completely rebuilt the suspension and replaced all the suspension rod ends with stainless steel.

Overall, the work appears to be of a high standard, resulting in a museum quality show piece that should also be driveable. Though, from the looks of that minimalist cabin and lack of sound proofing, I’m not too sure it’d be an altogether smooth or quiet ride. Still, one can’t have everything. Check out our gallery and feel free to leave a piece in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: Patrick Motorsports

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Wheel Explosion Fail: Porsche Cayenne and Mud don’t Mix [with Video]

Watching a modded Porsche Cayenne stuck in the mud can be quite amusing, as this video proves. While the details surrounding the incident are still fuzzy, the clip first shows a truck trying to pull the blacked out Cayenne from its muddy prison and then for some reason, the owner decides to do it by himself. The result? One of the wheels explodes triggering the airbags and causing damages to the vehicle. Watch this Porsche owner’s ‘Moment of Zen’ in the clip after the break.

VIDEO

New Porsche Commercial Shows Sports Cars Doing Ordinary Activities in Style

Porsches are renowned for their every day usability, although it's hard to believe this is the main reason for which people buy them. However, in its most recent commercial, Porsche promotes the practical side of its 911, Cayman and Boxster sports cars.

The ad is made up of four short fragments called ‘Snowmobile’, ‘Pickup Truck’, ‘Getaway Car’ and ‘School Bus' that show a 911 Carrera 4S, a Cayman, a 911 Carrera GTS and a 911 Turbo involved in everyday activities like shopping or picking up the kids from school. As a bonus, Porsche released a fifth fragment that didn't make it to the 30-second ad, called ‘Pet Carrier’. Take a look at the videos after the jump.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEOS

Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Donate €2.5 Million for Japan Earthquake Relief

Volkswagen and Audi today announced that they will donate €1 million ($1.42 million) each for humanitarian aid to the Japanese people affected by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Asian nation on March 11. Porsche also said it will offer €500,000 ($707,000) to assist people affected by the natural disaster. Aside from these contributions, the VW Group has announced the launch of a donation campaign among its employees.

The VW and Audi donations will be sent via organizations such as the German Red Cross.

"This week, we will be calling on the workforce to contribute to a major donation campaign. Preparations are already well underway. The strong feeling of solidarity demonstrated by our colleagues is overwhelming. We are standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Japan who have experienced such indescribable suffering," said Bernd Osterloh, president of the VW Group works council.

The Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche donations come after those of most major car manufacturers, from Japan and the rest of the world. The first to donate were Japanese giants Toyota, Nissan and Honda, with $3.75 million each, followed by several other automakers including, but not limited to, BMW (€1 million), Hyundai-Kia ($1.3 million), Renault (€0.5 million), Mercedes-Benz (€2 million) and Fiat Group (€100,000).

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 ALMS Ad Belittles BMW, Ferrari and Porsche, but Ends up Losing to M3s in Sebring…

Just before the season opener of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida this past weekend, GM aired an aggressive commercial touting its 638-horsepower-strong Corvette ZR1. The ad claims that the firm’s engineers had to reduce the stock ZR1’s LS9 engine output by 168HP in order to compete in the race and “just to be fair against Porsche, Ferrari and BMW”.

For one, the Corvette ALMS racers are actually powered by a V8 loosely based on the Z06’s LS7 engine (see the second video after the jump). Perhaps most importantly, the Corvettes finished third and fourth in the GT class in Sebring behind two BMW M3 GTs… Videos follow after the break.

VIDEOS

Porsche Offers 911 Turbo S ‘Edition 918 Spyder’ Special to those that Place an Order for the 918

If you can afford the $845,000 price tag for an 918 Spyder, chances are you won’t blink an eye at the $160,000 Porsche is asking for its 911 Turbo S “Edition 918 Spyder”, which is being offered exclusively to those that place an order for its upcoming plug-in hybrid supercar. As you would expect, production of the special edition 911s is limited to 918 units worldwide.

The limited edition 911 Turbo S series is cosmetically inspired by the 918 Spyder and will be available in both coupe and convertible body styles.

While keeping the standard model’s 530HP-strong flat-six turbo intact, the special edition gets distinctive acid green features such as the brake calipers, specific and part-embroidered model logos and seams, the instrument cluster needles, the bespoke PCM screen and illuminated door entry guards.

In the special edition, the 911 Turbo S’ standard equipment is complemented by an enhanced leather interior, a special instrumentation version and additional carbon elements both inside and out.

In addition, there’s a limited edition badge on the glove compartment lid that bears the same number as the 918 Spyder the customer has ordered, while the two cars can be finished in the same exact color.

The U.S. base manufacturer's suggested retail prices for the 911 Turbo S “Edition 918 Spyder” Coupe and Cabriolet versions are the same as the standard Turbo S models, at $160,700 and $172,100 respectively, excluding destination. In Germany, the special edition costs €173,24i in Coupe form and €184,546 as a Convertible.

First deliveries of the 911 Turbo S “Edition 918 Spyder” will commence in June 2011.

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