Time to appreciate the new Porsche 911

The new Porsche 911 has been getting a bit of a hard time in the media recently. It appears to boil down to the fact that the 991 series (I've never got the hang of the numbering system. What's wrong with Mk 6?) has ditched the electro-hydraulic steering system of the previous generation models, replacing it with a lighter and more fuel efficient electro-mechanical assisted setup. Message board commentators, crowds at motoring events and even Top Gear say this has deprived the driver of some...

Porsche adds Cayenne GTS to range

The new Cayenne GTS, which sits between the Cayenne S and the Cayenne Turbo in the range, offers a more powerful engine, increased dynamic power development and a tauter chassis with lower ride height, Porsche has said. Underneath the bonnet of the Cayenne GTS lies an uprated 4.8-litre V8 engine, with 420 hp (309 kW), based on the Cayenne S power unit. Power transmission is via the eight-speed Tiptronic S with integrated auto start/stop function. The engine and gearbox have each been tuned,...

Porsche appoints new MD

Porsche Cars Great Britain has appointed Chris Craft as its new managing director. Craft will begin his new position on April 1 and succeeds Geoff Turral, who leaves the company at the end of March. Formerly at Rover, Craft, 52, has also held various senior management positions at Volkswagen Group UK including his current role since 2008, director of the Volkswagen brand in the UK. Felix Bräutigam, director region Europe, said: “Great Britain is the fourth biggest market for Porsche and a...

Porsche Cajun becomes the Macan

German carmaker Porsche has announced that its new compact SUV will be known as the Macan when it launches in 2013 – and not Cajun as it had been previously known. Macan, we’re told is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics – core characteristics of the new off-road car. “The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine Porsche”, said Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales...

Porsche celebrates bumper Cayenne and Panamera sales by starting three-shift operation

German sportscar manufacturer Porsche is celebrating record-breaking sales of its Cayenne and Panamera models in 2011 by introducing a third shift at the Leipzig plant which builds the two models. From January to December 2011 a total of 93,838 vehicles rolled off the production line, 62,004 Cayenne and 31,834 Panamera. “We were able to increase production in Leipzig by 47 per cent compared with the year before and are turning in an increase also in 2012 record performance in 2011,”...