Transforming Porsche

Major Changes Occurring in the 2014 911 GT2

Porsche has recently released the information on their 2014 911 GT3 and some people were disappointed by it because it had less than 500 hp. Although it isn't a big deal for most people, for those that it was a big deal to, there is the 911 GT2.

Normally when you have a model number that is lower, you assume that it is going to have less power. This simply isn't the case with the GT2, and you will get above 500 hp with this vehicle which means that it has more raw power to work with than the GT3 does.

What You Get
The engine and transmission of the GT2 are both based off the 911 Turbo S. Instead of the 475 horsepower that comes in the GT3, you are getting a massive 552 horsepower, thanks to the 3.8 liter flat six engine. The transmission that is going to be used in this vehicle is another major change from the all-wheel drive of the GT3. Instead you are going to get the PDK seven gear clutch that is automatic, and rear wheel drive.

Weight Savings
The nice thing about a rear-wheel drive setup, over the all-wheel drive used in the GT3 is that weight is going to be shaved off the vehicle. What that means is that not only are you getting a more powerful engine to tear up the road with, but you are also getting al lighter vehicle that is going to benefit from the power even more than the GT3 would have. Overall this new setup should result in a noticeable increase in power. Although you probably wouldn't notice a difference without driving both vehicles extensively, if you were to switch from one to the other you would be able to tell there is a distinct difference.

Real Life Speed
Now that you know how much power this variant of the 911 is pushing, it is time to learn how that effects real life performance, with some times and actual speeds. The car should be able to go from 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds without a problem. On top of this blistering acceleration, it will top 200 mph which means that you can get wherever you want to go much faster than you could in that minivan at the other side of your garage.

Many will rejoice at the added power that the GT2 possess, while a few are going to continue to complain about the PDK transmission that is becoming more prevalent in the newer Porsche models.
If 500 hp isn't enough for you, there is a rumor that Porsche is planning on releasing an even more powerful variant of the GT2 later on after the initial launch. This RS variant of the car will push up the horsepower to a whopping 620, and that amount of power will make this car even more intense that it already is. Unfortunately that won't be released until 2015 so you will have to be patient if you would rather get the upgraded version.

Shifty Turbo Is No More

The Next 911 Turbo May Be Automatic

Although this is really going to upset some people who prefer their sports cars to be manual, there is a good chance that the new 911 Turbo is going to have an automatic transmission, specifically the PDK transmission to be exact.

The 911 GT3 has always been the nostalgic racer's go to car, and now that it has switched over to an automatic transmission, there's really no reason to believe that the 911 Turbo isn't going to go the same direction. Instead of keeping both transmission options open like Porsche normally does, it is rumored that they are going to drop the manual option all together, and you will be stuck with an automatic whether you like it or not.

Why they are Making the Switch

Although it probably hurts to hear, the PDK is a superior transmission to manually shifting through the gears. Thanks to the double clutch the car can shift itself through the gears faster than a human can, which means that you are going to get a better response out of the car. This means the car will accelerate faster, and ultimately it is going to perform better on the track.

Another advantage of this gear system is that it reduces overall fuel consumption, which is something that all car manufacturers are looking at these days. With all of these reasons to go with the PDK it shouldn't be a surprise that they have made it mandatory.

The last reason that they have decided to take away the manual option is to undoubtedly save development time and money. Now they only have to configure the car to deal with a single transmission, which means less work for them, while bringing in the same level of profits as before. Even still, the move is good for just about everyone in the end.

Those Who Will Appreciate the Switch

Even though there are plenty of people who are appalled at the move that Porsche is making with their sports cars, there are just as many people who are singing their praises about the switch. Not only does the car perform better, which is enough to gain the praise of many people, but it will also be easier to drive for those who aren't great with a manual transmission. Sure there is less involvement, but that also means there is no reason to worry about stalling the vehicle, and everyone can drive their vehicles smoothly without worry.

Overall, even though some people are upset with the loss of a manual option the 2014 911 Turbo looks to be an exceptional car. It will come standard with more than 520 horsepower at your disposal. The car tops out at around 196 miles per hour, and with that level of power and luxury it should be no surprise that the basic model is coming in at $149,000 and the luxury model will be closer to $180,000 to own. It is certainly going to be a welcome addition to the ranks of the 911's of the past, but it is too bad there won't be a manual transmission option like always.

Porsche 911 Turbo - Unleash The Kracken

A Quick Look at the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo

With the Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S models being released later this year, it's about time to take a look at what these powerhouses are actually offering to Porsche fans. Both of these vehicles are the fastest cars for the general consumer that you can get from Porsche and when you look at the performance information that is pretty obvious.

The Engine

The 911 Turbo comes with a powerful flat-six engine with 487 lb-ft of torque and 520 HP, making it possible to go from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds. The 911 Turbo S has even more power with 560 HP and from 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds. The base model received a 20 hp boost from the 2013 model, and the S gained 30 hp. They top out at 196 and 198 mph respectively.

Enhanced Handling

This year the 911 Turbo and Turbo S have both adopted a more advanced rear-wheel steering technology that the GT3 began using first. When the car is traveling less than 31 miles per hour the rear wheels move in the opposite direction to the front wheels, to improve turning control. At higher speeds the wheels move in the same direction which improves handling.

Another new features that you won't find on the other Turbots is active aerodynamics. The spoiler in front can lower and raise itself, and the rear spoiler has three different positions that it can switch to, to adjust the handling of the car depending on the type of driving that you want to do.

Performance

Porsche has stated that their new Turbo S is able to get around the Nuburing in less than 7:30 and that is with the stock tires on the vehicle that come standard with every purchase. That means that when you buy the Turbo S, you are getting a very fast car that is built for racing at high speeds.

Performance is boosted to higher levels with an excellent variable twin turbocharging system. The system is innovative because the vanes that feed air to the engine are adjustable. This means that early on the engine has greater performance thanks to an increase in the fed air pressure to the engine. The car performs better at a wider range of speeds thanks to this adjustable feature.

Great Looks

Both of the Turbo models have been modified to look just as fast as they actually are. You can tell when you are looking at a Turbo for a few different reasons. The first is because these cars are very wide. When compared to the Carrera, you are gaining a couple inches of width, and it is very noticeable. On top of that the tires are large, at 20 inches they really stand out compared to many of the other 911 models.

Now that you know what the 911 Turbo has to offer let's talk about pricing and when the car is actually going to be available for purchase. The base turbo model is going for 149,250, while the Turbo S will cost $182,050. Both of these prices include the destination charge of $950 that Porsche is charging their customers to have the cars delivered. These cars will be available for purchase later on this year, and there is sure to be a line of people eagerly awaiting them, since these lightning fast cars have been tuned to perform so well in day to day driving as well.