Panamera GTS vs. BMW M5

Comparing the 2013 Panamera GTS to the BMW M5

If you are looking for a larger sports vehicle there is a good chance that you have set your sights on either the BMW M5 or the Panamera GTS. These vehicles both sit around $100,000 and they are both well-known for producing great results on the track, and down the back roads. By putting these vehicles side by side it is easy to see which is better for you, and to simplify this decision.

Raw Power

In terms of raw power and actual speed the BMW

M5 wins the match hands down against the Porsche Panamera GTS. The BMW M5 4.8 liter V8 engine produces a whopping 560 hp and 500-lb-ft of total torque making it a monster of a car. The GTS produces a much smaller 384 hp, but it doesn't perform too much worse thanks to its great design and all-wheel drive and improved traction management systems. In real world tests performed by Motortrend, the M5 was shown to go from 0-60 in 4 seconds flat, and through a quarter mile at 12.4 seconds. The GTS Panamera did the first in 4.1 seconds and the zipped around the track in 12.7 seconds only making it slightly slower than the M5 even though there is a massive power difference.

Usability and Fun to Drive

When you are comparing which vehicle is more enjoyable to drive the Panamera GTS easily triumphs. Not only is the steering much more responsive than the M5's but if you actually want to take the vehicle to its limit you don't have to go through the difficult "launch-mode" process of the M5 that is so difficult even expert drivers have a hard time making it work every time. Instead you touch a button, tap the brake and floor it while letting off on the brake to gain access to the full power of the car.

At around the same price you have to decide whether you want improved steering, and a sportier interior of the GTS, or if you want the sheer raw power offered by the M5.

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.

2014 Cayman Review

The New 2014 Porsche Cayman: Bigger, Badder, and More Stylish

2014 Cayman

If you have been waiting for the next iteration of the Porsche Cayman, you don’t have to wait any longer because it’s here. The 2014 Porsche Cayman has been completely redesigned with a noticeably edgier appearance, and it has plenty to offer to make it well worth the additional money that they are charging for it.

The Overall Design

Both the Boxster and the Cayman were designed at the Stuttgart plant in Germany, and there are some similarities between the two vehicles. The best way to describe the car is by saying that it now has sharper edges and more defined curves. It looks more muscular and defined from the outside, and it has more muscle on the inside.

The Engine Within

The base model comes standard with a 2.71 liter V6 that achieves 265 horsepower. The Cayman S bumps the power up to a very respectable 315 horsepower and it uses a 3.4l flat V6 to achieve the kind of acceleration that will force a smile to your lips. Slam your foot on the gas pedal and you will launch from 0 to 60 MPG in 4.4 seconds.

All of this unbridled power comes with excellent fuel economy as well and you can achieve 30 MPG on the highway with the base model, or 28 MPG with the upgraded Cayman S, either way it’s an impressive figure for a sports car.

Handling

The 2014 Cayman S is an extremely responsive sports car, that corners with precision. It comes standard with a six-gear transmission that is buttery smooth, and this is certainly going to be a time when you enjoy having a little more interaction with your vehicle.

Improved Interior

One of the main criticisms of the Cayman has always been that the interior really didn’t feel like a luxury car, Porsche has rectified that issue with a much more luxurious interior that still manages to be practical. The stylish accents, broader seats, and higher quality material all make for a more comfortable ride, and a more impressive view.

Although Porsche hasn’t added much additional space to the cabin it feels quite a bit roomier than the previous model. The basic three gauge setup that has been standard with the Porsche sports cars still remains, but the right gauge has been upgraded to a TFT display that can be altered to show different information to suit your needs.

Practical and Safe

The Cayman is a desirable car because it fills the role of the practical sports car quite well. While the 911 is pushing the limits on power, and it isn’t concerned with any practicality, the Cayman manages to be powerful, precise, and practical all at the same time. Even though it doesn’t have a full-fledged trunk, there are two different compartments, a rear compartment and a front compartment that both provide ample room for storage. Between the two you shouldn’t have a problem fitting a weeks’ worth of groceries, but you may run into a problem with exceptionally large bags that would fit into a trunk, since that space is divided into two different locations.

The Cayman also manages to be very safe, with a durable shell that stands up to crash tests superbly. There is an array of airbags to protect both the driver and passenger in the event of an accident.

Overall the Cayman is a great sports car is you are looking for something in the middle ground. You get to enjoy the power of a sports car, while still driving something that can carry all the groceries that you had to get from the store, and at 30 MPG you aren’t going to feel guilty about driving this car around regularly. Couple that with the starting price range in the mid 50’s and you have a great entry-level sports car that will leave you feeling great about your purchase each time you rev up that powerful engine and launch yourself down the road past your envious neighbors.  

Porsche Endurance

Porsche Racing

South Centre Porsche Calgary

Sports cars, and vehicles in general are continually focusing on ways to become more lightweight. New materials are developed all the time to decrease the weight of vehicles, and most of the time these materials are developed for races such as the Targa Florio and the 24 Hours Le Man in France. During these endurance races the lighter your vehicle is the longer you can keep driving without worrying about fuel. Many aluminum alloys and carbon fiber parts have been developed for these type of races, and they are always engineered to be extremely safe. 

With the increased demand to make more fuel efficient vehicles, manufacturers have been working to make cars lighter, and Porsche doesn’t have a problem doing that in a safe manner thanks to all of the engineering tests that they have performed on prototypes entered into these endurance races. 

Regenerative Flywheel

During some of the latest endurance challenges that Porsche has entered they developed a new flywheel regenerative braking technology. Since the cars are traveling exceptionally fast in the race using standard batteries wouldn’t have been an efficient method for storing power created by regenerative braking. Instead a flywheel technology was created to harness all of the power created through regenerative braking the powerful sports car and then immediately converted into energy that the car could utilize for additional boosts of speed. 

This technology is not used in passenger vehicles yet, and probably won’t become popular in most mainstream vehicles, but it should improve efficiency and safety for larger vehicles such as garbage trucks that have to start and stop several different times a day. 

Improved Steering Technology

There is so much technology that goes into keeping a Porsche on the road today that it is staggering. The early Porsche models were able to win in the Targa Florio in large part because the vehicles simply handled better. Handling was improved thanks to an increase in range of motion in the steering wheel through new technology. As well as improving the range of motion, the ease of turning the wheel has also been improved through technological advances.

These steering improvements make passenger Porsches much safer to drive because the driver is able to react to emergency situations more efficiently. If there is a sharp corner that was unexpected the driver should be able to make the turn without repositioning the hands in most instances. 

By making the wheel easier to turn and more responsive it also reduces driver fatigue over longer trips which means that you won’t have to worry about making mistakes because you are too tired. Often when drivers become tired they take a more relaxed hand position on the wheel and aren’t able to keep control of the vehicle as effectively any longer making them useless to respond in a serious situation. 

All of these advances came from the desire to win long distances races in France and Italy and they have affected all the passenger vehicles created by Porsche substantially. 

History Of Porsche Racing

The Porsche 911 Represents the Company’s Evolution through Racing

With a lifespan of over 50 years, the Porsche 911 has evolved arguably more than any other car model out there. By following the evolution of the 911 you get a clear picture of how racing has evolved, and how Porsche has evolved in general. 911’s are still around today and they have been being produced in one variation or another since 1963. From their original inception they have been modified to use in various races by both Porsche teams and private teams as well.

Porsche continually works to improve upon past models of their vehicles, and they have always fought to stay on the forefront of car technology. All of the successes that the 911 cars have had in racing proves that Porsche values innovation, and creating the best possible product, after all private teams line up to buy cars from Porsche that they will use to win some of the most competitive races on the planet.

The Early Years

The very first 911 was created as a power upgrade to the original Porsche 356. The basic idea of the car was a sports car version of the Beetle. The original 911 was innovative at the time because its engine was mounted in the rear of the car and it was air-cooled for improved performance. The flat-6 engine was in the “boxer” configuration just like the Porsche 356, but it had 6 cylinders instead of 4. This initial 911 only had 120 horsepower, but that didn't people from racing it, and it was seen as a powerhouse of the day.

The 911 in Racing

The Porsche 911 has always been thought of as a race car  that is also a consumer product. Many of the adjustments that were made to the 911 were due to racing restrictions that required the car to be changed around, and others were due to technological advancements that were incorporated into newer models.

Porsche Racing

The 911 Carrera RSR 3.0

The 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 was sold off to several different racing teams throughout the 1970’s and those cars were used to win several racing events. These vehicles were able to take home the victory in the Targa Florio, and the Daytona, Sebring and Nurburgring racing events.

The RSR Turbo Prototype

The RSR Turbo prototype nearly took first place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1974 but they ended up in second place. This same prototype was used to win many of the other major races throughout the year as well.

Porsche Calgary

The 911 GT1 was developed in 1996 in order to be able to compete in the GT1 Le Mans class. This car is thought to be one of the most powerful road-racing Porsches ever created. It has a total 700 horsepower, can go from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds and tops out at 235 mph. The engine utilizes twin-turbo charging in order to create its immense power. This same model won Le Mans in 1998 in an impressive display of power. In order for the car to be entered, there had to be a minimum of 25 of the cars created, so Porsche had 25 created and entered into the race.

Private Racers

After being tested out by one of the official Porsche racing teams, most of the 911 models are sold to private consumers who often use them in races themselves. Many of the victories using Porsche 911 models were achieved by private teams who bought the vehicles off of Porsche after the initial trial period.

Porsche has gone on the record saying that they only participate in races in order to gain the engineering knowledge that it offers to improve their vehicles. By selling off all of the vehicles to potential competition they prove that they aren't interested in the win, nearly as much as they are interested in advancing their technology.

The Porsche 911 is still being developed today, and there are plenty of private clubs that have 911 races on a regular basis. New variations of the 911 are bound to continue being entered into races as time goes by, and the 911 may last as long as Porsche does, since it is still purchased heavily today.