LUXURY CAR PORSCHE PANAMERA

Porsche to us new images of its first sedan, the Panamera. Although the car won’t be seen in the flesh until January in the Detroit Auto Show, from these photos it seems Porsche is pushing the room inside of the car more than the performance. We’ll have a chance to see how well this car handles the corners while carrying a full suitcase when the car hits the showrooms by the end of 2009.

Panamera will be offered in two trims, 4S and Turbo, and unlike the 911 and Boxster/Cayman, the Panamera will not have a boxer engine. Instead the lineup will take its cues from the Cayenne and have engines in the more traditional V6 and V8 arrangements. Power will range from 300 to 500 bhp depending on trim level and will come with either a manual six-speed gearbox or seven-speed Double-Clutch Gearbox.

PORSCHE PANAMERA LEAKED PHOTOS

It seems that some people got a little trigger-happy and released the pics and info about the Porsche Panamera before the Monday’s press embargo expired. That just means some early fun and speculation for us about Porsche’s first sedan.

The car sits on a 9.6 foot long wheelbase, and the total dimensions should be 16.3 feet long, 6.3 feet wide and 4.6 feet tall. The sedan should have optional PDK dual-clutch transmission as well as all-wheel drive. Although engine specifications have not yet been confirmed, what we do know is the front-engine Panamera will likely start out with a power range of about 300 to 500 hp through a range of V6 and V8 engines. A hybrid powertrain and diesel version may also be in the works.

The car will be seen in the flesh in January at the Detroit Auto Show. We will have plenty of updates until then, but for now enjoy some closure from all the speculation and renderings with some official pics.

Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 Race Car

The Porsche RS Spyder was designed and built specifically to compete in the the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans and Le Mans racing series, where it falls under the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class. Sponsored teams include the Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder, and the Porsche race car continues to notch up wins, both class wins and overall wins, in endurance racing series around the world. As per LMP2 regulations, the Porsche RS Spyder has an engine displacement of just under 3.4 Liters, and runs on 10 percent bioethanol fuel.

The German-sourced race car has had great success in the American Le Mans racing series, taking home more wins in the LMP2 class in recent years than any other competitor. According to official American Le Mans racing series documentation, Porsche is the only manufacturer with an entry in the series which can claim that their Porsche RS Spyder Le Mans cars are built on the same assembly line as the Porsche German sports cars offered to the buying public.

Far from being just about bragging rights and drumming up interest, the Le Mans endurance racing series the Porsche RS Spyder competes in are about testing new technologies which hope to trickle down into Porsche, and other competitors' parent companies, consumer model lines.

Because the LMP2 Porsche Spyder competes in the prototype class, rather than the GT classes, Porsche is not required to produce RS Spyder-spec cars for road use, as is the case with BMW's M3 GT2 endurance racing cars or Porsche's own 911 GT3 Cup Car, for example. Still, prototype endurance racing is an exciting sport, which gives automakers a chance to try out their newest technologies on the world stage.

2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

The Cayenne Turbo has always been on my good side. It is one of the SUV's that I like best, it comes second on my list after the BMW X5. The 2008 Cayenne has a new design, with a larger but more efficient engine. It feels better and more expensive than the X5, but less sporty. It has a twin-turbocharged 4.8 liter engine that produces 500 horsepower and 516 torque. And goes from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in just 4.9 seconds. Top speed on the test track has been recorded at 171 mph.

Engine

Power bhp: 500

Torque: 516

Type: V8 Twin-Turbo

Performance

Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.9 seconds
Top Speed: 171 mph

My Rating: *****/*****

Base Price: 2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo - $93,700

Porsche Wallpaper - Cayenne Turbo