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Porsche 911 Sport Classic brings back 1960s and 1970s style

When talking about cars, ‘classic’ brings to mind an earlier era when cars – especially sportscars – had a unique characters. They may have lacked the reliability of today’s cars but their raw power and handling gave them a special appeal which is remembered fondly. An owner may have cursed his car for breaking down on some remote country road back then but today, it is a memory to laugh about with friends.

In recent years, it seems that there has been growing interest in classic cars, not to say that there has not been since such cars have always been collectors’ items. There are the original ones, restored to perfection, and there are modern copies built to perfect resemblance. Most are the work of specialists and have limited runs, making them very exclusive.

For a full-fledged carmaker, volume is important to support a ‘business case’ as it is very costly to develop a model. But once the model is developed, many opportunities are available to grow its volume and for the upper end of the market, personalization is now big business.

Porsche also has a business making ‘classic’ cars that grew out of its Heritage Design strategy. This approach offers models that represent the more emotionally-driven concepts of the Porsche product line. “This unique approach sees the Style Porsche design department working with Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur to reinterpret iconic 911 models and equipment from the 1950s through to the 1980s and to revive design features from those decades,” explained Alexander Fabig, Head of Porsche Customisation and Classic.

The first of four limited-edition models made its debut in 2020. It was the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition with design elements from the 1950s and 1960s. Now comes the 911 Sport Classic as the second offering and only 1,250 cars will be available. Like its immediate predecessor, the 997-based 911 Sport Classic presented in 2009, the appearance of this model is inspired by the original 911 (1964 – 1973) and, in particular, the 1972 911 Carrera RS 2.7.

Historical design elements
The wide body – typically found with the 911 Turbo models – with a fixed rear spoiler in the style of the legendary ‘ducktail’ Carrera RS 2.7, and the double-bubble roof underscore the distinctiveness of the 911 Sport Classic.

This special model has the widest body in the current 911 model range. However, while the Turbo models have two side air inlets in the rear wings for drawing air into the engine, the 911 Sport Classic draws in air via the opening below the rear wing. The side air intakes have therefore been removed in order to create a unique look.

Classic paintwork too
As with the first 997-generation 911 Sport Classic of 2009, the designers were inspired by the Fashion Grey paintwork of the early 356 model when choosing the exclusive paint finish for the new limited-edition model.

“The new 911 Sport Classic is the first vehicle to feature Sport Grey Metallic paintwork,” said Michael Mauer, Vice-President Style Porsche. “Grey is never boring, quite often a statement and always cool.” As an alternative to the exclusive grey finish, the 911 Sport Classic is also available in solid Black, Agate Grey Metallic or Gentian Blue Metallic.”

The graphics on the flanks of the vehicle reference the brand’s connection with motorsport. These graphics are also in light Sports Grey and include a Porsche logo, a round starting number field (known as a ‘lollipop outline’) and a personalised black start number (0 to 99 is available as an option at no extra charge). The start number or the entire foil trim can be removed for drivers who do not want the complete package.

The Porsche crest is almost identical to the historic crest of 1963. On the exterior, it makes an appearance on the bonnet and on the wheel hub covers. Other notable details include the gold-coloured Porsche logo and the model designation at the rear. The brilliant shine of the lettering is due to the fact that the surface is finished with real gold!

Most powerful manual 911 today
“It’s not just the look of the 911 Sport Classic that makes it special. Its extensive technical modifications are some of its most striking features. For example, the 3.7-litre, twin-turbo flat-six engine, rear-wheel drive and 7-speed manual gearbox combine to form a powertrain that is currently unique in the Porsche portfolio,” said Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice-President Model Line 911 and 718. “The sports suspension with lowered ride height and vehicle-specific tuning deliver excellent lateral dynamics when cornering.”

The flat-six engine delivers 550 ps to the road, an output which places the 911 Sport Classic between the 911 GTS and 911 Turbo from a performance perspective. The engine is based on the options available for the current 911 Turbo models, with variable turbine geometry and wastegates that help to achieve the superior power delivery.

With a 7-speed manual gearbox, the 911 Sport Classic is the most powerful manual 911 available today. The gearbox has an auto-blip function that compensates for speed differences between the gears with a brief burst of revs when shifting down. The shortened shift lever provides a quick shift action and a crisp feel.

The suspension, based on that of the 911 Turbo and 911 GTS models, is managed by the standard Porsche Active Suspension Management. With rear-wheel drive, the axle load at the front is lower than on all-wheel drive models. For this reason, the suspension engineers have slightly reduced the spring rate on the front axle. The steering system, including the standard rear-axle steering, has also been modified especially for the 911 Sport Classic.

1960s elements in 2022 interior
Within the car, the iconic Pepita houndstooth pattern can be found on the door panels and seat centres. Pepita was available for the first time as an official option in a 911 in 1965. The pepita houndstooth pattern comprises small squares connected by diagonal stripes. The pattern made its first comeback in 2013 as part of the ‘50 years of the 911’ special model launch. The original pepita houndstooth pattern made another one-off appearance inside the ‘911 no. 1,000,000’ – a specially made, unique specimen.

The modern instrument cluster with two high-resolution 7-inch displays borrows several historic details. One example is the analogue tachometer which features a classic-style needle with white hands and scale markings for maximum contrast. The green digits pay tribute to the legendary 356, while the Sport Classic logo showcases the sportscar’s modern credentials. The digital displays have also been modified for the Heritage Design strategy.

Two-tone, semi-aniline leather upholstery in Black/Classic Cognac provides an elegant contrast with the exterior colour. Porsche previously used semi-aniline leather in the 918 Spyder and the 911 Sport Classic is the first model to benefit from this type of leather in the characteristic colour of Classic Cognac. Only a very thin layer of paint is applied to protect it, which allows the natural structure of the leather to remain visible and the soft feel to be maintained.

For those who want a sportscar with the style of the 1960s and 1970s, the 911 Sport Classic is available (in righthand drive as well) with prices starting from 272,714 euros (in Germany). European customers will get their cars from July 2022 onwards and those in other markets will have deliveries progressively after that.

The Porsche Code

Porsche begins vehicle assembly in Malaysia, the first time outside Germany

As reported in August last year, Porsche will assemble its vehicles in Malaysia, the first time that the sportscar maker is carrying out such activity outside Germany. It has not built a new factory in Malaysia but is using the existing Inokom Corporation complex for its facility.

The official launch of the facility, which took place today, is an event of great significance and is the result of close collaboration with Sime Darby, which represents Porsche with its Sime Darby Auto Performance unit. It also owns the Inokom factory, located on a 200-acre site in Kulim, Kedah which began operations in 1997. The factory first assembled Renault and Hyundai vehicles and under Sime Darby ownership, products from BMW, MINI, Hyundai and Mazda are also assembled at the complex today.

*The Inokom factory in Kulim, Kedah, is the first site outside Europe to manufacture Porsches.*

“We are very honoured by Porsche’s continued trust in Sime Darby, as we deliver a product consistent with Porsche’s highest standards for quality, performance and driving experience. The facility, which is 100% staffed by highly skilled Malaysians, not only supports the growth of our businesses across the automotive value chain in Malaysia; but also creates a pipeline of jobs to empower the local community,” said Sime Darby Berhad Group CEO, Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson.

“The new assembly site in Malaysia meets specific market needs and operates alongside Porsche’s established network of production sites in Europe. In particular, it meets comprehensive quality standards set forth by Porsche when assembling Porsche sportscars,” said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche. “Additionally, the facility was built alongside our production philosophy: smart, lean and green.”

With this in mind, Porsche has designed its local assembly facility to meet high sustainability standards: on the roof, solar panels provide all the power needed for operations, while rainwater harvesting technologies ensure wastewater is kept to a minimum.

The Sime Darby local assembly facility has a team of highly skilled and 100% Malaysian talent, all of whom have received comprehensive training from Porsche. The assembly is further supported by a network of local suppliers and service providers in the area, empowering the future of the local community with job opportunities, upskilling prospects, and potential for further expansion.

Porsche will start with the Cayenne, a popular SUV model which is now in its third generation. The units assembled at Inokom will be for sale only in Malaysia although it is likely that the carmaker will be looking at exports later on. After all, with AFTA (the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement) allowing duty-free exchange of vehicles within ASEAN countries, it will be advantageous as prices can be more attractive and competitive. However, to qualify for this benefit, at least 40% of the vehicle’s content must be sourced from within ASEAN so that may require a bit more time to reach.

*One of the first locally-assembled Cayennes undergoing final checks.*

While it may seem that local assembly is simply a matter of picking a model and putting it into a box in disassembled form for assembly in another country, the process is actually more extensive. It has to be engineered for local assembly, taking into account the level of automation at the facility and capabilities of the workforce. In as far as being suitable for local conditions, that would already be done as Porsche has been selling the Cayenne locally since it was first introduced in the early 2000s.

For Porsche too, this is something new and the company probably has to create some new departments to handle the processes for assembly in Malaysia. Preparation of the completely knocked down (CKD) packs with all the parts is a specialised activity and something Porsche has never had to do before. Of course, it will probably be able to draw on the knowledge and experience from other members in the Volkswagen Group which have been assembling in other countries for decades.

The locally assembled model comes with an elevated and enhanced standard equipment range specified exclusively for the Malaysian market, with a specially curated Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur option package and a special Porsche Design timepiece available for further personalisation.

Another initiative by Porsche in Malaysia is helping to establish a recharging network for electric vehicles. Porsche Asia Pacific and Shell have collaborated to set up high-performance charging (HPC) stations along the North-South Expressway. This is a first in Southeast Asia and Shell’s first cross-country EV infrastructure in the region, enabling EV owners to drive from Singapore up the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia to Penang and on to Thailand. Additionally, HPCs are already in place at authorized Porsche dealerships in the country.

For more information on Porsche products and services in Malaysia, visit www.porsche.com.my.

First High-Performance Charging Station of Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific collaboration opens in Johor

The Porsche Code

Generally, car names are easily remembered and known but those with numbers and internal model codes that are also used in the model’s ‘name’ can complicate things, especially as the years go by. Take the Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera, for example. This model originated from the Porsche 356 and was part of the refined A series. It had an engine size of 1500 cc and because of its speed, it had GS (Grand Sport) and Carrera (Spanish for ‘racing’) added as well.

Those who are devoted fans of Porsche will know all this well, but the typology of Porsche can still be confusing to many. How can a car be called a 911 and a 991 at the same time? Is that a Boxster – or a 987? Or is it actually a 982? Here’s a quick overview of how Porsche’s numbering system started and has evolved.

One number for each order
In order to understand the beginnings of the in-house numbering method, it is necessary to go back to 1931. Each order (from customers) and every project of Ferdinand Porsche’s newly established engineering design office, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH, was given a consecutive number as the in-house type designation. It started with seven, which was the design of a sedan for Wanderer, a German car manufacturer. Order number 22 was for the legendary Auto Union Grand Prix racing car and the Type 60 was the Volkswagen.

The numbers therefore rose with each new order, with each engine designed, with each drawing for an axle, gearbox or tractor. On June 8, 1948, by which time the project numbers had climbed to 356, something of historical significance happened: for the first time, an automobile was to be made under the official brand name of Porsche. And it was called the Porsche 356.

*A customer collecting a 356 B from the factory in 1962.*

This not only marked the birth of the legendary brand, but also an iconic model with a memorable design. The 356 underwent further development with each new model year, and substantial advances in development were indicated by adding the letters A, B and C.

901 or 911?
The engineers were fine with this system which saw internal numbers were rising faster and faster. There were orders for test engines, naturally aspirated engines, water turbines, and racing cars. For some of the new sportscar types, Porsche again used the internal plant code for the official model name, as was the case in 1953 with the mid-engined 550 Spyder.

*Dr. Wolfgang Porsche and his son, Ferdinand, in Porsche 550 Spyders.*

Eventually, it was the successor to the 356 that led to the custom being abandoned. In view of closer collaboration with Volkswagen, future Porsche models had to be compatible with the figures used there. As the 900 numbers had not yet been allocated in Wolfsburg, the decision-makers at Porsche quickly chose 901 for the 6-cylinder version and 902 for a subsequent 4-cylinder sportscar.

When Peugeot said no to ‘0’
However, an unexpected problem arose when Peugeot declared that they had been using 3-digit numbers with a zero in the middle since 1929 and therefore owned the legal rights to all similar number sequences in France. The French carmaker was very particular about this right to having a ‘zero in the middle’ and was known to also have approached Mazda when it marketed the Familia model as an ‘808’ in the 1970s. It’s not known what the outcome of that issue was, but Mazda still sold its car as an 808 in countries like Malaysia (and by coincidence, by the same distributor that also sold Peugeots!).

Porsche didn’t fight the matter and the zero was quickly replaced by a one, and the ‘1’ typeface, which had already been created, was simply duplicated for the brochures and type name on the rear of the car. A legend was born as the 911, which would become world-famous in the years that followed.

Expansion of the model range
Of course, the 911 did not remain the only model line from Porsche. The 914 marked the addition of a smaller, lighter mid-engined sportscar and, over the years, models such as the 924, 928 and 944 joined their elder sibling. They also received their internal number as model names. By now, the practice of using 3 digits starting with a ‘9’ had established itself for models from Porsche.

*Handing over a 911 Turbo and 928 S Coupe to customers in 1981.*

Inevitably, the 900 numbers began running out and competing with each other but the engineers stuck to their system out of tradition. In addition to the various road-legal models, pure racing cars also had to be allocated internal type numbers. One example was the legendary 917; unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in 1969, this racing car took overall victory at Le Mans a year later – the first of many racing successes in the first half of the 1970s under the 917 code.

Flexibility in naming
Flexibility became increasingly in demand when it came to naming all the Porsche models. The 911 is a clear illustration of this when, for the 1968 model year, the series received the internal designation of ‘A Series’ for the first time. In 1969, the B Series followed, then in 1970, the C Series, up until the substantially redesigned G Series, which debuted in 1973. However, special models within the series also received their own type number from time to time, as was the case with the internal Type 930, named the 911 Turbo or the Type 954 (911 SC RS).

*Porsche 924 Carrera GT on a racetrack in 1980.*

In 1988, a major break occurred in the 911 history with the introduction of the completely redesigned 964 model series. The 993 followed in 1993, then the 996, 997, a return to 991, and the current model 992. Between the internal codes of the 911, there are still further models to be found, with examples being the Carrera GT (internally known as the 980), the Boxster (the 986 being the first generation, followed by the 987 second generation, the 981 and the 982) and the Cayenne (955). The tradition of the 3-digit type codes is maintained today – albeit with a certain degree of creative freedom.

While enthusiasts refer to many of the models by their series numbers, the marketing people use names (or alphabets) to differentiate models. The current ones are Boxster (derived from boxer engine and roadster), Carrera, E-Hybrid, Executive, GTS (Gran Turismo Sport), RS (RennSport, or ‘racing sport’), RSR (RennSport Rennwagen, which translates as racing sport racing car), S (for ‘Super’ or ‘Sport’), 4 (all-wheel drive), Spyder, Targa, and of course, Turbo.

Porsche World Road Show 2021: The Ultimate Driving Experience!

New Porsche Macan T – lightened and tuned for sharper handling

‘T’ normally comes after ‘S’ but in the case of the new Porsche Macan T, it is positioned between the Macan and Macan S. Rather than being a sequential designator, the ‘T’ refers to ‘Touring’ and until now, only the 911 and 718 have ever had ‘T’ version. It’s a designation that goes back to 1968 when a special version of the 911 had a more dynamic set-up and reduced weight.

In 2022, the Macan T is conceived with the same concept and is the first 4-door sportscar from the company with the designation. It’s also the only Porsche model to feature steel suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard, combined with the body being lowered by 15 mm.

Further optimisation of chassis
The anti-roll bars on the front axle are more rigid and the car’s chassis tuning has been optimised to provide very responsive steering behaviour and agile handling. The Porsche Traction Management (PTM) has also been adapted to a more demanding driving style and has been specially designed with a rear-wheel bias.

Adding adaptive air suspension with PASM and lowering the body is also an option – a new feature for Macan models with 4-cylinder engines. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) can also be added and the system has been adapted to the dynamic characteristics of the T model and further sharpens the driving dynamics.

2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo engine
With the 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (which you will also find in the latest VW Golf GTI), weight has been taken away and with 58.8 kgs less of it on the front axle, start-off performance and cornering ability are enhanced.

The lightweight engine has an output of 265 ps and a broad spread of 400 Nm of torque which flows through a fast-switching 7-speed dual clutch transmission (PDK) and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system. When fitted with the standard Sport Chrono Package including the mode switch and Sport Response button on the steering wheel, the Macan T is said to be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 232 km/h.

Differentiating colour scheme
Besides a range of 13 plain, metallic and special colours for the exterior, the Macan T is identifiable by design elements painted in Agate Grey Metallic on the front, flank and rear. The exclusive contrast colour can be seen on the painted front trim, exterior mirrors, side blades, roof spoiler and logos on the rear. Sports tailpipes and side window trims in Black (high gloss) are included as standard and the side blades feature the ‘Macan T’ logo in Black. The 20-inch Macan S wheels are finished exclusively in dark titanium.

The interior of the Macan T comes with standard, 8-way electrically adjustable heated sports seats upholstered with an exclusive Black leather package. The centres of the front seats and the outer rear seats are delivered with the Sport-Tex Stripe pattern and the front headrests each have an embossed Porsche crest. The contrasting colour from the exterior continues inside the vehicle in the form of decorative silver stitching on the seats, headrests and steering wheel.

Standard equipment also includes a multifunction GT heated sports steering wheel and the Sport Chrono stopwatch in the upper part of the dashboard. The door entry guards come in black aluminium as standard and feature a Macan T logo.

Pricing has not been announced but authorized Porsche showrooms in Malaysia are accepting pre-orders if you want to be among the first in the country to own this new version of the best-selling Porsche model line in 2021.

3 variants of updated Porsche Macan now available for booking in Malaysia, prices start from RM433,154

You will soon be able to drive on the same roads from your roadtrip on a simulator

Imagine telling your friend in America about driving along the scenic Temiang – Pantai Highway in Negeri Sembilan or the popular Ulu Yam road that leads to Genting Highlands on the Selangor/Pahang border. Then you send over a file which can be loaded onto their computer and they too can take a virtual drive along the same route as you did.

Until now, reproducing roads and racing circuits for computer games has required specialised software and skills and since the first ‘Test Drive’ simulator in the 1980s, the digital worlds on the screen have become more and more realistic. But they are still limited to whatever the game creator chooses, rather than the user.

Now Porsche is developing an innovative software solution in cooperation with Swiss start-up Way Ahead Technologies known as the Virtual Roads project which can make this a reality. The aim is to offer drivers the opportunity to quickly and easily record their favourite routes from real life and transfer them into a videogame.

Developing a new videogame can take months, if not years. For example, the tracks for racing simulators must be precisely scanned by experts using lasers before they can be digitalised. Porsche hopes to considerably accelerate this time-consuming process when Virtual Roads is ready to be launched.

In the future, the innovation project will allow drivers to record any route using a specific app on their smartphone which can be mounted behind the windscreen. The data can then be transferred automatically to the virtual world with software that converts the recordings of the road and surrounding area into a 3D environment. This process is expected to take less than 1% of the time (less than an hour) required by a conventional digitalisation process using lasers.

Driving the most beautiful roads virtually

“If you ask people what they think is the most beautiful road, everyone has their own, very personal route in mind. The characteristics of the topography are what make a route particularly attractive, regardless of whether it is a unique Alpine pass or a legendary coastal road,” said Robert Ader, Chief Marketing Officer at Porsche, whose department is responsible for the project. “We want to trigger these great memories with a much simpler digitalisation process that allows anyone to drive their favourite route virtually.”

The project is based on specialist software that uses technology such as artificial intelligence to capture a road and its surrounding features like dividers and trees. These characteristics are then reproduced as faithfully and quickly as possible in a digital 3D form. The programme, developed by Way Ahead Technologies, draws on an extensive graphics archive.

Porsche Virtual Road project — *Imagery from the real world (top) recorded on a smartphone can be quickly converted into a digital scene (above) and then loaded onto a videogame simulator.*

Data protection is an important element of the development process. The programme makes sure that other road-users are also ‘captured’ from real life and transferred into the virtual world. This is a similar type of measures as taken in Google Maps where vehicle numberplates, faces and anything with personal identification is obscured.

The virtual experience in a Porsche

The file for each unique route that is generated using the new application is currently compatible with a number of racing games including ‘Assetto Corsa‘, meaning that Porsche drivers and fans of the brand will have access to all the possibilities of the virtual world. The routes can be experienced again and again on any simulator equipped with the appropriate equipment or via a smartphone.

Drivers will be able to enjoy the trip along the beautiful mountain roads in Europe or as mentioned earlier, the drive along the Temiang-Pantai Highway – and so can their friends. The innovation project has another great advantage: even routes that are closed to the general public or only open on designated days can be experienced in a sportscar from Porsche and shared with others.

Racing games generally allow the user to choose any car for their virtual drive and the simulation is based on the power output and handling of the chosen vehicle. The characteristics of the route are also conveyed in the most realistic way possible. An appropriately equipped simulator mimics an uneven road surface with vibration, while drivers who approach a corner too fast will feel themselves slide off the road.

*The Temiang-Pantai Highway in Negeri Sembilan which was opened last year.*

Ambitious drivers can use the simulations to tackle particularly demanding routes in a sportscar, improve their lap times and compete with others without any risk to their lives. And another thing: they can also go faster than the speed limits for the highway with getting caught by a speed camera! The technology can also be used for a wide range of other scenarios as well.

“After several years of development work, our software is now so advanced that it can digitalise routes for virtual roads of up to 8 kilometres long in less than an hour, depending on how complex the route is,” revealed Roger Rueegg from Way Ahead Technologies. “We’re also looking at other options and functions at the moment. For example, data from the sensors that measure lateral acceleration and chassis control could also be recorded and used in the future”.

Porsche Mission R concept sportscar cockpit can also be a standalone simulator

Formula E/Round 3: First-ever win for TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team

Mexico City was the venue for the third round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship yesterday, with 22 drivers whizzing around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track in the all-electric single-seaters. A perfect mix of long, fast straights and a technical infield section produced intense races and high drama for the 40,000 spectators who turned up.

The circuit in Mexico City, part of which passes through the Foro Sol stadium, has new artwork that represents the modern, progressive, innovative values of Formula E’s race locations. The patterns draw on the rich cultural history of Mexico and combine this with modern-day artistic influences featuring a diverse tapestry of colours and patterns celebrating traditional techniques such as weaving, ceramics and mosaics, in a modern way.

Fresh from a third place finish in Round 2 (which was run at the same venue as Round 1 in Saudi Arabia last month) and a strong opening weekend for his new team, ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Lucas di Grassi would be the one to watch in Mexico. The Brazilian has made two trips to the top step in Mexico City, most recently in Season 5 after his first win two seasons earlier. Teammate Edo Mortara is looking to continue his fine opening weekend form and stay at the top of the drivers’ standings after winning the second of two races in Saudi Arabia.

Mortara’s win followed reigning World Champion Nyck de Vries’ victory in Round 1, as the Mercedes-EQ team immediately got to grips with the all-new Duels qualifying format. De Vries and teammate Stoffel Vandoorne dominated to take a one-two finish in the opening race of the seaon. The German manufacturer, which will leave Formula E after this season, sits just a point behind its customer outfit in the Teams’ World Championship, so Mercedes power is currently the benchmark.

The race
The competition was as close as it has ever been in the championship. Pascal Wehrlein led team mate Andre Lotterer in a historic 1-2 for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E, with the pair finishing 9 seconds ahead of the other cars, and both driver and team sealing their first ever victories in the championship. It was a perfect race for Porsche, with Wehrlein leading from Julius Baer Pole Position and fending off standings leader Mortara early on. The pair did drop into the pack behind the Swiss-Italian and Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) for a brief period but gained a mighty energy advantage on the rest while still matching the leaders’ pace.

Into the final 15 minutes, Wehrlein and Lotterer picked their moment and passed Vergne and then Mortara for the lead. As they crossed the finish line, they were well ahead of the rest and could more than making amends for the heartbreak in Puebla in last season.

“It was very important for me [to win here], I have raced here a couple of times in the Championship and been close so many times. Here in Mexico last year was heart-breaking to finish in P1 but then get disqualified. It was payback this weekend and it feels amazing,” said Wehrlein.

Vergne was able to take third, with teammate da Costa battling to fourth after a number of skirmishes. Mortara did enough to hold on to the Drivers’ World Championship lead with fifth – the Venturi more marginal on energy than the Porsches and DS’ as the race wore on.

Reigning champion de Vries managed to end in sixth, a second ahead of Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns. Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) showed a stronger turn this time out to take eighth and points, just ahead of teammate Maximilian Guenther and Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti). Mortara thus heads the Drivers’ standings by 5 points over de Vries, with Wehrlein jumping to third with the Round 3 race win.

From Mexico City, the championship moves back across the Atlantic Ocean to Italy, where Rounds 4 and 5 will be run in Rome on April 9 and 10.

Formula E: Mercedes-EQ dominates opening round but ROKiT Venturi Racing grabs lead after Round 2

Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer, now available with turbocharging too

The Porsche 911 which was launched in 1964 remains one of the classic sportscars of all time, with its original concepts maintained (apart from air-cooling) to this day. It is obviously a collector’s item and much sought after and for those who want find one, there’s now an option from California-based Singer Group – the Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer – Turbo Study.

First restoration with turbocharging
While Singer has been offering reimagined 911s for the past 13 years, this is the first road-going one with turbocharging. The Turbo Study is a response to requests from owners for restoration services that incorporate turbocharging. More than 70 owners have reserved bespoke restorations enabled by the study.

As with all Singer’s restoration services in collaboration with owners of the 911, the Turbo Study takes the Type 964 generation (produced between 1989 – 1993) of air-cooled cars as its starting point. The study features a new evolution of the ‘Mezger’ air-cooled flat-six. Now in 3.8-litre form, the engine has twin turbochargers with electric wastegates. Bespoke air-to-water intercoolers are mounted inside the intake plenums.

The ‘shark fin’ on the rear fender is reimagined as an intake and supplies cold air to the engine bay to optimize combustion and cooling performance. The use of forced induction enables power outputs starting at 450 bhp. The availability of turbocharged torque allows for effortless speed-matching on hilly terrain to flat autobahn, together with deep reserves of overtaking ability. A higher power output may also be specified by the owner, with a more overtly sporting focus provided by a sports exhaust system and appropriate damping characteristics.

AWD or RWD
The study draws on all-wheel-drive experience that has been developed in-house since the first AWD Classic Study restoration, undertaken in 2014. In recent years, this experience has been brought together with research into turbocharging and high-performance ride and damping expertise. Customers can specify rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive for the Turbo Study.

An owner may decide to specify the AWD configuration to enhance sure-footed deployment of power and torque in all seasons and surface conditions. The RWD configuration allows owners to pursue an alternative sporting focus, if preferred. In both cases, an optimized 6-speed manual transmission underlines the driver engagement that Singer is renowned for.

Advanced materials for bodywork
A bespoke carbonfibre body maintains the careful balancing of iconic DNA with cutting-edge engineering and material science. While inspired by the turbo cars of the mid-1970s, the bodywork is reimagined to optimize aesthetic and functional performance. As always, the use of carbonfibre allows reduced mass and enhanced stiffness, further sharpening dynamic responses.

The car in Wolf Blue shown in the pictures is actually a customer’s car, customized using the results of the Turbo Study to reflect a personal vision. This owner has pursued a focus on high-performance, luxury grand touring capabilities. The interior has a Malibu Sand theme with Black Forest wood accents.

Singer Vehicle Design All-terrain Competition Study (ACS)

Climbing almost 5 kms vertically without leaving the ground

These days, it seems that the fully electric Porsche Taycan is setting a new record every few months. Many are speed-related and demonstrate the performance that would be expected of a Porsche. Recently, a Taycan Cross Turismo set another new record which has gone into the the Guinness World Record book and it’s one which sets a new benchmark.

The Taycan Cross Turismo, on its journey, made the greatest altitude change ever achieved by an electric car – 4,842.967 metres – going from inside a mine to the top of the famous Pikes Peak that is at the end of an annual hillclimb event.

A ‘what if?’ project
The sportscar was driven by a J.F. Musial and his team who are usually behind the camera, creating automotive films and TV shows. Motivated by curiosity, they decided to take the Porsche from the lowest point they could access in America to one of the highest. Their journey covered more than 2,250 kms between the two points.

“It started as a ‘what if?’ – a passion project, mixing our love for cars and travel and taking it to extremes,” explained Musial. “We wanted to drive from the lowest point in America to one of the highest, Pikes Peak – where we’ve spent countless hours filming the famous hillclimb. The project relied on a lot of goodwill, and a car that’s pretty much unique in its mix of abilities.”

Going deep underground
The lowest point in America is Badwater Basin in Death Valley -t 86 metres below sea level. To go any deeper, you have to go underground. And so the team did exactly that, with the cooperation of Eagle Mine in the state of Michigan. The nickel and copper mine is the only mine in America where a car can be driven to sufficient depths, down a ramp usually used by specialist mining vehicles.

Due to the Taycan Cross Turismo being a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) as well as being capable off-road with its raised ride height and all-wheel drive, it met Eagle Mine’s criteria for being allowed to drive through the portal and into the tunnel itself and down to 540.8 metres below sea level.

The Taycan Cross Turismo was an ideal choice as it is one of very few cars in the world with the right mix of capabilities to be able to attempt the trip. It needed no modification and even used completely standard road tyres.

“It was fitting to have the Porsche Taycan drive to the bottom of our nickel and copper mine, as both elements are essential to electric vehicles. After numerous risk assessments, safety discussions, and detailed planning, our mine team was up to the challenge. We are proud to have worked with Porsche to safely execute and complete a new world record,” said Darby Stacey, Managing Director of Eagle Mine.

Climbing almost 5 kms vertically
With their precise depth measured and verified by specialist surveyors, the team emerged from the mine just after dawn and began their journey to Pikes Peak in the state of Colorado. The journey was among the most demanding the car and team had ever experienced. It would take them across 6 states, and would ascend 4,842.967 metres – without ever leaving the ground.

The oxygen available to them at the start of the journey fell by 40% by the time they reached the top of the mountain. However, the electric powertrain – unlike a combustion engine – did not suffer from the effects of thinner air. Nevertheless, the varied conditions, including snow and ice, gave the Taycan Cross Turismo a strong challenge.

In total, 3 groups of drivers working in tandem took on the driving duties. They conducted the whole attempt by the book, with separate, sealed GPS devices monitoring their route and altitude throughout – along with an analogue altimeter and witness logs to satisfy the strict Guinness World Records requirements.

Fittingly it was Dai Yoshihara – class winner at the 2020 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb – behind the wheel for the final, record-breaking stage of the drive. The team of record-breakers had covered a total of nearly 5 kms straight up, and 2,274 kms along the ground, in 33 hours and 48 minutes.

3 variants of updated Porsche Macan now available for booking in Malaysia, prices start from RM433,154

Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) has begun selling the updated Porsche Macan with cosmetic changes on the outside, enhancements within and improved powertrains. Prices (excluding insurance) start from RM433,154 for the Macan, RM623,593 for the Macan S, and RM786,232 for the Macan GTS with 2 years warranty coverage and 2 years free scheduled maintenance. The Premium Package is included as standard for the Macan and Macan S.

Redesigned front end
The compact SUV, still in its first generation after 7 years, has a redesigned front end with an inlay in the exterior colour, visually emphasizing the vehicle’s width. New 3D structural elements and dynamic side blades enhance the sporty look. LED headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System and Sport Design exterior mirrors are now standard on all models. At the back is a striking diffuser with a particularly technical design.

Customers can choose from no less than 14 exterior colours, including the new colours Papaya Metallic and Gentian Blue Metallic; Python Green is exclusively for the Macan GTS. With its Individual Colour and Paint To Sample options, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur can further personalise the Macan.

Futuristic centre console
Inside the latest Macan, there is selected equipment from the 911 Carrera, as well as a futuristic centre console with a high-quality glass look. Intuitive touch-sensitive surfaces, instead of tactile buttons, provide a cleaner appearance while the new operating concept brings a clear and futuristic structure to the cockpit.

A new, shorter selector lever sits in the centre of the functionally organized control module. The analogue clock at the top of the dashboard is now also standard equipment, while many online functions and services are offered as standard. These can be controlled via the 10.9-inch full HD touch display of the Porsche Communication Management or by means of voice commands. The latest Macan also inherits the new multifunction and GT Sport steering wheels from the 911.

The Macan and Macan S with a Premium Package as standard get additional comfort and luxury features such as 14-way electric comfort seats with memory package, Power Steering Plus, Park Assist including reversing camera and surround view, automatic dimming interior and exterior mirrors, and BOSE Surround Sound System.

Redeveloped engine, increased performance
The redeveloped 2.9-litre V6 biturbo engine now produces 380 ps, 26 ps more than before. Torque has gone up to 520 Nm, 40 Nm higher than before. The new powerplant improves acceleration to for the 0 to 100 km/h to a claimed 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of up to 259 km/h.

For the flagship Macan GTS, the engine now delivers 440 ps, an increase of 60 ps, while 30 Nm more torque takes the peak figure up to 550 Nm. When fitted with the Sport Chrono package, the claimed 0 to 100 km/h time is 4.3 seconds and the top speed is 272 km/h.

At the entry-level, the 2-litre inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine delivers 265 ps/400 Nm; compared to the engine used before, the difference is 13 ps/30 Nm. The higher output improves acceleration time marginally to take the Macan from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.2 seconds and on top a sop speed of 232 km/h.

All the engines have the same 7-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK), with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) delivering power to all four wheels. Specifically tuned to the Macan it is equipped in, PTM enhances driving dynamics, improves driving safety and maximise grip and stability.

A key benefit of PTM is that it works efficiently with all driving dynamics systems and these systems complement each other. The most significant partner system is Porsche Stability Management, which controls power distribution to all four wheels on an even more individual basis using anti-slip regulation and automatic brake differential functions.

Optimised chassis and brakes
The wide suspension bandwidth balances maximum suspension comfort and dynamic sportscar performance. The chassis has been optimized further to allow the Macan to now respond with even more sensitivity and more directly to the driving situation and road conditions, giving the driver even better feedback via the steering wheel.

Porsche World Road Show 2021: The Ultimate Driving Experience!

Sime Darby Auto Performance offers a helping hand to Porsche owners

Floods do not discriminate, affecting lives in every community and damaging motor vehicles of every kind and brand that are unlucky to be parked where they are submerged as the waters rise. A big bill awaits owners of the vehicles when they finally get them to service centres as it is not a matter of just cleaning the mud and dirt out, but many parts will still have to be replaced.

The bill could come to tens of thousands of ringgit and with other stresses caused from being impacted by the floods, every little bit of help will be meaningful. For those who own Porsches, Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is offering a helping hand.

The company will assist in having the vehicles towed at no charge to to the nearest Porsche Centre in Malaysia. Porsche Roadside Assistance, which includes towing services, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide towing and roadside assistance.

Once at the service centre, a thorough and detailed assessment will be done along with personalised consultation with certified specialists to evaluate the damages and repairs required and the cost involved. This cost will be lower than usual as SDAP is offering a 30% discount on parts and labour for flood-affected vehicles brought to the authorised service centres up till January 31, 2022. Only Porsche Genuine Parts are used in all repairs which include a 2-year parts warranty.

“We are committed to our customers by offering a thorough and detailed check of their vehicle as well as discounts on parts and labour costs to ensure all Porsche cars run at optimal performance. With this gesture, we hope to provide some consolation during these trying times,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.

More information on the flood relief support initiative and scheduling of service appointments can be obtained by contacting the following Porsche Centres:

Porsche Centre Ara Damansara | Porsche Centre Sungai Besi

Porsche Centre Penang | Porsche Centre Johor Bahru

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