Please Let this Be a Hoax

This thing showed up on the American Top Gear site yesterday.

I hope this is nothing more than a one off custom job by a loony owner.

We all love hot hatchbacks, but what would be the point of a Shooting Brake version of the Cayman? This is the kind of compromise that will further dilute the Porsche brand.

What's next? A Boxster with a back seat?

Here's a tip. If you must transport sheets of plywood, please don't use a sports car.

Click here to see the original Top Gear post.

More Wham, Less Slam with VarioCam

Imagine a technology that gives your 911 more power at the top end, more torque at the low end while increasing fuel economy and running smoothness and lowering emissions.

You have just imagined VarioCam Plus.

Here's the way Porsche describes it:

"The variation in intake timing is steplessly controlled by means of an electro-hydraulic rotary vane adjuster at the head of the corresponding camshaft.

"To improve throttle response during the warm-up phase, VarioCam Plus selects high valve lifts with retarded valve timing. In the middle and low load ranges, low valve lifts with advanced timing, increased fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions. High valve lifts generate high torques and maximum output."

Pretty cool huh?

Great Historical Montage

The narration at the beginning of this video isn't in English.

But don't let that stop you from watching this wonderful collection of clips of Porsche history.

Porsche Versus Ferrari Styling

The other evening I was getting ice cream at a roadside stand in Canada. A truck pulled into the lot and a man got out along with several young children. One of the kids asked, "What kind of car is this?"

"It's a Porsche Boxster," I answered.

Oh," the man said. "I thought it was a Ferrari. We don't get many cars like this one here."

I thought about his remarks and was reminded of a comment I read by Enzo Ferrari who asked that the nose of the original racing Testa Rossa be redesigned because "It isn't mean looking enough."

A Boxster, 911 or Cayman do not look mean at all. That, it seems to me, is a key difference between the look of a Porsche and a Ferrari. Ferraris often seem intent on intimidation while Porsches are inviting, almost innocent in their looks.

I wouldn't mind a more aggressive look to the Boxster-- a pointier nose perhaps and more sculpted flanks.

But then maybe it would be too little like a Porsche and too much like a Ferrari.

Raindrops on Boxster

I came out of our cottage to find these lovely raindrop patterns on my Boxster.

How many ways can one man love a Porsche?

The Times They Are Conflictin'

Here are two reviews of the new Panamera-- both in "The Times"-- that come to opposite conclusions:

The Irish Times has just published a review saying the new Porsche four door sedan "leaves us cold."

The Los Angeles Times review concludes the car has a "lake of fire" under the hood.

So who's right? Is the Panamera all about fire or ice?

Read both reviews and judge for yourself.

Night Visions of Porsche

Here's a really cool experimental Porsche commercial which features morphing black and white night scenes. If only it didn't include images of the Cayenne it would be perfect.

A Few Things I Don't Understand

Porsche accuses Volkswagen and Lower Saxony of extortion according to Reuters. Somehow, VW is holding a financial gun to the head of Porsche which owns 51 percent of VW. How is that possible?

I do understand that Porsche is burdened by debt. I don't understand why Porsche couldn't get itself out of this mess by selling a good chunk of the 51 percent it owns in VW.

Wouldn't that help Porsche maintain its independence and give it the capital it needs to weather the current economic storm? There wouldn't need to be a deal with Qatar at that point, right?

And for that matter if these two companies hate each other so much why are they so intent on merging?

I don't get it. Can somebody explain what is going on?

Cut and Assemble Your New 911

Think you can't cut it as the owner of a 911?

Think again. For just $9.95, you can buy "Cut & Assemble Classic Sports Cars" which features not only a full color 911 but seven other cars.

Here's a publisher's description: "Recreate authentic models of such classics as a 1965 Mustang, 1956 T-Bird, 1964 MGB and 1963 Corvette—many complete with attachable grilles, hubcaps, hand brakes, dashboards, gearshifts, much more. Detailed assembly diagrams, easy-to-follow directions for projects of varying difficulty."

Don't be fooled. This book is not for kids. A reviewer on Amazon.com says the resulting models are best attempted by experienced modelers.

Click to order from the official Porscheophile Amazon.com site: Cut & Assemble Classic Sports Cars

Why not order several copies?

Their Cups Can Cometh Over

Need to drink in more of the Porsche experience?

How about this new set of indiuvidually numbered Porsche espresso cups with matching saucers?

Created by Porsche Design, these four cups commemorate:

• the 909 ‘Bergspyder’ (1968)
• the 908/03 Spyder (1970)
• the 917 Coupe ‘short-tail’ (1970)
• 917 Coupe ‘long-tail’ (1971)

Dishwasher safe and delivered in a special gift package, this set can be yours for $79-- but not just yet.

Click here to be notified when they are available

"A Very Impressive Piece of Kit"

Autocar, the British car magazine, has created this video review of the Panamera Turbo, the first video review of the car I have found.

The reviewer seems to love the dynamics and handling of the car as well as its exotic features, like launch control. What he questions is whether people will opt instead for M5 BMWs and save thousands of dollars.

Check it out: