Jim Miles Fast Cars

Porsche’s new Panamera sedan has been a tremendous success and now the German sports car company has revealed a new hybrid version of the car, combining performance and fuel economy.

Motivated by the same 333-hp 3.0L V6 engine and 47-hp electric motor combo as found in the Cayenne hybrid, the Panamera S Hybrid makes 380-hp and can achieve 41.54 mpg (Imperial and using the European test cycle). That should work out to slightly better than the 20/24-mpg rating of the Cayenne hybrid.That number is, however, achieved thanks to special low rolling resistance tires developed by Michelin and with standard tires the car is capable of 39.79 mpg.

Acceleration for this hybrid is brisk with the Panamera a few ticks quicker to 60-mph than its Cayenne hybrid cousin. Sporting an official 5.7 second 0-60 mph time it’s one fast hybrid.

Porsche’s two-mode hybrid system allows the Panamera S Hybrid to travel just over a mile on pure electric power and electric-only acceleration possible up to speeds of 50-mph. The drivetrain also switches off the engine at speeds of up to 103-mph when the driver lifts off the throttle to help deliver maximum fuel economy.

Standard equipment on the Panamera S Hybrid includes an adaptive air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)

The Panamera S Hybrid will go on sale later this year with a price of $95,000.

Look for more on this car from its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in just a few weeks time. Until then, get full Geneva Auto Show Coverage here.

The Tesla Roadster just got a little less interesting as Porsche has quietly introduced three new Boxster E prototypes.
Described as "mobile laboratories," the cars are powered by a 29 kWh battery which sends power to two electric motors that develop a combined 245 PS (180 kW / 241 hp). Porsche declined to release detailed specifications, but says performance will be comparable to the Boxster S which accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph (274 km/h).
The prototypes will we be tested to gain feedback about practicality and user behavior. This information will be compiled into the development of future products, but it should be noted that Porsche hasn’t confirmed plans to put the Boxster E into production.

German supercar maker Gumpert has announced it will unveil its long rumoured second model at the upcoming Geneva motor show.
Called the Tornante, the new car has been developed in partnership with Italian based Touring Superleggera, which is responsible for the new two seater’s styling.

Conceived to provide greater comfort, practicality, refinement and long distance touring attributes than the extreme Apollo – Gumpert’s initial model launched in 2005, the first deliveries of the Tornante are planned to get under way in 2012.

See the first official pic of the new Gumpert Tornante
An initial sketch of the new car reveals it boasts more cohesive and contemporary styling than the Apollo, which will continue to be produced in small numbers alongside the Tornante at Gumpert’s workshop in Altenburg, Germany.

Gumpert describes the look of the new car as “clean, efficient and well balanced”. Features brought over from the Apollo include gullwing style doors and a wide rear hood. The fledgling German supercar maker also says the two-seat Tornante boasts “innovative proportions within the rear section”. This is thought to be a reference to receiving a longer rear section than the Apollo for a larger fuel tank and greater luggage carrying capacity.

Based around a chrome-molybdenum steel frame, the Tornante inherits the same engine as Gumpert’s more extreme Apollo. The Audi-based twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre V8 has been tuned to deliver 700bhp. Mounted behind the cabin, it sends drive to the rear wheels via a sequential six-speed gearbox with paddle shift control.

No performance figures for the new car have been revealed just yet, but the lighter and smaller Apollo, developed largely at the demanding Nurburgring circuit in Germany, is claimed to hit 62mph in 3.1secs and reach a top speed of 224mph. The Apollo also established what was then a lap record for production cars at the Nurburgring in 2009 of 7min11.57sec.

Underpinning Gumpert’s second model is a modified version of the Apollo’s double wishbone suspension that has been modified and tuned for greater compliance and comfort.

German supercar maker Gumpert has announced it will unveil its long rumoured second model at the upcoming Geneva motor show.
Called the Tornante, the new car has been developed in partnership with Italian based Touring Superleggera, which is responsible for the new two seater’s styling.

Conceived to provide greater comfort, practicality, refinement and long distance touring attributes than the extreme Apollo – Gumpert’s initial model launched in 2005, the first deliveries of the Tornante are planned to get under way in 2012.

See the first official pic of the new Gumpert Tornante
An initial sketch of the new car reveals it boasts more cohesive and contemporary styling than the Apollo, which will continue to be produced in small numbers alongside the Tornante at Gumpert’s workshop in Altenburg, Germany.

Gumpert describes the look of the new car as “clean, efficient and well balanced”. Features brought over from the Apollo include gullwing style doors and a wide rear hood. The fledgling German supercar maker also says the two-seat Tornante boasts “innovative proportions within the rear section”. This is thought to be a reference to receiving a longer rear section than the Apollo for a larger fuel tank and greater luggage carrying capacity.

Based around a chrome-molybdenum steel frame, the Tornante inherits the same engine as Gumpert’s more extreme Apollo. The Audi-based twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre V8 has been tuned to deliver 700bhp. Mounted behind the cabin, it sends drive to the rear wheels via a sequential six-speed gearbox with paddle shift control.

No performance figures for the new car have been revealed just yet, but the lighter and smaller Apollo, developed largely at the demanding Nurburgring circuit in Germany, is claimed to hit 62mph in 3.1secs and reach a top speed of 224mph. The Apollo also established what was then a lap record for production cars at the Nurburgring in 2009 of 7min11.57sec.

Underpinning Gumpert’s second model is a modified version of the Apollo’s double wishbone suspension that has been modified and tuned for greater compliance and comfort.

MINI’s future is opening up! These are the first spy shots of the head-turning new Roadster, which goes on sale early next year.

First revealed as a concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show – alongside a hardtop Coupe version which arrives later this year – the Roadster has been translated unchanged from the show stand to the road as revealed by this prototype caught testing in Germany.

Like the Countryman and Paceman, it takes MINI further into new territory, giving drivers in the market for the Mazda MX-5 another highly desirable model to consider with a sportier look and a more focused driving experience.

Key styling details include the lower, wider and longer body and the pop-up rear spoiler. The front end shares much with the Cooper S, such as its bold headlights and chrome grille. Below those lies a wider, more aggressive splitter, while the A-pillars are steeply raked to give a more aerodynamic look. 

There’s no metal hood – instead, the covering is made of fabric, and it’s set to be manually operated. This is a much lighter solution to a fully electric mechanism. Much like an MX-5’s hood, it is folded simply and neatly behind the occupants’ heads.

The arrangement makes the Roadster surprisingly practical. Regardless of whether the roof is raised or lowered, there are 250 litres of luggage space. 

Under the bonnet lies the same engine as in the Cooper S – a 175bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit. It produces 240Nm of torque, but can generate 260Nm for short periods during overboost. 

While official performance figures have yet to be released, we expect the Roadster to cover 0-62mph in seven seconds and accelerate on to 140mph.

Sales will kick off in early 2012 with a price tag of around £18,000, but expect MINI to officially reveal the production version before the end of the year.

Portimão, Portugal—McLaren set out to develop its own series production premium sports car in 2005. Under the “Project 11” name, the car’s basic parameters were laid down. Years of development followed with the same ethos held by the company’s F1 team. This included one year of computer simulation before the first running mule was ever built, one million test miles around the world and around-the-clock test programs with more than 50 prototypes. Fast forward to today, and the all-new 2012 McLaren MP4-12C is finally ready. We are among the first to drive the 12C at the Portimão Circuit.

Swipe your hand underneath the handle-less door (it takes some practice), and the 12C’s dihedral door opens forward and up, similar to those on the 1993 McLaren F1—still much revered today as the definitive supercar of the era. Slide inside the cockpit and the interior’s simplicity of design is apparent. The 3-spoke steering wheel has no buttons or switches. Right behind it is the cantilevered shift paddle for the 7-speed twin-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG). As is the practice in F1 cars, the paddle is pulled on the right for upshifts, and on the left for downshifts. Conversely, you can push on the left for an upshift, or push on the right for a downshift. Front and center on the instrument cluster is a large tachometer flanked by digital displays. The slender center stack flows smoothly downward, housing a portrait-format infotainment system followed by an engine start/stop button and two important dials selecting handling and powertrain settings of Normal, Sport and Track.

McLaren touts the MP4-12C to be for the road and track. So our first stint in the car sampled the car’s civility on rough roads around Portimão. Even with handling set to Track mode, the 12C’s all-around double-wishbone suspension with hydraulically linked active damping is able to soak up road imperfections with ease. But on long and winding roads is where the new McLaren really feels at home. Powering through high-speed corners, the car is never unsettled by any sudden gaps in the pavement, and communicates the event with a touch of vibration through the steering wheel just to let you know it’s alive. To fully enjoy the experience, also turn the powertrain to Track mode so the 12C’s 592-bhp V-8 can come to life with a more aggressive throttle map and faster shifts. At maximum boost of 17.4 psi, the powerplant winds up with a nice guttural growl.Back at the track, the McLaren MP4-12C handles the task with confidence. According to the factory, 0-to-60-mph acceleration can be accomplished in 3.2 seconds, and in 3.0 sec. when shod with more aggressive Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires. The quarter mile is clocked at 10.9 sec. while traveling at 135 mph; top speed is 205 mph. Impressive numbers. Yet, ripping down the front straight in excess of 155 mph, you don’t quite get the real sensation of the speed because the 12C provides the utmost confidence-inspiring ride calmness for the driver. When slowing the car before the turn, ABS is helped by McLaren’s Airbrake, a rear flap that rises above 59 mph to increase drag and move the car’s center of pressure rearward for better grip, balance and braking stability.

Driving through corners, the 12C responds quickly to steering input with nicely balanced feedback off-center; but weighting is lighter than preferred. Mid-corner, the rear of the car stays put, even with slightly aggressive steering input or sudden throttle lift-off. If oversteer is provoked, it is easily correctable. The yaw control is always on, with a higher threshold in Track mode allowing for more driver control. Owners, according to McLaren, will be instructed on how to turn the system off completely.

The MP4-12C has achieved all its performance targets in the same calculated fashion of its winning F1 team. It appeals to “in-the-know” car enthusiasts who prefer their supercars understated, a different path than Ferrari, which wows its customers with more emotional appeal. With a U.S. list price of $229,000, the 12C (arriving late summer) is nearly comparable to the Ferrari 458 Italia. This is the beginning of another rivalry between two giants, but this time it’s not just on the track but also the road.

List Price:229,000 USD
Weight:est. 3100lbs
Engine and Drivetrain:alum. block & heads, dohc twin-turbo 32VV-8
Transmission: 7 speed paddle shift manual
Horsepower: 592 @ 7,000RPM
Torque: 443 lb-ft @ 3,000-7,000RPM
0-60: 3.2 sec.*
1/4 Mile: 10.9 sec @ 135MPH
Top Speed: 205MPH*

*Manufacturer estimates

Earlier this week we brought you the first official photos of the 2012 Mercedes C-Class Coupe, but they were fairly limited in scope. Today, we’ve got an even more revealing look at the model, with the new C-Class Coupe revealed from a variety of different angles.

As already noted, the 2012 C-Class Coupe is built on the standard C-Class platform, with the exception of a roof line that’s lowered from its sedan counterpart. Under the hood, the international market will receive two 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo power plants outputting 115 kW / 156 hp in the C180 and 150 kW / 204 hp in the C250 along with a new 225 kW / 306 hp C350. From the diesel lineup, look for the 2.1-liter turbo diesel to arrive in both the C220 CDI (125 kW / 170 hp) and the C250 CDI (150 kW / 204 hp). Start-stop technology will be standard equipment, and the seven-speed automatic transmission with 7G-Tronic Plus will be included in the C250 and C350 models.

We’ll bring you more details of the 2012 Mercedes C-Class Coupe when Mercedes officially premiers the model. In the meantime, check out the gallery below for the complete 2012 C-Class Coupe gallery.

Juliani’s Italian: a new supercar

There are little more than 2 days and 5 hours to the presentation of a new supercar italiana: the website of Juliani Cars displays the countdown in real-time and allows a peek at the side of automobiles. The constructor milanese craft seems to focus on curvy body style and sophistication of mechanical solutions "under the dress."

The passion for automobiles is underscored by the slogan "an Italian supercar made by Italian", which is a beautiful exhibition of himself on the homepage of the factory. The new born of panorama cars to see if the dream, to remain in the local borders, with sacred monsters of Ferrari Emilian and Lamborghini-excluding the Pagan Huayra just presented-and with Porsche models.
Author: Julian Daniele
Date: February 4, 2011

Porsche is apparently readying some significant changes to its street-legal race car, the GT3. According to a forum member on Rennlist, the next-generation (991) version of the GT3 will adopt a larger engine, a dual-clutch gearbox and several even more significant changes.

The poster, who goes by the screen name ‘rosenbergendo’ says he received the information from a Porsche Motorsport exec while attending the recent Daytona 24 Hour race.

According to his unnamed source, the 991 GT3 will get a 480-hp motor (up 45-hp) from a larger 4.0-liter flat-six. It will also offer an optional PDK dual-clutch transmission, which is referred to as PDK-S. Apparently Porsche has been reluctant to include a dual-clutch unit in the GT3, not only because it’s a ‘purists car’ but because the PDK setup is too heavy. This new PDK-S unit, however, will solve much of the weight concern.

More significant changes are also in store with a projected weight loss of 180-200 lbs thanks to the use of composite materials, while the engine will be moved slightly forward in the chassis, essentially making it a mid-engine car and significantly improving the car’s balance.