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Watch Carrera Cup driver Connor de Phillippi's first lap of the N"urburgring

American race driver Connor de Phillippi was recently added to the roster of Porsche Juniors, the arm of Porsche's factory racing program that develops new talent. The 20-year-old is contesting the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland series with FÖRCH Racing by Lukas Motorsport, and last weekend, he raced the series round at the Nürburgring. Starting 15th on the grid, de Phillippi would cross the line in ninth out of 32 finishers.
Courtesy of his in-car camera, you can watch his entire first lap in the video below - there's no music added, just engine whine during nine minutes of crests, turns, bumpy straights and that wicked Carousel. Enjoy.

Porsche still deciding on one or two new 911 plug-in hybrids

Back in March, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told Autocar that the coming Porsche 911 plug-in hybrid "will be the most powerful 911 we've ever had." That quote portended a 992-series 911 with 700 horsepower or more. A new report in Auto Express, however, suggests Porsche is having energetic debates about just what the 911's hybrid strategy will be, and that the only agreed-upon plug-in hybrid 911 so far is a milder version to sit in the middle of the range. Putting all our rumors in a row, in January, Automobile reported on an electrically-assisted 911 with 485 hp and 561 pound-feet of torque. The new AE piece effectively endorses that, saying the mid-range hybrid would follow the program established by the all-wheel drive Cayenne e-Hybrid that produces a combined 455 hp and 516 lb-ft. The 911 would naturally use a flat-six instead of the Cayenne's 3.0-liter V6, and the sports car would be tuned for better sound response and sharper reflexes. AE says fuel economy for this hybrid should be at least 80 eMPG, with emissions of less than 80 grams per kilometer. The current base Carrera is currently rated at a maximum 38.2 mpg in the UK, with minimum emissions of 169 g/km. The hybrid, fitted with a double-clutch gearbox and Porsche's mechanical all-wheel-drive system, could run from a stop to 62 miles per hour in less than four seconds, making it more efficient than a base Carrera and much faster than a Carrera 4S. AE says there remains only "the potential for Porsche to add a second, more powerful hybrid 911," and says its sources claim that's what's "causing the most consternation behind closed doors." This one would be the twin-turbocharged, 700-hp beastie that, as a series production car, would have a hard time not usurping the 540-hp Turbo, 580-hp Turbo S, and 607-hp Turbo S Exclusive. True, the hybrid would be handicapped with a 550-pound battery pack, but the instant acceleration and handling benefits of electric AWD — with no connection between the axles — could provide the final edge over the other three. As such, it makes sense that there'd be a whole lot of debate about a flagship 911 hybrid. On the other hand, such a monster seems like an eventuality in view of Porsche's electrified aspirations, the lessons gained from the 918 Hybrid and the 919 Hybrid Le Mans racer, and the fact that CEO Blume has already spoken. The Stuttgart carmaker expects a sales mix of 25 percent electric, 25 percent hybrid, and 50 percent conventional powertrains by 2025.

Porsche rolls out new Macan GTS with 360 horsepower [w/video]

Porsche is expanding both its Macan line and its range of GTS models with the launch of the new Macan GTS. The new performance model slots in between the Macan S and Macan Turbo, packing a mightier punch, upgraded equipment, and sportier styling. The enhancements naturally start under the hood, where the Macan GTS packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 360 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That's 20 more horses than the Macan S but 40 less than the Turbo, driving all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The result is a 0-60 time quoted at 5.0 seconds (or 4.8 with the optional Sport Chrono pack) and a top speed of 159 miles per hour. You know, just to stick it to the other German cars that limit themselves to "only" 155. Of course, Porsche didn't just tinker with the engine and leave it at that. Compared to the Macan S, the GTS features a retuned air suspension, recalibrated electronics, ride height lowered by 10 millimeters, and 20-inch wheels with a matte black finish. The interior also benefits from specific sport seats with Alcantara trim, and the new Porsche Communication Management system. There's a new exhaust system and upgraded brakes, as well. The Macan GTS is just the latest such model to join the range, alongside GTS versions of the Boxster, Cayman, 911, Panamera, and Cayenne. While sales of the new Macan GTS start today in its home market, US customers will have to wait until March to place their orders. MSRP is listed at $67,200 (plus destination), pretty evenly splitting the difference between the existing S and Turbo models. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Porsche Macan GTS – Improved Power and Performance Enhanced driving dynamics, enhanced driving fun Atlanta, Georgia. Porsche announces the new Macan GTS. With more power, a reengineered suspension, unique GTS-specific exterior and interior appointments, and new connectivity options, the new Macan GTS provides an enthusiastic driving experience that enhances the current Macan range. Based on the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the Macan S, the Macan GTS incorporates hardware changes and a unique engine calibration to allow the engine to develop 360 hp at 6000 rpm and 369 lb.-ft. of torque between a broad 1650-4000 rpm.