1978 Porsche 911sc Coupe on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Porsche opening network of dedicated Classics centers

Porsche is in the process of opening a new network of service centers specifically focused on its classic cars. By 2018, the German automaker aims to have 100 such locations up and running around the world. What you're looking at here is the first. Opening this week in Gelderland – a city on the outskirts of Arnhem in the Netherlands – the first dedicated Porsche Classic Center is designed to support older vehicles from Zuffenhausen's history. That means undertaking service and maintenance, installing original parts, partially or completely overhauling of vintage vehicles – even selling classic Porsches certified by the factory. The company reports that over 70 percent of the vehicles it has ever produced are still running. That rather impressive statistic speaks to the quality of the vehicles in the first place, but also the dedication of their owners to keep them running, and the necessity for proper service and maintenance. The chain of 100 or so Porsche Classic Centers to open around the world will stem from the existing network of Porsche Classic Partners. As it is, the network includes 24 such partners around the world, principally in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Ten of those 24 are located in Germany alone. However the new network will incorporate locations in North America as well. Premiere for Porsche Classic Centre in Gelderland World's first Porsche centre for classic cars to open Gelderland/Stuttgart. The world's first Porsche Classic Centre is just about to open: from 26 November 2015, the Porsche Classic Centre Gelderland, just outside of Arnhem/Netherlands, will be offering services for classic cars of all ages from Zuffenhausen. This is the first time that service, workshop and sales exclusively for the classic sports cars have been brought together under one roof. A small number of additional certified Porsche Classic Centres are set to follow around the world and produce an even more closely knit Porsche Classic network. More than 70 per cent of the vehicles ever produced by Porsche are still running today. To ensure that these classic cars receive optimum support and overhaul facilities, Porsche is establishing an international dealer and service network with some 100 centres to reach completion by 2018. This mainly involves Porsche centres which will provide support for sports cars of earlier eras in addition to the current models and will be certified as Porsche Classic Partners.

Porsche to develop new line of engines for next Panamera

When the second generation of the four-door Porsche Panamera launches, it will likely be riding a new platform, complete with an all-new family of V6 and V8 engines, according to a report coming out of the UK.
Autocar reports that the so-called MSB platform will likely underpin the Panamera, and it could be shared with Bentley, provided the Volkswagen-owned, British-built brand commits to the architecture. As for the engines, it's reported that they'll have a sportier character than the V6s and V8s being built for Volkswagen and Audi's vehicles.
"Porsche will have its own new V8 that will be common to the new MSB platform," Porsche's chief engineer, Wolfgang Hatz, said. "It's a family for the next 10 years of cars." Whether the V8 and V6 will be used outside of the Panamera line, though, remains unclear. There's also no mention of what place turbocharging would have with the new engines.

Porsche spotted testing next 911 GT3 in its natural habitat

Want a Porsche 911 GT3? Well too bad, because they're all sold out – and from what we hear, they have been for a while. But don't worry, there'll be another one coming soon. And here's our first look at it. Based on the updated 991, the new GT3 may be one of the few variations on the theme that won't be going turbocharged. It may, however, get a three-pedal manual transmission – possibly the six-speed from the 911 R as opposed to the seven from the Carrera. That is, at least, if the tinkerers in Weissach perk up their ears and listen to what their most enthusiastic customers have been saying. Because while the dual-clutch PDK may be faster, the GT3 has traditionally been as much about the driving experience as it has about outright pace. As it's mostly wearing the bodywork of the outgoing GT3, there's unfortunately little to be seen from this prototype spotted testing at the Nurburgring in one of the first (mostly) thawed test sessions of the season. But you can expect the new model to blend elements from the old GT3 with the revisions made to the new 911. And with it, expect a bit more power and a bit more performance from the latest iteration of a driving enthusiasts' favorite. We're told to expect the new 911 GT3 to hit dealers some time next year. There may or may not be a GT3 RS to follow, but from what we've seen, there ought to be an even faster GT2 RS entering the mix before long as well.