The new 911 Cabriolet features an innovative climate control system that automatically adjusts to maintain individual temperatures while the top is opening.
During the launch of the all-new 911 Carrera, Porsche put on a runway-style fashion show highlighting each of the iconic model’s eight generations, along with numerous body styles and other permutations. While it would’ve been incorrect to dub any of these 911 successors as “retro”, being that the car was and still is an unbroken continuation of an ongoing model, some features, particularly its triangular “no-draft” vent windows, were only removed near the turn of the century with the onset of its water-cooled engine. Now Porsche is a leader in multi-zone automatic climate control system technology, particularly when it comes to the new 911 Cabriolet.
The new automatic climate control system will keep both upper body and lower extremities at the same temperature no matter the weather outside.
The German automaker recently developed an interior temperature sensor that can detect when the 911 Cabriolet’s retractable cloth top is opening, and then quickly make all the necessary adjustments so that front occupants won’t feel a change in cabin temperature. The advanced system incorporates 20 external and 20 internal sensors to continuously process 350-plus signals in half-second intervals, these including outlet, exterior, coolant temperatures, engine speeds, insolation, and vehicle speed. Once factoring in information from the soft-top, doors and seat positioning the system will slowly suppress a specific sensor while the convertible top is being opened, resulting ideal air temperature, air ventilation volume and air distribution to each occupant.
Now the 911 Cabriolet’s interior air temperature is as comfortable as its cabin overall.
In a press release Porsche goes so far to claim that “911 Cabriolet drivers are surrounded by a pleasant freshness” “… even in the searing summer heat of the city,” stating that its new intelligent climate control system is especially useful at low speeds.
The system is also effective when driving with the top down in cooler temperatures, eliminating the all too common “warm feet, cool head” scenario that anyone who’s driven al fresco in winter will be familiar with. Porsche’s intelligent climate control system disseminates more warm air through the centre vents, which gives the driver and front passenger “a cozy veil of heat without having the unpleasant sensation of air being blown in their faces,” continues Porsche.
“Blissfully warm hands on the steering wheel” is another bonus that allows the 911 Cabriolet’s driver to forgo warm winter gloves, claims Porsche, while both front occupants can stow their winter jackets in the trunk.
Porsche has brought back its Cayenne GTS for 2021, complete with twin-turbo V8 power.
Following Porsche’s usual product launch plan, a new Cayenne GTS has surfaced for the 2021 model year, and while this might normally be a small story about blackened trim, Alcantara interior detailing and a lowered suspension, quite a bit has changed since a Cayenne GTS was last offered three years ago.
As many reading this will already be aware, the Cayenne received a ground-up redesign for 2019, and while such would always occur before a new GTS release, this time around there are two third-generation Cayenne body styles instead of just one, including the regular Cayenne and the new Cayenne Coupe, both of which will be available in new GTS trim.
Also new, the two 2021 Cayenne GTS models will be powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 instead of the outgoing twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6, the change upping horsepower by 13 and torque by 14 lb-ft resulting in a new total of 453 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque.
The Cayenne GTS Coupe can be upgraded with a special high-frequency sport exhaust denoted by two larger oval tailpipes in the middle of a more aggressive rear diffuser.
Needless to say the new 2021 Cayenne GTS is faster than its three-year-old predecessor, with both body styles sprinting from standstill to 100 km/h in a scant 4.5 seconds when equipped with their Sport Chrono Packages, which is 0.6 seconds quicker than previous examples. The base Cayenne GTS achieves a zero to 100 km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds, by the way, while both are capable of a 270-km/h terminal velocity, this being an 8-km/h improvement of their predecessor.
The 4.0-litre direct-injection V8 utilizes a new intelligently designed thermal management system as well as adaptive cylinder control to achieve its performance targets, while Porsche’s eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission was once again chosen for shifting duties. Additionally, Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive continues to be standard equipment.
The regular Cayenne GTS and base model GTS Coupe have their quad of tailpipes poking out either side of the rear valance.
A beefy standard exhaust system shows two large circular tailpipes poking through each side of a sportier rear fascia, for a total of four, the new look appearing menacing to say the least, while in a press release Porsche claimed they produce “a rich, sporty sound with a unique character.” Those opting for the Cayenne GTS Coupe can alternatively choose a special high frequency-tuned sports exhaust system when also upgrading to the Lightweight Sports Package, the tailpipes on this version of the SUV denoted by even larger oval tips emanating from the centre of the rear bumper.
The renewed Cayenne GTS also gets some suspension upgrades such as a set of redesigned Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) dampers that, when combined with the standard three-chamber Air Suspension, lower the utility’s ride height by 30 mm compared to the current Cayenne S, while Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) is standard equipment too.
A carbon-fibre roof is available on the Cayenne GTS Coupe.
The base Cayenne GTS and Cayenne GTS Coupe models ride on a special set of black-silk gloss 21-inch RS Spyder Design alloy wheels, although take note that many wheel and tire packages are available. Likewise, grey cast iron 390 by 38 mm front and 358 by 28 mm rear brake rotors come standard, as are a set of red-painted calipers, but the new GTS can be had with the tungsten carbide-coated Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PSCB) system, or better yet the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system. Two additional options include rear-axle steering, and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilization.
The two new GTS model wouldn’t be complete without a bevy of styling enhancements from the exterior to the interior, so Porsche has added the usual blackened trim bits outside via the standard Sport Design package, which darkens accents on the front air intakes, side window surrounds, exhaust tips, plus the Porsche badges and model designation in back. Likewise, the LED headlamps, which feature the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), are tinted black too, as is the new LED taillight bar.
The Cayenne GTS is once again enhanced with suede-like Alcantara trim.
As is normally the case with GTS models, Porsche covers the interior door and centre console armrests in rich suede-like Alcantara, not to mention the seat centre panels, the roof liner, and more, while dark-brushed aluminum accents separate the GTS’ cabin from the brighter aluminum used on other Cayenne trims.
The standard eight-way powered front sport seats are improved with larger side bolstering too, as well as “GTS” embroidery on the head restraints, but this isn’t the only place you’ll find the renowned GTS emblem. Check out the primary gauge cluster’s tachometer dial, the door entry sills, and the front outer door panels too. Those wanting more can opt for a GTS interior package that features Carmine Red or Chalk colour accents, including decorative stitching.
The new 2021 Cayenne GTS and 2021 Cayenne GTS Coupe are now available to order from your local Porsche dealer ahead of arriving during Q4 of 2020, while respective pricing starts at $120,400 and $126,500, plus freight and fees.
The 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition combines a wholly modern sports car with yesteryear’s charm.
Porsche is a master of limited-run special editions, and the new 2021 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition is one of the more intriguing examples we can remember. If there ever was a car that fit the modern-day classic term to a T, this is it.
The “T” stands for Targa, and thanks to a stylish silver roof hoop that not only protects this retractable hardtop convertible’s occupants from rollover, but also pays visual tribute to the 1967 911 Targa original, this body style suits the Heritage Design Edition’s retrospective purposes even better than a 911 Coupe or Cabriolet could.
“We are evoking memories of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s in customers and fans with the Heritage Design models,” commented Porsche Executive Board Chairman Oliver Blume in a press release. “No brand can translate these elements into the modern day as well as Porsche. In this way, we are fulfilling the wishes of our customers. With the exclusive special editions, we are also establishing a new product line which stands for the ‘lifestyle’ dimension in our product strategy.”
If you like the looks of a classic, but don’t want to give up the niceties of today’s cars, this is the way to go.
While four exterior colours are available, the beautifully rich Cherry Metallic paint chosen exudes a sense of yesteryear, while the racing-inspired spear-shaped front fender stripes and round decal-like numbered livery, plus the historically accurate 1963 Porsche Crest badges, the rear deck lid-mounted Porsche Heritage insignia, gold-tone nameplates are the icing on the proverbial cake. Inside, two-tone Bordeaux Red or Black leather and Atacama Beige OLEA Club leather and corduroy add even more history to the mix, making this the perfect Porsche for those who’d love to be driving something 50 years old, but would rather enjoy the benefits of a modern 911’s performance, comforts, technical advancements, reliability and safety.
As the name implies, the new 2021 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition is based on the equally new 2021 911 Targa 4S we covered last month, and therefore receives all of the goodness infused into this new 992-generation model, including new chassis tech, driver assistance systems, infotainment upgrades, etcetera. A 443 horsepower version of Porsche’s twin-turbo, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine is housed below an auto-deployable rear wing, controlled by a paddle-prompted eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automated gearbox. With Launch Control engaged, the Targa 4S can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in under 3.6 seconds before maxing out at a 304-km/h track speed.
The “phosphorus green” dials are really slick.
This new special edition, limited to 992 examples (the name chosen for the new 911’s 992 code-name) will be the first of the four Heritage Design models, the one featuring plenty of ‘50s- and ‘60s-era design cues like a green backlit tachometer and dash-mounted clock, as well as perforations in the roof liner, although soft suede-like microfibre now replaces the vinyl used in the past.
Those classic Porsche crests mentioned earlier can be found on the key fob, hood, steering wheel hub and wheel caps, the latter components centring special rims that resemble the “five-leaf” Fuchsfelge alloy wheels brought to market for the 1966 911S. Of course, the Carrera Exclusive Design wheels are considerably larger than those from the past and staggered at 20 inches in front and 21 inches at the rear, while the now frame big black-painted brake calipers.
A commemorative dash plaque provides verification of your car’s limited build number.
So what’s the price for the 2021 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition’s sub-1,000-unit rarity? It’ll cost you $205,900, or $50,180 more than the entry price for a regular 2021 911 Targa 4S (a 2021 911 Targa 4 can be had for $136,000). For that you’ll get all of the extras mentioned, plus a stunning gold-coloured metal “911 Heritage Design Edition XXX/992” dash plaque authenticating your purchase.
At least as celebratory, the German brand’s majority-owned subsidiary Porsche Design has created a beautiful sport watch in commemoration, and just like the car it will only be limited to 992 examples and available exclusively to 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition owners. The lifestyle products and industrial design division took design cues from the car for the new wristwatch’s face, applying a white seconds hand as well as “Phosphorus Green” rings around the perimeter, in similitude to the primary gauges in the classic 356 and original 911. What’s more, the Arabic hour indices were designed to look like the block lettering used in Porsche’s nameplate, while its strap is made from the same leather as found inside Porsche models.
How about a nice luxury sport watch to go with your exclusive Targa? Porsche Design has you covered.
To learn more about the 2021 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition contact your local Porsche retailer, or alternatively if you’d rather save $50k and opt for something with more modernity the brand’s aforementioned 2021 911 Targa 4 and 4S are also available to order now. To learn more about the new 911 or outgoing model, which is still available in some trims, check out our Porsche 911 Canada Prices page for 2019, 2020 or 2021 models, where you can learn about available manufacturer rebates (Porsche is currently offering zero percent on all new 911 models), financing or leasing opportunities, dealer invoice pricing that could save you thousands, and more.
To make sure you’ve got all the facts before negotiating, make sure to become a CarCostCanada member, and definitely download the free CarCostCanada app from Google Play Store or the Apple iTunes store too. This said if you’re not familiar with how CarCostCanada can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars when you purchase your next vehicle, this article explains it in detail.
The new “entry-level” 2021 Targa 4 is one gorgeous new addition to the 911 family.
The all-new 911 (992) Coupe and Cabriolet have been with us for much of the year now, with various trims including the Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S and Turbo S trickling out of Porsche’s Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart assembly plant since inception, and now that the redesigned Targa is here the 911 family is complete.
OK, GTS models have yet to arrive, but at least all 911 body styles are accounted for, until the automaker makes a Speedster variant that is. The Targa first arrived at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show before showing up in production trim for the 1967 model year, this first convertible 911 designed with a roll hoop behind driver and passenger to meet expected U.S. safety regulations that never materialized.
Along with the stainless steel covered roll bar, the first Targa featured a removable rear window made from plastic, this replaced with fixed rear glass window the following year, while the Targa’s roof design has been modified dramatically over the years. While the roll hoop sometimes came in black instead of silver, the first model had a removable roof panel ahead of the 1996–1998 993 model that came out with a power-sliding glass roof that automatically stowed below the rear window. The update, which carried over to the 2006–2012 997, completely overhauled the Targa’s look with sweptback C pillars and sharply angled rear quarter windows.
The side profile the new 992-type Targa looks very similar to the outgoing 991.
The 2016–2019 991.2 Targa said goodbye to the big powered sunroof and hello to a power-retractable hardtop-style roof mechanism that hoisted the entire rear deck lid ahead of storing the roof panel underneath. This new roof design allowed Porsche to return to the original silver roll hoop styling too, and thankfully this more technical approach continues forward into the new 2021 911 Targa. While the roof mechanism is a highly sophisticated bit of kit, it only takes 19 seconds to lower or raise, so therefore it can easily be done while waiting at a stoplight.
Everything under the new Targa’s beltline is mostly the latest 992-generation Carrera Coupe/Convertible design, which means that the new hood and lower front fascia eliminate the outgoing 911’s body-colour ovoid shapes and add straighter, more horizontal lines, highlighted by a big, black rectangular front vent that first catches the eye. This gives the new model a wider, more aggressive stance, whereas the sharply angled hood features classic tapered creases at each side of its indented centre, much like the original 911’s hood, but without the vented end. Porsche’s ovoid multi-element four-point LED headlight clusters are almost identical to the outgoing car, which will a positive to anyone still fearing the days of the much-lambasted 996.
With the new Targa’s arrival, all three 911 body types are accounted for.
The three vertical indentations on the new Targa’s B pillars, and the classic scripted “targa” nameplate and silver colour treatment, help 991 and 992 model profiles initially look the same. Inspecting the new car’s design more closely, however, in fact reveals front and rear fascias wrapping farther around the side bodywork, plus fractionally more upright headlights, tail lamps that extend forward much like the rear bumper vents, reworked front side marker lights, new flat-bezeled wheel cutouts, an updated set of mirror housings, special flush-mounted exterior door handles that extend outward when touched (replacing the outgoing model’s more traditionally rounded door pulls), and a smoother rear deck lid, all resulting a fresh new take on the classic 911 Targa’s design.
Those tail lamps come into clearer view when seen from behind, with the new model expanding on the outgoing 991’s slim, dagger-like LED-enhanced lenses and even narrower body-wide light strip by reach farther outward to each side, plus grafting on some 718-like 3D-like graphics at the centre lighting position, these sitting over seemingly open vent slats underneath, while carving out even an more linear design for the outer taillights.
The Targa’s interior is identical to the new Carrera’s cabin.
Just like the new Carrera, the updated Targa’s diffuser-enhanced lower rear bumper is larger, blacker, and beefier looking than previously, while it also feeds the engine’s exhaust pipes from within instead of forcing them to exit below. Additionally, hidden under the new 911’s flowing rear deck lid and just over the aforementioned light strip, which sits below a row of gloss-black engine vent strakes, is a wider and larger active spoiler boasting multiple positions depending on variable levels of rear downforce.
The new 911 Targa’s bumpers aside, all body panels are now formed out of lightweight aluminum, whereas the front fenders and underlying body structure were lightened substantially, the latter more than halving its steel content from 63 to 30 percent. The 70 percent left over is now wholly constructed from aluminum, all of which helps to improve structural rigidity, handling, and fuel-efficiency.
New standard Targa 4 wheels measure 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear, with the former shod in 235/40 ZR-rated performance rubber and the latter wearing a wider set of 295/35 ZRs, whereas the Targa 4S gets a staggered set of 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35 ZR and 305/30 ZR tires respectively.
The Targa 4S boasts considerably more power and the option of a 7-speed manual gearbox.
As with the new Carreras and Turbos that arrived before, the latest Targa comes with an interior that was inspired by 911 models from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and even the 1990s, especially regarding the wide, horizontal dash layout to the right of the traditional arcing instrument hood. The former even incorporates a narrow shelf that mimics the lower edge of the original model’s dashboard, but that’s about it when it comes to mirroring Porsche’s past 911 cabins.
The new Targa’s electronic interfaces immediately set it apart as a state-of-the-art machine, its instrument cluster mostly digital other than housing an analogue tachometer at centre. With the ignition on the new 911 Targa follows Porsche tradition thanks to a five-dial layout, although the left TFT/LCD display incorporates a conventional-style speedometer in default mode, or alternatively the car’s new advanced driver assistance systems that include adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, lane keeping assist, etcetera, whereas the right-side screen features a multi-information display with route guidance, audio, trip, cruise control info and more.
The just-noted horizontal dash design incorporates a big 10.9-inch high-definition Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment touchscreen, which is 3.9 inch larger than the previously car’s centre display. It boasts much greater depth of colour too, plus new graphics, better performance, and additional features from fewer analogue switches.
Is the Targa for you? The classic silver roll hoop certainly adds its own element of style.
As with the previous 911 Targa, the new 2021 version will initially ship in 4 and 4S trims, while a Targa 4 GTS will arrive later. The base Targa 4 includes Porsche’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that’s good for 379 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a standard eight-speed PDK automated transmission with steering wheel paddles (the new autobox gets one more forward gear compared to the outgoing Targa’s seven-speed PDK), which results in a scant 4.4-second sprint from zero to 100 km/h in base trim or 4.2 seconds from standstill to 100 km/h with its Sport Chrono Package upgrade.
Porsche makes a seven-speed manual transmission available when opting for the Sport Chrono Package in the new 911 Targa 4S, which when combined with this model’s more potent 443 horsepower 3.0-litre six putting out 390 lb-ft of torque only matches the less powerful Targa 4’s 4.4-second sprint to 100 km/h, this because of the base Targa’s more efficient standard PDK gearbox. This said, when the more formidable engine is synched up to the dual-clutch automated PDK it can manage a much more entertaining 3.8-second zero to 100 km/h sprint in its base trim or 3.6 seconds to the same mark with the Sport Chrono Package.
As with the new all-wheel drive Carrera 4 and 4S that launched earlier, both Targa 4 and 4S models use a unique water-cooled front differential that features reinforced clutches to increase load capacities and overall durability. When combined with standard Porsche Traction Management (PTM), the new front axle drive system improves the two Targa models’ traction in slippery situations, while also enhancing performance in dry conditions.
The partially open-top Targa is just as quick as the various Carrera models.
What’s more, all 2021 911 Targa owners will benefit from Porsche’s new standard Wet mode that gets added to the revised steering wheel-mounted drive mode selector. The new technology automatically maintains better control over wet or snow-covered road surfaces when engaged.
Each new 911 also receives standard autonomous emergency braking with moving object detection, plus a standard high-definition backup camera and rear parking sonar improve safety further.
Also standard, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) features electronically variable dampers with both Normal and Sport settings, while Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), standard with the Targa 4S, is optional with the base Targa 4, and includes an electronic rear differential lock with fully variable torque distribution.
Of note, the base Targa 4’s standard brake rotors are 330 millimetres in diameter both front and rear, while featuring black-painted monobloc fixed calipers with four pistons at the front. The Targa 4S, on the other hand, gets a set of 350-mm calipers bright red painted exteriors that feature six pistons up front. The Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system is also available, as are staggered front/rear 20/21-inch alloy rims.
We’d sure love one of these parked outside our office.
The new 2021 Porsche Targa 4 is available from $136,000 (plus freight and fees), whereas the 2021 Targa 4 S starts at $154,100. To find out more about all the 2020 Carreras and 2021 Turbo models, see our 2020 Porsche 911 Canada Prices page and 2021 Porsche 911 Canada Prices page (the 911 Targa and 2021 Carrera models will be added when Canadian-spec info is available). Here you can configure each model and trim plus add available options, research valuable rebate info, find out about manufacturer financing and leasing rates (which currently can be had from zero percent), and also access dealer invoice pricing that could easily save you thousands.
Also, be sure to browse through our complete photo gallery above, while the following four videos (Dreamcatcher is filmed in Vancouver) show the power-operated roof in its fully automated glory:
The new Porsche 911 Targa (1:07):
The new Porsche 911 Targa – Dreamcatcher (1:21):
Virtual world premiere: The new Porsche 911 Targa (3:53):
The 911 Targa – the timeline of a Porsche legend (2:15):
The new 911 Carrera will be available with the innovative InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system starting in 2021.
Porsche only showed its new 2021 911 Turbo S Coupe and Cabriolet models in March, and we’re already find out what they’ve got in store for next year’s 911 Carrera, Carrera S, and Carrera 4S.
The two sportier trims will soon get a new seven-speed manual transmission, but we’re not yet sure if the DIY gearbox will be standard in Canada and therefore priced lower than the current standard eight-speed automated PDK dual-clutch transmission, as it was in 2019, or if it will be no-cost option like the latest 2021 models are being offered in Europe. Fortunately, Porsche Canada will announce pricing in a few months, which will clarify this question.
Want a faster and more agile 911? Good news! 2021 Carrera Coupes will be available with a new lightweight glass package.
PDK-equipped 911s in mind, Porsche will make its InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system available for 2021 as well. InnoDrive has the ability to automatically maintain set speed limits and slow down for corners, in addition to the usual adaptive cruise control capabilities.
Also new, optional Smartlift raises the 911’s front axle to clear steep driveways and larger than average speed bumps, while it can also be programmed to automatically remember specific locations where it needs to lift. A tire temperature readout gauge is new for 2021 911s equipped with the Sport Chrono Package as well.
Smartlift will raise your 911s front end upwards to overcome big speed bumps and steep driveways.
In an effort to make the 911 even sportier, a lightweight glass package reduces mass up high in the body and therefore lowers the car’s centre of gravity. Only available with the Coupe, this feature will be popular with performance purists, while those wanting more refinement can opt for thicker, better-insulated glass.
Porsche looks to its past for a new leather upholstery upgrade package, introduced earlier for the base 2021 Turbo S. The retro upgrade pulls styling cues from the 930-generation 911 Turbo, and is available in both the Coupe and Cabriolet.
More trivial yet still cool, Porsche’s seven-colour Ambient Lighting Package has been renamed from the outgoing model year’s somewhat less obvious Light Design Package name, while the 911’s exterior paint palette has grown to include Python Green for 2021, a colour also offered with the 911 Turbo S and 718 Cayman GTS 4.0.
We can expect more 2021 911 details closer to launch.
The new Porsche 4Kids website offers up loads of online and downloadable fun for the entire family.
Home alone with your kids? That’s hardly an unusual situation for most Canadian parents these days, but take heart that Porsche has something that might keep them happily occupied for days.
The new Porsche 4Kids website provides a host of online and downloadable games for the entire family, plus fun challenge videos and virtual Porsche museum tours, a kid’s fitness program, dad jokes (the kids will like them too), and a page for downloading crafts such as a build-it-yourself paper 911, fill-in comics, colouring pages of your favourite street and racing Porsche models, and the list goes on.
Porsche 4Kids offers lots of variety for all ages.
Two animated characters named Tina Turbo and Tom Targa will guide you and your children through the Porsche4kids.com website (you can even download and print their employee name tags for your kids), while actual Porsche employees help administer the museum tour plus more. When our world finally returns to normal (finger’s crossed), your family can also join Tom and Tina at one of the Porsche 4Kids Game Stations (they’re kind of like mobile science/driving/amusement parks) in Germany (and elsewhere).
The new Porsche 4Kids website is great fun for the whole family, as it was developed for kids aged 5 to 13 years old, as well as teens, parents and grandparents, so make sure to visit Porsche4kids.com for some quality entertainment.
Porsche’s new 3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat can potentially provide custom-fitted seating for road-going cars.
Using a 3D printer for parts production in the auto industry is hardly novel these days, but 3D printing exactly fitted customizable car seats is quite innovative, or will be as soon as they’re being done for Porsche road cars.
The automaker’s Porsche Tequipment division will be producing 40 prototype examples of its new “3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat” for some of its Europe-based series-production 911 and 718 race car clients to be delivered in May of this year, and after that it could very well transition into a new road car personalization program.
The new seats provide a wholly unique look that also provides natural backside ventilation.
The prototype seats will be six-point seatbelt equipped race buckets the automaker refers to as “bodyform” seats, and after incorporating design changes brought about by its racecar clients’ feedback, will be making custom-fitted road car variants via its Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur division from the mid-point of 2021.
The road-going seats will be available in soft, medium and hard firmness levels as well as various colours, the latter allowing customers to match their cars’ interior to Porsche’s currently available “Special” colour schemes as well as their clients’ “Custom Colour” requests.
The 3D-printed material can be made in any colour imaginable.
Colour aside, the new 3D-printed bodyform driver’s seat will also add a new design element inside, plus it will reduce the car’s curb weight, and even provide “passive climate control,” the latter feature thanks to the seat’s unique sandwich construction method.
The base support is made from expanded polypropylene (EPP), and this gets bonded to a “breathable comfort layer consisting of a mixture of polyurethane-based materials,” says Porsche. The outer skin is made out of “Racetex,” and boasts a perforation pattern that provides inherent climate control, while window panels expose the coloured lattice structure for a thoroughly new appearance.
This closeup shot makes it easy to understand why these seats are breathable.
“The seat is the interface between the human and the vehicle, and is thus important for precise, sporty handling,” said Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche. “That’s why personalized seat shells customized for the driver have been standard in race cars for a long time now. With the ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’, we’re once again giving series-production customers the opportunity to experience technology carried over from motor sports.”
If you want custom-formed front seats for your Porsche, stay tuned to CarCostCanada, as we’ll have an update when they’re ready for personal road use.
“Porsche already supports a large number of charitable initiatives and we are significantly extending this commitment during the coronavirus crisis,” stated Porsche Chairman of the Executive Board, Oliver Blume.
Porsche Canada’s year-over-year sales plummeted by 42 percent in March, not unlike many other automakers experiencing what we’re all going through right now, voluntary self-quarantine due to COVID-19, and the sinking sales story isn’t much different elsewhere in the world, but this hasn’t stopped the automaker from being generous.
The luxury brand donated five million euros to “people in need as a result of the virus” and also spent 200,000 euros on food donations to charitable groups.
“Porsche already supports a large number of charitable initiatives and we are significantly extending this commitment during the coronavirus crisis,” stated Porsche Chairman of the Executive Board, Oliver Blume. “There are people who urgently need help and we are concentrating on providing humanitarian aid. We can overcome the pandemic only if we work together and show solidarity.”
What’s more, Porsche has been putting its specialist staff to work fighting COVID-19 too, including its medically experienced personnel and IT experts, while the Stuttgart-based automaker is also supporting its Porsche employees that want to volunteer their services.
“We are supporting the food banks at our locations this year with 200,000 euros,” added Blume.
Additionally, Porsche is assisting with technical materials and supplies, such as procuring personal protective equipment (PPE), plus it’s also deploying vehicles and providing logistics operations in the event of supply bottlenecks and transport needs. The brand is using its media presence to assist in important messaging too, while Porsche is also donating and granting funds to numerous organizations requiring support due to COVID-19 outbreak.
“We are supporting the food banks at our locations this year with 200,000 euros,” added Blume. “In addition, we have made an offer to certain charitable organizations to provide vehicles with drivers, perhaps where there is a bottleneck in the transport of relief supplies or people. We have also increased donations from Porsche AG by five million euros. This amount will be used to support local organizations and people who are in need as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Our employees also help personally and voluntarily with the charitable organizations at our locations.”
Thanks to Porsche’s ability to develop auto parts and produce them in house when needed, which is the case for all large automakers, Porsche is considering the deployment of its 3D printers to produce critical medical products.
“We are assessing the situation as it presents itself,” said Blume. “The most important thing for us is that the supply chains can be rebuilt as soon as possible.”
“We are currently clarifying with the state government which components are required,” continued Blume. “They range from protective goggles to respiratory masks. For highly specialized medical products, you have to comply with the legal requirements and certifications. Here, the lead must lie with the medical technology specialists, who could then delegate orders to the automotive industry. Our 3D printers are available in any case. As a first step, we have already forwarded protective clothing from our stocks to the state government. And together with our parent company, Volkswagen, we are participating in the procurement of further equipment on a large scale, especially from China. We must also ensure that we look beyond the medical sector and recognize where our help is needed.”
It would be one thing to offer such assistance during the good times, but like many other automakers, Porsche is showing this generosity after halting production on March 21st for an initial period of two weeks.
“We are assessing the situation as it presents itself,” said Blume. “The most important thing for us is that the supply chains can be rebuilt as soon as possible. We are less dependent on China than we are on our European neighbours. In this respect, I hope that we as a society will manage to contain the coronavirus and that we will then receive a signal at European level as to when we can all restart production.”
The new 911 Turbo S looks even more muscular than the outgoing model, and backs that muscle up with 61 more hp and 37 more lb-ft of torque.
Despite the Geneva Motor Show getting cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19, automakers are making their major reveals online, so therefore Porsche has anted up with the most exciting variation on entirely new 992 theme yet.
The new 911 Turbo S was just introduced via the internet with a surprising 61-horsepower increase over its much-revered 580-hp predecessor, which means that it now produces a shocking 641-horsepower from an identically sized 3.8-litre six-cylinder enhanced by two VTG (variable turbine geometry) turbos. The horizontally opposed engine also develops another 37 lb-ft of torque for a grand total of 590, so be happy that it comes standard with Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive, which incidentally has the ability to transfer up to 369 pound-feet of twist to the front wheels when necessary.
The Turbo S’ 3.8-litre turbocharged six-cylinder mill, which is based on the latest 911 Carrera engine, has been totally redesigned. The update includes a new charge air-cooling system as well as new, bigger VTG turbochargers laid out in a symmetrical design that features electrically adjustable waste-gate flaps, while piezo injectors significantly improve “responsiveness, power, torque, emissions, and revving ability,” said Porsche in a press release.
The 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is only slightly slower to 100km/h than the Coupe, yet matches the mighty GT2 RS.
An upgraded “Turbo-specific” eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automated transmission comes standard, which allows for a blisteringly fast sprint from zero to 100 km/h of only 2.7 seconds, which shaves 0.2 seconds from its predecessor’s zero-to-100 time, while naught to 200 km/h rips past in just 8.9 seconds, this new model a full second quicker than the old Turbo S.
Possibly even more impressive, the new 911 Turbo S is a tenth of a second quicker from zero to 100 km/h than the outgoing GT2 RS, that model a 700-horsepower racetrack dominator. Take note, 911 Turbo S Cabriolet buyers will lose a tenth of a second in the opposite direction, but this still makes the convertible as fast as a GT2 RS, so it certainly won’t cause its owner embarrassment. Without doubt the drop-top will be ideal for hearing the new sport exhaust system too, which incorporates adjustable flaps that promise the kind of distinctive soundtrack only a Porsche flat-six can provide.
An Imperial performance spec worth noting is the Turbo S’ 10.5-second drag strip dash down the quarter mile, which is impressive to say the least, while owners fortunate enough to drive their cars on Europe’s speed limitless Autobahns will feasibly be able to max out at 330 km/h (205 mph) in either Coupe or Cabriolet body style, albeit with the cloth top upright in the latter model.
The new Turbo S is wider than its predecessor, which should result in even more high-speed stability through curves.
Keeping such speeds in check are standard carbon-ceramic brakes featuring 10-piston front calipers, while control is further improved upon with a larger rear wing that, together with the pneumatically extendable front spoiler, provides 15 percent greater downforce than the outgoing Turbo S.
The new Turbo S is also wider than the outgoing model by 45 mm above the front axle, measuring 1,840 mm across, and 20 mm over the rear axle, which spans 1,900 mm across. This should improve stability, while Porsche has also modified its active suspension management system’s (PASM) software and hardware setup, dropping it down by 10 mm (0.4 in) plus providing “faster and more precisely controlled dampers” to improve “roll stability, road holding, steering behaviour and cornering speeds.”
The various functional vents added to the Turbo S’ front grille, rear fenders and back bumper are more about engine and brake cooling, mind you, not to mention styling aggression, while the rear design is enhanced further with a pair of uniquely rectangular exhaust tips that stick outward from the black centre diffuser, while the Turbo S is made to look even better thanks to a set of staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear lightweight alloy rims encircled by 255/35 and 315/30 Pirelli performance rubber respectively.
The Turbo S interior uses nicer standard materials than lesser models.
The new Turbo S’ cabin is as comfortable as any other 911 and even more premium due to a full leather interior with carbon trim and Light Silver details, as well as a GT sport steering wheel, a big 10.9-inch centre touchscreen, a new Porsche Track Precision app within that centre display that comes as part of the Sport Chrono package, Bose surround-sound audio, and 18-way power-adjustable sport seats.
You’ll be able to order an all-new 2021 911 Turbo S next month, with deliveries starting later this year. Pricing will start at $231,700 plus freight and fees for the Coupe and $246,300 for the Cabriolet.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, enjoy the following Porsche supplied videos:
The new Porsche 911 Turbo S: The peak of driving emotion (2:28):
The all new Porsche 911 Turbo S. Relentless. (1:02):
Livestream: new Porsche 911 Turbo S Premiere (14:56):
How about printing this biometric identifier onto the hood of your ultra-quick 911?
Before we question the intelligence of providing the powers that control highway speeds with a way to be personally identified from a helicopter hundreds of feet above, Porsche’s latest offering is actually pretty impressive.
Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur can now paint your fingerprint on the hood of any 911 for only €7,500 ($11,100 CAD). The word paint, however, probably isn’t apropos, being that it uses a new direct printing method developed by Porsche. Once a fingerprint is scanned, it’s transformed into a digital graphic and then being printed onto the hood of a 911.
Porsche says it’ll be able to add your fingerprint to other panels in the future, as well as other customer-specified designs, although the exclusive service is limited to the 911’s hood for the time being due to the relative ease of unbolting the hood from its hinges and the requirement of having the body panel taken off.
The special printing method requires the removal of a body panel.
Once removed, a robot is used to apply the biometric print is applied to the hood, after which a clear coat is added overtop for protection. Finally, the entire hood gets polished to a high-gloss finish. When complete, Porsche says its direct printing process will result in a finish that’s superior to the 911’s already high-quality stock paint finishes, in terms of look and feel.
“The operating principle is similar to that of an inkjet printer: using a print head, the paint is applied to three-dimensional components automatically and without overspray. ‘The ability to control the nozzles individually permits targeted application of every paint droplet,’ commented Christian Will, Vice President Production Development at Porsche AG. ‘The complexity is due to the necessity of harmonizing three technologies: robot technology (control, sensors, programming), application technology (print head, graphic handling) and paint technology (application process, paint).’”
The new fingerprint service is now available from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, albeit only within the German market. This said there’s nothing stopping a 911 owner from shipping his or her hood to Germany for the upgrade.
