2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder

Before you start drooling. Don't get your hopes up too high. We won't be getting this one on this side of the Atlantic. I know, it's a bummer. Porsche has really been into the special editions recently. We've seen special edition Boxsters, Caymans, and Cayennes. But the new Boxster RS 60 Spyder is by far the coolest of the bunch.


Echoing the glory days of grand prix racing, this Boxster recalls the winning #42 1960 Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder. The very car that went on to win overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring race in 1960, with Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien at the wheel.

Based off the Boxster S, the RS 60 Spyder will feature unique styling cues, 19 inch Porsche Sport Design wheels, Special GT Silver Metallic Paint, and the oh so sexy Carrera Red leather interior.

The engine is going to remain relatively stock. A special sport exhaust system will help to boost the horsepower to 303hp. So you're getting an 8hp boost over the stock 295hp.

On the inside you will find Carrera Red leather sport seats, a combination of stainless steel and GT Silver dash and interior accents, and of course special RS 60 badging. The instrument cluster will be sans the hood that typically is found. This is to give the car more of a race car feel. The dials will also be painted GT Silver. There will be a choice of an optional interior. Rather than red, a dark gray natural leather, with a black top will be offered.

Porsche is limiting production to 1,960 cars, and as of this writing will be offered only in the UK & Ireland. Pricing will be set at £45,400.

PRESS RELEASE
Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder Echoes Sporting Heritage

Porsche is presenting a new version of the mid-engined Boxster roadster at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy on December 5 - 16. In its distinctive design, features and philosophy, the Boxster RS 60 Spyder echoes the classic motorsport era of the 1960s, and in particular the success of Porsche sports cars during that period.

After countless class wins around the circuits of Europe and America, in 1960 the Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder beat competitors with much larger engines to score its first overall victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida, USA, one of the most prestigious long-distance sports car races, courtesy of Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien.

The new Boxster RS 60 Spyder reflects the sporting character and design purism of that successful mid-engined two-seater sports racing car. The RS 60 Spyder is based on the acclaimed Boxster S model, but differs significantly in terms of its performance and features.

Externally, the RS 60 Spyder is distinguished by a unique front spoiler and 19-inch diameter Porsche SportDesign alloy wheels, which spacer plates have moved outwards purposefully in the wheel arches. A modified sports exhaust system combined with dual tailpipes increases engine output to 303 bhp as well as adding further definition to the car's appearance. Completing the sporting orientation to the driving experience is Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) which adds further dynamism to the Boxster chassis.

Distinctive GT Silver Metallic paintwork is accentuated by the contrasting natural leather interior in Carrera Red. The roof is also finished in red. As an alternative, there is also the choice of Dark Grey natural leather in conjunction with a Black roof. The tail light clusters are also finished in red.

Inside, door trim strips made of stainless steel proudly bear the "RS 60 Spyder" model designation. The leather interior trim is further distinguished by a textured surface on the centre sections of the sports seats and the centre door linings, and this also extends to the steering wheel rim and handbrake lever. Completing the sporting ambience is a bespoke gear lever.

Complementing the exterior appearance, the faces of the instrument dials have a GT Silver Metallic finish and with this model not having the usual hood over the instrument cluster, the large central rev counter and the two circular dials on either side bring something of the flair of a racing car to the cockpit.

Further features include the windscreen surround finished in black, as well as the centre console, the seat backrests and the roll hoops all finished in GT Silver Metallic and thus harmonising with the seat belts also finished in Silver.

Reflecting its model designation, the Boxster RS 60 Spyder is limited to 1,960 examples, each one proudly bearing a silver-coloured plaque on the lid of the glove compartment.

The Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder will be priced from £45,400 including VAT, and deliveries in the UK and Ireland begin from March 2008.

Source: Porsche

LA Preview: Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Unfortunately, the press release does not give any specific details, though we're sure that will come very soon. About the only thing is mentions is that the parallel hybrid system will consume less than 9 Liters of gas for every 100 Kilometers. Or roughly 2.5 gallons to every 62 miles. And should be in production some time by the end of the decade. Hopefully it will be sooner than that. Knowing Porsche's passion for performance. The Cayenne Hybrid should be one of the fastest hybrids on the market. And the fuel efficiency a lot better than the Cayenne V6.


PRESS RELEASE:
Porsche at the Los Angeles Auto Show Committed to Alternative Drive Systems

Stuttgart/Los Angeles. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is presenting drive concepts particularly friendly to the environment at the Los Angeles Auto Show starting on November 16, 2007:

The highlight of this leading event at the Los Angeles Convention Center is of course the first appearance of the innovative Cayenne Hybrid in America. At the same time Porsche is also presenting a milestone in automobile development to the well-informed public attending the most significant trend show in North America with their great knowledge of history and technical development over the years: The electric-drive Lohner-Porsche from the year 1900, one of the world's first zero emission vehicles and, accordingly, a forerunner for hybrid drive.

With its future-oriented electric motors in the wheel hubs, the Lohner-Porsche was acknowledged as the absolute sensation at the Paris World Fair in 1900. On loan from the Technical Museum in Vienna, Austria, this outstanding achievement in technology protected today as a universal monument is now to be seen the first time outside of Europe at an auto show.It was this vehicle, Ferdinand Porsche's first major project completed at the time without layshafts and without a transmission that gave the 24-year-old automobile genius his breakthrough as a pioneer in the history of the automobile. Shortly thereafter Ferdinand Porsche added a combustion engine providing power for the electric generator to the electric drive system with two internal-pole motors in the front wheels. This made Porsche's hybrid drive ready for production and created a unique highlight at the Paris Auto Show in 1901.

More than 100 years later the engineers at Porsche's Weissach Research & Development Center took up precisely this concept, creating the future-oriented high-tech Cayenne Hybrid, a unique vehicle combining superior efficiency with equally superior driving dynamics. The Full-Parallel-Hybrid System developed by Porsche combines the best of two worlds so efficiently that the series-production will consume less than 9 liters/100 km. An equally important point was to maintain Porsche's typically ambitious standards in terms of vehicle weight and driving dynamics also in the hybrid model. And perhaps the best news is that Porsche will be introducing this very economical SUV before the end of this decade.

The Los Angeles Auto Show has become the most significant show for Porsche in the USA, reaching Porsche customers in one of the brand's main regions with maximum impact and with a great effect on the company's image. The particular lifestyle of California is clearly borne out by the new Porsche GT2 likewise making its North American debut in Los Angeles and offering high technology of tomorrow in today's market: This 530-hp super-sportscar is powered by a biturbo engine featuring a new expansion intake manifold to reduce fuel consumption under full load. The fastest production-911 of all times will be available as of February 2008 in the USA at a retail price of US$ 191,700.

Source: Porsche