 The model line-up of Porsche’s recently-facelifted Panamera has just been completed with the release of the Turbo S. At 570hp, the new Panamera Turbo S has 20hp more than the previous Turbo S, and 50hp more than the current Panamera Turbo – the extra power coming from a pair of new turbochargers (with larger compressors) and a higher injection pressure. Injection pressure is at 140 bar (20 more than the standard Turbo), and new aluminium alloy pistons with specially-coated piston rings have been placed to withstand the extra power.  The much-awaited Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S have been revealed, and they look set to truly offer new levels of performance for the 911 range. Both Turbo models come with a twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat-six, with the Turbo producing 520hp and the Turbo S giving out 560hp – all of them send power through a seven-speed double-clutch transmission (no manual gearbox is available). Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 3.2 seconds in the Turbo, and 3.1 seconds in the Turbo S, with both of them reaching a top speed of 318km/h.  With 2012 just days away from ending, we can only hope that 2013 will have as many exciting new cars as this year did. Here is a gallery of 22 cars that made a good first impression. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  After a rather uneventful week of new car reveals, Porsche sparks things up a little with the reveal of their new Cayenne Turbo S. As the range-topping Cayenne model, it comes equipped with a twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 engine producing 550hp and 750 Nm (553 lb ft) of torque – the same engine found in the previous Cayenne Turbo S and current Panamera Turbo S. That figure represents a 50hp increase in power from the standard Cayenne Turbo, meaning the Cayenne Turbo S can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 283km/h (176mph).  The 2012 Paris Motor Show is currently the place to be if you want you to see how exciting the future of motoring is going to be. You have the usual mix of concept cars, new car debuts, etc. But after looking at what the show has to offer, SOC has come up with a list of cars that stand out more than others.  The all-wheel drive versions of the Porsche 911 Carrera are here – the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S. Like their rear-wheel drive equivalents, they come equipped with either a 3.4- or 3.8-litre flat-six engine. The 3.4 in the Carrera 4 produces 350hp, while the 3.8 in the Carrera 4S is good for 400hp. The Carrera 4 coupe will sprint from standstill to 60mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 177mph (283km/h), while the Cabriolet version takes 4.5 seconds and maxes out at 175mph (280km/h). The Carrera 4S coupe takes 3.9 seconds to reach 60mph, while the Cabriolet takes 4.1 seconds – top speeds are 185mph (296km/h) and 183mph (292km/h) respectively.  The Porsche Cayman is a perfect example of a good car that gets an unfair characterization, both from enthusiasts and the motoring press. You’ve probably heard someone say that it’s a car that's been compromised from the very beginning – that it’s not allowed to be better than a 911, otherwise there’s no point in buying a 911. So instead you get a car that feels like it’s being held back. Others say that it’s just a car people buy when they can’t afford a 911.  Porsche have revealed the Cayenne GTS – taking its place between the Cayenne S and Turbo models. The new GTS, like the previous GTS, gets a reworked version of the S’ V8 engine – a 4.8-litre unit producing 420hp. Power is sent exclusively through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all wheels, enabling a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 162mph. The suspension has also been lowered and stiffened compared to the standard S, with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) coming as standard. A stop/start function is also included, with Porsche claiming a combined fuel economy figure of 26.4 mpg. |
