VIDEO: Porsche 911 with GM LS1 V8 Power

By taking a kitbashed GM-sourced LS1 V8 engine and slotting it into an AWD Porsche 996, LS1tech forum member “1dirtyZ” has set out to create something truly unique. Sure, it’s unconventional and perhaps a little sacrilegious...but just look at the Porsche donor car.

It’s a wreck, the victim of a catastrophic engine fire. It has a ruined interior and a body that’s been damaged both by fire and rust. It would have spent the rest its days rotting away in a car wreckers yard if1dirtyZ had not rescued it.

And even though this confabulation of All-American grunt and German precision engineering is not yet finished (it doesn’t have a rear bumper, for one), it certainly runs and can even be driven around a dirt race track. You can check out our gallery of in-progress images below and a handful of videos showing the V8-powered Porsche 911 running.

All it needs now is a name. Wheels dubbed the R35 Nissan GT-R Godzilla so should we maybe call this science-project-gone-wrong “Cloverfield”? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Porsche 911 GT3 Dressed up by Magnat

Tuners are leaving no stones unturned to impress buyers willing to dig deep into their pockets. Even the almighty Porsche 911 GT3 can’t escape from their meddling hands. This here creation is named ‘Snowmobile’ for the choice of colors for the exterior and interior, and is the creative work of German audio-specialist Magnat.
The 911 GT3’s white finish is contrasted by the matte black trim and patterned stripes running on the right hand-side over the top as well as the car’s profile. A set of Ultraleggera HLT CT by OZ 19-inch alloy wheels in a matching black color shod in Yokohama Advan Sport tries size 235/35-19 at the front and 305/30-19 at the rear completes the look.
Moving on to the interior, Magnat re-upholstered the 911 GT3’s cabin using a mix of black Alcantara and leather materials with white colored stitching and trim accents. The highlight is of course Magnat’s own audio system that provides 2,100 watts of sound power.
Speaking about power, the tuned 911 GT3 also features an ECU upgrade along with a racing exhaust system from Wimmer that help push output to 462HP and 451Nm of peak torque for a top speed of 317km/h (197mph).
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Audi Rumored Working on New Q4 SUV to battle Range Evoque

Audi will double the number of SUVs in its range, which currently includes the recently announced Q3 (pictured in the above sketch), plus the Q5 and Q7, with the addition of three new models by 2016, according to a company insider cited by Autocar magazine. The new models will be named Q2, Q4 and Q6, and according to the magazine’s source, will enable the Ingolstadt-based carmaker to cover every niche of the popular SUV segment.
The first addition to Audi’s SUV line-up is said to be the Q4, which will be a sportier version of the existing Q5 designed to compete against Range Rover’s Evoque and to a lesser degree, sister company Porsche’s upcoming Cajun. It is expected to launch sometime in 2014 or 2015.
The SUV model will be based on the existing modular longitudinal architecture (MLB, which stands for “Modularen LangsBau”) of the Q5 that will also spawn the Cajun, Porsche’s compact-size SUV. Since they will share the same architecture, the Q4’s dimensions are expected to be similar to the Q5’s, with a length of 4,650 mm, a width of 1,880 mm and a wheelbase of 2,810 mm, though its different roofline, which will mimic a fastback, will be lower, at around 1,600 mm.
Although official details about the Q4 remain scarce, according to Autocar, it will sport a five-door bodystyle with a fastback design and smaller glass area, thus presenting a sportier alternative to the Q5, a strategy similar to the A4/A5 Sportback duo.
The base model will most likely be powered by the familiar 2.0 litre TFSI engine with 211 PS, while there will also be two sport versions: a gasoline turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with 333 PS and a diesel model featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 TDI with 312 PS.
A hybrid version utilizing the Q5’s powertrain combining a 211 PS turbocharged 2.0-litre gasoline engine with a 35 PS electric motor may also be added to the Q4’s range at a later stage.
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Porsche Cayenne CLR 558 GT

Germany's Lumma Design has shοwn a knack fοr modifying and reskinning German perfοrmance sedans, but has this time turned its attentiοn tο the Porsche Cayenne with a custοm body kit.

Called the CLR 558 GT, the kit's questiοnable aesthetics pack a new front end with spοiler, bigger air intakes and integrated LED running lights, a rear diffuser, flared wheel arches alsο side sills.

The hοοd has also been replaced with a vented carbοn-Kevlar piece, the exhaust has been replaced with a triple-tipped stainless system and the stοck wheels have been ditched in favor οf 22-inch modulars with cοlοred rims.

The interiοr has been upgraded with such special tοuches as rubber-studded milled aluminum pedals, custom dοor sills, leather-trimmed floor and cargο mats. The result may nοt be the most cοmprehensive modification οf the Cayenne tο date, but it dοes give the SUV a... different look.

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Investigators Uncover Multi-Million Pound Tax Scam in India; European Exotics And Foreign Diplomats

In what sounds more like the plot of a The Fast and the Furious movie than real life, investigators at India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence office (a.k.a. India’s IRS) have uncovered a massive exotic car smuggling operation in the nation’s capital of New Dehli. It all has to do with India’s notorious 100% import tax on new luxury vehicles.
It began with one New Dehli luxury car dealer, Sumit Walia, importing brand new luxury cars on forged invoices. These invoices listed the cars as second-hand, which saved Walia – and his customers – some 40% on import tax. Some of the cars – which included Porsches, Bentleys and Aston Martins – were found to have been stolen from the streets of Britain, France, Singapore and Japan.
A month later, another scam – involving a London-based British-Indian car dealer and diplomats from New Delhi’s North Korean and Vietnamese embassies was uncovered. The diplomats would act as middle-men for rich buyers; buying the exotics under their names and therefore getting them tax-free. An official Directorate of Revenue Intelligence office had this to say about the investigation:
“Our investigators suspect around 300 to 400 luxury cars have been imported on fake papers and sold in all major cities across India using the same modus-operandi. The cars have been sold to politicians, celebrities, cricketers, Bollywood actors and many businessmen in the last four to five years.”
Some 40 cars have been impounded, including several Porsche Panameras and Aston Martin Rapides valued at £250,000 and £290,000 per unit. A £350,000 Bentley Continental Supersport was also among those vehicles recovered. Other vehicles have simply been abandoned by their owners on the streets of New Dehli. Investigators found that most of these vehicles were either illegally registered or displayed temporary plates.

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Porsche Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Special Edition 911 Turbo S

BMW isn't the only automaker releasing limited-edition models unique to the Chinese auto market. This week, Porsche took the wraps off the new 911 Turbo S Anniversary Edition to celebrate 10 years in China. Only 10 cars will be built and all of them are destined for the Chinese market.
The package is purely cosmetic with the 911 Turbo finished in a Gold Bronze color contrasted by a carbon fiber hood and rear spoiler plus a gorgeous set of 19-inch Fuchs-style alloy wheels from the 911 Sport Classic. Inside, Porsche upholstered the special edition 911 in Alcantara and leather with bronze-gold stitching, and added carbon trim plus a new Sports Design steering wheel.
The anniversary edition of the 911 Turbo S is powered by the standard model’s 3.8-liter turbocharged flat six that’s good for 530-horses at 6,750 rpm and 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of peak torque delivered from 2,100 rpm to 4,250 rpm, linked to Porsche’s PDK gearbox. It can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.3 seconds and tops out at 315 km/h (196 mph).
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Porsche Releases Details to All-Electric Boxster E RWD and AWD Prototypes

Back in February, Porsche announced the development of three pure-electric prototypes based on the Boxster roadster, but aside from a single photo and the fact that the electric motors could produce up to 180kW/241HP, the Stuttgart-based automaker did not release any other details on the cars.

After the demonstration of the Boxster E at last week’s Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin, the company decided to share more information on the test cars that are being used as part of the government-funded “Model Region Electro-Mobility Stuttgart” large-scale trial to study the everyday practicality of all-electric vehicles. Of the three Boxster E prototypes, two are rear-wheel drive and one is all-wheel drive.

Propulsion for the four-wheel drive model is provided by two independent electric motors that act on the front and rear axles, producing a combined output of 180 kW / 241HP and a maximum total torque of 540 Nm / 398 lb-ft at approximately 12,000 rpm.

The rear drive unit includes the motor and transmission, together with the power electronics and is located where the manual gearbox and exhaust system are accommodated in the conventional Boxster, while the front electric motor takes up the space freed up by the gasoline model’s 64-liter fuel tank. An electric unit synchronizes the two electric motors and controls the drive torque distribution to the front and rear axle.

Porsche says the AWD Boxster E can complete the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.5 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph)

The two rear-wheel drive models of Porsche’s prototype simply discard the electric motor located on the front axle and make do with the rear unit that delivers 90 kW / 121HP and 270 Nm / 199 lb-ft of torque. The RWD Boxster E can dash from a standing start to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph).

All Boxster E prototypes are equipped with a 29 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate based battery, which takes up the space of the combustion engine and offers a driving range of around 107 kilometers / 107 miles. The battery weighs in at 341kg / 752 pounds with the Boxster E tipping the scales at 1,600 kg / 3,527 pounds. The battery can be fully recharged through a conventional socket in approximately 9 hours; however, the charging time can be reduced with a rapid charging function.

According to Porsche, despite the electronic components, there’s enough space left for a luggage in the front storage compartment while the rear luggage area of the Boxster E remains unchanged.

In addition, both the rear- and four-wheel drive Boxster Es are equipped with an Active Sound Design system to provide drivers with acoustic feedback as well as to alert pedestrians and other road users of the car.

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2013 Porsche 911 / 991

The 911 is the most successful model in Porsche’s history. It started its long history back in 1963 and since then Porsche has offered five distinct generations: 911 classic, 964 Series, 993 Series, 996 Series, and 997 Series. Moreover, the sixth one is already under intense testings and will make its official debut in 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

It may be a little unorthodox for Porsche to be bringing out a new generation 911 despite the fact they just revealed a facelift version, but the requests keep changing and Porsche must answer the call of duty. Their latest target is improving both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The sixth generation 911, or the 998, will be a completely new vehicle, even though everyone will recognize it as a 911 model. Shortly after the launch of the 998 911, Porsche will also be releasing the Turbo, GT2, and GT3 in 2012.

Recent spy shots have revealed that the next generation 911 might also be offered as a hybrid. The prototype caught testing featured extra devices attached to the brakes, most likely placed there in order to measure regenerative effects. The rear hood was enlarged and vented, and the side vent was just a stick-on decal.

 Autoblog reports that all the models in the next generation Porsche 911 line-up will be offered with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Until now, this system has been used in the Formula 1 vehicles and, most recently, added to Ferrari models.

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