The 9 Magazine year-end review highlights the top stories and products we covered in 2011. As we conclude our second year of publishing 9 Magazine, we have grown by triple digits with no real operating budget. This speaks highly about the loyalty to the Porsche brand by enthusiasts who can’t get enough and truly are Porschephiles –
As part of our year-end review, 9 Magazine is looking back at the year’s most memorable products, events and announcements. This retrospective is more than just a list of the most popular newsworthy items, but a recap of an incredible year for 9Magazine, Porsche and Porsche enthusiasts.
Number one on the list for 2011 was the announcement of the all new 991 series 911. The new 911 Carrera is being launched onto the US market as a completely redeveloped generation. At 48, the design of the Porsche 911 Carrera is younger than ever. The all-new generation 911 icon stepped into the limelight with its flat, stretched silhouette, exciting contours, sharply contoured edges and precisely designed details, yet from the very first glance it remains unmistakably a 911 Carrera. The innovative aluminium-steel body makes the new generation lighter, even sportier and more comfortable. The new 911 also features the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission along with the PDK (also with seven speeds) available as an alternative. New active control systems elevate driving dynamics to an unprecedented level.
Next and a very close second was Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion IV. An event as monumental as Rennsport Reunion which takes place every four years or so, should have topped our list, but the new 911 edged out the reunion with our readers. Tens of thousands of Porsche faithful celebrated the marque’s motorsports history with eight races, more than 385 race cars, and more than 75 of the most famous sports car racers in the world at the famous Leguna Seca Raceway in California. Souvenir shops sold out of posters, t-shirts, hats and anything Rennsport. It was truly an event to top all events.
A Glimpse of the future – Hybrids & Electric Sports Cars
After outstanding customer response to the concept car first shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Porsche announced this year that the 918 will become a reality. Dealers around the world began taking orders for the 918 Spyder at $845K US (excluding destination and handling charges). The 918 gives us a glimpse of the Porsche future. The 918 Spyder will be powered by a unique plug-in hybrid system that will include a high-revving, mid-mounted V8 engine with capacity of more than 4.0 liters and producing at least 500 horsepower. The engine will be based on the Porsche RS Spyder racing engine that demonstrated its impressive performance on circuits around the globe. We also saw the announcement of the new 918 RSR this year, and expect to hear more about this in 2012.
Porsche also continued the Intelligent Performance campaign which highlighted the 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 and vehicles producing lower emissions and better fuel efficiency across the model line.
In early 2011, Porsche unveiled the Boxster E and has been treating them as so-called “rolling laboratories” for electric technology. The Boxster E features 240 horsepower, goes from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds, and contains a 29 kWh battery pack that allows for a 100-mile range before recharging. German Porsche tuner, RUF also presented an electric Porsche this year and has continued development on this technology. We’ll be hearing lots more about these and other futuristic versions of our beloved Porsche in the upcoming year.
Porsche broke 2,000,000 fans on facebook this year and celebrated the momentous occasion with a unique opportunity for fans to place their picture on a sports car in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. The Facebook app grabbed participants Facebook profile picture for the collage. If you remember last year, Porsche enscribed the names of the fans who participated and printed them on a Hybrid GT3 R which resides in the Porsche Museum.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0
The 911 GT3 RS, one of Porsche’s most popular, coveted and successful track-inspired production cars, was given a final, thrilling injection of thoroughbred motorsport technology resulting in the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. Limited to 600 vehicles worldwide, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 brings together in a sports car the attributes that have made the Porsche 911 GT3 a consistent winner on the race track. The motorsport-derived 4.0-liter engine, already the highest displacement 911 engine ever, also features the highest per-liter output — 125 horsepower per liter — from a naturally aspirated Porsche flat-six engine. The engine uses forged pistons, the connecting rods are fashioned from titanium, and the crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3 RSR race car. It achieves its maximum power of 500 hp at 8,250 rpm. Maximum torque of 339 ft/lbs is reached at 5,750 rpm.
Porsche Sets New Record in China
Porsche turned in record figures in the Chinese market in 2011. These figures represent almost a fivefold increase compared with last year and China has become Porsche’s second largest market. Cayenne sales are especially strong in Asia. It is predicted that within the next few years, China will become Porsche’s biggest market out pacing the United States of America.
Porsche Cayman R
The Cayman R was announced late in 2010 but arrived in 2011. Once on the scene, it captivated many enthusiasts with its superb performance. The Porsche alphabet reserves the letter R for very special sports cars. At 121 lbs lighter and with ten horsepower more than the Cayman S, the new mid-engine coupe from Porsche is a big hit with enthusiasts and gives you the most bang for your buck. The mid-engine coupe is powered by a tuned-up 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine developing 330 hp. In the standard configuration it transmits its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox that propels the car from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.0 seconds. Truth is, you can have a hell-of-a-lot of car for not a lot of cash.
Thanks to the “Revive the Passion” project, a US version 911 T Coupe from 1973 was one of the main attractions at the 2011 Porsche Parade organized by the Porsche Club of America (PCA) this year. The outstanding feature of this project was the fact that all fans and enthusiasts of Porsche classic vehicles were able to follow the restoration of the vehicle on the Internet.
The Brumos “B59” Limited Edition was high on our list since the Porsche factory produced this tribute to Brumos and Hurley Haywood and limited the cars to only five examples. That’s right, just five examples! The 911 Carrera GTS B59 Edition Coupes were all finished in Carrara White and feature a Black Full Leather interior with Alcantara trim. In addition to the many standard comfort and performance features found on the 408 HP Carrera GTS, the five B59 Editions included; Brumos Red/Blue stripe design for the front hood and rear deck, Brumos Red/Blue stripe “PORSCHE” door decals, Exterior mirrors in Black, 19″ Sport Classic Wheel (Fuchs style), Door entry guards in Stainless Steel with “Hurley Haywood” engraved signature, Deviating (dual stripe) stitching in Brumos Red/Blue on steering wheel and gear/brake lever and Carrara White painted interior accents including Adaptive Sport Seat Backrests. A super rare edition, and one of our favorites.
The announcement by PCNA to move its US Headquarters to a bigger, better location sends a clear message that Porsche is here to stay. One Porsche Drive, the future address of PCNA, will be home for up to 400 U.S. Porsche employees, and is also designed as a must-see destination for Porsche owners, dealers, enthusiasts and visitors from around the world. Porsche again offered proof of the company’s strong commitment to the U.S. market with the announcement of a new Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles, to be built in nearby Carson, California. Porsche unveiled the plans for a 51-acre vehicle and human performance training complex.
Porsche Announced this year its intent to Compete in 2014 LeMans with a works-run LMP1 sports prototype. The first outing with the completely newly developed race car is planned for 2014. Held every year since 1923, the legendary 24-hour race at Le Mans draws an annual crowd of more than 200,000 spectators to the French region of La Sarthe. Around the world, this long-distance motor racing classic is viewed as one of the greatest challenges for man and machine. For Porsche, Le Mans is not only the place of famous victories and the ultimate proving ground.
“Motorsport was always an essential part of the Porsche brand,” emphasises Matthias Müller, President of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “So for us it was only a matter of time before we returned as a factory to the top league of racing. Porsche’s successes in Le Mans are unrivalled. We want to follow up on this with the 17th outright victory.” With the RS Spyder sports prototype (shown above) that was run with great success from 2006 to 2008 by the factory-backed Penske Racing team in the USA and to 2010 by several customer teams worldwide, Porsche has set the benchmark recently in the LMP2 category.
We could go on and on!
In all, 2011 was a fantastic year for Porsche, 9 Magazine, and Porsche enthusiasts. With the end of the 997 series and the start of the 991 series it was an interesting year as far as limited editions and exclusive vehicles. Porschephiles will wait once again in hopes that the once-every-four-year event “Rennsport Reunion” continues this tradition for 2015. And 2012 will surely be another record setting year for Porsche as they set their sights on doubling worldwide sales. Thank you all for your continued support this year, and we look forward to another fantastic year in 2012!
Photos: Porsche
