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Archives for July 2011

Porsche Panamera and Porsche Cayenne – best-selling Porsche in China

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  • Porsche Financial
  • Best-selling Porsche in China
  • Porsche Panamera and Porsche Cayenne

Porsche ChinaWhat’s the best-selling Porsche model in China?

Hint: It has four doors, not two.

Like most luxury carmakers, Porsche has grown fast in China, though its most popular car in the country isn’t its speedy Porsche 911 sports car but its four-door Porsche Panamera sedan and Porsche  Cayenne SUV.

Jebsen Motors, the auto division of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate Jebsen Group, is Porsche’s largest distributor in China. It said this week that it will be expanding in the country, opening its second dealership in Shanghai to keep up with surging demand. In addition to Shanghai, Jebsen sells Porsches in Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as Hong Kong and Macau.

Mark Bishop, the group director for Jebsen Motors, recently talked with The Wall Street Journal about the luxury market in China and why the country prefers sedans over sports cars. The following interview has been edited.

The Wall Street Journal: How are luxury cars doing in China at the moment? Are sales as strong as they were last year?

Mr. Bishop: It’s still very buoyant. The luxury end of the business still enjoys significant volume growth. We’ve seen meteoric growth here at Porsche, from around 350 to 400 cars in 2004 for all of China, to around 15,000 in 2010. China has become the No. 2 market for Porsche world-wide.

At Jebsen last year, we sold approximately one-third of the total volume for Porsche in China. In 2010, our Porsche Centre in Shanghai became the first dealership in China to sell over 1,000 units in a single year. But with more dealers and competition, our opportunities for growth might not be as great.

Black Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and girlsWSJ: What sells well in China?

Mr. Bishop: China is the biggest single market for the Porsche Cayenne and the Porsche Panamera. Considering the Porsche Panamera has only been on the market for 18 months, it’s a significant achievement. But it’s also an indication of the kind of cars that are popular here. Those two models are 80% of the business.

We’re still seeing a significant increase in the sports car too. But I think China has always been a big-car market. There’s a love for SUVs. There’s always been a chauffeur culture too, and I think that still exists today. But we’re seeing more and more people driving themselves. Even those who use it with a driver, we’re now seeing them on the weekends with the family out and the father driving.

WSJ: Are you worried about a slowdown in China?

Mr. Bishop: There are two potential risks. No. 1, economic slowdown. No. 2, social issues, or in what the government does in regards to buying cars and what it does about regulating them in the cities. Decisions can be made fast, and we have to work within it.

Porsche video: Classic Porsche 911 T restauration project completed

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A long-term Porsche restauration project is nearing completion. The Classic Porsche 911 T US Coupé (1973) has completed most of the restoration steps in the Porsche Classic Workshop and awaits its final assembly.

Watch this Porsche video: Classic Porsche 911 T restauration project

New Porsche 911 Spied Again

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  • Porsche Spy Shots
  • New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991)
  • New Porsche 911 Spied Again

2012 new Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) Spy shot Rear angle side viewWe’ve spied new Porsche 911 as high up the range as the Turbo and we’ve even ridden in a mule with the engineers. But when can you finally see the darn thing without all the black cladding? You can see the darn thing right now.

Okay, so the view of the yellow car is still vaguely distorted by the car version of one of those plastic masks basketball players wear to protect broken noses, but it is at least clear, and between it and the optical illusion at the front of the blue new Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) seen here, you should have a solid idea of how the car’s details look: familiar. Aside from a set of grille openings that now look more akin to those of the Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman and a hood-and-headlight combo that’s a little more serious, there’s not much about the car’s face that’ll upset the traditionalists.

The same goes for the side profile, despite the fact that the new car sits on a wheelbase that’s 4.0 inches longer. The designers, it seems, have paid special attention to preserving the iconic proportions of the Porsche 911. Only one new wheel design is represented among the two cars, but at least it’s a good one. You’ll also notice rear windows with or without the wiper option.

2012 new Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) Spy shot Front angle viewIt’s out back where all the controversy will be stirred. The changes might seem mild by typical standards, but as far as 911s go, they are fairly revolutionary. Actually, in the way the decklid now cuts off flush with the top of the taillights, it’s more retro than anything, a reference perhaps back to every model before the 996. Alongside other contemporary designs, however, it’s hard to look past the cut lines having a more hunchbacked Aston Martin look. And those taillights are the sleekest things Porsche has ever made this side of the Porsche 918 Spyder concept, from which they do seem to draw inspiration. We like the updates, but know they’ll take some time to find love in some circles. Plus, we still haven’t seen an uncovered interior. Hopefully soon, our spies will infiltrate even deeper. Or perhaps Porsche could just show the thing officially, already.

New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) picture gallery:

[source: http://blog.caranddriver.com]

New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) Spotted joining the public road

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  • Porsche Spy Shots
  • New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991)
  • Spotted joining the public road
new Porsche 911 (2012 Porsche 991) Front angle side viewGotcha! These are the clearest pictures yet of the hotly anticipated new Porsche 911 (Porsche 991), spied testing in Germany.
Spotted joining the public road, the car is almost completely free from disguise. The car will be officially revealed at theFrankfurt Motor Showin September.
Look closely, and it’s possible to see how the firm’s designers have evolved the car’s legendary shape, adding sharper looking lights at the rear.
The front end of the car is different too, and there’s a new look bumper, plus different looking headlamps – which are more oval in shape than before. Still lightly camouflaged, the lights take inspiration from the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car, revealed at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.
Our pictures also show the car’s new indicator arrangement, and modified bonnet opening, which is expected to give the car a more aerodynamic look. The side mirrors have also been moved onto the doors, rather than the wing.
new Porsche 911 (2012 Porsche 991) Side viewAs we have come to expect from Porsche, the new Porsche 911’s design is far from what we would describe as radical, however, drivers can expect a big boost in luxury, quality and functionality inside. According to our sources, the refresh includes a Porsche Panamera-style centre console, and new leather trims.
Under the skin, the New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) shares its front suspension and steering set-up with the forthcoming Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman, however, the rear suspension remains unchanged.
Cars will continue to offer Porsche’s impressive PASM damper system, which allows drivers to choose between a series of different driving modes.
new Porsche 911 (2012 Porsche 991) Rear viewThe engine range is the same as that offered in the current Porsche 911 line-up. However, a new direct injection fuel system and stop and start promises to improve fuel economy by as much as 12 percent. Power upgrades are offered too, with the 3.6-litre flat-six Carrera model’s power and torque rising by 20bhp and 20Nm respectively, to 365bhp and 400Nm. The 3.8-litre unit in the Carrera S, meanwhile, gets 415bhp and 44Nm of torque.
A six-speed manual gearbox on New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) will be standard, and the seven-speed PDK will be available as an option. Most buyers are likely to opt for the auto though, as around 80 per cent of current Porsche 911s feature the PDK dual clutch gearbox.
New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991) picture gallery:
[source: autoexpress.co.uk]

Porsche Spy video: New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991)

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  • Porsche Spy video
  • New Porsche 911 (Porsche 991)

new Porsche 911 (Porsche 991)

A new Porsche Spy video of the upcoming 2012 New Porsche 911 was shot near Zuffenhausen, Germany recently. From the looks of it, most of the new Porsche 911 is in its production flesh. We are still not sure if this is the ‘real-deal’ as the tail lights look rather deceptive depending on the angle. Take a look for yourself in the independent spy video below.

Watch New Porsche 911 Spy video (Porsche 991)

[source: automotiveaddicts.com]