International Experts’ Conference At Leipzig Plant Deliberates On Future Programs

Stuttgart/Leipzig. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is girding itself for tomorrow’s challenges with a forward-looking quality strategy. The growth in vehicle production, an increasingly diverse model range and technical complexity, innovative drive concepts and discerning customers’ individual expectations of premium sports cars require the continuous development of all quality criteria. That is the goal of the international quality conference for which 150 experts from the sports car manufacturer’s development, production, purchasing and worldwide sales areas are meeting at Porsche’s ultramodern Leipzig plant.

“The degree of transparency of our customised lean production processes is one of the primary guarantors of our sporty vehicles’ extraordinary product quality”, said Wolfgang Leimgruber, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics. Porsche production methods are constantly being refined within a continuous improvement process, collectively by all employees. They are held up as an example in expert circles worldwide – and are even transferable to totally different industries. Mr Leimgruber said: “The highly efficient Porsche principle gives us the flexibility to deliver on our customers’ many and varied individual equipment preferences while at the same time not merely maintaining quality levels but enhancing them. This cannot be taken for granted in the industry.”

The Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer does however depend on reliable partners. “The only way in which we can reliably achieve our objectives is if we and our suppliers adhere to the same jointly determined rigorous principles. That is why we believe in long-term partners we can cultivate and develop close ties with. At the end of the day quality does not stop at the factory gate”, explains Mr Leimgruber.

Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Director of the Corporate Quality department is pursuing a holistic approach with his strategy: “For us a perfect and fascinating product goes without saying. But that is far from being the whole story. Of all people, customers who purchase a high value vehicle expect premium quality in all aspects. Only if each customer care experience is perfect; before, during and very long after purchase as well, can brand quality achieve its full credibility.”

This is why Knirsch rigorously ties all parts of the company into a quality concept with uniform standards and objectives. He does though value individual solutions when it comes to delivery: “We engage with our customers’ different cultural needs with an empathy that rivals the precision with which, for example, we tailor our sports cars to extreme climatic differences in our more than 110 markets around the world. That too is quality.”

Success Story: 15 Years Of The Boxster Model Line

Stuttgart. A nice round number to celebrate the birthday: Almost exactly 15 years to the month after production began, the Porsche Boxster together with its sister model, the Cayman, exceeded the 300,000 mark for the number of vehicles built. Together with its timeless attractiveness, this two-seater, mid-engine car from the Dr. Ing. h.c.H. Porsche AG, Stuttgart has what it takes to make yet another sports car icon. As an anniversary model, a Boxster Spyder with Platinum Silver metallic finish and Carrera red natural leather interior trim rolled off the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen production line in June, destined for a German customer.

There are solid reasons for this long-standing success: The Boxster and Cayman are continuously developed based on a rigorous mid-engine concept and are therefore deemed to this day to set the standard for sports cars of their class. In the important export market that is the United States, this is the tenth year already that they have been ranked among the “10 Best” vehicles and occupy second and third places in Germany as the vehicles that hold their value the best, hot on the heels of the 911.

The Boxster’s origins testify to the typical Porsche blend of capability, courage and farsightedness. In economically straitened times the company decided to go onto the offensive and unveiled a concept car for a classic mid-engine roadster at the 1993 Detroit Motor Show. In its design language, the show car was reminiscent of the 356 »No. 1« and the 550 Spyder. The overwhelming public response clinched the decision to proceed to series production of the Boxster, which began in the summer of 1996.

Dynamic lines, outstanding performance and an attractive price quickly catapulted the mid-engine sports car into the bestseller list while attracting new customer circles to Porsche. To put the successful concept on a broader basis, Porsche also developed a Coupé based on the open-topped, two-seater platform, that made its world debut at the 2005 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show as the Cayman. The enormous demand resulted in the Boxster and Cayman being built at Valmet Automotive in Finland in addition to Zuffenhausen.

The model range currently comprises the four open-topped variants, the Boxster, Boxster S, Boxster S Black Edition and Boxster Spyder. These are complemented by the Cayman, Cayman S, Cayman S Black Edition and Cayman R Coupés. The engine variants for the two model lines range between 255 hp (~ 188 kW) and 330 hp (~ 243 kW); thanks to Porsche Intelligent Performance fuel consumption is between 9.4 l/100 km (~ 30 mpg imp.) and 9.8 l/100 km (~ 29 mpg imp.).

New Cayenne Enjoys Best Month of 2010

ATLANTA, November, 2010—Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera Gran Turismo in the United States, announced October sales in the U.S. of 2,647 units compared to the same month last year when it sold 1,642 new cars, an increase of 61 percent. This represents Porsche’s second-best sales month this year.

October’s strong showing pushed Porsche’s year-to-date results to 20,337 cars compared to the same period in 2009 when it sold 15,952, up 27.5 percent.

Nearly all models in Porsche’s portfolio enjoyed increases during the month of October. Leading the way was the new Cayenne SUV, which saw sales of 1,139 units for the period – its best single-month total this year. The Cayenne’s October results demonstrate a strong and positive consumer response to Porsche’s next-generation SUV, which first went on sale in June with the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo models. In September, Porsche expanded its SUV line-up with the launch of the all-new 2011 V6 Cayenne, and yesterday the company began selling its new Cayenne S Hybrid.

Sales of the automaker’s popular Panamera also recorded strong sales results for the month of October with 747 units sold. Year-to-date, Porsche has sold 6,312 Panamera models.

While the overall sports car sector continued to be challenged by the weak confidence in the U.S. economy, Porsche enjoyed some relative success. Porsche’s mid-engine Boxster roadster recorded robust sales of 140, an increase of 36 percent for last October, while the German company’s iconic 911 sports car recorded sales of 528, on par with the same period in 2009 when sales were 539.

In addition, dealers sold 565 Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned cars in October versus 546 for the same period last year.

Significantly reduced fuel consumption with each model change.

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, continues to consistently target fuel economy with each model change. Depending on the model, the savings achieved by all currently available model series in comparison with the corresponding predecessors lie in the double-digit percentage range whilst simultaneously offering significantly increased performance. With consumption reductions of 20 to 23 percent in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the savings achieved by the new generation of Cayenne models are the highest. However, the new generations of the 911 and Boxster/Cayman sports car model series launched in 2008 also revealed savings of up to 16 and 15 percent respectively.

In the sports cars with naturally aspirated engines, the vast majority of these reductions, 0.5 and 0.6 l/100 km respectively, is attributable to the switch to direct fuel injection and the introduction of the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) instead of the five-speed automatic torque converter transmission Tiptronic S. These measures also enabled a 911 vehicle to dip beneath the mark of ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres for the first time: the 345 hp 911 Carrera with PDK consumes just 9.8 l/100 km. In comparison with the predecessor model, this equates to 13 percent less fuel consumption and 15 percent lower CO2 emissions. The Boxster and Cayman models are also benefiting from the new drivetrain technology. Direct fuel injection and PDK allow fuel consumption in both the 310 hp Boxster S and the 320 hp Cayman S to be reduced by 15 percent to 9.4 l/100 km.

More power with lower consumption, increased efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions – this basic principle of the “Porsche Intelligent Performance” programme also particularly applies to the new Cayenne model series. The two six-cylinder Cayenne and Cayenne Diesel models therefore consume 20 percent less fuel than their predecessors, whilst fuel consumption in the two V8 Cayenne Turbo and Cayenne S models has actually been reduced by 23 percent. The new highlight within the model series – the Cayenne S Hybrid – offers the greatest fuel economy: it consumes just 8.2 l/100 km. If the Cayenne S Hybrid, with its total power output of 380 hp, is compared against the 385 hp Cayenne S from the previous generation, the reduction is actually 40 percent with better performance in certain disciplines. Three out of five Cayenne models remain beneath the mark of ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres in the NEDC, with two offering CO2 emissions of less than 200 g/km.

Amongst other measures, this significant reduction in consumption across the entire Cayenne range has been attained via the introduction of the new eight-speed automatic transmission Tiptronic S with automatic stop/start function and a wide gear ratio range, due to thermal management for the engine and transmission cooling circuit, by vehicle electrical system recuperation and variable deceleration fuel cutoff and, by no means least, due to weight reduction and intelligent lightweight construction. A weight-optimised material mix and modifications to the overall vehicle concept such as the new active and light four-wheel drive system have enabled the weight of the Cayenne Turbo, for instance, to be reduced by 185 kilograms despite improved product substance and increased safety. This not only impacts extremely positively on consumption and CO2 emissions but also on performance, agility and handling.

Total sales in over the financial year increase by 17 percent in the USA

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, continued its upward trend in the US market in July. The manufacturer of premium sports cars delivered 2,703 units to customers, which corresponds to an increase of around 75 percent compared to the same month last year. All in all, Porsche sold 22,180 vehicles in the USA in the last financial year, which ended on July 31, 2010; around 17 percent more than the previous financial year.

The increase indicates that Porsche is also back on the path to success in its largest sales market following the global financial and economic crisis.

Sales of the Panamera continue to develop excellently. 807 units of the four-door Gran Turismo were delivered in July. This is the highest number since the series was introduced on the US market on October 17, 2009.

Selling even better is the new generation of the Cayenne SUV, which has been available in the USA since June 2010. 910 units of this series were delivered in July, an increase of around 68 percent compared to the same month last year.

Sales of the 911 series decreased by about nine percent to 594 vehicles, while those of the mid-engine Boxster and Cayman sports cars increased by more than eleven percent to a total of 392 units.

…WHAT Recession?

911 model: Ranked number one for customer satisfaction

Stuttgart. The iconic sports car of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, the 911, was ranked highest in this year’s AutoPacific customer satisfaction survey in the US. The premium sports car manufacturer has once again impressed its most important market. For the 14th Vehicle Satisfaction Award, a total of 42,000 car owners rated their new cars in 48 categories, which included acceleration, comfort and design, among others.

“This award is particularly important for Porsche, it shows that the new generation of the 911 has met the expectations of our customers. This is a fantastic overall result in our most important market, the US”, explains Bernhard Maier, Board Member Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG. The survey is conducted annually by the automotive consulting company and assesses nearly all vehicles on the US market. It is a reliable indicator of general satisfaction among car owners. The Porsche 911 had already impressed its owners with outstanding performance and efficiency by winning the Vehicle Satisfaction Award once before.

First place ranking once again in the J.D. Power Study on new car quality – US customers verify Porsche’s top quality

Stuttgart. In the renowned “Initial Quality Study” conducted by the US market research institute J.D. Power on the quality of new cars, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, once again reached the winner’s circle. By ranking first place in the overall ratings, the manufacturer of premium sports cars met the highest quality demands again this year in its most important export market, the USA.

After ranking first place three times from 2006 to 2008 and second place in 2009, Porsche has now reached a leading position in the J.D Power study for the fifth consecutive time. The 911 sports car was ranked first in the “Premium Sporty Car” segment and was rated the second-best car in the entire study. Its new fourth Panamera modelline came in third place in the “Large Premium Car” segment against established competitors.

“The high level of customer satisfaction at Porsche is the result of our consistent quality strategy, from development to production and sales, which we are continually improving,” said Michael Macht, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG. “Current proof that we focus strictly on customer requirements is also our Gran Turismo Panamera. Its excellent rating performance in the J.D. Power study highlights its top class.”

In March of this year, Porsche already achieved impressive ratings in the J.D. Power Study on used car quality, ranking number one in the overall ratings. The Initial Quality Study surveys the satisfaction of more than 82,000 US customers in the first three months of purchasing their new cars. A total of 236 car models are rated according to 228 criteria that are arranged in categories like driving experience and engine performance.

Porsche Boxster, Panamera, and 911 GT3 RS Best Cars in Their Segments – Porsche Triple Winner in sport auto Readers’ Choice

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has received further public awards for a number of models in the Company’s premium sporting range: The readers of the renowned German motoring journal sport auto have picked the Porsche Boxster S, the Panamera Turbo, and the 911 GT3 RS as the “No 1 Cars” in their respective categories. Receiving these three first prizes, Porsche has once again moved right to the top in the highly competitive market of sports-oriented brands. In all, nearly 10,000 readers of sport auto participated in the competition organised by the magazine’s editors ever since 1980, with participants able to choose their favourites among more than 260 models in 25 categories.

Nearly half of the readers opted in favour of the 911 GT3 RS, precisely 49.4 per cent making this very sporting 911 their first choice in the category of Coupés up to Euro 150,000.-, thus beating the competition by far. In the category of Convertibles up to Euro 60,000.-, the Boxster S came in first place, bringing home 27.1 per cent of the votes cast by readers. Accounting for 26.5 per cent of all readers’ votes, finally, the Panamera likewise finished a strong No 1 in the category of Sedans above Euro 80,000.-. These highly successful results achieved by Porsche models are rounded off by the Carrera S ranking No 2 in the category of Convertibles up to Euro 120,000.- and the 911 Turbo S finishing third in the category of Convertibles above Euro 120,000.-.

Videos and articles courtesy of Porsche AG

]]> http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2010/06/27/porsche-sports-car-impresses-us-customers-once-again/feed/ 0 http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2009/10/26/the-cayman-the-2nd-generation/ http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2009/10/26/the-cayman-the-2nd-generation/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:48:14 +0000 Thom http://pmletter.com/blog/?p=395

Second Generation
The first evolution of the Porsche Cayman (known as “Generation 2″) was introduced on 21 February 2009. The standard Cayman engine’s displacement was increased from 2.7L to 2.9L, giving a 20 hp (15 kW) increase to 265 hp (198 kW), while the Cayman S gains direct injection and a 25 hp (19 kW) increase to 320 hp (239 kW). Both the Cayman and Cayman S maintain a 10 hp (7 kW) power advantage over their roadster sibling, the Porsche Boxster. On the front end, each have their own design for the front bumper.

The front signal lamps are designed differently: while both use LED signal lamps, the Cayman’s LED are arranged like the face of dice while the Boxster gets a horizontal row of 4 LEDs. The Porsche Tiptronic S automatic gearbox was replaced by the 7-speed PDK dual clutch transmission for the new model. The PDK outperforms the manual transmission with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds versus 5.5 seconds for the manual. The PDK with the sport button option lowers the 0-60 mph time to 5.2 seconds. Also a limited slip differential is now a factory option.

Performance
The performance of the Cayman S approaches that of Porsche’s flagship sports car, the 911 Carrera. Rally legend Walter Röhrl lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife track in a Cayman S equipped with optional 19″ wheels, PCCB, and PASM in a time of 8 minutes, 11 seconds.The time for a standard Cayman S, as published by the manufacturer, was 8 minutes, 20 seconds. In contrast, Röhrl recorded 8 minutes, 15 seconds in a 911 Carrera. The similarity in performance between the two cars has led to speculation about whether the Cayman S will cannibalize sales of the Carrera, as the basic Carrera’s recommended retail price in the United States is $12,400 higher than that of the Cayman S.

A Cayman prepared and run by privateers Jürgen and Uwe Alzen finished fourth overall (of 220 entrants) in the 2007 Nürburgring 24 Hour race, ahead of two flagship Porsche 997 GT3 RSR’s, a 997 GT3 Cup, and a 996 GT3 Cup. Two more privateer Caymans finished 22nd and 117th overall, respectively. Porsche disclaims support for the Cayman teams, while supporting some or all of the 997 teams.

A sports car feature which is not offered by Porsche for the Cayman is limited slip differential. Some commentators have speculated that LSD is not offered, even as an option, because the Cayman S’s performance would then be too close to that of the 911 Carrera . Several tuning companies offer Cayman buyers the ability to retrofit an LSD. Also the biggest engine (3.8l) or the turbo engine is not available in the Cayman.

In the 2009 model, an LSD is available as an option if PDK is installed. The base Cayman has received an engine upgrade to 2.9L (265 bhp (198 kW; 269 PS)), and the Cayman S a 3.4L (320 bhp (239 kW; 324 PS)). This is significantly more than the previous models offerings, as even the factory tuned 2008 Cayman S Sport with its special exhaust system only produces 303 bhp (226 kW; 307 PS) from its 3.4L
powerplant.

Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1
It is a model designed by Porsche Design, commemorating 35th anniversary of Porsche Design. The all black car features black leather and Alcantara upholstery, black center console, dashboard, and door trims, black Alcantara steering wheel, the gear lever, the handbrake grip, and the roof lining, standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), 19-inch 911 Turbo wheels with 235/35 ZR 19 front and 265/35 ZR 19 rear tires. Body is lowered by 10 mm. Standard equipment includes an elegant briefcase containing the Flat Six Chronograph, a pocket knife, a pair of sunglasses, a pen, and a key ring – all in black, even the knife blade.

777 vehicles were produced as 2008 models. It went on sale on November 2007 in Germany, followed by the US in January 2008. Base price is 58,600 Euros.

Cayman S Sport
Porsche also announced the production of a limited edition Cayman S Sport, to be available on October 2008 as a 2009 model. It features a freer-flowing exhaust, which raises power from 295 PS at 6250 rpm to 303 PS at an identical 6250 rpm.

The Cayman S Sport comes in Bright Orange and Signal Green (from the Porsche 911 GT3 RS), as well as Carrara White, Speed Yellow, Guards Red, Black and Arctic Silver. The Cayman S has striping on the sides, black 19-inch wheels, as well as an Alcantara steering wheel directly from the 911 GT3 RS. The instrumentation loses its hood. The body is lowered by 1 cm, and the performance exhaust system is louder. 700 are to be made for worldwide market.

987
The second generation of the Boxster (internally known as the 987) made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show alongside the new 911 (997). The car became available for model year 2005.

In appearance the car remains very similar to the previous generation. The most obvious styling change is to the headlights, which now have a profile similar to those of the Carrera GT, Porsche’s mid-engined supercar. The intake vents on the sides of the Boxster are now larger, with more pronounced horizontal slats and are coloured metallic silver, irrespective of the paint colour on the rest of the car. The wheel arches have been enlarged to allow wheels up to 19 inches in diameter, a first for the Boxster series. The most significant updates from the 986 series are in the interior, with a more prominent circular theme evident in the instrument cluster and cooling vents. Porsche claims that the 987 Boxster shares only 20% of its components with its predecessor, despite their being almost identical from the outside. The base engine is a 2.7 L 176 kW (240 hp) flat-6, with the Boxster S getting a 3.2 L 206 kW (280 hp) engine. The Cayman series is derived from the 987.

For the 2007 model year the base Boxster received a revised engine featuring VarioCam Plus to provide a 5 hp (3.7 kW) boost (245 hp; the same as the Cayman). The Boxster S engine was upgraded from 3.2L to 3.4L, resulting in the production of 15 more hp (295 hp; the same as the Cayman S). These upgrades made the Boxster series and the Cayman series equivalent in terms of horsepower.

987 Generation II
Porsche first revealed the face-lifted 2009 Boxster and Boxster S models at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November 2008. Both models feature greater horsepower due to an increase in engine displacement for the Boxster and the incorporation of Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) for the Boxster S. Both models are now available with Porsche’s new 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual clutch gearbox but come standard with a new 6-speed manual gearbox. Displacement in the standard Boxster’s flat-six engine increased from 2.7 to 2.9 liters, increasing horsepower from 245 to 255. Use of DFI in the Boxster S raised the output of the 3.4 liter engine from 295 to 310 horsepower. Cosmetic changes to the 2009 Boxster and Boxster S include new head and tail lights, larger front air intakes with incorporated day time running lights, and an altered lower rear end flanked by twin diffusers. The interior includes the redesigned Porsche Communication Management System as an option with a touchscreen interface to reduce button clutter.

Limited Editions
RS60 Spyder
In November 2007, Porsche announced a commemorative RS60 Spyder edition of the Boxster to celebrate Porsche’s 1960 win in the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. Only 1960 units in this series are to be produced worldwide, with approximately 800 slated for the U.S. with each model bearing a numbered production badge on the dash. The RS60 Spyder comes in only GT Silver Metallic while the standard interior is Carrera Red leather, with dark gray leather as an option. The RS60 comes standard with 19″ SportDesign alloy wheels, Porsche’s Active Suspension Management System, and a sports exhaust that boosts the engine output to 303 PS (223 kW; 299 hp) . The base price for the RS60 Spyder is $64,900 USD.

Porsche Design Edition 2
Porsche also announced the production of limited Boxster S Porsche Design Edition 2, to be available on October 2008 as 2009 model. It features freer-flowing exhaust, which raises power from 295 PS (217 kW; 291 hp) at 6250 rpm to 303 PS (223 kW; 299 hp) at an identical 6250 rpm. It came in a unified Carrara White paint scheme with matching white 19-inch wheels, a black and gray interior with white gauges, red taillights and light gray stripes along the entire body. 500 are to be made for worldwide market, with 100 for the U.S. and Canada. The base price for the PDE2 Boxster is $66,900 USD.