New Cayenne also particularly favored by Americans

Stuttgart. In June, the US market developed extremely successfully for Dr. Ing h. c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart: deliveries to customers soared to 2,141 cars. This corresponds to an increase of 137 percent, as compared with the same month of the previous year (902 cars). The new generation of the sporty utility vehicle Cayenne, 496 (+ 80 percent) of which were sold at the beginning of the month when it was first introduced in the US, has been outstandingly well received.

Equally pleasing is the great interest shown in the new Panamera Gran Turismo, which sold 739 cars in June, reaching the highest level of sales since it was introduced. The sales of Porsche icon 911 increased significantly compared to the previous year: 544 US customers decided to purchase the coveted sports car (+ 48 percent). In the mid-engine model range, Boxster sales increased by 75 percent with 240 cars sold in June; Cayman sales remained more or less stable with 123 deliveries (- 1 percent).

After the first six months of the current calendar year, Porsche sold a total of 10,984 vehicles in the US. This corresponds to an increase of 14 percent, as compared to the same period of the previous year.

New Gran Turismo defies the difficult market environment

Editor’s note: the 1st, upper portion of this article addressing sales performance, is from April 2010. The remainder of the article is from mid June 2010. Here at PML we feel the Panamera platform will go a long ways to ensure Porsche’s survival as a Sports Car Company (or – put another way – as a Sports Car Division of VW…). Yes, the visual impact of this car is an “acquired taste” from some angles…However, we’ve driven several variants of the Panamera to date.  It’s everything Porsche says it is…truly an impressive car.

Stuttgart. In April the Panamera became Porsche’s best-selling model in the US for the first time. A record number of 678 customers chose the four-passenger Gran Turismo. The premium sports car manufacturer had to operate in a difficult overall market environment and sold 1,747 units from its current model lines to US customers. This is a fall of around six percent on the same month last year.

In addition to the Panamera, which has been available on the US market since October 2009, the Boxster and Cayman mid-engine models both had good news to report: 219 units of the Boxster were sold, a rise of around 28 percent compared to April 2009, and 135 units of the Cayman were sold, three percent up on last April. Deliveries of the 911 model fell 42 percent to 389 units compared to the same period last year. The Cayenne posted a life-cycle related decline of about 63 percent to 326 vehicles. The new generation of the sporty SUV will be launched on the US market starting in July 2010, and it will also be available for the first time as a technically demanding parallel full hybrid model. The Cayenne S Hybrid consumes only 8.2 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers in the New European Driving Cycle, which is the equivalent of 193 grams per kilometer in CO2 emissions.

Porsche Panamera Now Even More Efficient and With New Options

Stuttgart. The eight-cylinder Panamera models are entering the next model year as of August 2010 with an even higher standard of all-round efficiency and new options. Particularly the new brake energy recuperation system featured as standard, together with optional 19-inch all-season tyres offering reduced roll resistance, give the Panamera Turbo a further improvement of fuel consumption by 0.9 litres/100 km. As a result, the 500-horsepower top model now consumes just 11.3 litres instead of formerly 12.2 litres/100 km in the New European Driving Cycle, equal to 25.0 mpg imp (formerly 23.2 mpg imp) and a reduction of CO2 emissions by 21 grams per kilometre. The Panamera S and Panamera 4S now making do with just 10.3 ltr/100 km and, respectively, 10.6 ltr/100 km (equal to 27.4 and, respectively, 26.7 mpg imp in the NEDC), are likewise up to half a litre more efficient per 100 kilometres (equal to minus 11 grams CO2/km).

This increase in efficiency results primarily from brake energy recuperation, with the battery being charged primarily during application of the brakes and, respectively, in overrun. When accelerating, on the other hand, the field current in the alternator is reduced, minimising the load acting on the combustion engine since it is now required to deliver even less energy for charging the battery, instead making this energy available for even faster acceleration. In conjunction with further improvements, this battery charging strategy on the Panamera Turbo saves no less than 0.7 litres on 100 kilometres, while newly developed, optional all-season tyres measuring 19 inches in diameter likewise serve to reduce fuel consumption by another 0.2 ltr/100 km on each model in the Panamera range. Together with the enhanced tread of the tyres, a special rubber compound serves to reduce roll resistance while at the same time increasing the mileage covered by the tyres. The Auto Start Stop function has also been optimised, now allowing the driver to set off again even faster and more comfortably after coming to a halt.

Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) now available as an option together with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and a fully controlled rear axle differential lock enhances the driving qualities of the Panamera V8 models. PTV Plus optimises steering behaviour by intervening in the brakes on the inner rear wheel in a bend and generating an additional rotational force acting in the same direction as the steering wheel. The result is even more direct and dynamic steering when entering a bend – and at the same time PTV Plus, in conjunction with the rear axle differential, improves traction on the rear wheels when accelerating out of a bend on the road.

As a further highlight, Porsche is extending the range of paintwork colours, leather options and special equipment for the Panamera. As an example, the Gran Turismo is now also available with auxiliary heating and a three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles on cars equipped with PDK Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. Three-dimensional presentation of maps by the further improved, optional navigation system may now also be combined with a satellite image for even more realistic presentation and enhanced orientation. Even traffic lane information is provided in this way for complex road junctions in Europe and the USA. And last but not least, the speed limit indicator so far covering only the Autobahn, motorway and interstate now also comprises – depending on the database material – main roads and major routes leading out of town.

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/2009/12/27/porsche-awards-two-additional-apprenticeship-positions/ http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2009/12/27/porsche-awards-two-additional-apprenticeship-positions/#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:17:56 +0000 Thom http://www.pmletter.com/blog/?p=2303

Porsche gives vocational high school students an extra chance

Stuttgart. Two vocational high school graduates who have not yet found an apprenticeship position can start off their careers at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, in the fall 2010. Porsche works council head Uwe Hück announced this for Christmas in an interview with (A German) radio station SWR1. “The Executive Board and Works Council consciously want to give a chance to a young woman and a young man who have not had any luck with their applications,” said Mr. Hück, who wants to assume personal responsibility for the two young people. “At Porsche, in addition to good grades, we also want our junior staff to have a high degree of motivation and team spirit and to be good with their hands,“ is the way Mr. Hück described the criteria that Porsche will use to select the candidates.

The two positions are in addition to the 100 apprenticeship positions that the Stutt-gart-based manufacturer of sporty premium cars provides each year.

“Yes, Virginia…There IS A Santa Claus…”

By Jens Meiners – Car and Driver

Porsche is bullish about the Panamera. The Stuttgart sports-car maker, soon to be the Volkswagen Groups’s tenth brand after a takeover bid that went awry, is sticking to its goal of making 20,000 units annually of its large four-door hatchback. Launched with a naturally aspirated, 400-hp V-8 and a turbocharged version that turns out 500 hp, however, it doesn’t exactly have environmental appeal—despite a stop-start system that shuts down the engine every time the vehicle comes to a standstill.

Porsche has already said that a V-6 entry-level model is in the works for the 2010 calendar year, as is a hybrid V-6, to be launched in 2011. But the company has remained mum about details. A source now tells us that while the hybrid version is based on Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, the entry-level V-6 will be of Porsche’s own design. Porsche is shortening the V-8 out of the Panamera S by two cylinders, and getting a normally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 that will make an even 300 hp.

Why did Porsche not use the Volkswagen-sourced VR-6 fitted in the current Cayenne? It won’t be available much longer. The VR-6, while it sounds sweet, is an inefficient unit which is slowly being purged from VW’s and Audi’s portfolios.

The new V-6 will fit the Panamera’s platform and transmissions perfectly, it will satisfy purists by being a true Porsche engine, and it leaves enough room for the naturally aspirated V-8. The torquey and agile supercharged Audi V-6, which would have been another option, might just have rendered Porsche’s 400-hp V-8 obsolete.

Special “Panamera Moment“ Exhibition starting on 8 December 2009

Stuttgart. Special tidbits at the Porscheplatz in Zuffenhausen: For the first time, visitors of the Porsche Museum will experience the model series Panamera. A range of exhibits and documents are offering an insight into the development of the latest model series of the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, in an extraordinary atmosphere. The special “Panamera Moment“ exhibition (from 8 December 2009 to 28 February 2010) presents the innovations of the four-door Gran Turismo i.e. via a sophisticated cutaway model. Films on the design and technical features of the vehicle complete this experience.

The Special Exhibition comes in an artistic framework set by the well-known car photographer Frank M. Orel with his spectacular pictures. This photo artist from Stuttgart has photographed Porsche’s new Gran Turismo in situations both unusual and, indeed, quite unexpected. Shortly after having been launched in September, the Panamera was awarded the renown prizes “Goldenes Lenkrad“ (Bild am Sonntag/Autobild) and “Auto-Trophy“ (Auto Zeitung) as well as several international prizes.

The Porsche Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00. Further information is available at www.porsche.com/museum

“Auto Trophy” for the Porsche Panamera and the 911 Carrera

Stuttgart. Two of the models built by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, received the coveted “Auto Trophy” award today from the leading German car magazine Auto Zeitung – the Porsche Panamera in the luxury segment and the Porsche 911 Carrera in the sports car segment.

Having only entered the market in September 2009, the Panamera has immediately moved up right to the top of the winners’ podium, just as the 911 Carrera is now defending its top position in the sports car segment for the 16th time.

In all, 104,442 readers of Auto Zeitung cast their vote in the 22nd Auto Trophy. Receiving 25.6 per cent of all votes in its category, the Panamera was the top scorer in the luxury class out of 14 contestants nominated. In the sports car category 22.1 per cent of all readers chose the 911 Carrera as their No 1 out of no less than 23 models.

The Panamera had already been awarded the “Das Goldene Lenkrad” (The Golden Steering Wheel) in early November as the “Best New Car of the Year in the Luxury Class”. This prize is awarded by the German Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag together with the car magazine Auto Bild and its European issues.

The Panamera is however a great success not only in Europe, but also with international car journalists the world over, having won a number of international awards recently. In Canada, for example, 70 of the leading car journalists grouped within the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) have chosen the Panamera as the “Best New Prestige Car”. Conducting thorough test drives, the AJAC journalists were thrilled by the Panamera Turbo featuring, among other highlights, the best brakes and the best acceleration ever measured by the AJAC.

Again in Canada, the car journal Le Guide de l’Auto also ranks the Panamera as No 1 in the “Prestige Cars” category.

In the USA the editors of the online magazine Inside Line have given the Panamera their “Most Wanted Award”. A leading automobile portal reaching more readers each month than subscribe to any car journal, Inside Line highlighted in particular the overall performance of Porsche’s Gran Turismo.

In Great Britain the Panamera has brought home no less than two significant titles, Vehicle Dynamics International lauding Porsche’s new luxury performance model not only as their “Car of the Year”, but also the “Dynamicist of the Year”, with its perfectly engineered chassis delivering an equal share of balance, grip, comfort and control all in one. At the same time the same magazine lauded the dynamic engine mounts exclusive to the Porsche 911 GT3 and the new 911 Turbo as their “Innovation of the Year”.

Yet another coveted title awarded to the Panamera is the “Interamerican Car of the Year 2010” proclaimed by the Federación Interamericana de Periodistas del Automóvil (FIPA), an association of 81 Panamerican car journalists from 21 countries. Porsche’s Gran Turismo thrilled these experts in all disciplines such as progressive technology, performance, environmental care, and the significance of the car for each national market. Given these qualities, the Panamera was able to beat a significant line-up of no less than 37 leading automobiles.

Number of customer deliveries on the rise again

Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, sold 1,642 cars to customers in the USA in October. This means growth of 15 percent compared to last October. Sales of the Panamera, which was launched on the US market on October 17, 2009, are off to a particularly good start. In the first two weeks after its market launch, 360 units of the four-door, four-passenger Panamera Gran Turismo were sold.

The Front 3/4 View

Overall, Porsche was able to increase sales in the USA for the third consecutive month. There was good news on the sales front for the mid-engine Boxster and Cayman sports cars. A total of 103 units from the Boxster line were sold to customers, which is a 29 percent increase over October 2008. Sales of the Cayman models rocketed up by 130 percent with sales of 168 units. However, deliveries of the 911 series dipped slightly by 8 percent to 539 units compared to the same period last year. And a total of 472 units of the sporty all-wheel drive Cayenne were sold. Compared to October 2008, this represents a life-cycle related decline of 32 percent.

The Rear Area Of The Car’s Styling Has Met With Criticism…We’re Not Sure Why.

]]> http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2009/11/05/successful-us-sales-start-for-panamera/feed/ 1 http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2009/11/05/panamera-ranked-1-in-the-lux-performance-class/ http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2009/11/05/panamera-ranked-1-in-the-lux-performance-class/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:08:15 +0000 Thom http://pmletter.com/blog/?p=1523

Porsche Panamera awarded the Golden Steering Wheel

Stuttgart. The Porsche Panamera has been awarded the Golden Steering Wheel as the Best New Car of the Year in the Luxury Performance Class. With its combination of supreme comfort and outstanding sportiness, and through its unique design, Porsche’s Gran Turismo convinced the 50-man jury made up of racing drivers, engineers, celebrities and the senior editors of the Auto Bild Magazine Group trying out the candidates on thorough test drives. Before receiving this outstanding award, the Panamera had already been chosen by readers as one of the five best models in the luxury performance class with experts putting the car through its paces in the final contest on a test track in Italy for two enduring days.

This year this special prize presented for the first time by publisher Axel Springer in 1976 was awarded not “just” by the German Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag, but rather by a group of publications including the Auto Bild Motoring Journal and its European sister publications, making this coveted award even more significant than ever. Michael Macht, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, received the trophy on Wednesday evening from Bernd Wieland, Editor in Chief of Auto Bild, at the headquarters of the Axel Springer AG in Berlin.