2014 Porsche 911 RSR unveiled

Will compete in the World Endurance Championship

Following a preview late last month, Porsche has officially unveiled the 2014 911 RSR.

Designed to compete in the World Endurance Championship, the RSR is based on the seventh-generation 911 and features a variety of carbon fiber components including the doors, dashboard, center console and rear wing. Designers also used polycarbonate windows and a lithium-ion battery to keep the model as light as possible.

The 460 HP (338 kW) 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine carries over but it is connected to a new six-speed sequential transmission that is operated via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Porsche AG Team Manthey will field two 911 RSRs this year and they will be driven by Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Romain Dumas, Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Pilet and Timo Bernhard.

2014 Porsche 911 GT3 priced from 130,400 USD

*Without 950 USD destination charge

The 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 has made its U.S. debut at the New York Auto Show and will carry a starting price of 130,400 USD, without the 950 USD destination charge.

It comes with a 6-cylinder, 3.8-liter engine with 475 HP (349 kW) and 438 Nm (324 lb-ft) of torque sent to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a locking differential. The setup allows the new 911 GT3 to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 195 mph (315 km/h).

The car looks similar to the regular 911 but features a more aggressive front fascia, widened rear fenders, bigger side skirts, fixed rear wing, a new rear bumper and optional LED headlights. It sits on 20-inch forged alloys with central locking hubs and has a center-mounted dual exhaust system.

This is Porsche's first model to receive an active rear wheel steering system which will steer the rear wheels in the same or opposite direction of the front wheels for better agility. According to Porsche, the 911 GT3 will complete the Nürburgring Nordschleife in less than 7m 30min.

It will go on sale in the United States towards the end of 2013.

Porsche Hiring More Than 1000 Workers to Build Macan Crossover

Before the end of the year, one of the most significant Porsches will roll off an assembly line in Leipzig. We’re not talking about the new 911 GT3, but the Macan crossover. Porsche has just announced it plans to hire more than 1000 permanent workers in Leipzig to prepare for Macan production. The new Porsche Macan is sure to be a sales success, following in the footsteps of the brand-leading Cayenne, Motor Trend’s 2011 SUV of the Year.

Porsche is also hiring 400 engineers in Saxony and says that, overall, the automaker has already received 16,500 applications. The Macan plant jobs are “future-proof,” Porsche claims, and we would agree. About $650 million has been invested to convert the location into a full plant and Porsche hopes the first customer vehicle will roll off the assembly line by the end of the year.

The staff at Leipzig numbers about 1150 people currently, and will continue to grow through 2014, with jobs including operators, staff for ultrasonic testing, sheetmetal forming positions, and more.

The Porsche Macan in the U.S. will once again allow the automaker to offer an SUV under $50,000 (after the destination charge). Sharing mechanical bits with the Audi Q5, don’t be surprised to see a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 and hybrid among the powertrain choices, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 is a possibility for some markets.

What do you expect from the upcoming Porsche Macan? Tell us in the comments section below.

Porsche IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge from Sebring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zS4A0flkw0k

The season open of the Porsche IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama took place last weekend at Sebring International Raceway. Rounds 1 and 2 of the series kicked off with some spectacular action from the famed circuit. Last year's series champion Sean Johnston has already moved onto the German Porsche Carrera Cup while his former teammate Madison Snow now battle's it out with 2012 Gold Class champion Angel Benetiz Jr.

YouTube's Original Content Series DRIVE will be hosting the Porsche IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge for 2013 with recap videos, full race action, and fast laps from pole qualifiers.

2014 Porsche Panamera hits the Ring undisguised

The 2014 Porsche Panamera has been spied undisguised at the Nürburgring.
Looking virtually identical to its predecessor, the facelift model is distinguished by a new front bumper with larger air intakes and revised daytime running lights. The hatchback has also been equipped with new head- and taillights, a restyled rear fascia and a sportier exhaust system.
Engine options will likely carryover with minor modifications for improved performance and reduced fuel consumption. However, speculation has suggested there could be a new Audi-sourced V8 TDI as well as a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that produces approximately 420 hp (313 kW).
The 2014 Porsche Panamera could be introduced at this year's Shanghai Auto Show which would be four years after it originally debuted there in 2009.