These leaked in-house computer renderings are the first definite proof that Porsche is intending to build a direct rival for the sporting three-door Range Rover Evoque.
The Evoque-chasing Cajun is expected to be launched in two years’ time and will be based on the Audi Q5 SUV. As well as a five-door Cajun, even though Porsche has already started work on a three-door coupé version.
As these renderings — from an internal styling exercise at Porsche’s design HQ — show, the Cajun coupé is likely to draw heavily on 911 design cues.
Elements of the design are clearly influenced by the iconic 959 rally-raid racer, distinguished by its raised ride height, which will ensure that the three-door Cajun is markedly different from its five-door sister car.
The Cajun will also get a bespoke interior design to distinguish it from the Q5. Much of the interior — such as the instrument pack, climate controls and ancillary switchgear — is likely to be shared with the next-generation Boxster and a new sub-Boxster mid-engined roadster.
Reports in Germany suggest that the Cajun will get a range of Porsche-tweaked Audi engines, including four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines along with diesel units. The Cajun will come with the sole option of Audi’s rear-biased permanent four-wheel drive system.
An inside source revealed that a full-sized clay model had been built for assessment in late 2005 and, at the Geneva show in February 2006, a senior Porsche boss confirmed that the three-door SUV was under consideration.
It is thought that Porsche’s engineering arm completed the body engineering for the Q5 and had the option of building its own version of the model, but the project was canned.
It’s not known why, but the arrival of the dramatically styled Evoque may well have contributed to the change of heart. The decision to build the Cajun was made official by Porsche in March.
The Cajun will be Porsche’s fifth model line and will help take the company towards the 150,000 annual sales that boss Matthias Mueller has signalled as a medium-term target.
The addition of the sub-Boxster sports car is part of a plan to aim as high as 200,000 annual sales by the end of the decade.
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A recent report has come out of Wolfsburg that VW is preparing an all new Cross Passat. This new variation model would have 4-motion (AWD), higher ground clearance, and sturdy plastic covers on the wheel wells and underbody protection as well as front and rear.
No further info at this time
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A senior official of the Porsche brand has confirmed the introduction of the future Panamera Coupe. This model, called 929 for simplicity, will be offered in coupe and convertible variants, and will occupy a niche of 10,000 cars a year, divided among the various Aston Martin DB9, Bentley Continental and Ferrari California. The 929 will come from the second generation Panamera, equipped with a newly designed modular chassis: the sedan will use a long wheelbase, while the coupe will come from the shortened version.
At the moment there are no models derived from the Panamera. Porsche hopes to expand the range with the introduction of the new series. It will debut no earlier than 2014-2015. Their are even talks of introducing the Panamera "sports summer" sport wagon with a strong connotation to what is proposed in accordance with the Mercedes Concept Fascination.
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Audi has released the first photos of the refreshed 2013 A5/S5 family of coupes as well as the A5/S5 Sportback and Convertible models. At first glance, the models have been refreshed with the new Audi corporate front end and taillights that mimic the new Audi A7 sedan.
On the interior, Audi has ditched the grey plastic around the instrument panel in favor of a sleek piano black finish and the steering wheel has been updated slightly. The MMI interface has been updated, reducing the number of hard buttons from 8 to 4, as well as navigation powered by Google Earth. Optional support for a Bluetooth phone allows the updated A5/S5 to become a wireless hotspot.
The most significant change is the revised engine lineup. Audi has added a 170-hp 1.8 TFSI engine, a 272-hp version of the supercharged 3.0T V6 as well a 177-hp TDI diesel engine to the lineup of the A5. The long-running 2.0T TFSI 4-cylinder and 3.0-liter V6 TDI engines remain unchanged.
For the S5, the clunky and inefficient 4.2-liter V8 has been ditched in favor of the wonderful 333-hp 3.0T Supercharged V6 engine found in the current Audi S4. Additionally, the S5 quattro drivetrain has been upgraded to the crown-gear center differential from the Audi RS5 and an updated electromechanical power steering system.
The 3.0T engine is what the S5 really needed to turn it into a driver’s car instead of an understeering pig and it’s finally happened. More exciting is that a less powerful 3.0T will be available in the A5 model. If it’s just a matter of software and a few other things, the updated A5 could be quite the performance value leader.
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Austrian company O.CT Tuning has come out with a kit for the V8-powered Audi R8
The kit includes a supercharger, stainless steel exhaust and reflashed ECU. Total horsepower bumps up to 565 hp and 560 Nm of torque. The high output R8 only takes 24 seconds to reach 250 km/h (155 mph) which is 9 seconds faster than the factory R8 V8
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Watch the video below to hear this beast and see the flames
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