Following an online leak a couple of weeks ago Porsche took the wraps off the limited edition Cayman S Sport that will be produced in just 700 units. Based on the Cayman S, the Sport’s 3.4-liter boxer engine gains an extra 8 HP developing a total of 303 HP. Moreover, the Cayman S Sport comes equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system as standard along with a 10mm lower suspension and 5mm spacers beneath the new 19-inch SportDesign wheels.

On the outside Porsche was inspired from the 911 GT3 as the Cayman S Sport comes as standard in the GT3 colours Orange and Green combined with side decals and black rims, exterior mirrors and air intake grids. Further colours available are Black, Indian Red, Speed Yellow and Carrara White, as well as Arctic Silver Metallic.

Inside the Sport features an all-black interior with sport seats and alcantara finish on the gearshift lever, the handbrake, and the rim of the GT3 steering wheel. As with all Porsche special edition versions, the Sport bears the production number on a placard on the glove box.

The Cayman S Sport will be available from September with prices in Germany set at €69,942 which includes 19 per cent VAT and national specifications.

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While we’re still waiting for Porsche to officially reveal the more powerful Cayman S Sport, the German tuning firm “Inden Design” presented a new sports kit for the Cayman S model. Thanks to a new exhaust system, the Cayman S 3.4-liter boxer engine’s output is raised by 19Hp delivering a total of 314 Hp. According to Inden Design, the flaps of the exhaust systems are operated together with a control unit. A small microprocessor, which is freely programmable, is embedded in this system. The sports kit also includes new H&R height adjustable coil overs and a set of bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/35 R19 rubber on the front and 305/25 R19 at the rear.

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The covers are off the revised glass-roofed Porsche 911 Targa that will make its way into the market this autumn. As with the rest of the facelifted 911 range, the most important news is under the bonnet as the Targa, which is only available with four-wheel-drive, gets two new power units with direct fuel injection. More specifically, the Targa 4 is powered by a 3.6-litre flat-six developing 345 Hp (+20 Hp) giving the car a top speed of 284 km/h while the 911 Targa 4S gets a 3.8-litre unit developing 385 Hp (+30 Hp) that can accelerate it on to a top speed of 297 km/h.

Like the rest of the revised 911s, the new Targa 4 and 4S are available for the first time with Porsche’s new 7-speed double-clutch gearbox. With the dual-clutch gearbox the 3.6-litre Targa 4 accelerates to 62mph (100km/h) in exactly 5.0 secs (manual: 5.2 secs) while the Targa 4S, in 4.7 secs (manual 4.9 secs). Continued

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When Porsche introduces a new 911 update, you know exactly what that means: derivatives. The Porsche 911 has more derivatives, body-styles and variants than just about any other automobile in production, and after unveiling the latest 911 Carrera and Carrera S, Carerra 4 and Carrera 4S, in both coupe and cabrio formats, the next version due for release is the 911 Targa.

Porsche defined the term Targa when it borrowed the name from the famous Sicilian race, the Targa Florio, and applied it to its lift-roof-section model, bridging the gap between its convertibles and coupes. The outgoing 911 Targa features a sliding panoramic roof section, but we’ll have to wait and see what tricks Porsche has up its sleeve for the newest version.

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AutoWeek apparently has it on good authority that Porsche has plans for a diesel engine not just for its Cayenne Sport Utility, but also for its upcoming sedan, the Panamera. The Panamera will assuredly be getting a gasoline engine, perhaps mirroring the Cayenne’s V6 and V8 options, and will also be equipped with an optional hybrid drivetrain which will likely feature the direct-injected 3.6 liter V6 engine. Porsche had been hesitant to offer an oil-burner in its range of sportscars, but perhaps the sedan would benefit from the increased fuel mileage a diesel engine would offer.

We don’t know what diesel engine is slated for the Panamera, but the Cayenne will be getting a 3.0 liter turbo diesel V6 engine from Audi, so that seems a distinct possibility for the sedan as well. Porsche could also choose an Audi diesel V8 engine or even the Volkswagen diesel V10 or 6.0-liter Audi diesel V12 if they fit underhood. Also spinning in the rumormill are Focus-like fender vents and a targa top.

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Over the last year or so, Porsche has been grabbing chunks of Volkswagen, slowly but surely. It is clear what the German manufacturer of luxurious sportscars is attempting: a takeover of VW, which is the largest automaker in Germany. There are still laws and regulations standing it its way, but Porsche may have the backing of the European Union, which could have the power to change laws currently protecting Volkswagen from a takeover. It has long been assumed that Porsche’s plan was to lump its products along with the more fuel efficient models from VW, which could allow the company to avoid paying large fines for not meeting carbon output regulations.

As it stands right now, Porsche seemingly has no choice but to offer more fuel efficient and lower emission models. To that end, it has announced hybrid versions of its Cayenne and upcoming Panamera sedan. Also possible is a diesel engine for its utility vehicle. By gobbling up Volkswagen, Porsche could dial back on these fuel-saving models and get back to its high performance ways without fear of excessive penalties.

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The Luxury Institute is a New York-based research firm that traditionally compiles data based on the opinions of America’s wealthy, solely the top 10% of highest earners. The Institute’s latest study, based on the responses of 1,642 wealthy American consumers with an average income of $349,000 and average net worth of $3.7 million, has ranked a number of vehicle brands by their perceived status.

Leading the field was Porsche, which got the most votes, followed by Lexus in second and Mercedes-Benz in third. According to the researchers, Mercedes-Benz lost a lot of its status following during its partnership with Chrysler and doesn’t share the same appeal with younger, performance-oriented luxury-car buyers that Porsche enjoys.

BMW ranked fourth, Jaguar fifth, and Lincoln was last of the 12 brands covered, in terms of overall status. BMW’s rank has fallen in recent years because a lot of respondents have been turned off by the carmaker’s styling of late, explained Luxury Institute CEO Milton Pedraza.

Those who rated the brands most favorably tended to be males over the age of 55, with average household income between $150,000 and $300,000, and net worth under $1 million. Lexus was the luxury brand the largest group of respondents (14.4%) said they would consider for their next purchase. It was also rated the best for customer experience.

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Porsche remains resolute in the face of the United States’ proposed fuel economy standards. Speaking with Automotive News, Porsche’s North American CEO, Detlev von Platen, made it clear that the automaker’s plan for the future is to create the same compelling vehicles it has in the past, but its focus on fuel efficiency won’t come at the expense of Porsche’s products.

“We will make our cars more fuel efficient,” von Platen told AN, “but it will not change our nature.” As such, Porsche doesn’t intend to produce smaller vehicles, nor will it look to diesels or small-displacement engines. Instead, it’s bucking the trend set by BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz – which are about introduce a new range of diesel vehicles in the U.S. – by bringing the hybrid Cayenne, jointly developed with Volkswagen and Audi, to market towards the end of 2010. The NA exec goes on to say that none of Porsche’s U.S. lineup is slapped with a gas-guzzler tax, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s proposed regulations will require Porsche’s corporate average fuel economy to rise to 41.3 mph in 2015. That means the 911 would need to exceed the current Toyota Camry’s fuel economy numbers due to the coupe’s footprint. Unfortunately, von Platen didn’t divulge how the automaker would meet NHTSA’s stringent demands. More turbos? Less weight? We should have a clearer idea by the turn of the decade.

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Hofele is a tuning company that many of you out there possibly haven’t heard of, but when located in the realms of Germany, it will take a lot to get noticed around the super tuners such as Hamann, Brabus and Abt. The small tuning company specialises in tuning packages for Audi, VW and Porsche focusing on body kits. What you see before you now are their latest body kits for the facelifted Porsche Cayenne, which includes a regular “GT 500” styling kit as well as a “GT 600” widebody kit.

The Hofele GT 500 gets a completely new aerodynamically enhanced front bumper including mesh inserts with 2 additional fog lights and LED daytime driving lights, the rear gets a removable diffuser along with double tailpipes. A similar setup is given to the GT 600 with the addition of 2 front fenders with air vent opening and wheel arch extension.

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The tuning scene is booming in Europe, the USA and Japan, with more and more tuning companies as a result but few are regarded as highly as Porsche specialists Gemballa. Today the German tuning house bursts onto the scene with a 600 bhp Porsche GT2 (or Porsche 997 Turbo) conversion that can hold its own with the Maranello and Sant’Agata-Bolognese in-crowd.

Gemballa has a few tweeks in store for your unsuspecting GT2 or 997 Turbo like a power kit that will boost power to 600 bhpn (442 kW) with 840 Nm of torque, body kit, sports exhaust, coilover suspension, 20 inch ‘Racing’ wheels and a luxurious interior. The new power can propel the car from stand still to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

The body kit consists of the Avalanche body kit, a GT hood, Avalanche front skirt with additional cooling openings, GT2 front spoiler lip, GTR EVO tailgate skirt with diffuser and hot air outlets and GT2 EVO rear spoiler. All in all, the car looks fast even when standing still.

Of course power is nothing without control, so Gemballa also fits a variable ride height coilover suspension and a performance brake system with 380/350 mm or 405/380 discs. Inside you will find plenty of aluminum details, sports steering wheel (F1 shift paddles optional) and a leather interior overhaul if your donor vehicle didn’t have it already. But if you have something else in mind, Gemballa will be happy to cater to your fancies.

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