Porsche to post operating profit, will produce more than 100,000 units next fiscal year

Claus Schmiedel, a member of parliament in Porsche’s home-state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten that Porsche will sell around 80,000 units in the current fiscal year and expects to post a full-year operating profit of between 700 million euros ($979.5 million) and 800 million.

Schmiedel, who said he had spoken to Porsche’s finance chief and taken a look at the sports car maker’s books, says that Porsche is having no problem at an operating level. He said that “the company will achieve an operating margin of 12 percent.”

Schmiedel says that Porsche is looking to sell more than 100,000 cars in the next fiscal year and is aiming at more than 1 billion euros. We’re guessing the new target increase is due to the introduction of the Porsche Panamera, of which Porsche hopes to sell 20,000 units of annually.

Separately, Porsche board of management said yesterday that they still favor a merger with Volkswagen and don’t want to limit the deal to a specific time frame.

As statement release by the board said: ”We are convinced that the targeted integrated car-manufacturing group is the best industrial solution for all stakeholders involved. That is the case for the companies as well as for the respective workforce. Thus we do not want to put anybody under time pressure.”

Source: Reuters

Tesla’s next sports car will have rear-seating, all-wheel-drive

While Tesla’s new Model S sedan will be built on the company’s own platform, the Tesla Roadster shares its underpinnings with the Lotus Elise. However, now it’s time to work on the next Roadster, and like all future Teslas, the next-generation roadster will ride on a variation of the Model S platform.

While that will help Tesla cut back on cost rather than producing another platform, the move will also help make the next Roadster roomier - in fact it may not be a roadster at all. You can probably think of it as a Tesla Model S convertible.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tells WebRidesTV that the next Tesla sports car will have 2+2 seating, a “roomier Porsche.” It will have 10 percent bigger rear seating and 50 percent more trunk space. Musk said that the next Tesla sports car will also come with all-wheel-drive. He said that there will be a base model to a GT version.

No word on when this will all happen but WebRidesTV says that 2012, 2013 isn’t a bad guess.

2009 Gemballa Avalanche GTR 650 EVO-R gets a facelift

The Avalanche name is very much connected to the success of tuning firm Gemballa Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG. It was the first Avalanche in the mid 80s that set the foundation for the success of the Gemballa brand. Ever since, the name has been reserved for the Porsche 911 tuning program.

Gemballa has now unveiled the new facelifted Avalanche GTR 650 EVO-R. Besides the visual upgrades, Gemballa continue to offer its performance upgrade that takes output to 650-hp with peak torque of 701 lb-ft. That allows the 4WD Avalanche GTR 650 EVO-R to go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 206 mph.

And if that’s not enough for you, Gemballa offers further engine upgrades that taking output up to 800-hp.

Press Release:

The AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R

The GEMBALLA masterpiece based on the Porsche 911 Turbo

The history of GEMBALLA Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG is inseparably connected with the AVALANCHE. It was the first AVALANCHE generation in the mid 80s with its trendsetting body- and interior design which became a world-wide bestseller and laid the foundations of success for the Leonberg-based company. And ever since, this name is exclusively reserved for the masterpiece of the extensive GEMBALLA refining programme for Porsche 911 models.

With the AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R the chairman and founder Uwe Gemballa follows this success story and presents the face-lifted version of the current AVALANCHE-generation. Equipped with a spectacular automobile design and an auto body which has been broadened with Thyssen steel, the super sports car sets benchmarks for production quality and design vocabulary. But that is not enough: the AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R offers elaborate, supreme technology and with 650 hp it delivers an enormous top speed of 332 km/h. Driving pleasure for highest demands.

Fresh design for the super sports car

Already at first glance, the AVALANCHE explicitly underlines its ties with the supreme sports car league. Especially designed gull wing doors and the new front headlights from the Carrera GT, leave significant visual accents. The same applies for the powerful metal extensions which were specially produced in a Thyssen Group subsidiary and then directly welded to the body shell. The GEMBALLA technicians developed a custom-made bonnet and side skirts as well. The front wings are replaced by a carbon version. Following the facelift of the current Porsche 911 induction engine models, GEMBALLA gives the AVALANCHE a visual refreshment as well. A part of this modernisation is the entirely re-designed front skirt. The integrated carbon front lip conveys the air to the large cooling slits and gives the car an even more lowered look.

Also the rear section of the AVALANCHE contains a makeover: the most striking feature is the use of LED tail lamps from the current Porsche 911. Moreover, this is additionally enhanced by a new rear skirt. The integrated rear diffuser can either be selected with a varnish or in carbon fibre and offers space for the four end pipes of the sport exhaust system. Together with the carbon rear wing, it renders additional downthrust at the rear axle.

When engineering the AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R also great emphasis was put on the aerodynamic efficiency. Therefore, the body components were perfectly adjusted to each other. The result: An individual design in perfect surface quality which also reduces the lifting forces.

Sensational performance due to elaborate technology

In addition to the breath-taking shape of the AVALACHE, the GEMBALLA engine department developed a powerful performance enhancement for the serial gearing. The engine makeover includes a racing crankshaft, a titanium connecting rod, forged pistons and racing turbo chargers. Camshafts and cylinder heads are mechanically fabricated in precision work. The aluminium induction pipe and a carbon air box with sports air filter provide the optimal air supply. A further makeover feature and responsible for the sporty and powerful sound of the AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R is the stainless steel - high-performance exhaust system with the optimised racing headers.

After the extensive modifications, the super sports car has 650 hp / 478 kW at 6.200 rpm and 950 NM at 4.600 rpm. Thereby, the 4WD automobile accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 332 km/h.

And when this is not enough, the GEMBALLA-specialists offer even further engine types with performance enhancements up to 800 hp.

Wheels and running gear - the combination for best road handling and a striking appearance

The wheel/tyre combination of the AVALANCHE offers the optimal compromise between comfort and control. The multi-part and especially light aluminium wheels are delivered in size 9.0Jx20 with tyres measuring 245/30 ZR 20 for the front axle and 1.5Jx20 with 325/25 ZR 20 tyres at the rear axle.

The high-performance braking system which was especially devised for the AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R can be easily recognised by its red-painted brake callipers. The optimal deceleration and perfect gas pedal response is rendered by enlarged 6-piston brake callipers in connection with discs measuring 405 millimetres at the front axle and 4-piston brake callipers with 380mm-discs at the rear axle.
Also, the running gear has been thoroughly modified. The new coilover kit was especially adjusted to these increased requirements. Four individually adjustable rebound dampers allow an individual fine tuning. Sport stabilisers and strut braces render additional torsional stiffness and therefore improve road handling.

VIP lounge with motor sports atmosphere

GEMBALLA completely re-designs the interior of the AVALANCHE and turns it into a VIP lounge with motor sports atmosphere. The serial lining is replaced by most precious leather. The GEMBALLA aluminium pedals splendidly shine in the foot well and perfectly go with the carbon fibre components of the interior set. The technical highlight is the full-size airbag sports steering wheel measuring 340 millimetres in diameter. The sports seats type POLE POSITION offer extra seating stability.

GEMBALLA - the specialist for high end refinement and innovative interior design offers the AVALANCHE GTR 650 EVO-R from 350,000 € (net, including basic automobile Porsche 997 Turbo).

Source: Gemballa (via WCF)

Car and Driver: 2009 Porsche Boxster S vs. BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Audi TTS, Chevrolet Corvette

Shortly afterAutobild compared some of the most popular roadsters out there, the Michigan based felows at Car and Driver took this challenge a bit further. While the BMW Z4 is clearly a competitor to the Porsche Boxter S or the Audi TTS, we find intriguing the fact that the Chevrolet Corvette gets “thrown” in this comparison as well.

Are you still debating which roadster to choose? Having a difficult time comparing all the specs? How about pricing with options? Well, C&D has done a great job analyzing these beautiful roadsters, so let’s see what they had to say.

The idea was to round up a group of 50-something-thousand-dollar roadsters, but like the TARP plan, we blew through that ceiling almost immediately. The most egregious example is the Boxster S, which Porsche sent loaded with almost $20,000 worth of options—including the automaker’s new $3420 PDK dual-clutch transmission—for an overindulged as-tested price of $76,625. For 2009, the Boxster S comes with a revised 3.4-liter flat-six engine and freshened front and rear styling. It’s mostly direct injection that boosts the output 15 horsepower, for a total of 310.

Our second-most-pricey car is the new BMW Z4. The 300-hp sDrive35i starts at a not unreasonable $52,475, but a Sport package (which includes an adjustable suspension), a premium stereo, and a navigation system catapulted the sticker price to $65,345.

McLaren F1 meets maker in California

It's the little things in life that make all the difference. Flames shooting out the exhaust of a supercar? Awesome. Flames billowing out of the entire engine bay? Uh-oh. So seeing a McLaren F1 - in the United States, no less - going up in smoke is a real tear-jerker.
We have to admit that with so many drivers exhibiting more flash than talent, reporting on the endless barrage of destroyed supercars got a little tiresome, if not downright depressing. The McLaren F1 made even the Ferrari Enzo seem dime-a-dozen common - 100 examples were made in all, and only a tiny fraction of those squeaked through DOT regs to make it Stateside.
Reportedly valued at $2 million, this toasted Mac was spotted on Airport Boulevard in Santa Rosa, California, its BMW V12 on fire after its owner reportedly took it for a ride after leaving it dormant for six months. If that's the case, this is proof positive that cars need to be driven, not mothballed.
[Source: Wrecked Exotics]

Gemballa Mirage GT Carbon Edition

Gemballa doesn't strike us as a company that would be easily deterred by minor details. Things like the end of a production run, for example. So while the Porsche Carrera GT may have finished its run, that doesn't mean the German exotic tuning house is about to stop having fun.
We initially reported on the latest Gemballa Mirage GT Carbon Edition back in February, when details and images were scarce, but both have now emerged. As you'd expect from the name, the modified Carrera GT features a lot of carbon fiber trim, but unlike some other weave-clad tuner cars, the carbon on the latest Mirage isn't just for show: the aerodynamic elements aim to improve the car's performance by channeling airflow in and around the supercar's svelte shape to keep it breathing free and stuck to the tarmac.
Of course, Gemballa hasn't stopped there. Porsche's free-revving V10 has been tuned to produce 670 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel the rocket-sled up to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 208 mph. There's also an electro-hydraulic adjustable suspension to keep that carbon fiber lip spoiler clear of curbs and speed bumps. The package costs just shy of 300,000 euros ($425k), which doesn't include the cost of the donor car, and production will be limited to just five examples, which may keep moneyed Porschephiles satiated until the rumored roadgoing RS Spyder hits the road. Details in the press release after the jump and photos in the high-resolution image gallery below.

First free 2010 Camaro lowering kit already distributed

This is a real heart breaker. The guys and gals over at the Camaro5 forums are about as dedicated a group as you'll ever run into, and a number of the members have already picked up their hotly anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaros. One forum member received a rude awakening as his pride and joy 1LT Camaro was relieved of its 18-inch wheels and tires during the night. The criminals had the audacity to use the Camaro's jack, along with the jack of a Land Rover that was also relieved of its rollers, to commit this heinous crime.
Forum member Number 3 thinks he may have accidentally left the car unlocked, which is obviously a bad idea. For now, the Camaro is resting on three car jacks, and the hope is that the oil pan and exhaust were undamaged during the incident. Bummer. You can bet Number 3 will be scouring the Internet for anyone trying to hock a set of 18s on eBay Motors or Craigslist.
[Source: Camaro5]