2013 Porsche Panamera GTS Announced: Like a Panamera Turbo Without the Turbo

PATRICK M. HOEY AND THE MANUFACTURER

People who need to apex at max g while taking the kids to school will have another option next spring when Porsche brings forth the 2013 Panamera GTS. Basically a sportier version of the current Panamera 4S, the $110,875 GTS will be the third most expensive derivative of Porsche’s sedan, after the $137,675 Turbo and $174,175 Turbo S.

Introduced at the Los Angeles auto show, the naturally aspirated GTS pulls its suspension and brake components from the Turbo—including the blown car’s larger front rotors—while its free-breathing 4.8-liter V-8 gets a revised intake and stouter valve springs. Redline is up 400 rpm, to 7100, and peak horsepower climbs 30, to 430. The engine’s noises are enhanced using a “Sound Symposer” similar to that on the new 911, with an acoustic tube and vibrating membrane that transmits intake snarl to the cabin via the A-pillar.

Down low, the air suspension that is optional on base Panameras is included on the GTS, with firmer shock rates and a ride height that is dropped 0.4 inch. Both the standard 19-inch wheels and the optional 20s wear Michelin Pilot Sport summer rubber, and the rear wheels get 0.2-inch spacers to widen the track slightly.

Visually, the changes include a front bumper from the SportDesign package available on other Panameras (one of the 10 million options on all Porsches) and the deployable three-element, four-position rear spoiler from the Turbo. There’s also some extra black body trim, and a new arrest-me-now red called Carmine joins the palette. In a first for the Panamera, Porsche says it’ll paint the car any bespoke color you can think of.

Leather and Alcantara, the artificial mouse fur that is the universal code for sporty, are used throughout the interior. Sill plaques identify the model as a GTS, as does lettering embroidered on the seats. The Sport Chrono package is standard and adds a “Sport Plus” setting for suspension and powertrain settings, as well as a 5500-rpm clutch-drop launch-control function on the PDK seven-speed auto-manual transmission. You’ll want to try that after the crossing guard leaves the intersection.

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2012 Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype Race Car Announced

November 15, 2011 at 9:15pm by Alexander Stoklosa

The Daytona Prototype class already hosts the quickest, hottest cars in the Grand-Am series, and Chevrolet’s new 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype looks to amp things up even more when it takes to the track at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January. For those unfamiliar, the Daytona Prototype class is comprised of purpose-built, mid-engine racers that are far less related to street cars than, say, the ZR1-based Corvette C6.R, which races in ALMS.

Chevrolet’s DP entry wasn’t an entirely home-grown effort, and the Corvette Prototype was developed with help from chassis specialists Riley, Coyote, and Dallara along with Pratt & Miller, Corvette Designers, and Grand-Am itself. Other than a few Corvette styling cues—including a split rear window!—littered about the carbon-fiber bodywork, the prototype car shares nothing with a roadgoing Corvette. (To the Corvette speculators, the DP car may have that throwback rear window and a mid-engine configuration, but that does not mean the C7 Corvette will, too.) Among the vast array of specifics left out of the release were engine layout and size; a 500-horse, 5.0-liter Chevrolet V-8 was campaigned last year, however, so we have a sneaking suspicion that’s what lives under the Lexan window out back.

Four teams have been announced as running the new Corvette: Spirit of Daytona Racing, SunTrust Racing, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, and Action Express Racing. Given the Corvette nameplate’s long and storied history in road racing—and its huge pile of trophies—we’re excited to see how the car does next year.

Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet Corvette |

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Buick LaCrosse GL Announced for L.A.: Choccachino’d All Over the Place

The press release reads like it’s announcing a new Bentley flagship: The designers “took inspiration from the burnished metal of antique jewelry, ombré patina on vintage guitars, and flocked lining of keepsake boxes.” They “looked to the understated elegance of classic club chairs and [the] contours of windswept sand dunes” in crafting the French-stitched seats. “And their use of smooth suede for the headliner is designed to invite one’s touch like a favorite pair of gloves.”

Keep Reading: Buick LaCrosse GL Concept – Auto Shows

Tags: American, auto shows, Buick, Buick LaCrosse, Buick LaCrosse GL concept, concepts |

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2012 BMW M3 Competition Edition Frozen Silver Announced, Just 40 to be Built

The all-new, F30-generation BMW 3-series sedan debuted this past month, but the current coupe and cabriolet will continue for a little while longer—which means that the two-door and folding-roof M3s based on them will, too. (The M3 sedan was discontinued along with the previous E90 four-door.) But the M3 coupe and cabrio will soon give way to replacements, too, and the last year has seen BMW unveil a number of special-edition models, melding performance-enhancing components with cosmetic modifications that are easy to love. Or at least lust.

This 2012 M3 Competition Edition Frozen Silver follows the formula to a T. Before you complain about BMW cranking out yet another M3 variant, you might want to first submit your gearhead membership card to the home office for destruction. Chevy has already milked the Camaro for nearly a dozen special editions; we’ve got no complaints when an actual kick-ass car spawns a few spin-offs.

You may notice that this car’s name varies only slightly from those of recent special-edition M3s—including the Frozen Gray special edition—and BMW’s work here is largely the same as before. In this case, the paint is matte-finish Frozen Silver, while the exterior gets a few yards of black chrome and special black M3 GTS 19-inch wheels. The interior also is sent through BMW’s ringer, and emerges slathered in Alcantara-brand faux suede and carbon fiber, and with nearly every surface festooned with M3 and checkered-flag ornamentation.

To account for the competitive claim in the car’s name, the Competition Edition Frozen Silver sports the otherwise-optional Competition package: It lowers the suspension by 0.4 inch, adds standard Electronic Damping Control, and promises even looser stability control when the system is in Dynamic mode. This package also was standard on last year’s Frozen Gray edition car, as well as the Frozen Black M3 announced a few months ago. Like on those cars, the only transmission available is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Boo.

The “too long, didn’t read” version of the above: This M3 Competition Edition Frozen Silver really only adds a new color to the palette of special-edition M3s. It’s otherwise the same. Well, there is one more difference: More examples will be sold, and all 40 of them will retail for $81,060.

Tags: BMW, BMW M, BMW M3, BMW M3 Competition Edition Frozen Silver, coupe, German |

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New Volkswagen R-Line Package Announced for Tiguan, Won’t Come Here

On paper, the Volkswagen Tiguan crossover reads something like a tall GTI—a 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four with a six-speed manual transmission and a multilink rear suspension are all on the menu—but it wasn’t even close looks-wise, even with its recent face lift. Until now. In, uh, Europe. There, a newly optional R-Line style package brings some toughness to the Tig’s countenance, but the CC will remain the only U.S.-market model available with R-Line trim.

Here’s what we’re missing: To create the full R-Line look, two packs must be ordered. The first is the R-Line exterior appearance upgrade and the second is an R-Line interior job; to get the interior goods you have to first order the exterior stuff. The exterior kit includes a set of sharp-looking 19-inch wheels, a body kit with a rear “diffuser,” a rear spoiler, and a monochromatic paint scheme (the standard Tiguan has more black plastic addenda). R-Line buyers can order their Tiguan in white, silver, black pearl, dark blue, and gray. The R-Line interior pack bundles a pair of front sport seats, a black headliner, stainless-steel pedals, and R-line badges on the steering wheel and head rests.

The R-Line exterior pack will cost Europeans €2460, while the interior goodies pile on an additional €840. Upgrading to leather boosts the price by a further €2120. For budget-minded R-Line wannabes, VW is offering the R-Design rear spoiler and black headliner as individual options available to all Tiguan customers. This model joins VW’s excellent 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder on the list of current Tiguan variants we don’t get here, but we’ll likely get a diesel when the next generation of the small crossover hits in a few years, so hope perhaps isn’t lost for a future R-Line.

Tags: R-Line, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Tiguan |

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