Techart Porsche 911 Turbo goes from 0 to 100km/h in 2.8 Seconds : Super Horse Power

There's fast and then there's Techart fast. The German aftermarket company that has made a name for itself in the crowded world of Porsche tuners has presented a new and more potent performance package for the current 911 Turbo [997 series].

The TA 097/T3 conversion kit for the 997 Turbo involves the installation of a sport air filter, new manifolds, the TECHART Turbo chargers VTG, high performance intercoolers as well as the an ECU upgrade and engine styling package in carbon-fibre.

In factory trim, the 911 Turbo's force-fed 3.8-liter flat-six lays down 500HP and 650Nm of peak torque, and this package will bump that up to 700-horses and 880Nm (649 lb-ft).

As a result, the Techart-prepped Porsche completes the classic sprint from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in a mere 2.8 seconds and breaks the 200km/h (124mph) barrier in 9.0 seconds. Top speed is rated at 352km/h (219mph).

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2012 Porsche 911 Convertible: Clearest Spy Shots Yet : Not Fast Five

One of our wily spies has caught another snap of the next member to join Porsche's new 991 family of sports cars after the 911 Carrera and Carrera S, the 911 Convertible.

These are probably the best spy shots we've seen of the cloth top 911 as the only bits hidden from the eye are the front and rear lights that are covered with faux decals, an increasingly common practice when it comes to Porsche prototypes.

The twin-tailpipes on either side of the bumper reveal that model seen here is the 911 Carrera S Convertible, which comes fitted with a 3.8-liter flat-six churning out 400-horses towards the rear wheels via Porsche's 7-speed manual gearbox or as an option, the dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission.

There will also be an entry-level 911 Carrera powered by the same 3.4 liters flat-six with a maximum output of 350HP found in the Coupe model that made its world premiere in Frankfurt this month.

Aside from the Carrera and Carrera S derivatives, Porsche will also offer a large variety of other Convertible versions of the 911 including the Turbo and Turbo S.

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Volvo Says Dankeschön to Germans for Ranking the Brand First in Customer Satisfaction

We'll have to wait and see if and when an American carmaker will provide an appropriate answer to Audi's new A6 commercial, but meanwhile here's a fresh and rather witty TV spot from Volvo that thanks German drivers for making the Swedish company the number 1 brand for customer satisfaction in Germany.

Cleverly, the Swedes also say Dankeschön (thank you in German) to the country's car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Opel, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Porsche for their...participation, and all this under the beautiful sounds of Bert Kaempfert's famous tune, "Danke Schoen".

Video follows below.

Dankeschön for the tip, Arne D.!

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SPY SHOTS: Porsche Preparing Panamera for its First Facelift

The Porsche Panamera was introduced in 2009 as the Stuttgart-based brand's first attempt to break into the lucrative executive saloon segment (albeit with a rear hatch).

Even though many were quick to dismiss the design, sales proved otherwise with the German firm expecting to sell around 28,000 examples this year, far exceeding its initial target of 20,000 cars.

Now, Porsche has begun preparations for the Panamera's first facelift, which should arrive in the market within the next year or year-and-a-half.

These fresh spy pictures show an early development prototype with only the front end covered suggesting some minor changes to the bumper and the headlamps. It goes without saying that redesign will be in line with what we saw on the latest 911 that was introduced in Frankfurt last week.

Despite the fact that there are no alterations to the rear end on this test model, the final production version may features some subtle / evolutionary touches to the tail lamps and the bumper designs.

The current model's engine lineup will probably carry over unchanged for the most part.

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Anderson Germany Overdoes the Porsche Panamera Turbo

Anderson G Panamera

In general, German tuners aren't known for their restraint in the visual department and Anderson Germany's latest take on the Porsche Panamera Turbo is no exception to the rule.

If you're looking for a subtle makeover, you may as well skip this post altogether because Anderson Germany has gone wild with its cosmetic proposal. The tuning firm starts by wrapping the Panamera sports saloon in a matte red vinyl cover.

Anderson Germany then adds a bodykit comprising of an exposed carbon fiber bonnet and rear hatch, while the same materials make an appearance on the exterior mirrors.

A new front bumper with a gaping grille, side air vents, rocker panels, a different rear bumper with Audi R8-like air outlets and a diffusor, plus tinted lights and a rear wing are also included in the package.

The final touch is a set of black 22-inch alloy wheels with a red outer rim shod in tires size 265/30 up front and 295/25 at the rear complete the exterior makeover.

Inside, we find quilted black leather and red piping adorning the new sport bucket seats, door panels and parts of the dashboard and steering wheel, Alcantara headliner and tons of decorative carbon fiber, plus a new infotainment system.

Anderson Germany completes the tune with a 40mm lower suspension and an engine kit that includes an ECU upgrade and a custom exhaust system to boost the Turbo model's V8 engine to 585-horses.

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IAA 2011: Eterniti Hemera Brings a Breath of Fresh Air to the Porsche Cayenne

Eterniti Hemera

Making its world premiere in close-to-production form is the Eterniti Hemera, which the newly formed London-based company refers to as the "world's first Super-SUV".

A close look at the Hemera reveals that the vehicle is more or less a heavily modified (or tuned, take your pick) Porsche Cayenne SUV, which itself is based on the VW Touareg.

Eterniti claims that all body panels on the Hemera are new and made of carbon composite materials, while the company added that is also working on bespoke LED headlamps and lenses that will make it on the final production model.

Furthermore, Eterniti said that the interior, which is in the final stages of prototype testing and will be revealed later in the year, will be "almost 100% unique" to the SUV model.

Aside from the re-packaged interior, and the lightweight carbon-composite skin, the Hemera will also receive a modified 4.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing over 620bhp for a top speed in excess of 180mph or 290km/h.

The Hemera will be hand-assembled at a new factory in London. Production is set to start in early 2012, with first deliveries expected by the summer of the same year.

Eterniti said that while prices have yet to be confirmed, the Hemera will carry a base price tag of around £150,000, or approximately US$237,000 / €174,000 at the current exchange rates.

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