Porsche to Return to Detroit Show with a Bang, will Premiere a "Spectacular Model". What will it be?

It's been a good four years since the last time we saw Porsche at the Detroit Motor Show, otherwise known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), but the famous Stuttgart automaker is getting ready to make a big comeback at the 2011 edition of the event. Not only will Porsche make it to the 2011 NAIAS, but the company revealed through one of its spokesman that it is planning to premiere a “spectacular” model.

“We’ll have something spectacular to show there,” said Hans- Gerd Bode, a spokesman for Porsche, in an interview on Friday. “You’ll have to wait and be surprised.” As you may have guessed, the Porsche official did not reveal any other details leaving us with nothing but speculation at this point.

Aside from the already confirmed for production 918 Spyder Hybrid supercar, other new Porsche models planned for the not so far away future are the next generations of the 911 series, Boxster and Cayman, plus a smaller three-door SUV, the Cajun. We should mention here that a couple of days ago, Porsche released a press announcement stating that the firm's supervisory board gave the green light for the production of the Cajun.

Here's the statement:

"During its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, laid the foundations for continuous and successful growth of the company. The Supervisory Board instructed the Board of Management to drive forward the development of a further model series up to series production. Under the working name "Cajun", this efficient and sporty model will further expand the world’s most successful Porsche segment in the SUV sector.

In addition to the new Cayenne, which has clearly consolidated its market position as the most successful sporty SUV in the premium segment, the "Cajun" will also have a very positive impact with its typical Porsche features such as light weight, ease of handling and agility. As an attractive entry model in the Porsche world, the "Cajun" will attract new and even younger customers to the premium brand along with the Boxster, the market leader in the segment of two-seater, mid-size sports cars."

Of course, Porsche may show a completely different model including a concept vehicle of some sort. Feel free to speculate in the comments section below.

Via: Bloomberg

Porsche Cayenne 902 Coupe by Merdad to Debut at London's MPH Show

It was announced today that the grand unveiling of the new 3 door Cayenne 902 Coupe and its somewhat less intriguing 5 door brethren from UK-based tuning house Merdad, which we first told you about in June, will take place at the MPH The Prestige & Performance Motor Show in November.

Both the 3-door and 5-door variants are based off the second-generation Porsche Cayenne SUV and come with a variety of styling and performance upgrades with output ranging between 550 and 750-horsepower, depending on the level of tune. The most potent version is said to sprint from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in 4.4 seconds. Full details on the specifications and extras are to be released at the MPH Show.

The British tuning firm responsible for the Cayenne Coupe is owned by a man who we only get to know by the name (or surname) "Merdad". On the company's website it is noted that he previously worked with Uwe Gemballa for five years before opening his own tuning shop.

Here's what founder and creator Merdad stated about the tuned Cayenne SUVs: "We are very proud that this creation has brought together many British engineers and designers who have contributed to bringing this fantastic beast to the table."

"We now feel the time is right to unveil the Merdad Cayenne 902 Coupe and the Merdad 5 door to the world at MPH and are excited to see what the visitors to the show think of its unique design and unbelievable power will truly set the show and the rest of the world alight," he added.

As always, there are two MPH shows, with the first featuring Top Gear Live to take place at Earls Court from November 4-7th and second one at the NEC in Birmingham between November 11-14th.

VIDEO: Porsche Shows Off 918 Spyder in Motion

Having recently confirmed for production, Porsche took the 918 Spyder Concept over to Monterey, California last week ahead of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. And while they were at it, the Germans shot a new video clip of the plug-in hybrid supercar on the road.

A spiritual successor to the 959 and Carrera GT models, the 918 Spyder sports a mid-mounted 500HP 3.4 liter V8 gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors located on the front and rear axle producing a combined 218-horsepower, for a total system output of 718HP.

The numbers you want to know -for the concept version- is a top speed of 320km/h (198mph), a zero-to-100km/h (62mph) time of 3.2 seconds and a combined fuel economy of 3.0 lt/100km (78mpg US) with CO2 emissions of just 79g/km. And oh, according to Porsche, the 918 Spyder is faster around the Nürburgring Nordschleife than the Carrera GT.

Porsche Green Lights 918 Spyder 718HP Plug-in-Hybrid Supercar for Production

It's official; Porsche will build a limited series of its radical 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid concept that made its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

"Reflecting the overwhelming response from the public and customers to the Concept Study, the Supervisory Board gave Porsche's Board of Management the mission to develop a production model based on the car already presented," Porsche said in statement on Wednesday.

Porsche insiders noted earlier this year that in order for the car to be produced, the company needed a minimum of 1,000 orders. A report from Bloomberg in the beginning of July made word of at least 2,000 individuals placing non-binding expressions of interest for the supercar.

"Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts," said Michael Macht, President and Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG.

"We will develop the 918 Spyder in Weissach and assemble it in Zuffenhausen. This is also a very important commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base."

The concept version of the mid-engined two-seater 918 Spyder featured a plug-in hybrid drivetrain comprising of a mid-mounted 500HP 3.4 liter V8 gasoline engine, and electric motors located on the front and rear axle with a combined output of 218-horsepower.

The company claims that the hybrid supercar should return 78 mpg US (3 liters / 100km) with CO2 emissions of just 79g/km, hit 100km/h (62mph) in 3.2 seconds, reach a top speed of around 320km/h (198mph) and speed around the 'Ring faster than its predecessor, the Carrera GT.

Porsche didn't say when it will introduce the production version of the 918 Spyder, which is rumored to carry a price tag of around $630,000.

Report Claims Porsche May Price 918 Spyder at $630,000, or 1.5 Times Higher than Ferrari 599 GTO

Porsche officials may have not yet given the green light for the production of the 918 Spyder, but we already have a projected price for the hybrid supercar that was unveiled in concept form at the Geneva Auto Show in March - or at least, that's what a report from Bloomberg supports.

Citing two people with "direct knowledge of the plan", Bloomberg reported that if Porsche goes ahead and builds the 918 Spyder, it may carry a price tag of around €500,000 (equal to about US$630,000 at today's exchange rates).

That's 10 percent higher than Porsche's previous flagship supercar, the €453,000 Carrera GT built between 2003 and 2006, and roughly one-and-a-half times the price of Ferrari's "fastest ever road-going model", the new 599 GTO that costs -according to Bloomberg- €320,000 (US$405,000 at the current exchange rates).

The news agency says the number of people that have put in non-binding expressions of interest for the Porsche 918 Spyder has risen to at least 2,000 individuals.

Porsche development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer has previously stated that the company needs a minimum of 1,000 sales to approve limited production of the supercar. In this case, Porsche is said to make at least €500 million in revenue.

As a reminder, the two-seater 918 Spyder concept model makes use of a 500-horsepower 3.4 liter V8 gasoline engine positioned midship in front of the rear axle, and electric motors located on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218-horsepower. The company claims that the hybrid supercar should return 78 mpg (3 liters / 100km), hit 100km/h (62mph) in 3.2 seconds, and speed around the 'Ring faster than its predecessor, the Carrera GT.

Source: BloombergPo