911 GT3 R Hybrid Celebrates World Debut in Geneva

Porsche Intelligent Performance makes Racing Cars even More Efficient

Stuttgart. Exactly 110 years after Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first car with hybrid drive, the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is once again taking up this visionary drive concept in production-based GT racing: During the Geneva Motor Show, a Porsche 911 GT3 R with innovative hybrid drive is making its debut, opening up a new chapter in the history of Porsche with more than 20,000 wins in 45 years scored by the extremely successful Porsche 911 in racing trim.

The innovative hybrid technology featured in the car has been developed especially for racing, standing out significantly in its configuration and components from conventional hybrid systems. In this case, electrical front axle drive with two electric motors developing 60 kW each supplements the 480-bhp four-litre flat-six at the rear of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. A further significant point is that instead of the usual batteries in a hybrid road car, an electrical flywheel power generator fitted in the interior next to the driver delivers energy to the electric motors.

The flywheel generator itself is an electric motor with its rotor spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as rotation energy. The flywheel generator is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes, with the two electric motors reversing their function on the front axle and acting themselves as generators. Then, whenever necessary, that is when accelerating out of a bend or when overtaking, the driver is able to call up extra energy from the charged flywheel generator, the flywheel being slowed down electromagnetically in the generator mode and thus supplying up to 120 kW to the two electric motors at the front from its kinetic energy. This additional power is available to the driver after each charge process for approximately 6 - 8 seconds.

Energy formerly converted – and thus wasted – into heat upon every application of the brakes, is now highly efficiently converted into additional drive power.

Depending on racing conditions, hybrid drive is used in this case not only for extra power, but also to save fuel. This again increases the efficiency and, accordingly, the performance of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, for example by reducing the weight of the tank or making pitstops less frequent.

After its debut in Geneva the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races on the Nürburgring. The highlight of this test programme will be the 24 Hours on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring on May 15th and 16th. The focus is not on the 911 GT3 R Hybrid winning the race, but rather serving as a spearhead in technology and a “racing laboratory” providing know-how on the subsequent use of hybrid technology in road-going sports cars.

The 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a perfect example of the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, a principle to be found in every Porsche: More power on less fuel, more efficiency and lower CO2 emissions – on the track and on the road.

US customers verify Porsche’s top quality

First place ranking once again in the J.D. Power Study on new car quality

Stuttgart. In the renowned “Initial Quality Study” conducted by the US market research institute J.D. Power on the quality of new cars, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, once again reached the winner’s circle. By ranking first place in the overall ratings, the manufacturer of premium sports cars met the highest quality demands again this year in its most important export market, the USA.

After ranking first place three times from 2006 to 2008 and second place in 2009, Porsche has now reached a leading position in the J.D Power study for the fifth consecutive time. The 911 sports car was ranked first in the “Premium Sporty Car” segment and was rated the second-best car in the entire study. Its new fourth Panamera modelline came in third place in the “Large Premium Car” segment against established competitors.

“The high level of customer satisfaction at Porsche is the result of our consistent quality strategy, from development to production and sales, which we are continually improving,” said Michael Macht, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG. “Current proof that we focus strictly on customer requirements is also our Gran Turismo Panamera. Its excellent rating performance in the J.D. Power study highlights its top class.”

In March of this year, Porsche already achieved impressive ratings in the J.D. Power Study on used car quality, ranking number one in the overall ratings. The Initial Quality Study surveys the satisfaction of more than 82,000 US customers in the first three months of purchasing their new cars. A total of 236 car models are rated according to 228 criteria that are arranged in categories like driving experience and engine performance.

Gullwing model wins in “super sports” category: SLS AMG wins readers’ poll “The sportiest cars of 2010”

Affalterbach – Victory for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG over some strong competition. In the “Sportiest cars of 2010” readers’ poll organised by the renowned car magazine sport auto, the gullwing model took the title in the “super sports” section.

With no less than 17.2 percent of the votes cast, the SLS AMG left all the other
super sports cars trailing in its wake. The win – over 13 competitors from Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, the USA, Sweden and France – underlines just how popular the SLS AMG is amongst the readers.

The very best series-production and performance-tuned vehicles compete against each other on an annual basis in the sport auto readers’ poll; taking part this year were 260 vehicles in 25 categories. A total of 10,000 readers cast their vote. Not only did the super sports car from Mercedes-Benz win over the judges’ hearts – it was also victorious when put to the test. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine with dry sump lubrication and 420 kW (571 hp) plus a torque of 650 newton metres, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with a transaxle configuration – not to mention its athletic double-wishbone sports suspension – add up to a unique high-tech blend, ensuring driving dynamics of the highest calibre.

These were very much in evidence at the “super test”, too, which is very highly regarded amongst the sport auto readers and industry experts alike: a lap time of 7.40 minutes on the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring is an impressive performance indeed. “Respect! The Mercedes sports brand AMG has put a magnificent machine on the road” was the reaction following sport auto’s “super test”.

Since its world premiere at the 2009 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main, the SLS AMG has already been showered with lots of major awards:

• “Red Dot Design Award”
• “iF product design award 2010”
• Design Award 2010 (Auto Bild)
• Plus X Award
• “Golden Steering Wheel 2009” (Bild am Sonntag and Auto Bild)
• “The Best Cars”, super sports car category (auto motor und sport)
• “Auto Trophy 2009” and “Design Trophy” (Auto Zeitung)
• “TOPauto 2010” (Motor Information Service)
• “Best New Product 2009, International Motor Show in Frankfurt” (AutoScout24)
• “GT Car of the Year” (Top Gear, GB)
• “Best Dream Machine” (MotorWeek TV’s Driver’s Choice Award, USA)