Cars

The Audi R10 TDI has remained to be the sports car to beat after an impressive performance during the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA). Despite the numerous new regulations set for the race, the Audi AG—luxury unit of Volkswagen and recipient of quality Volkswagen rotors —have made quite a start into the 2007 motorsport season with its innovative diesel sports car and successful dress rehearsal for the Le Mans 24 Hours scheduled on June 16 and 17. The victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring was the eighth victory received by Audi for Volkswagen.

The Audi R10 TDI has remained unbeaten in its ninth consecutive race and had to start with only 10 percent smaller fuel tank which means 81 liters instead of 90 liters. The Audi has to stop for refueling five laps earlier that its competitors. Despite the prowess show by the Audi R10 TDI during the race, a newcomer has been able to take on the lead on various occasions with its 150 kg lighter LM P2 cars. And it was only second to last hour that Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) were able to take the lead in the most exciting and thrilling competitive sports car race ever witnessed. Frank Biela was able to equal Tom Kirstensen’s record of four overall Sebring victories.

The Audi R10 TDI ran without experiencing any technical problem for the entire generation of the 12 Hours of Sebring despite the demanding track. The only unscheduled pit stop was caused by a puncture in the second hour costing the winning car two laps plus two-time penalties and a stop-and-go penalty but in the end the Audi team won the race.

The updated engine of the Audi R10 TDI featured more compact diesel particle filters from Dow Automotive, together with some further enhanced suspension, the latest generation of Michelin tires and the weight-optimized transmission of the R10 TDI which worked flawlessly during the Le Mans dress rehearsal.

Unfortunately, the Sebring week did not prove to be as great for the second Audi Team with the defending champions of the American Le Mans Series, Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) plus Le Mans record winner Tom Kirstensen (Denmark). An accident happen during the Thursday evening’s night practice session, the R10 TDI had to be completely rebuilt over night. And despite the lack of time to set up the car completely, Capello together with McNIsh and Kirstensen were able to lead the race before the starter and the battery had to be changed twice. The Audi team finished fourth overall and second in the LM P1 class garnering high points.

The Results at the 12 Hours of Sebring

1 Biela/Pirro/Werner (Audi R10 TDI) 364 laps in 12h 01n 14.838s

2 Herta/Franchitti/Kanaan (Acura/Honda) – 6 laps

3 Fernandez/Diaz/Martinez (Lola-Acura/Honda) – 8 laps

4 Capello/Kristensen/McNish (Audi R10 TDI) – 11 laps

5 Dumas/Bernhard/Castroneves (porsche) – 13 laps

6 Brabham/Johansson/Dayton (Acura/Honda) – 18 laps

7 Beretta/Gavin/Papis (Chevrolet) – 23 laps

8 O’Connell/Magnussen/Fellows (Chevrolet) – 23 laps

9 Wallace/Leitzinger/Lally (Porsche) – 24 laps

10 Dyson/Smith (Porsche) – 31 laps

Famous Quotes after the Race

• Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “The team really has earned this victory. It has worked hard for it. We are happy winning Sebring another time and are unbeaten at Sebring since 2000. But we’ve also seen today how close it is now between the LM P1 and LM P2 cars. My fear that the two categories have been put together too closely, have been proved by today’s race.”

• Frank Biela (Audi R10 TDI #2): “Of course it’s nice to equal Tom Kristensen’s Sebring record. I’m very pleased. After the problem in the warm-up and the puncture at the beginning of the race I was not really expecting the victory anymore. It’s just superb that it ended this way.”

• Emanuele Pirro (Audi R10 TDI #2): “It’s been a great race for us. We had quite a few problems at the start of the race and were almost two laps behind. But in such long races you should never give up. In the end of the day the fastest and strongest car won. It was a nice win for us and a great start of the season. It was a race full of mechanical problems for everybody. But our car was really strong throughout the race.”

• Marco Werner (Audi R10 TDI #2): “I’m absolutely happy despite the day did not start too good in the warm-up. Also the beginning of the race was not the best with the puncture and the penalties in pit lane. But the car ran perfectly in the race – it’s simply an Audi, and you can rely on that. The race was fun although the last stint was very long. I was thinking about the brakes from time to time, but most of the time about the next restroom…”

• Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #1): “It was a shame to effectively be out of contention for overall race honors before mid distance after losing around 30 minutes to replace the starter motor twice but that is motor racing sometimes. It is very good for Audi to repeat our Sebring win of last year with the R10 TDI.”

• Tom Kristensen (Audi R10 TDI #1): “We were grateful to be in the race after the accident on Thursday night – the team and mechanics worked very hard to get us to the grid. The early stages of the race looked good for us. We came to Sebring for our car to win so of course it’s disappointing to have encountered these issues. But again the mechanics got us out and up to speed so that we could fight back but unfortunately not right at the front at the finish. Apart from the starter problem, the car ran beautifully.”

• Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #1): “We encountered starter problems on our car which was a shame because we were in a very strong position. But to finish 1-2 in LM P1 is still very pleasing. Our team showed a lot of strength of character to keep fighting. It’s now very clear that we have stiff competition from both Acura/Honda and Porsche – it’s going to be a tough battle with those cars.”

Natalie Anderson
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/audi-team-leads-at-sebring-118880.html

The Audi R10 TDI has remained to be the sports car to beat after an impressive performance during the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA). Despite the numerous new regulations set for the race, the Audi AG—luxury unit of Volkswagen and recipient of quality Volkswagen rotors —have made quite a start into the 2007 motorsport season with its innovative diesel sports car and successful dress rehearsal for the Le Mans 24 Hours scheduled on June 16 and 17. The victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring was the eighth victory received by Audi for Volkswagen.

The Audi R10 TDI has remained unbeaten in its ninth consecutive race and had to start with only 10 percent smaller fuel tank which means 81 liters instead of 90 liters. The Audi has to stop for refueling five laps earlier that its competitors. Despite the prowess show by the Audi R10 TDI during the race, a newcomer has been able to take on the lead on various occasions with its 150 kg lighter LM P2 cars. And it was only second to last hour that Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) were able to take the lead in the most exciting and thrilling competitive sports car race ever witnessed. Frank Biela was able to equal Tom Kirstensen’s record of four overall Sebring victories.

The Audi R10 TDI ran without experiencing any technical problem for the entire generation of the 12 Hours of Sebring despite the demanding track. The only unscheduled pit stop was caused by a puncture in the second hour costing the winning car two laps plus two-time penalties and a stop-and-go penalty but in the end the Audi team won the race.

The updated engine of the Audi R10 TDI featured more compact diesel particle filters from Dow Automotive, together with some further enhanced suspension, the latest generation of Michelin tires and the weight-optimized transmission of the R10 TDI which worked flawlessly during the Le Mans dress rehearsal.

Unfortunately, the Sebring week did not prove to be as great for the second Audi Team with the defending champions of the American Le Mans Series, Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) plus Le Mans record winner Tom Kirstensen (Denmark). An accident happen during the Thursday evening’s night practice session, the R10 TDI had to be completely rebuilt over night. And despite the lack of time to set up the car completely, Capello together with McNIsh and Kirstensen were able to lead the race before the starter and the battery had to be changed twice. The Audi team finished fourth overall and second in the LM P1 class garnering high points.

The Results at the 12 Hours of Sebring

1 Biela/Pirro/Werner (Audi R10 TDI) 364 laps in 12h 01n 14.838s

2 Herta/Franchitti/Kanaan (Acura/Honda) – 6 laps

3 Fernandez/Diaz/Martinez (Lola-Acura/Honda) – 8 laps

4 Capello/Kristensen/McNish (Audi R10 TDI) – 11 laps

5 Dumas/Bernhard/Castroneves (Porsche) – 13 laps

6 Brabham/Johansson/Dayton (Acura/Honda) – 18 laps

7 Beretta/Gavin/Papis (Chevrolet) – 23 laps

8 O’Connell/Magnussen/Fellows (Chevrolet) – 23 laps

9 Wallace/Leitzinger/Lally (porsche) – 24 laps

10 Dyson/Smith (Porsche) – 31 laps

Famous Quotes after the Race

• Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “The team really has earned this victory. It has worked hard for it. We are happy winning Sebring another time and are unbeaten at Sebring since 2000. But we’ve also seen today how close it is now between the LM P1 and LM P2 cars. My fear that the two categories have been put together too closely, have been proved by today’s race.”

• Frank Biela (Audi R10 TDI #2): “Of course it’s nice to equal Tom Kristensen’s Sebring record. I’m very pleased. After the problem in the warm-up and the puncture at the beginning of the race I was not really expecting the victory anymore. It’s just superb that it ended this way.”

• Emanuele Pirro (Audi R10 TDI #2): “It’s been a great race for us. We had quite a few problems at the start of the race and were almost two laps behind. But in such long races you should never give up. In the end of the day the fastest and strongest car won. It was a nice win for us and a great start of the season. It was a race full of mechanical problems for everybody. But our car was really strong throughout the race.”

• Marco Werner (Audi R10 TDI #2): “I’m absolutely happy despite the day did not start too good in the warm-up. Also the beginning of the race was not the best with the puncture and the penalties in pit lane. But the car ran perfectly in the race – it’s simply an Audi, and you can rely on that. The race was fun although the last stint was very long. I was thinking about the brakes from time to time, but most of the time about the next restroom…”

• Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #1): “It was a shame to effectively be out of contention for overall race honors before mid distance after losing around 30 minutes to replace the starter motor twice but that is motor racing sometimes. It is very good for Audi to repeat our Sebring win of last year with the R10 TDI.”

• Tom Kristensen (Audi R10 TDI #1): “We were grateful to be in the race after the accident on Thursday night – the team and mechanics worked very hard to get us to the grid. The early stages of the race looked good for us. We came to Sebring for our car to win so of course it’s disappointing to have encountered these issues. But again the mechanics got us out and up to speed so that we could fight back but unfortunately not right at the front at the finish. Apart from the starter problem, the car ran beautifully.”

• Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #1): “We encountered starter problems on our car which was a shame because we were in a very strong position. But to finish 1-2 in LM P1 is still very pleasing. Our team showed a lot of strength of character to keep fighting. It’s now very clear that we have stiff competition from both Acura/Honda and Porsche – it’s going to be a tough battle with those cars.”

Natalie Anderson
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/audi-team-leads-at-sebring-118880.html

I’m thinking of buying a Porsche boxster, and I was wondering what sort of maitance and upkeep is required for the average Porsche. How much does it cost on average, what do I have to do, that sort of thing.

This is a low maintenance car.
For example, porsche’s only need oil changes every 20,000 miles or 2 years, at least in the Boxster S. Should be the same in the regular Boxster. While most cars need oil changes every 3000-5000 miles or 3-5 months.

They are German luxury sports cars so they are expensive to maintain and fix, but probably cheaper than Mercedes to maintain and fix.

Porsche is also the most reliable German car you can buy.

They require premium gas.

If this is an automatic, it will be more expensive to maintain.

If it is a manual, here are the service schedules for it.

http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/maintenance.do

The history of Porsche began in 1948, June 8th to be exact. That
is when the first two seater 356 was produced. There were 51
hand built Porsche 356/2 automobiles built in Austria. This
model had a 40 hp 1.1 liter center engine.

The Porsche 911 rear engine automobile was introduced in 1963.
It has been one of the biggest selling sports cars in the world.
Over one million have been sold.

porsche has a new offering for the sports car enthusiast in
2006. Positioned between the Boxster S and 911 Carrera, and
marketed as an alternative to the BMW Z4 and the Mercedes SLK,
the Cayman S is to start appearing in showrooms in January 2006
and will carry a price tag of $58,900.00. Porsche is only
offering this hot-rod Cayman S and will not say when they will
offer an entry level model.

The Cayman S is a two seater modified version of the Boxster
convertible. The Cayman has a 295 hp 3.4 liter six cylinder
mid-engine that goes from 0-60 mph in an impressive 5.1 seconds.
Similar to the Boxster S, the Cayman S has a precise six speed
manual gearbox with a double inertia flywheel and hydraulic
clutch and power rear wheels. The Porsche Active Suspension
Management is an electronic damping control system that is an
option on the Cayman S. Switched on this system assures a smooth
ride and it improves stability and grip for sharper steering
responses.

Inside the Cayman S offers an on-board computer system with
continuous indication of mileage, time and speed, automatic
climate control, digital radio with in dash CD and a 7 speaker
Bose Surround Sound System.

Porsche expects the new Cayman S to attract the upwardly mobile
market. The company expects that Cayman buyers will be customers
moving up from the Porsche Boxster

Jeff Slokum
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/history-of-porsche-3516.html

My uncle got the keys to his porsche stolen. And now he wants to change the whole ignition system and locks on the car. How much would this cost? And also is this really necessary?

Depends on the year of the car. If its just a regular key a lock smith can re-key it for a couple of hundred dollars. If its a late model with electronic keys then he is looking at close to $2000 to get a new lock set.

My uncle got the keys to his porsche stolen. And now he wants to change the whole ignition system and locks on the car. How much would this cost? And also is this really necessary?

Depends on the year of the car. If its just a regular key a lock smith can re-key it for a couple of hundred dollars. If its a late model with electronic keys then he is looking at close to $2000 to get a new lock set.

TechArt, a recognized German vehicle manufacturer and tuner, created a new kit for the Porsche 911 Turbo. The upgraded Turbo engine is capable of producing 580 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 700 Nm at 4,850 rpm. Power generated is transmitted to all four wheels through a modified 6-speed manual gearbox that comes with TechArt gearshift travel shortage and extra gear-box-oil cooling.

There were no modifications made to Porsche 911 accessories nonetheless; the 3.6 liter boxer engine was modified with 2 larger turbochargers, a sports air filter, integrated high performance catalysts, and the stainless steel exhaust system with special manifolds. The car can now hit 62 mph in 3.46 seconds and a top speed of 210 mph.

Other Porsche car parts were also customized. TechArt Formula is used to customize the exterior of the car. Additionally, the 5-spoke wheels and an aerodynamics kit use said formula to boost the car performance. The front spoiler created by TechArt lessens aerodynamic lift by 15 percent. Also, the new rear wing in conjunction with TechArt rear diffuser can generate 20 percent extra down force.

Porsche 911, a valuable sports car from Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, is proven to be durable, distinctive, and famous. Since its inception in the auto industry, the same has been subjected to several modifications. As a fact, Porsche 911 has undergone constant development since 1964. The most notable mechanical modification is the introduction of air-cooled Type 996.

Porsche 911 has been upgraded and modified by both the private teams and the automaker. These modifications are specially made for Porsche to do better in rallying, racing, and other auto competition. Actually, Porsche 911 has been cited as the most successful competition car ever produced. Moreover, the most powerful is the Type 935. In an international poll, Porsche 911 landed on the 5th place for the world’s most influential car of the twentieth century. The top 4 cars were Ford Model T, the Mini, the Citroën DS and the Volkswagen Beetle.

TechArt, on the other hand, is a famed vehicle manufacturer. Nowadays, said company is setting a pattern in individualizing porsche cars. Its workmanship and sense of design pave way for finest cars in the industry including Porsche 911.

Shane Morgay
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/porsche-911s-turbo-upgraded-by-techart-74070.html

i know there’s all types of years but just for the average porsche 944,what’s the engine?…or Is there even an ‘avg’ porsche 944?
Lamens terms if you guys don’t mind please! lol flywheel,transaxle,driveshaft,liters?? please understand you’re talking to a complete amateur and beginner rookie to this mess.Thanks much!

2.5 L I4
2.7 L I4
3.0 L I4

Porsche enthusiasts are excited about the new offer from Porsche. This offer is all about the permanent all-wheel drive given by the automaker to Porsche 911 Targa. The vehicle is now on sale.

All-wheel drive (AWD), otherwise called as four-wheel drive, 4×4, 4WD, is a term used to describe a 4-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that is capable of allowing all the four wheels to simultaneously get power from the engine. This feature is commonly associated with off-road vehicles nonetheless; all-wheel drive is crucial in providing better control on slippery ice and race tracks on paved streets.

The term is originally used to describe truck-like vehicles that necessitate switching between a 2-wheel drive mode for roads and a 4-wheel drive mode for low traction conditions like ice, gravel and mud. AWD is common for identical drivetrain systems that will be marketed for both the upmarket and downmarket branding. However, it is also common for different drivetrain systems that will be marketed under the same name for brand homogeny.

porsche aficionados can now enjoy the fact that AWD is now made permanent for Targa. Aside from the AWD, Targa is equipped with lots of breath-taking Porsche car parts. Both Targa and 996 have common denominator and said feature contribute significantly to its “wow factor.” The striking feature is the huge glass roof and opening rear window. The glass roof plus the rear window are capable of inviting light and fresh air when they are left opened. The glass roof can be opened by up to half a meter in a matter of 7 seconds. This can be done by employing 2 electric motors. According to the automaker, to fully open the roof, it would take about 0.45 square meters.

Porsche factory parts for the roof panel of Targa are built of 2-ply tinted glass, which is lighter by 1.9kg than its predecessor. The automaker has developed a sealing system that minimizes wind noise. Also, wind deflector reduces turbulence inside the car. Targa also allows open-air free-spirited driving when outside temperature is accommodating. Subsequently, the semi-translucent roller sunblind is used to provide shade in the interior of the car when the roof is closed. The roller blind and the glass roof can be maneuvered using a rocker switch.

Porsche 911 Targa is powered by 3.6-litre six cylinder 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine that delivers 239kW. The S variant, the most powerful among the variants, uses a 3.8-litre engine that produces a top speed of 355bhp. The car is also equipped with Porsche VarioCam Plus valve control system, Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), and other striking car features.

Joe Thompson
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/allwheel-drive-for-porsche-911-targa-75658.html

Porsche enthusiasts are excited about the new offer from Porsche. This offer is all about the permanent all-wheel drive given by the automaker to Porsche 911 Targa. The vehicle is now on sale.

All-wheel drive (AWD), otherwise called as four-wheel drive, 4×4, 4WD, is a term used to describe a 4-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that is capable of allowing all the four wheels to simultaneously get power from the engine. This feature is commonly associated with off-road vehicles nonetheless; all-wheel drive is crucial in providing better control on slippery ice and race tracks on paved streets.

The term is originally used to describe truck-like vehicles that necessitate switching between a 2-wheel drive mode for roads and a 4-wheel drive mode for low traction conditions like ice, gravel and mud. AWD is common for identical drivetrain systems that will be marketed for both the upmarket and downmarket branding. However, it is also common for different drivetrain systems that will be marketed under the same name for brand homogeny.

porsche aficionados can now enjoy the fact that AWD is now made permanent for Targa. Aside from the AWD, Targa is equipped with lots of breath-taking Porsche car parts. Both Targa and 996 have common denominator and said feature contribute significantly to its “wow factor.” The striking feature is the huge glass roof and opening rear window. The glass roof plus the rear window are capable of inviting light and fresh air when they are left opened. The glass roof can be opened by up to half a meter in a matter of 7 seconds. This can be done by employing 2 electric motors. According to the automaker, to fully open the roof, it would take about 0.45 square meters.

Porsche factory parts for the roof panel of Targa are built of 2-ply tinted glass, which is lighter by 1.9kg than its predecessor. The automaker has developed a sealing system that minimizes wind noise. Also, wind deflector reduces turbulence inside the car. Targa also allows open-air free-spirited driving when outside temperature is accommodating. Subsequently, the semi-translucent roller sunblind is used to provide shade in the interior of the car when the roof is closed. The roller blind and the glass roof can be maneuvered using a rocker switch.

Porsche 911 Targa is powered by 3.6-litre six cylinder 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine that delivers 239kW. The S variant, the most powerful among the variants, uses a 3.8-litre engine that produces a top speed of 355bhp. The car is also equipped with Porsche VarioCam Plus valve control system, Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), and other striking car features.

Joe Thompson
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/allwheel-drive-for-porsche-911-targa-75658.html