All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Porsche produced more than 2 million cars in Leipzig

Porsche ends 2023 in style. The reason is the two millionth car produced at the Leipzig plant, and the honor went to the third generation of the recently revealed Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid.

The car is finished in Madeira Gold Metallic and has already found its owner in the United Arab Emirates. It is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 bi-turbo engine combined with an electric motor with a total power of 680 hp (507 kW) and 686 lb-ft (930 Nm) of torque. It reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph). It is equipped with a 25.9 kWh battery and an 11 kW charger that shortens the charging time despite the higher energy content.

The plant in Leipzig employs more than 4,400 people, and over the years has become a center for electric vehicles, and in the future it will produce three types of powertrains: combustion, electric and hybrid drives, all on the same production line.

“The success story of our Leipzig location is closely linked to the Panamera. Like the location itself, the model represents growth and change. Also, our employees are our biggest success factor. Without the commitment of our team, there were many challenges we wouldn’t have been able to master,” said Gerd Rupp, Chairman of the Management Board of Porsche Leipzig GmbH.

The new Panamera comes with new technology, the Porsche Driver Experience, first introduced in the Taycan, with the focus on the driver. It is equipped with a semi-active chassis with new two-valve shock absorbers that can regulate compression and rebound independently of each other. In this way, the range between comfortable and sporty settings is significantly expanded even with the new serial chassis.

Source: Porsche

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1964 Porsche 356C convertible is up for auction

In 1964, Porsche introduced the final revision of the 356, its first production car. In the same year, the company introduced the now legendary 911 model, and due to the fact that the demand for this model remained strong in North America, it was sold through 1965. A one example, 1964 Porsche 356C convertible is up for auction.

This Porsche 356C is powered by an aftermarket 1.6-liter Type 616/15 flat-four engine with twin Zenith carburetors. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Type 741 four-speed manual transmission. The owner did a service four years ago, which included changing the oil, rebuilding the starter, and replacing the distributor cap, rotor, points, spark plugs, fuel filter, and air filter elements. It sits on 15″ chrome-finished wheels wrapped in 165/80 Classic Radial LL800 tires.

The Reutter-built body is finished in Signalrot and is in fairly good condition, with minor chips and scratches. It is equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, Koni shock absorbers, and a black convertible top. In 1995, the front fenders, hood, and left door were repaired. In 2011, the windshield, bumper guards, horn grilles, exterior lighting assemblies, hood handle, front hood seal, exhaust tips, and various emblems were replaced.

Inside, the seats are covered in black leather, which also covers the door panels. Additional equipment includes charcoal square-weave carpeting, rubber floor mats, front lap belts, and a Blaupunkt push-button AM radio. In front of the driver are a wood-rimmed steering wheel and a five-digit odometer showing 4,520 kilometers (total mileage unknown).

The car comes with a copy of its Kardex, invoices dating back to 1987, an owner’s manual, a tool kit, and a clean California title.

The auction ends on December 5 and the highest bid at the time of writing was USD $62,000.

Source: Bring a Trailer

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Tesla started delivering the Cybertruck

On November 30, Tesla officially started delivering the Cybertruck. It is a long-awaited car whose story began in 2019, and in July of this year, the media announced that the company had informed suppliers that the delivery of the vehicle would start by the end of the year.

The Cybertruck will be offered in three powertrain versions. The most powerful is the Cyberbeast, which will be powered by three electric motors with a total power of 845 hp (630 kW) and 10,296 lb-ft (13,960 Nm) of torque. It will reach 60 mph in 2.6 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).

The entry-level version will be powered by a single engine and will have rear-wheel drive. It will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 9.6 seconds, and will have a range of 402 kilometers. This model will hit the market in 2025 and will cost $60,990.

The third version will have all-wheel drive, 600 hp (447 kW) and 13,667 lb-ft (10,080 Nm) of torque. It will reach 60 mph (100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). The Cybertruck can tow 11,000 lbs (just under five tons) and have a payload capacity of about 1,134 kg of cargo, and will have a range of 340 miles (547 kilometers).

Tesla is one of the few companies in the world that has its own production of all components for its vehicles. In the financial report for the third quarter of 2023, it was announced that the annual production capacity is 125,000 units of Cybertruck per year. The company could use a significant portion of the plant’s production capacity, and time will tell if the production volume will increase.

Source: Tesla

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