Yes! Finally the south of Europe is good at something.
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Yes! Finally the south of Europe is good at something.
From what I heard, the 911 is going turbo for the base 911s now. Does that mean the GT3 is going to be endangered, or is that an exception to the rule?
I kind of liked having the NA GTS around, as the GT3 had gone PDK.
I think that the idea is that the GT models will remain N/A (don't know if that includes the GTS) and the rest will go turbo.
If lesser 911 models are now with twin turbochargers, what will happen to 911 Turbo and its position in the 911 lineup?
Not so special anymore, is it?
The name Turbo will see the same devaluation the name Carrera suffered in 1989.
No that this matters to the average 911 owners as they do not know what's under the bonnet. Or under which one for that matter.
[quote=Ferrer;1012878]I think that the idea is that the GT models will remain N/A (don't know if that includes the GTS) and the rest will go turbo.[/quote]
I hope that's true, as that was the most powerful 911 you could get with a manual and a N/A engine.
[quote=Revo;1012880]If lesser 911 models are now with twin turbochargers, what will happen to 911 Turbo and its position in the 911 lineup?
Not so special anymore, is it?[/quote]
I didn't think about that either!
Maybe they will add a [B]BIG[/B] 911 Turbo badge and a [B]LITTLE[/B] 911 Turbo badge to the rear to differentiate the two.
[URL="http://sniffpetrol.com/2015/01/22/porsche-announces-911-really-turbo/"]Sniff's got you covered[/URL].
Realistically, the badges won't change, the Turbo will just keep a higher capacity engine with more boost (it'll be 0.8 for Carrera, 1.1 for Carrera S and 1.2 for Turbo, with the turbo retaining the extra 800ccs). I too would like to see the GTS badge kept NA for some options, but who knows. As for the GT3 I get the feeling that the GT department has heard the criticism, experimented with the GT4 and saw that it was good. Personally I feel that the GT3 should have the option of manual or PDK and then keep the GT3 RS with PDK only because it's the superfast one. Hopefully (and I am hopeful there) they agree with that.
Anyone taking bets on them lopping a couple of cyls off for a 2.0TT for the Boxter? Or the oft-rumoured baby model?
The Boxster will indeed get a flat four turbo engine with the mid-cycle refresh.
[quote=pimento;1012896][URL="http://sniffpetrol.com/2015/01/22/porsche-announces-911-really-turbo/"]Sniff's got you covered[/URL].
Realistically, the badges won't change, the Turbo will just keep a higher capacity engine with more boost (it'll be 0.8 for Carrera, 1.1 for Carrera S and 1.2 for Turbo, with the turbo retaining the extra 800ccs). I too would like to see the GTS badge kept NA for some options, but who knows. As for the GT3 I get the feeling that the GT department has heard the criticism, experimented with the GT4 and saw that it was good. Personally I feel that the GT3 should have the option of manual or PDK and then keep the GT3 RS with PDK only because it's the superfast one. Hopefully (and I am hopeful there) they agree with that.
Anyone taking bets on them lopping a couple of cyls off for a 2.0TT for the Boxter? Or the oft-rumoured baby model?[/quote]
That's so retro... a 4 cylinder 911. Oh wait...
[quote=Ferrer;1012897]The Boxster will indeed get a flat four turbo engine with the mid-cycle refresh.[/quote]
I'd love for the Boxter S model to get a chip detuned 3.0TT from the Carrera (S?) so folk will just swap the chip out and get proper power.
In fact, I wonder just how different the internals will be between Carrera and Carrera S...
I know I'm sounding old and grumpy, but..
Those Sharkwerks stroker GT3s look more and more appealing.
If someone is curious about how it sounds, here it is.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3zVZPN6b_o"]2016 Porsche 911 Carrera S 3.0 Biturbo Exhaust Sound - YouTube[/ame]
[quote=Rasmus;1012915]I know I'm sounding old and grumpy, but..
Those Sharkwerks stroker GT3s look more and more appealing.[/quote]
I can't wait to be an old man so it will be socially acceptable for me to be grumpy.
It's got the same artificial sound as the F-Type.
The F-Type doesn't sound artificial to me. Sure, they "designed" the sound, but that's been common practice for what, decades? They just did it better with the F-Type.
Not raspy enough for a flat 6 engine.
[quote=Kitdy;1012929]The F-Type doesn't sound artificial to me. Sure, they "designed" the sound, but that's been common practice for what, decades? They just did it better with the F-Type.[/quote]
Indeed.
At least the sound doesn't come from the speakers.
I'm sure the 911 will sound much better in real life. That said, turbos have an uncanny ability to muffle the giggly parts of the exhaust sound.
As efficient as they are, I will never not love the sound of a big displacement, high compression, angry, naturally aspirated motor.
[quote=Kitdy;1012921]I can't wait to be an old man so it will be socially acceptable for me to be grumpy.[/quote]
I just sound old and grumpy. Really I'm just grumpy.
Volkswagen in very serious trouble, as it turns out.
[url="http://www.forbes.com/sites/billvisnic/2015/09/18/volkswagen-busted-for-cheating-on-diesel-models-and-owners-probably-arent-going-to-like-the-fix/"]http://www.forbes.com/sites/billvisnic/2015/09/18/volkswagen-busted-for-cheating-on-diesel-models-and-owners-probably-arent-going-to-like-the-fix/[/url]
My wording may be slightly off, but my snark is there- might be a hypothetical Sniff Petrol headline.
"Hippie VW Enthusiasts Actually Enjoy Unintentionally Rolling Coal"
So much for all that positive brand equity from Audi TDI Le Mans wins. It's an ingenous workaround, but honestly, how long was VW expecting to get away with it?
If we suddenly hear no more about VAG entering F1 with Red Bull, I think we know why.. and where they got the 7 billion dollars to put aside for this.
Diesel may be starting a decline for use in commuter vehicles. It may become toxic in North America again after this, and the EU (France even!) is moving away from it. It seems as though clean diesel may be a bit of a myth, even with expensive treatment systems. Ah well.
Electrons it is!
I am happily eating my slice of schadenfreude pie...
It has been pointed out that it is ludicrous that regulations (especially in the EU) seem to favor the reduction of global levels of CO2 while indirectly promoting (with diesel subsidies) the production of local oxides of nitrogen and other noxious gases. It is gratifying to see it proven to diesel enthusiasts that their free lunch is a lie.
What strikes me most of all is the hypocrisy of people who have been very publicly disgusted by the Volkswagen-gate, yet drive around in diesels (or downsized turbo petrols, which apparently are just as bad if not worse). In truth, we do not really care about health, we care about our wallet.
Having said that, ending the diesel reign in Europe is very easy indeed. Just stop having lower taxes on diesel compared to petrol and slowly the market will be rebalanced to its natural state.
Although what if people ended up in Camrys and Malibus instead of Passats and 508s...?
The funny thing is that hybrids are at least as bad for the environment as diesels are, yet no one ever complains about it. If you look up how rare earth metals are mined, you'd be surprised how damaging it can be. China produces a large majority of the world's rare earth metals because surprise, they don't care about the environment. The US is shifting more production of rare earth metals, but I think China still supplies more than 50% of the world's rare earth metals, which are used in batteries and the motors. The only problem is, it's so hard to account for all the pollution from all the individual mines that you don't see the end pollution.
I've never really fully supported hybrids mostly for this reason.
It's the same thing with electric cars- where do you think the electricity comes from? In the US, it's mostly just natural gas and coal produced. Coal has lots of mercury in it. So if you think you're doing the environment a favor, think again. Unless we move mostly to nuclear energy, which is highly unlikely, you're still using fossil fuels.
[quote=Ferrer;1013032]What strikes me most of all is the hypocrisy of people who have been very publicly disgusted by the Volkswagen-gate, yet drive around in diesels (or downsized turbo petrols, which apparently are just as bad if not worse)[/quote]
Just out of curiosity, why is a small turbocharged petrol engine worse polluter than similarly powered N/A petrol engine?
If you can read spanish it is explained [URL="http://www.pistonudos.com/reportajes/los-motores-de-gasolina-de-inyeccion-directa-emiten-muchisimas-particulas-cancerigenas/"]here[/URL] and [URL="http://www.pistonudos.com/reportajes/hasta-2017-provocando-cancer-sin-rubor-por-no-gastar-50e/"]here[/URL].
From what I understand, the increased static compression ratios made possible by direct injection and the increased dynamic compression ratios made possible by forced induction both contribute to elevated NOx levels because of the higher combustion temps and pressures.
Anecdotally, service advisers at my former company indicated that DI was causing build up of carbon in the exhaust of M-B products. The same is true for other cars equipped with direct injection. This, and turbocharging as Ferrer alludes to (sadly I don't habla Espanol or Catala) are not the be all end all to high mileage and low emissions that regulators and manufacturers want.
DI can make carbon build up worse, that combined with the fact that engines are rather more powerful than they used to be means that most people never really give their car a good ol' Italian tune up in their regular driving means that the carbon is never blown through.
Or something. It's an excuse to floor your car anyway.
[quote=pimento;1013019]If we suddenly hear no more about VAG entering F1 with Red Bull, I think we know why.. and where they got the 7 billion dollars to put aside for this.[/quote]
[URL="http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/volkswagen-deal-to-buy-red-bull-formula-one-team-went-1733053181"]Welp[/URL].
I'm not really all that sympathetic towards VW. They cheated their customers all around the world, and now they're hit with a big fine. Big whoop. That being said, I never really liked VW cars to begin with, so I'm pretty biased.
I am sympathetic for Red Bull though, because they got affected by something beyond their control.
The only thing I'm concerned with is Porsche, which is the only car company in the VAG group that I really care for.
In the long run of things, how will this affect other marques such as Bugatti and Audi?
It'll affect Audi by being the same engine used in it's 2011(?) green car of the year A3.. whoops.
Apparently there's also a problem in Europe, affecting hundreds of thousands of Seats and Skodas too.
Goodbye diesel?
I hope to see more realistic fuel and emissions ratings come from this. The EU and EPA's listed fuel economy and emissions ratings seem to be sheer fantasy. Joe public knows now.
Jay-Z gonna drop a song called The Death of Diesel.
At least EPA's are somewhat achievable. And if you can't, you file a lawsuit against the manufacturer and wait for the millions to come rolling.
European ratings are just a joke, and all the cheats are legal.
By the way, on (somewhat) related news:
[url="http://sniffpetrol.com/2015/10/02/epa-to-crack-down-on-vin-diesel/#.VhA40nrtmko"]EPA to crack down on Vin Diesel Sniff Petrol[/url]
I like where Toyota is going with this...
[url="http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2015/10/08/toyota-s-fr-concept-is-the-sports-800-reborn/"]NEWS: Toyota S-FR Concept is the Sports 800 reborn | Japanese Nostalgic Car [/url]
Of course, whether it will be produced or not is still a question.
But with a rumored inline-6 sports car with BMW, things are looking good for Toyota, at least in terms of concept cars.
Hope they don't pull a Nissan and kill it like they did with the ID-X.
I like it as a concept, but it looks a little bit cartoonish.
Also, the interior is very production-like to just be a concept.
[quote=Ferrer;1013077]I like it as a concept, but it looks a little bit cartoonish.
Also, the interior is very production-like to just be a concept.[/quote]
I agree, that interior looks production ready. I'm okay with it being cartoonish, it's at least something interesting, and that certainly is [I]refreshing[/I].
It looks like a modernized Toyota 800, which I'm ok with too.
They even moved the engine behind the driver!