Porsche vs Ferrari

Porsche and Ferrari are German and Italian sides of the same
coin, interpretations of the sports car idea. Both founded by a
dominant patriarch, both honed in racing, both more than 50
years old, both with engineering and styling integrity. Whether on
the track of Le Mains or on the streets, the two have always been
put head-to-head and compared. Even the most naive motorist
associates these two names with both performance and style.

We’ve decided to compare the methodical Porsche 911 Carrera
4S and the passionate Ferrari F430 because both of them astonish
with their performance while attempting to maintain a reasonable
amount of practicality but do not pretend to be anything other than
sports cars.

A modern sports car should feature these characteristics: it should be
started easily, maneuvered around town, blasted on a couple of
country roads, it looks and performs the part on a racetrack but at the
same time it is very safe.

The easier way to separate the two cars is by measuring figures since
both of them have mastered the modern sports car requirements and
basically there’s no other way to choose between these two phenomenal
cars.

What initially impresses is Ferrari’s lightning fast 4-second 0-100km/h
acceleration and thrilling exhaust tone. As the occupants are pinned to
the seats, the new generation 4.3-litre V8 pushes out 368 snarling
kilowatts. Porsche’s acceleration also offers that kick in the pants a
super car should deliver, although it is 0.8 seconds slower at the 100 km/k
mark.

With such acceleration performance, it comes natural for both cars to
excel in the braking department. The two cars offer optional ceramic
discs for impressive stopping.

Porsche’s engine gets the upper hand as it is more refined and on
the economy rank leaps ahead Ferrari with a 11.8 liters per 100 km
as opposed to 18.3 liters. Both cars deliver the power through impressive
6-speed gearboxes and offer top rate handling performance.

Both F430 and Carrera4S offer great interior comfort and even if the
space is limited, the occupants don’t feel claustrophobic and flustered.
Although an impressive mix of suede, carbon fiber and aluminum abound
in the Ferrari, the Italians stand no chance when it comes to the high finish
level attained by the Germans.

Speed and silence are key elements for any super car. The look and
appearance is the biggest draw card. The Carrera 4S is a typical Porsche,
despite the new proportions. It is a great looking car, like any other 911 but
somehow the styling no longer creates the jaw dropping reaction that the
Ferrari does. Indeed, traditionalists may say that Porsche pays homage to
its roots, but the truth is that Ferrari F430 simply draws the attention.

However, even if Ferrari F430 takes your breath away with its appearance,
the super car title goes to the Porsche Carrera 4S with a more complete all
round package.

478

In 1975 Porsche introduced the first Turbo. The engineers
experienced this new engine and Chairman Ernst Fuhrman
decided that they could use a turbo on a production car. The
first prototype was displayed at several European shows in
1973. In 1974, “911 Turbo” went on sale and at the time it had
a 3.0 liter 260 bhp engine.

The new Porsche was full of luxury. The standard Turbo had
air-conditioning, electric windows, tinted glass, headlamp washers,
a leather interior and Bilstein shocks. Originally, it was supposed
to be a limited edition, with only 500 models to be sold. However,
the demand was so high that more than 1000 cars were sold. It was
now clear that Turbo would have a secure future.

What attracted so many customers was its huge rear wing, widened
wheel and big tires. This great look combined with the powerful engine
made the Turbo look faster than any other 911.

In 1978, the model was improved by the increase of the engine
capacity to 3.3 liter and some other modifications. Now the engine
produced 40 bhp more. The rear wing was also revised: the two
separate grilles were replaced by one larger smooth surface, placed
a little higher in order to make room for an intercooler.

In 1979 though, the Turbo was withdrawn from US and Japan, as a
response to the second energy crunch.

In 1986, Turbo became again available in the US. This was the first
year Porsche used flares that were created in the stamping – process
of the fenders. In 1992 Porsche showed the Turbo S at Geneva’s
Motorshow. It’s engine delivered 381 bhp. The car weighted 120
kg less then the standard Turbo and this helped making Turbo S
really fast. There were built only 80 Turbo S.

In 1993, the engine capacity was increased again, now reaching 3.6
liter. It was easily recognized by the Turbo 3.6 badge. Also, there was
a 93 Turbo 3.6 based 911 Turbo S built.

In 1996 Porsche launched yet another Turbo, based on the 993 series.
Its engine produced 408 bhp, featuring a six-speed gearbox and
four-wheel drive. It looked more elegant thanks to the less evocative
rear-wing. The wheels are 18 inch in diameter. It saves 20% of the
weight because the five spokes are hollow. The front wing has
air-ducts that lead extra cooling air to the brakes, making them more
powerful than before. They can stop the Turbo from 100 hm/h in 2.6
seconds and from 200km/h in just 5 seconds, increasing car’s safety.

Porsche has recently introduced the 996 Turbo. The styling is different
from the previous Turbo models. Its aerodynamics are improved, making
it much faster than the 993 Turbo. It gets to 100 km/h in only 4.2
seconds and has a top speed of 305 km/h. The new Turbo has a few
details that make it easy to recognize: bi-xenon headlights, air intakes
behind the doors and a movable rear-spoiler.

488

It`s hard to say exactly which is the beginning of Porsche
story. It could be in 1950, when the famous Max Hoffman
introduced the Porsche 356 to the United States. Or in 1948
when the first automobile to bear the name Porsche was introduced.
But in order to understand Porsche’s heritage and its philosophy
we need to go back to 1875, when, in September, at the home
of a tinsmith in the Bohemian village of Haffersdorf, a son was
born. His name was Ferdinand Porsche.

Since his adolescence, Ferdinand Porsche showed glimpses of
technical genius: at the age of 18, he wired family’s home for
electricity in 1893. Still, he didn’t show many signs of disciplined
engineering skills that will eventually become his trademark. Even
if the “Doctor” is usually appended to his name, it is in essence
honorary, since his only formal technical training was as a part-time
engineering student in Vienna.

By the age of 25, the young Ferdinand Porsche had entered the
field of automotive design. His first car design was already
accepted by Lohner & Co. of Vienna. Over the next 20 years,
Ferdinand Porsche, the temperamental but brilliant engineer
succeeded in associating with every major automobile manufacturer
in Germany. At the same time, he designed a dozen of the most
technically significant cars in history.

Working for Mercedes-Benz, he helped develop the most revered
Mercedes-Benz cars of all time: the SSK series. For NSU, he
designed Auto Union Wanderer and the Type 32, a precursor of the
Volkswagen Beetle.

After being dismissed from Mercedes for disagreeing with the firm’s
staid engineering policies, Porsche decided to establish what later
became Porsche A.G.: his own engineering consulting group. In a
small office in Stuttgart, the senior Dr. Porsche gathered a select
group of engineers to work under the dramatic name, “Doctor of
Engineering Ferdinand Porsche, Inc., Construction Facility for Land,
Air, and Sea Transportation.” One of his employees was his youthful
son, Ferry. His primary interest was one that any young man might
select: sports and racing cars

The senior Dr. Porsche and his team were kept extremely busy. The
consulting firm developed for Steyr (now the utility-vehicle wing of the
Steyr- Daimler-Puch combine, the Austria luxury sedan, but it did not
progress beyond the prototype stage. They worked a lot for Auto
Union, now Audi: the company developed the Front, the world’s first
front-drive economy car. They astonished Auto Union with the mid-engine
Grand Prix cars and their supercharged V-12 and V-16 engines
which, together with Mercedes- Benz racers, dominated European auto
racing for nearly a decade.

After that, the firm created its best-known designs for NSU and Zundapp.
The pair of prototypes was characterized by Dr. Porsche’s patented
torsion-bar suspension and a rear-mounted engine. Since neither
company moved rapidly enough to manufacture the designs, Porsche
sold the concept to the German government. Then, he oversaw the
construction of a plant on Wolfsburg to manufacture the design. His
drawings called the car the Type 60. The world came to know it as the
Volkswagen Beetle

After the second World War, the Porsche Company started to create vehicles
that beard its name, and so became knows world wide. Now, nearly a
century later, Porsche became the marque and the family that created
outstanding, often unique and surely lasting contributions to automotive
engineering and design.

557

In 2009 is set to be launched a four-door, four-seat coupe,
called Porsche Panamera. The car, powered by a modified
version of the 4.5 L V8 found in the Cayenne, equipped with
the FSI system will be front engined and rear wheel drive.
Although it is extremely unlikely, rumors is that an option
for the Panamera will be the V10 engine from Porsche’s
limited-run Carrera GT supercar.

Porsche Panamera will be produced in the new plant at Leipzig
alongside the Cayenne. It is the first V8-engined sports car built
by Porsche since 1995, when the 928 was discontinued and
some consider it a suitable successor to the two-doored 928.
The company built the new model as a direct competitor to the
Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG and Maserati Quattroporte and
(to a lesser degree a less expensive alternative to expensive
vehicles such the, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Bentley Continental GT
and Aston Martin Rapide.

Like Porsche Carrera`s name, the Panamera`s derives from the
Carrera Panamerican race. Before it, there were other four-door
sedans prototypes, such as the 1991 Porsche 989 prototype
or the even earlier 4 door prototype based on the 911, but they
never went into production.

195

Floor mats are probably not the first thing you are thinking
when you buy a new Porsche. Yes, you think more about the
Boxster engine and the acceleration and the bodyshell color,
but unless you’re going to hand your keys to the butler every night,
Porsche floor mats are an essential purchase. We are talking
about Porsche floor mats. The floor mats are important for
every car and even more when you are thinking about a Porsche.

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After all, they will cover some extremely expensive carpet.
The combination of high quality and good looks that will complement
the interior of your car, no matter what floor mats you choose.
You will be driving a car worth a hundred grand and you won’t
want your Porsche 911 floor mat, Porsche Boxster floor mat, or
other Porsche floor mat on the carpet look like it came from the
dollar store. You can find protective and attractive high-end floor
mats for year-round use in fair climates, and also heavy-duty
rubber floor mats if you use your Porsche to trek through deep
winter locales.

180

In order to avoid big, expensive problems, you should check
under the hood of your Porsche on a regular basis. By following
these simple monthly checks you will find and solve these potential
problems.

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First of all, you should check the oil, but only when the engine is warm.
That’s because it expands when it’s hot and contracts when it’s cold;
different temperatures will give you different readings. And since you’re
already checking the fluids you should also check the
brake fluid. It’s easy to do and only takes a minute.

Radiator fluid, or coolant, is the most important part of your Porsche’s
cooling system, which protects your engine from overheating. Low
coolant can lead to a breakdown and expensive repairs. Before
checking the power steering fluid (which is also easy on most cars
you should see if you have it. Try to parallel park with one hand and
eat an ice cream cone with the other. If you can do that, then you have it.

If you have an automatic transmission, you’ll want to check the
automatic transmission fluid (ATF every month. Also, if your Porsche
has a hydraulic clutch that connects the clutch pedal to the
transmission, you should check that fluid too.

206

With every new automobile, Porsche tried to redefine the meaning
of performance, by creating a more powerful engine. Cayenne Turbo
makes no exception to this rule. Like all Porsche engine, it is hand
assembled and the twin turbo V8 rises to an exacting level of technical
excellence.

Motronic ME7.1.1.is a system that controls the split-second precision
of the Cayenne V8 and V6 super engine. This new highly intelligent
engine management system balances impressive power with great
smoothness. All this to prove that Cayenne`s “brain” matches its brawn.
The Motronic system is built to monitor a wide range of sensors and
engine components. It compares streams of data with corresponding
sets of reference values, all this in a speed of milliseconds. Then, if it
finds any differences, the system adjusts key engine functions, such as
the ignition of fuel injection, based on this comparison. Into Motronic
management are included other key systems, such as onboard diagnostics
and cylinder-specific knock control, with automatic adaptation to any
change in fuel quality. All this for optimal performance in all driving conditions.

This process is seamless and automatic so the engine has a great
level of power and torque. Also, another great result is better fuel
economy and lower emissions in the exhaust stream.

Another function of the Motronic system is the managing of air flowing
into the engine to ensure maximum levels of performance. It does that
by regulating boost pressure on the Cayenne Turbo.

The Cayenne model includes another system, the resonance induction
system with a variable-length intake manifold. This is also an inventive
engineering concept that uses pressure waves created by the inlet
valves. It does this to increase the density of the incoming air, which,
in the end, will increase the amount of energy released during combustion.
There are two intake tubes, and depending on the speed, the system
will select one of them. The longer tube is used at lower speeds in order
to maximize low-end torque. At around 4250 rpm, it switches to shorter
Intake tube so that it maximizes power output with a more eager throttle response.

The Porsche Cayenne engineers wanted to improve combustion for
more power, better fuel economy, reduced emissions and less
maintenance. To do so, they created a static high-voltage ignition
system with separate ignition coils on each individual spark plug.
This is an advanced method that allows a longer spark-plug life.
The sequential fuel injection system is equally advanced. A returnless
fuel supply system serves each injector in order to continuously
adjust the precise air/fuel mix. The result is of course a better environment,
because it controls the emissions.

437

Porsche offers three versions of the four-door Cayenne: the Cayenne,
The Cayenne S and the Cayenne Turbo. The standard models of the Cayenne
and Cayenne S come with features such as: 18-inch alloy wheels,
stability control given by the Porsche Stability Management, leather
seating, power seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a
350-watt, 15-speaker Bose audio system. Since it’s a true Porsche,
Cayenne’s ignition switch is on the dash’s left side. The gauge
cluster is nearly perfect but the climate and radio controls are
indecipherable cluster of buttons and knobs. The good thing is that
the satellite steering wheel controls are standard which means that
they will be easier to find. The Turbo model comes not only with
additional power but also with more technical and luxury features.

Among those we enumerate: an adaptive suspension with automatic
ride height and damping adjustment (Porsche Active Suspension
Management, bi-HID headlights, a CD-based navigation system,
heated seats front and rear, seat memory, sonar front/rear parking
assist and power adjustment for the steering wheel. But the options
the Cayenne offers are meant to increase functionality and personality.
These options are: four-zone climate control, bolstered sport seats,
various wheel/tire upgrades and trailering preparation. With a maximum
cargo capacity of 63 cubic feet, the Cayenne has slightly more capacity
than the Range Rover but less than the Infiniti FX45.

218

Ten years ago, the idea of a Porsche sport utility vehicle would
have seemed absurd. And the reason is not that it lacks experience
with off-road cars since their engineering have developed all-wheel-drive
military vehicles. It’s more that, compared to General Motors, Toyota
or Daimler-Chrysler, the automotive giants, Porsche represents a
tiny fraction of the production volume. For 50 years, the company
has produced quick, nimble, small sports car, or in other words, the
opposite of the SUV’s. When Porsche decided to invest in an SUV
and a new factory to build it, it became clear the times, as well as our
taste, have changed.

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And now, after creating the most anticipated new Porsche in decades,
the company is proud that its SUV is what many expected it would be:
technically slick and remarkably fast, with on-road handling that belies
its bulk. Also, the Cayenne delivers what most SUV buyers demand, including
decent cargo space, more than enough capability for casual off-road use,
and impressive towing capacity.

When it comes to pricing, Cayenne is a true Porsche. A very expensive
Porsche. With tax and license, a loaded Cayenne Turbo can crack the
$100,000 barrier, and that alone will knock it off most shopping lists.
But for the connoisseurs, the Porsche Cayenne will be truly appreciated for
its performance and driving satisfaction.

220

In comparison of the engine, The Porsche Cayman is positioned
between the Boxster and 911. Still, it has its own different personality.
It is snappier, easier, and not burdened by heavy weight hanging
out the back and the need to manage the effect of that weight.

The Cayman is strictly a two-seater because the engine sits
where the rear seats would otherwise be. This means that the
engine is not quite readily accessible, although there’s a way
into the oil filler via the boot. Under that long tailgate, is revealed
a generous luggage area to supplement the front 911/Boxster-sized
boot. Like all other Porsche, the Cayman is not very big, which makes
it very practical and usable. And for all its obvious Boxster genes,
the Cayman is very much its own car with its curvaceous rear
wings and neat fastback roof. As with other Porsches, there’s a
movable rear spoiler, which deploys above 120km/h.

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Going back to were we started, the engine, the Cayman has 3.4
litres, a mix of the cylinder barrels of a 911 with the crankshaft of a
Boxster. A 911 engine is of 3.6 or 3.8 liters and a Boxster S has a
3.2-litre engine. It’s a strange thing, but even though today’s Porsche
engines are water-cooled, they still overlay their intake and exhaust
notes with a breathy whine like that of the giant air-cooling fans of old.

Basically, the Cayman is a mix and it doesn’t have a huge number
of new and unique parts. In short, the Cayman is a structure two
and a half times stiffer because it’s just a Boxster with a roof. In turn,
that means that the driving experience becomes much more focused
because its suspension can have tauter, sportier setting.

Porsche Cayman reaches a maximum speed of 275 km/h and gets
from zero to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, even if the fuel thirst is low
for such pace. The Cayman is especially good with the optional
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM, but unlike a 911,
it works well enough without it, thanks to a ride that’s firm but seldom
turbulent. PASM makes the Cayman sit 10mm lower, and in its
Sport mode it tautens the damping. And it feels absolutely fantastic
when you have the Chrono option (complete with stopwatch for timing
your hot laps.

Bottom line, Porsche Cayman is a remarkable illustration
of a rigid, solid-roofed bodyshell’s advantages. The Cayman S has
all the positive Porsche attributes you could want, and none of the
snags. It’s not the fastest Porsche, not the fiercest, not the most
breathtaking. It is a pooling of other Porsche parts, which means
that the Cayman is not expensive to develop but it will generate big
profits. The new car, by the way, takes its name not from a tax-haven
archipelago, but from a type of crocodile.

474