The 2011 Porsche Panamera now with a V6 Engine

The Porsche Panamera hit showrooms late last year as a 2010 model with a trio of V-8-powered models, but now the four-door Porsche kicks off the 2011 model year with the noted addition of two new models packing V-6 engines under the hood and noticeably lower starting prices. The 2011 Porsche Panamera now has a starting MSRP of $74,400 –a price reduction of $15,400 – but more importantly, the new engine also helps improve the car's overall fuel economy.

Slotting in below the 4.8-liter V-8 used in the Panamera S, 4S and Turbo models, the all-new 3.6-liter V-6 produces 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This engine is shared with the all-new 2011 Porsche Cayenne, and like all Panamera models it comes standard with the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox. In addition to the new engine, the 2011 Panamera also features an Auto Start Stop function for improved fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions. Similar to a hybrid-electric vehicle, the Panamera's Auto Start Stop function shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and automatically starts the engine back up at take off.

Between the smaller displacement engine and the use of Auto Start Stop, the base rear-wheel drive Panamera is expected to return fuel economy estimates of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (these figures have not been confirmed by the EPA, though) which are improvements of 2 mpg city and 3 mpg highway compared to the rear-wheel drive, V-8-powered Panamera S. Another benefiting factor is a curb weight that has been reduced from 3,968 pounds down to 3,880. Despite the improved fuel economy, Porsche also claims that the Panamera V-6 still delivers good performance with stated acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour in six seconds.

Stepping up from the base price of the rear-wheel drive Panamera, the all-wheel drive Panamera 4 starts at $78,900. Like the base model, the Panamera 4 offers better fuel economy than its V-8 counterpart, the Panamera 4S which we reviewed earlier in the year, with estimates of 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway (a gain of 2 mpg in both the city and highway estimates). The Panamera 4 also drops about 100 pounds compared to the 4S model with a curb weight of 4,012 pounds, but it loses a second in zero to 60 mph acceleration to its V-8-powered counterpart with a time of 5.8 seconds.

Check out the all new 2011 Porsche Panamera today at Brian Harris Porsche New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette Louisiana alog with the amazing offers during the Porsche Make Your Moment Event!

* Image/content courtesy of autotropolis.com

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS - Pure Awe.

The time: seven minutes, 18 seconds on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The power: 620 hp. The weight: 3,020 lb (1,370 kilograms) in road trim with all fluids on board. The car: the new 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

90 More Horsepower, 154 lbs Less Filling
The latest 911 is the fastest and most powerful road-going sports car ever built in the history of Porsche. With horsepower (hp) up by 90 and weight down by 154 lbs (70 kilograms) in comparison with the previous 911 GT2, the new 911 GT2 RS has a power-to-weight ratio of just 4.9 lbs (2.21 kg) per horsepower, by far the best power/weight ratio in its class. These are the ideal ingredients for an ultra-high-performance sports car with supreme agility and truly blistering performance on the road. Perfectly illustrating Porsche Intelligent Performance, the 2011 GT2 RS achieves a reduction of approximately 5 percent for both fuel consumption and CO2 emission reduction when compared with the previous 911 GT2.

The 3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine features two variable turbine geometry turbochargers and provides power to the rear wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual gearbox. Equally impressive stopping power comes from Porsche Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB).

Extreme cornering dynamics are ensured by the setup of the springs, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management (PASM), unique anti-roll bars, specific engine mounts and recalibrated Porsche Stability Management (PSM), whose stability and traction control functions can be switched off individually.

The combined effect of these developments is evident on the racetrack. In fact, the ultimate 911 accelerates from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, boasts a top-track speed of 205 mph and laps the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife racetrack in just 7 minutes and 18 seconds.

Carbon Fiber, Limited Production
In its looks, the new 911 GT2 RS stands out clearly from the other 911 models through the lavish use of carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR) components with a matt-black surface finish, even wider wheels (including flared wheel arches at the front), new light-alloy wheels with central locking and "GT2 RS" model designations on the doors and rear lid. Matte-finish carbon also graces the redesigned front spoiler lip and the 3/8th of an inch (10 mm) taller rear spoiler lip - which both enhance aerodynamics and provide extra downforce.

The interior of the 911 GT2 RS also exudes sporting performance in virtually every detail. Lightweight two-piece bucket seats made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic are standard, as are lightweight door panels with fabric straps instead of traditional door handles. The basic interior color is black, which contrasts with red elements, such as the seat center sections, the roof lining and segments of the steering wheel rim. The gearshift and handbrake lever are also finished in red alcantara.

Limited to just 500 units worldwide, the 911 GT2 RS will be available in the U.S. October 2010.

Contact us at Brian Harris Porsche for more details and pricing information on this amazing machine from Porsche!

*content from autoblog.com / image from porsche.com/usa

Porsche's Make Your Moment Event is here!

There’s a moment when everything changes. When your past recedes and your life suddenly points towards the horizon. And behind the wheel of a Porsche, that moment is yours to make.

This is your opportunity to take advantage of exceptional offers on the sports car of your dreams. See these amazing offers from Brian Harris Porsche and make your own once in a lifetime moment…

2010 Porsche Panamera S
Lease for $1,399 for 36 months with just $4,969 due at signing

2010 Porsche Cayenne
1.9% APR Financing for 60 months

2010 Porsche 911
1.9% APR Financing for 60 months

2010 Porsche Cayman
1.9% APR Financing for 60 months OR
Lease for $569 for 36 months with just $4,264 due at signing

2010 Porsche Boxster
1.9% APR Financing for 60 months OR
Lease for $549 for 36 months with just $2,894 due at signing

The Porsche Make Your Moment Event is on at Brian Harris Porsche in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport and the Louisiana State area! Contact us for details today!

Details on the Upcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenns S Hybrid

In preparation for the upcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid as well as other planned models, Porsche has released specific details on the different hybrid systems that it plans to start producing later this year.

The Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid will launch simultaneously alongside the redesigned 2011Cayenne this fall, and it uses a parallel hybrid system like many of the conventional hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV) currently on the market. Porsche will use the powerful and efficient 333-horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 that is paired with a 47-hp electric motor. Aside from the ability to drive on electric-only power at speeds of almost 40 miles per hour, the Cayenne S Hybrid also features a 'sailing' feature that allows for further fuel conservation by completely shutting off or disengaging the engine from the drivetrain at speeds up to 97 mph. For improved performance, the hybrid system will also help boost the engine's output under heavy acceleration which should allow the Cayenne to accelerate surprisingly fast as the system combines for a total of 428 lb-ft of torque at just 1,000 rpm. This system uses a 288-volt nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack mounted under the rear cargo area.

Keep checking back with us at Brian Harris Porsche as we bring you the latest details, release dates and other information on the redesigned 2011 Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid!

*details provided by autotropolis.com

Porsche Celebrates 60 years in North America

With a new sedan, an upcoming hybrid and one of the most beautiful concept vehicles in recent history, it seems that Porsche has plenty to celebrate lately, but it won't be passing on an opportunity to celebrate a major milestone. Since the first Porsche cars were sold in the United States in the fall of 1950, the company has since become renowned for its styling, performance and luxury over the last 60 years all thanks to the collective efforts of three men. Dr. Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche (son of the company's founder), Max Hoffman and Jonny von Neumann all formed the foundation for a successful Porsche brand in North America starting with the sporty and iconic Porsche 356.

Ferry Porsche had extremely low expectations for Porsche sales in the U.S. hoping for just five sales in the first year, but Hoffman, already a seasoned European car importer, had bigger plans in store. Even though the 356 only produced 44 horsepower from its 1.1-liter flat-four engine and cost as much as a luxurious Cadillac convertible, Porsche says that Hoffman went on to sell 32 356s in 1951 and a total of 11 per week by 1954. Hoffman later helped design the iconic black, gold and red Porsche crest that prominently displays a prancing horse.

Although the first Porsches were sold in New York, California quickly became, and still remains, one of the more popular areas for Porsche sales thanks in large part to von Neumann. Like Hoffman, von Neumann was an instant fan of Porsche and began selling them in California. One of von Neumann’s more famous customers was James Dean who bought a 356 Speedster and later traded it for a 550 Spyder - the same car he was tragically killed in. The Porsche 550 Spyder is shown above in black and white next to the image of the all-new 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder.

Growing from the single-model line that it originally offered, Porsche has since grown to its current lineup of five vehicles that include the Porsche 911, Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Cayman and Porsche Panamera. Porsche is expanding its lineup this year with the addition of a V-6 Panamera and the Cayenne S Hybrid.

*content courtesy of autotropolis.com

Porsche's Spring Mid-Engine Lease Offers Event

Drive the Porsche of your dreams home today with these amazing Lease offers on the Boxster and Cayman!

Moments in Porsche are always measured in rapid heartbeats. But with this rare savings opportunity, time may seem to pass that much quicker...

There's never been a better time to Drive Home the Porsche of your Dreams than today!

Check out these amazing lease offers:

• Lease the 2010 Porsche Boxster from $469 per month


• Lease the 2010 Porsche Cayman from only $529 per month

Visit Brian Harris Porsche today to get more details and pricing information on these amazing cars!

* image courtesy of www.harris.porschedealer.com/dreams

Inside Look at the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept

Porsche took the wraps off their 918 Spyder Concept, a 2-seat mid-engine supercar with hybrid and electric drive technology at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

Porsche says the 918 Spyder Concept hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3.2 seconds, and it blasts to a top speed of 198 mph. Not only that, it laps the Nürburgring in less than 7 minutes 30 seconds, which means it's even faster than the coveted Porsche Carrera GT. When it comes to how 'green' the vehicle is, Porsche says that, when driven accordingly, the plug-in hybrid 918 Spyder Concept gets an amazing 78 mpg, with an emissions level of only 70 grams of C02 per kilometer.

The 918 Spyder Concept is powered by a high-output V-8 3.4-liter engine found in the Porsche RS Spyder racing car. In 918 Spyder form, this mid-mounted engine powers out more than 500 bhp. Electric motors at the front and rear axles add an additional 218 horsepower to its power-packed performance. The V-8's power, and the rear electric motor, reaches Concept's rear wheels via a 7-speed PDK gearbox. The drive to the front wheels is pure electric. The liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack behind the cockpit can be charged at home, or by brake regeneration.

Modernity is addressed via the center console, which has a touch screen for what Porsche calls "intuitive" control of the car's functions. Another cool feature is the 918 Spyder Concept is the Range Manager. Using the map in the satellite navigation system, the Range Manager displays the remaining range the Spyder is able to cover. And in cities, it will tell you if you can reach your destination on electric power alone.

Stay tuned in to Brian Harris Porsche for more Porsche news and the latest special offers!

*content and image courtesy of http://autos.yahoo.com/auto-shows/geneva_auto_show_2010