balance of the porsche boxster s, the speed of the iconic 911 models, the ... I felt
so composed in the car, always knew where all the wheels were and what ...
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Photos: © Porsche South Africa
Porsche World Roadshow 2013 I’ve just returned from a trip to Dubai to attend the Porsche World Roadshow at the beautiful Dubai Autodrome racing facility. The Roadshow is designed to give Porsche aficionados and potential clients the opportunity to drive the entire range in one action packed day. It’s their most successful marketing activity and its easy to see why; to experience the balance of the Porsche Boxster S, the speed of the iconic 911 models, the on-road and off-road performance of the Cayennes, as well as the practical but equally mesmerising Panamera models, is unheard of. Porsche Boxster S: Motoring purists would argue that the ideal sports car is mid-engined with rear-wheel drive, which is the make-up of the Boxster S. Around the track I found it to be the car in which I felt the most at ease, especially flat out around the first right-hander. The Boxster S was also the car of choice around a tricky slalom course, and again the concept was sound. I felt so composed in the car, always knew where all the wheels were and what levels of grip I had at my command. At R699, 000 for the Boxster S in South Africa, it’s a compelling option for a 2-seat opentop driver’s car with 232kW under foot. It was the first Porsche I drove and it was such an appealing opening act – easy to drive, composed and a lot of fun. From this composure, I hopped into the 911 range-starter, the 911 Carrera PDK. The PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) system is Porsche’s double clutch 7-speed transmission, enabling you to drive in auto or manual mode. The little boy racer in me had to drive in manual for maximum effect, but I quickly had to learn that Porsche has opted for a different type of gear change
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Photos: © Porsche South Africa
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action. The PDK system features buttons on the steering wheel that can be pushed to change up and pulled to shift down. It takes some getting used to but I am confident that Porsche owners, after only a day, will find it the new normal. Personally though, I struggled with it. The 911 range is the company’s heroic icon with a racing heritage that stretches back 50 years. What I love most about the 911 is that its design principle has not changed in all this time. It’s still an instantly recognisable car, even though every component of the current model is brand new. The 911 engine sits horizontally, right at the back of the chassis, and because of this it’s unlike anything I’ve ever driven. I drove the 911 Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera S and Carrera 4S. All of them were breath-taking, the Carrera S in particular. They may feel complex but the driving experience gets more rewarding the more you come to grips with it. The car is unashamedly light at the front and as you press on hard into a bend, you can feel the edginess of its character, the back warning you of its intentions to come forward and meet you. I experienced this in the Carrera S, the rear wheel drive 294kW version. Flat out through a beautiful right hander, the tail swept out briefly before the Sport Plus Porsche Traction Management intervened. Later in the day, with all traction systems switched off, we were treated to some smoke-producing, jaw-dropping drifting
around the circuit. Once again, even with the weight at the rear, the 911 was exquisitely balanced as the Porsche Instructor delicately toyed with the throttle and steering angle to create the most ludicrous slides. The Panamera is Porsche’s latest foray into super-sedan or GT territory. It’s possibly the least convincing Porsche in the range if you judge it on looks alone, but those looks are the result of function over form. The rear wings sit much higher than the bonnet and though the outline is still typically Porsche, it is from the back that the car looks most ungainly. Climb inside the car and you soon realise what the function is. The raised centre console ensures that everything is easily accessible, the 8-way adjustable seats and steering column take the fuss out of finding a good driving position, and the 2 individual seats at the rear are ultra comfortable with fantastic legroom and a fair amount of headspace. Porsche was quick to point out their need for a comfortable car, even during high performance driving, and the bodyhugging rear seats make sure of this. I drove the Panamera V6 model, the Panamera S, 4S and the GTS, all of which are outstanding cars. They’re noticeably heavier but following one around a track at top tilt gives a visual clue as to the sporty prowess of the Panamera: the rear wing that deploys from 90km/h. On the GTS and the Turbo models, the rear wing deploys upwards and then further splits outwards
creating a bigger wing with more downforce on the rear. The Panamera is a sports car should it be called into action, but its triumph is that, whilst it can hold its own under hard driving, it is luxurious, spacious, practical and ever the GT. I didn’t drive the Panamera Turbo S, but if the rest of the range is anything to go by it has to be an astonishingly fast way to get anywhere. Porsche South Africa’s most popular car is no surprise in the South African context. We love our SUVs. This second generation Porsche Cayenne is visibly more appealing than its predecessor. It’s also lighter and more efficient and the range now even includes a Cayenne Hybrid S version. It’s the marriage of electric and combustible power, but this Hybrid S version was definitely the odd one out of the entire Porsche range. It feels much slower and clumsier with a lot more body roll. It’s the only Porsche I drove that, when pushed hard track-side, didn’t seem to want to be there. It will still do 0-100km/h in 6,5 seconds, so when I say ‘slow’ I am comparing it to other Porsches. It’s no slouch. Make no mistake though, this car is what it was intended to be: very efficient with up to 22% savings on fuel and CO2 emissions. According to Porsche, up to 90% of its client base will hardly ever take their Cayennes off-road but I am confident that most of the remaining 10% are South Africans. Off the track the car displayed some respectable 4X4 talent. At the flick of a few
buttons, the body can be raised by 12mm and the Hill Descent control engaged so that you can traverse some pretty rough terrain. There was no noticeable x-factor in terms of 4X4 performance when making comparisons to other high-end SUVs but what’s important is that Porsche has made sure the Cayenne is up to the challenge. Let’s not forget that this car too, especially the sporty GTS, is awesome to drive hard around a track. Its signature 20-inch alloys, red brake callipers and sumptuous alcantara detailing are truly awesome, but the sound it makes is the biggest rush. What I’ve learnt about Porsche in one day of driving is that they know who they are. I am certain they have a Porsche Code by which all cars are measured, and it is strictly adhered to. Porsche is a brand built of true characters, individuals with unique characters, colours, finishes and feels, but one thing is true of all of them. They are each infused with the heart of a sports car, with a joyfulness to drive. None of these cars is finicky, temperamental. They are all cars to enjoy every day, whether you’re on the road for business, a long journey, or even the Midlands Meander. There is nothing fake here. There is no false pretence. They’re all Porsche. And they’re all fantastic. Avon Middleton
