MANILA, Philippines–The Porsche World Roadshow made its way to Clark International Speedway, opening on Feb. 19. As that was also Chinese New Year, the date was certainly auspicious, not the least for the participants who got to sample nearly the full range of Porsche automobiles on and off the track. Here are some of the things we learned (or relearned) about Porsche that day:
Porsche has a complete lineup of cars. Not just a one-trick pony anymore (albeit a very impressive pony), Porsche is no longer just about the 911 sports car. Beginning with the Boxster and Cayman mid-engined cars, the brand started expanding rapidly with the Cayenne sport utility vehicle (SUV). Thanks to impressive performance and powerful road presence the Cayenne brought a new generation of owners to the prancing horse (the one from Stuttgart). The Macan compact SUV will once again appeal to owners seeking something special.
SUVs can be fun to drive. Sure, SUVs can be fun while clambering over boulders or traversing a river. But can they do well tackling a race course? The Cayenne and Macan SUVs acquitted themselves well on Clark Speedway. We would be hard pressed to not laugh off most SUVs on Clark, but Porsche’s tall vehicles could be pushed farther than we expected. The weight of the Cayenne was still apparent, but the grip and responsiveness were
impressive.
Turbocharging is the way to go. A bit of a tease was that the instructor (lead) car was the Porsche 911 Turbo. Porsche’s most powerful “regular” model is the poster child of turbocharging ever since the days of the “whale tail” model. Turbocharging now helps a slew of models produce sufficient power, from the diesel Macan to the 570-horsepower Panamera Turbo. The gasoline-fed Macan Turbo is particularly brawny, with 550 Newton-meters from low revs, good for a 0-100 kilometer per hour of 4.8 seconds.
Buttons, lots of buttons, can be good. German carmakers, after the introduction of BMW’s iDrive system, began to adapt the menu-based switchgear system. Porsche has gone the opposite direction. Porsche cabins now are replete with rows and rows of buttons, particularly on the center console, and even overhead. The approach has its benefits. Everything is easy to access with a single push, particularly important when you need to switch mode quickly while on the track.
Engine in front, middle, or rear? All good. Porsche is the only carmaker who uses all three engine layouts. The 911 has its engine in the boot mainly for traditional reasons, but also for optimal weight distribution while accelerating and braking. Front engine provides the most space and comfort, as in the Cayenne and Panamera. Mid engine is still the best for the ultimate handling, as in the hyperresponsive Boxster on the slalom test.
Limousines don’t have to be stodgy. The Panamera is essentially a lowered Cayenne, with all the expansive interior room, but enclosed in a more intimate cabin. The long-wheelbase Panamera provides enough legroom for passengers to cross their legs beneath a fold-out table.
Porsche has its own in-house customization service. Porsches are quite exclusive, but if you need something even more special, Porsche Exclusive can tailor-fit the car with exterior and interior trim, lightweight wheels, and performance upgrades.
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