997 facelift

Have you checked the data of the new 911s? (there is a nice web-special on porsche.de)

Highlights (Carrera S):

385hp out of 3.8 liters (>100hp/ liter) at just 6'500 rpm! (normally you would expect 100 hp/liter at 7'500-8'000 rpm, e.g. M3 or RS4/R8)

torque: 420 Nm at 4'400 rpm - also a quite high value from a 3.8 liters, at reasonable rpm for a 100hp/liter engine

Weight with 7-speed PDK: 1'455 kg (30 kg more than the standard 6-speed manual)

0-100kmh: 4.5 s with PDK (0.2 less than with the standard 6-speed manual, despite the additional weight)

full multi-media suite (iPod link, Bose high-end sorround with 385 Watt, 13 loudspeakers and active sub-woofer)

new Sports Chrono Pack for "more sportiness on demand" (linked to the intelligent suspension PASM)

new launch control feature (in combination with PDK)

So, this is ticking many of the boxes... But no 4WD versions yet.
I'm also interested to see if they will offer an engine performance kit as optional: in the old Carrera S/4S it brought the output from 355 to 381hp by adding some 600rpm (max power at 7'200 instead of 6'600rpm) and some torque (400 ---> 415Nm) but at higher rpms (4'600 --> 5'500 rpm) (quite expensive at 20k, but is quite classic tuning, not just a download of software...). With additional 25-30hp at, say, 7'000 rpm (assuming the new angine has some more headroom) you get into GT3 territory... (but ESP and back seats still on board, and no silly spoilers and aerokits...) . Btw, a GT3 is at 1'395kg (60 kg less), but you would have to add another 55kg for 4WD...

Let's also see the prices, I guess it will similar base price (142k current C4S), but then all those nice optionals will bankrupt you...(add 20k for basics like el. seats, tempomat, navi, tel, bose, etc., probably 3k for PDK). This brings the overall bill to 165k (unless you really need that performance kit and the ceramic brakes, then we are talking 200k...).

The $200,000 question

Team -

I'm doing the classic fact-based analysis of car options. I'm running into issues to source test reports from European websites (you either need a German phone number or credit card - I have neither).

Couple of questions to you when you have 5 minutes:
- Do you know, from the top of your head, any of the missing figures on the C4S and X50?
- Do you have (or know how to source) complete test reports for these cars (I have the RS4 and the 996 C4S)?

Many thanks
D