William Maley

Geneva is one of the few auto shows where sports cars are the major attractions. Case in point is Porsche which will be using Geneva to debut the facelifted 2019 911 GT3 RS. The GT3 RS is one of the last 911 models that hasn't gone turbocharging. Instead, it's 4.0L flat-six remains naturally aspirated. Porsche has bumped horsepower by 20 and torque by 8, giving the 911 GT3 RS figures of 520 and 346 respectively. 0-60 mph takes only 3 seconds - a tenth quicker than the previous RS. Drive goes to the rear-wheels via a seven-speed PDK transmission. Those who want a manual will need to step down to the standard GT3. The chassis features a retuned rear-axle steering system, new helper springs for the front to help keep the GT3 RS planted, and a set of active dampers. Cast iron brakes are standard, but a set of carbon-ceramic brakes are optional for those who plan to take it to track. New forged wheels measuring 20-inches up front and 21-inches for the back are wrapped in wide tires. A set of magnesium wheels that drop 25 pounds will set you back $13,000. Porsche has also put the RS on a bit of a diet with a magnesium roof, polyurethane front and rear ends, titanium exhaust system, and carbon fiber trunk lid. An optional Weissach Package drops weight further with carbon fiber front and rear sway bars, roof, and coupling rods. The 2019 911 GT3 arrives at Porsche dealers this fall with a base price of $188,550, including a $1,050 destination charge. Source: Porsche Press Release is on Page 2 Born from racing: the new 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Atlanta. The Porsche motorsport department is presenting Weissach’s latest treat at the Geneva Motor Show: the 2019 911 GT3 RS with a race-bred chassis and a high-revving four-liter, naturally aspirated engine producing 520 horsepower and 346 lb.-ft. of torque. Based on the 911 GT3, the RS has been refined even further, combining the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever fitted to a road-legal 911 with a suspension that features recalibrated rear axle steering tuned for maximum dynamics and precision. The new 911 GT3 RS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than the current 911 GT3 with PDK and 0.1 seconds quicker than the previous 911 GT3 RS. Top track speed of the 2019 911 GT3 RS is 193 mph. Following the launch of the 2018 911 GT3 and the 2018 911 GT2 RS, the new 911 GT3 RS represents the third road-legal GT model to be unveiled within a year. Race-inspired aerodynamics and lightweight construction Aerodynamics and lightweight construction have determined the design of the wide, weight-optimized body with its classic fixed rear wing. Like on the 2018 911 GT3, the front and rear fascia are made of lightweight polyurethane. Additionally, the front trunk lid and fenders on the 911 GT3 RS are made of carbon fiber and the roof consists of magnesium. Like on the 2018 911 GT2 RS, NACA ducts in the front trunk lid optimize brake cooling without increasing drag. The front fascia features a spoiler lip that is larger than on the previous model, increasing downforce in conjunction with the larger side skirts. At the rear, the large wing mounted on the carbon fiber deck lid works in combination with a rear underbody diffuser. The result: The 2019 911 GT3 RS produces more than twice as much downforce as the regular 911 GT3 at 124 mph. The race-inspired appearance continues in the interior: Full Bucket Seats with carbon fiber reinforced backrests provide a high degree of lateral support to suit the vehicle’s exceptional level of lateral grip. Lightweight glass for the rear window and rear side windows, lightweight door panels with door opening loops, reduced sound insulation, and the omission of rear seats emphasize the consistency of the material choices and the dedication to saving weight. The Alcantara steering wheel measuring 360 mm in diameter features a yellow 12 o’clock center marker. The most powerful naturally aspirated engine in a road-legal 911 ever The four-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six engine from Porsche in the new 911 GT3 RS pushes the sports car to new limits: It delivers 20 horsepower more than the engine in the 2016 911 GT3 RS and the current 911 GT3. Plasma coated cylinder liners, a central oil supply through the crankshaft with larger bearing diameters, larger connecting rod bearings and the rigid valve train with shims to provide valve clearance compensation all carry over from the 2018 911 GT3. Capable of up to 9,000 rpm like the regular 911 GT3, the thoroughbred engine takes in ram air through openings in the rear quarter panels, and it is closely related to the unit used in current Porsche 911 race cars. The unmistakable flat-six sound escapes the exhaust tips, which are made of titanium like the muffler itself. The engine is mated to a specifically tuned seven-speed PDK, which features performance-oriented gearing with the top track speed being reached in seventh gear, like all GT tuned PDK transmissions. Race-bred chassis Technology derived from motorsport ensures that the chassis offers exceptional driving dynamics. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), active engine mounts, rear axle steering, and the fully variable electronic locking rear differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) are standard. Ball joints on all suspension links provide even greater precision than conventional bearings with rubber bushings. Furthermore, the new 911 GT3 RS features new helper springs at the front axle, in addition to the rear. As is customary for a Porsche GT model, the ride height, toe, camber, caster and sway bar settings of the suspension can be adjusted to suit individual driver preferences. Forged lightweight wheels measuring 9.5 x 20 inches in diameter with newly developed 265/35 ultra-high performance (UHP) tires enhance agility and steering precision, while 12.5 x 21 inch wheels with 325/30 UHP tires mounted at the rear deliver excellent traction. Overall, the wider tires offer a significantly larger contact patch than those of the regular 911 GT3. Large cross-drilled grey cast iron rotors measuring 380 mm front and rear are standard, while the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake system with 410 mm rotors at the front and 390 mm rotors at the rear can be ordered as an option. The ceramic rotors weigh around 50 percent less than the cast-iron variants. Optional Weissach package and magnesium wheels for extra weight savings For particularly spirited drivers, the Porsche motorsport department has created an optional Weissach package to reduce the weight of the car even further. With this package, the front and rear sway bars and coupling rods, vehicle roof, steering wheel trim, and shift paddles on the steering wheel are all made of carbon fiber, reducing the weight by roughly 13 pounds. Optional forged magnesium wheels, weighing around 25 pounds less than the standard wheels, are available as well in conjunction with the Weissach package. When equipped with these options, the weight of the 911 GT3 RS drops to 3,153 pounds. Pricing and availability The new 2019 911 GT3 RS is available to order now and is expected to reach U.S. dealers in fall 2018. The MSRP is $187,500, not including available options or the $1,050 delivery, processing and handling fee. The Weissach Package is available for $18,000. The magnesium wheels can be ordered for an additional $13,000 in conjunction with the Weissach Package and will be available at a later date. View full article

Whenever one German automaker does something new, others will follow. For example, the BMW X6 caused Mercedes-Benz to launch the GLE-Coupe. Now with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class in certain markets, BMW's Australian office is pushing the main office for a pickup truck. “We cannot close our eyes and neglect it, we cannot neglect market trends,” said Marc Werner, head of BMW Australia. "We have been very pushy regarding utes or pick-ups, and we believe that this is something the company should be looking into. We have raised that with headquarters and certainly investigations are happening as we speak, but it’s too early to speak about the results of that analysis, but if there was a ute we would certainly take it.” In Australia, pickups or utes as they are known is one fastest-growing segments in the country. “If you look at the market, more than 150,000 Utes [were sold last year], out of 1.1 m cars overall and I think that that segment grew last year by 17 percent,” said Werner. BMW building a ute really doesn't fit the image of the brand. But Werner disagrees, saying the similar arguments were given with the launch of the X5 in 1999. Now the X family of crossovers are some of BMWs most popular models. “At the end of the day, we need to cater for what the customer and consumer want – and then the question is does it fit with the BMW DNA and BMW brand promise or are we over-stretching the brand, that is the core question that needs to be answered. But from a pure engineering perspective, everything is possible. The question is what does the brand stand for and how far you want to stretch it.” If BMW decides to go forward with this idea, they could reach out to their alliance partner Toyota to use the Hilux truck as a base. Mercedes did the same as the X-Class is a reworked version of the Nissan Navara pickup. Source: CarAdvice View full article

A big complaint you'll hear from journalists covering the Detroit Auto Show is the month that it is held. January is a miserable time in the north with cold temperatures and endless amounts of snow. But there could be some relief coming. The Wall Street Journal has learned from various sources that organizers of the show are considering moving the show from January to October. Crain's Detroit Business adds that show officials have been floating this idea for more than a year with automakers, city officials, and Cobo Center. Both say the show's leadership team has yet to make the final decision and could happen as early as 2020. A spokesman for the Detroit Auto Show comfirmed to the Wall Street Journal that a change is being considered, saying organizers are “exploring opportunities to better leverage the how and the region.” “I would love to see it in October,” said Wes Lutz, Owner of Extreme Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Trucks in Jackson, MI. “I think we’d get even better attendance.” Moving the show to October would not only provide better weather, but also give some breathing room between it and the Consumer Electronics Show, which occurs the week before Detroit. CES has become a prime place for automakers to showcase new technologies and make vehicle debuts - Chevrolet Bolt comes to mind. It also might stem the loss of automakers from the show. Auto companies such as Mazda, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, and Land Rover were no-shows at this year's show. Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be skipping the 2019 show. But there are some issues with this move. Crain notes that show officials signed a new $11.8 million contract with Cobo Center back in July to keep the show there and in January. Moving it to October will likely require a new contract. It would also require shorter setup schedule for the show. Currently, work begins in October as workers build up the various exhibits that make up the show. Source: Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required), Crain's Detroit Business View full article