Driving Sports

Western Automotive Journalists Gather For "Media Days" At Laguna Seca

The Western Automotive Journalists organization gathered this week in beautiful Monterey, Calif. to test drive the 2008 sports and luxury car field from virtually every automaker doing business in North America. Journalists from up and down the west coast arrived to test the full fleet of 2008 cars on the winding mountain roads of Carmel Valley and at speed on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Yes, that's the new Nissan GT-R parked next to the NISMO Edition 350Z in the photo to the right. Yes, they're as good as you think they are.

Events such as this serve a number of purposes, including a rare chance for side-by-side tests of comparable cars from different automakers, and also to allow a relaxed atmosphere to talk shop with the manufacturer representatives. But I wouldn't lie to you and tell you it was anything like working - this event is big-time fun.

Supercar Life Expands Options for Hot Rides

Supercar Life, the first adventure lifestyle company to offer drives of exotic cars on racetracks, is expanding its program lineup to appeal to hard core driving enthusiasts as well as to those who prefer to travel first class.

Supercar Life's new Track Package ($4,990) includes a full day piloting $1.5-million worth of supercars on premier tracks around the country. The Luxury Package ($5,690), formerly the only option, adds top-shelf accommodations, gourmet dinner and VIP ground transportation. Details and registration can be found at www.supercarlife.com or by calling 1.877.420.0090.

Blast Idles Porsche 911 Production

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, restarted production of the 911 series again last Monday,  March 3, at the main factory in Zuffenhausen. Production was stopped the previous Monday following a "deflagration" (a 20 Euro word for "explosion") that occurred in the paint shop.

Porsche states that a PVC fusion oven was badly damaged. The material damage, amounting to several hundred thousand Euros, is largely covered by insurance. Which is good, because, y'know Porsche might not have the money in the bank to buy a new paint booth.

Porsche Spices Up Chicago Auto Show

Porsche added some spice to the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Auto Show by unveiling the Cayenne GTS to the American public this week. Already known for exceptional on and off-road prowess, the GTS has been formulated, tested and tweaked to offer the best on-road characteristics of any Cayenne Porsche has ever produced.

Porsche Announces Plan for Panamera Hybrid

In an effort to respond to the green desires of its cutomers, Porsche has announced plans for what it calls a "Hybrid Drive" for the planned Panamera performance sedan. While manufacturers, politcos, interest groups and enthusiasts argue over what the next best thing in green propulsion will be, it seems that hybrid technology will be the way point between the internal combusiton engine and whatever happens next.

The Panamera is Porsche's new, and not-yet-released performance sedan which will feature four doors and a FR engine layout. While Porsche seems to be slowly crawling towards challenging the likes of BMW and Mercedes for top German luxury and performance automaker, it appears unlikely that they will become a producer of volume passenger cars.

Press release follows: