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Porsche wants a better 'connected car' [UPDATE]

UPDATE: In an earlier version of this story we mistakenly identified Joe Lawrence as the CEO of Porsche Cars North America; Lawrence is in fact the Chief Operating Officer, COO, of PCNA. The text has been changed to reflect this. Porsche is known for great engineering, but it's usually the type that leads to fantastic engines and sublime handling, rather than cutting-edge infotainment systems. The company wants to alter that balance in the future to put a greater emphasis on connectivity in its models. Porsche Cars North America COO Joe Lawrence outlined the brand's goals during a speech at the Bloomberg Innovation Forum in Atlanta, according to Automotive News. "Recognizing the phone is so ubiquitous in every sector, how do we integrate that into driving experience in a way that is safe and enjoyable?" he said. Lawrence suggested the company might be working with Google and Apple on future solutions. Even if Porsche is working on making more tech savvy models, don't expect the company to forget its roots. Brand boss Matthias Muller also broached connectivity during his recent speech at a conference and said the sports car business' customers didn't want "a smartphone on four wheels." He promised investments in research and development to come up with an answer. In the same speech, Muller strongly suggested fully electric Porsche models were on the way and also announced a seventh model line coming in the future. Lawrence reiterated the company's future, as well, in his address. "We will see further electrification of our product line," he said, according to Automotive News. Rumors of Porsche building a Tesla-fighter have been circulating as of late. The vehicle is possibly in the body of the smaller Panamera called the Pajun, and it could offer a 300-mile range with an electric motor at each axle kicking out a reported total of 600 horsepower. Related Video:

Ferrari Speciale and Porsche GT3 make the trip to Le Mans

Call it a pilgrimage. Call it a right of passage. The bottom line is that every racing fan should make the trip to Le Mans at some point. All the better if you can do it in style, as Evo has for this latest video. Instead of taking any old car through the Chunnel and along the French countryside to the famous Circuit de la Sarthe, Evo made the trip in the Ferrari 458 Speciale and Porsche 911 GT3. Both are more extreme versions of the already capable sports cars. They're still naturally aspirated, drive the rear wheels through seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions, and both won top honors in Evo's car of the year awards upon their release. And we could hardly imagine better vehicles for the journey. Along the way, the convoy-of-two stopped by the side of the old Rouen-Les-Essarts circuit. Back in the 1950s and 60s it was regarded as one of Europe's finest street circuits, hosting the French Grand Prix five times. It was closed down and paved over in the decades that followed, and is today part of a public thoroughfare – but you can still drive around it and see some of the relics of its former self peering through. Related Video: News Source: Evo via YouTube Ferrari Porsche Supercars Videos viral video porsche 911 gt3 evo circuit de la sarthe

2013 Porsche 911 RSR makes official debut

Porsche is ready to go racing in 2013, showing off a new 911 RSR today that is scheduled to compete in several endurance events this year. Based on the current 991 911, the new RSR will compete in the 2013 season of the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will not, however, make an appearance in a North American racing series this year.
The 2013 version of the racecar has increased in wheelbase by some four inches, features a new wishbone front suspension in place of the last-generation's McPherson strut setup and boasts a new, lightweight six-speed racing gearbox. The engine, meanwhile, is an "optimized" version of last year's car, a 460-horsepower 4.0-liter boxer six-cylinder. Extensive use of carbon fiber and polycarbonate windows help the RSR shed weight, and Porsche has also balanced the weight more evenly with a lower center of gravity.
Porsche has thoughtfully dedicated some space to celebrate the 911's 50th Anniversary, with the number 50 clearly visible in the top-down view of the RSR, as well as along the doors. Scroll down to read the full Porsche press release, below.