Motoring: Porsche heralds 911 Carrera

FOR fans of Porsche, the German sports car manufacturer has created a special series of its 911 Carrera: the Black Edition.

The combination of black paintwork and black interior is said to emphasise the classic shape of the car, which has been acclaimed as one of the world’s benchmark sports cars since its launch in 1963.

Standard equipment on the 911 Carrera Black Edition model includes distinctive 20-inch diameter alloy wheels, automatically dimming rear-view mirrors, rain sensing windscreen wipers, cruise control and Sport Design steering wheel.

A rear-mounted, flat-six cylinder engine is a symbolic component of the 911 identity. The 911 Carrera Black Edition is powered by a 3.4-litre power plant developing 350 hp (257 kW). It is offered as coupé and convertible versions, and with rear-wheel drive or Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive.

The special model’s eye-catching 20-inch diameter ‘911 Turbo’ style alloy wheels are complemented by LED headlights including the Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+). While the black interior looks minimalist but sophisticated. The driver and passenger sit on heated seats – with the Porsche crest embossed on the head restraints – and the standard Bose® Surround Sound System provides excellent sound quality.

In addition, the mobile telephone module, front and rear Park Assist, which includes a reversing camera, and ‘911’ rear badge add to the special 911 character.

The 911 Black Edition has already gone on sale at Porsche Centres around the UK. The range comprises (RRP):

911 Carrera Black Edition –         £75,074.00
911 Carrera Black Edition Cabriolet –    £81,852.00
911 Carrera 4 Black Edition –      £79,309.00
911 Carrera 4 Black Edition Cabriolet –    £86,125.00

In addition to the special Black Edition features, standard equipment on every 911 Carrera includes leather interior, sports seats, Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with satellite navigation system with seven-inch colour touchscreen, universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity, automatic climate control, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Porsche Vehicle Tracking anti-theft system, three year warranty and three year roadside assistance package.

Customers will also be able to explore the potential of their new car by participating in a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre at the home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone.

Porsche is also inviting open-top driving enthusiasts the chance to sprint into summer behind the wheel of a new special series of the Boxster: the Black Edition.

Standard equipment on the Boxster Edition models includes Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with navigation module and mobile phone preparation module, Park Assist front and rear, automatically dimming rear-view mirrors, rain sensor, cruise control and Sport Design steering wheel.

The two-seater roadster is powered by a 2.7-litre flat-six engine offering 265 hp (195 kW), which is mid-mounted in the chassis for optimal driving dynamics and responsiveness.

The colour concept remains consistent with the soft top and roll-over protection bar also finished in black. And the standard wind deflector helps to limit turbulence when the electrically-operated soft top is lowered.

The 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels and bi-Xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) are further distinctions. The driver and passenger can enjoy a higher level of personal comfort with the two-zone climate control and heated seats with the Porsche Crest embossed on the head restraints. Also ensuring entertainment in all weathers, the sound system in the Boxster Black Edition is the high-quality Sound Package Plus.

The Boxster Black Edition is on sale at Porsche Centres in the UK, priced from £46,164 (RRP).

The Black Edition also features standard equipment on every Boxster including electric powered hood with heated glass rear window, remote control roof operation, air conditioning, CDR audio system with seven-inch colour touchscreen, universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity, auto stop/start, Sports mode, tyre pressure monitoring, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), three year warranty and three year roadside assistance package.

Customers will also be offered the Silverstone experience.

New Dawn for Rolls-Royce

ROLLS-ROYCE has officially announced the name of its forthcoming new car – a new and exciting drophead to be known as the Rolls-Royce Dawn.

The car has been unveiled to representatives of the marque’s 130-strong global dealer network at the 2015 Rolls-Royce World Dealer Conference in Los Angeles.

However, full details remain a closely guarded secret and the wraps are unlikely to come off publicly until later in the year.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes said: “Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date.

“Dawn is a beautiful new open-top motor car with a name that suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one’s senses and a burst of sunshine. It will be the most social of super-luxury motor cars for those beautiful people who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world’s social hotspots.”

The car is the next step in the renaissance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, which began in 2003 with the launch of Phantom and subsequent introductions of Ghost and Wraith.

The company said the new Rolls-Royce Dawn would revive another famous and rare Rolls-Royce name first used in 1949, but only ever applied to 28 very special drophead bodies between 1950 and 1954 (pictured). A new beginning for Rolls-Royce at the time, the original Silver Dawn was the first Rolls-Royce to be offered with a factory-built body. The drophead Rolls-Royces that carried the name Dawn continued to be coach-built for individual customers, ensuring their uniqueness and rarity.

Rolls-Royce will launch the new Dawn during the first quarter of 2016.

Top Gear fans offered chance to buy a piece of the show’s history

FANS mourning the loss of TV’s Top Gear are being offered the chance to purchase a unique piece of the show’s history.

A 1996 BMW E36 M3 Evo that starred in Series 15 of the car show will go under the hammer at Classic Car Auctions’ June Sale, which takes place on Saturday June 6 at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.

CCA said it was rare for such a car to be offered – especially as most vehicles featured in the show’s challenges either end up trashed or converted into something else.

Driven by presenter Richard Hammond and The Stig, the car was featured as part of the sports saloon challenge which was filmed in Germany in 2010. During the episode, the car took part in activities including a high speed test on an autobahn and a drive around the streets of Berlin. It also did a hot lap of the EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, completing a lap in just two minutes and six seconds.

With an interior and exterior in excellent condition, and having covered 79,100 miles, as well as no faults with the engine or electrics, the car is estimated at between £7,500 and £10,500. The car joins a collection of other BMW classics, together with a 1971 TVR Vixen, a 1962 Triumph TR4, and a 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo.

Guy Lees-Milne, general manager of CCA, said: “It is really exciting to be selling a car that has appeared on such a world renowned TV show. At CCA we are all Top Gear fans, and we are sure it will appeal to many of our buyers, too.”