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  • Review update: 2020 Porsche 911 S flirts with perfection

    The idea isn’t perfect. Build a sports car with the engine hanging off the tail behind the rear axle. Sure, that weight gives the rear tires lots of grip, but it creates a moment of inertia that can send the tail skittering if corners aren’t taken with care. Not exactly the recipe for stability in a car that will be driven hard on racetracks and canyon roads.

    Apply almost 60 years of engineering to that concept, though, and you have the 2020 Porsche 911, a sports car that’s as close to perfect as I’ve ever driven.

    I spent a day during the pandemic driving a 2020 Porsche 911 S instead of slaving away at the office and experienced the ways the car is perfect and imperfect. Here’s what I learned.

    2020 Porsche 911 S

    2020 Porsche 911 S

    Hit: Perfect seating position

    The 911 offers a low-slung seating position that makes you feel as cool as the blown away rocker in the 1970s Maxell ad. The difference is the Porsche sport bucket seat, which certainly offers more support than that Le Corbusier chair. Even with just 6-way adjustments (4-way power), the seat offers an ideal driver’s position for any body type thanks to a generous range of travel. The gearshift for the 7-speed manual transmission sits slightly high, but it’s in perfect alignment to rest your arm on the center console as you rifle through the gears. The steering wheel telescopes forward and back to set the right arm angle for best control, and the tachometer sits front and center to easily monitor the revs and shift points when sending it on the track.

    Miss: Bathtub feel

    The only complaint I have about the seating position is more of a complaint about modern design. Beltlines started rising almost two decades ago to create a lower, chopped-roof look, but that meant hanging an elbow out the window became uncomfortable. The feeling is particularly noticeable in the 911 as the door panels rise high and the car wraps around you. The doors rise so high that it feels like you’re sitting in a bathtub.

    Hit: Perfect steering

    That perfect steering-wheel position is accompanied by perfect steering feel. Porsche is one of just a handful of automakers that do electric-assist power steering well. It’s rock-steady on center, quick to react, predictable, and it tells you what those low-profile 20-inch front tires are doing. This is how steering should feel.

     

    2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S, Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain, January 2019

    2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S, Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain, January 2019

    Hit: Perfect stability

    Part of the reason for the fantastic steering is the suspension is just so dialed in. On the road or the track (as we learned during last year’s Best Car To Buy testing), the 911 is unflappable. It always feels hunkered down. It feels as stable and serene going 70 mph through a sweeping bend as it does cruising down the highway. That 62 percent rear weight bias is exceptionally well controlled, without a hint of a tendency toward oversteer. The 911 is so solidly planted that it takes extraordinary measures to get it out of sorts

    Hit and miss: Ride quality

    Given the 911’s extra-sensory handling, it rides as well as could be reasonably expected. It never beats up passengers, even in Sport+ mode, and would make a comfortable companion for a cross-country trip. However, some high-end sports cars ride better, like the Aston Martin DB11 and Lexus LC 500. I’ll take the minor tradeoff for the 911’s sharper moves.

    Hit: Prodigious power

    I’ll stop short of calling the Porsche 911 S model’s 443 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque perfect, but it’s certainly prodigious and better than advertised. Power arrives low in the rev range, the big 305-mm rear wheels hook up efficiently, and the 911 blasts from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and tops out at 191 mph. If Porsche told me it had 550 hp I’d believe it. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-6 also makes the right throaty sounds that help define the 911.

    2020 Porsche 911 - Best Car To Buy 2020

    2020 Porsche 911 – Best Car To Buy 2020

    Miss: Infotainment

    Porsche is getting closer with its infotainment systems, but they still need some work. The touchscreen is nicely sized, close at hand, and quick to react. It has a clean design, and additional control icons “wake up” as your hand approaches the screen. I take issue with the size of the icons, some of the control menus, and the ease with which some functions can be performed. Apple CarPlay exacerbates the icon size issue because its interface uses only part of the screen. A Silicon Valley approach would help here instead of the logical German mind.

    Hit and Miss: Too expensive and not expensive enough

    The car I drove had a $114,650 starting price, including $1,350 for destination. With a smart smattering of options that included a sport exhaust system and a Sport package with adjustable dampers, it stickered at $121,950. That’s too rich for my blood but worth every penny. The 911 S offers performance unmatched by sports cars at twice the price like the DB11 and Bentley Continental, but the cost of entry means it’s for the elite.

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    2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S

    Base price: $114,650

    Price as tested: $121,950

    EPA fuel economy: 17/25/20 mpg

    The hits: Perfect seating position, perfect steering, perfect stability, prodigious power.

    The misses: Infotainment, bathtub feel, expensive.

    Source

  • TUNED AUDI RS5: MILITARY MANOEUVRES

    Seasoned modifier Aaron McMahon has a new ride on the scene – a tuned Audi RS5. Resplendent in Military Green, it’s already torn down to Austria and blown Wörthersee apart, and now it’s on the hunt for fresh conquests…

    Feature taken from Performance Audi. Words Dan Bevis Photos Mike Crawat

    Tuned Audi RS5

    Some people have a natural affinity for modifying. We’re all into it, that goes without saying, but there’s a certain rarefied strand of DNA that exists within a chosen few individuals which means that they’ve got a good eye for a quality mod, the tenacity to carry it through to completion, and the eagerness to keep pushing on past what other people might see as perfection and a job done.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    In the case of Aaron McMahon, this all manifests itself within the new-wave VAG stable; this Belfast-based enthusiast already has a string This one, however, is the big one. The crowning glory of his automotive adventures thus far, the RS5 is a mighty base to begin with when you’re tackling a project. After all, it’s a pretty bloody incredible thing in standard factory spec: you get a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 kicking out 444bhp, an 8-speed ZF ’box mated to the revered quattro system, and a frankly unnecessary 174mph speed limiter, which is surely just Audi themselves showing off. All the RS options are in place, from the sporty diff to the tuned suspension, plus there’s the option of Dynamic Ride Control and oodles of carbon fibre bits… how can this possibly be improved upon?

    Tuned Audi RS5

    Ah, but Aaron has form here. He’s been doing this stuff since day one. “I’ve always had a passion for cars and modifying, from a very young age,” he assures us. “When I was sixteen I got my first car, a SEAT Léon which I slightly modified, and this was followed by a Mk5 Golf which was the car that introduced me to air-ride! Having sold both of these I upgraded to a Volkswagen CC, which ended up on 20” Rotiform splits and a full four-way hydraulic setup as well as a bunch of other custom mods. I attended a couple of indoor shows with the CC, but at this stage I was still only new to the whole modifying world…”

    Tuned Audi RS5

    He was certainly building a head of steam though, there’s no denying that. Next in Aaron’s constantly shifting crosshairs was a brand new Mk7 Golf R; he was only planning a few minor mods to begin with, but we all know how that goes… fast-forward a couple of weeks and it was already exponentially changing; in the end, it was wearing a full C7 RS6 front brake setup with huge 395mm waved discs, along with 365mm RS7 waved rears. Also involved were a set of 20” Signature three-piece wheels, H&R Ultra Low coilovers, full custom retrim, a whole world of carbon fibre, and the thick end of 400bhp. So you’re starting to get an idea of Aaron’s modus operandi, right? This dude goes in all-guns-blazing, no half measures, and gets the job done.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    “I just love the idea of completely revamping cars into something custom,” he grins. “After visiting and enjoying many shows in the Mk7 R, including Wörthersee, I decided it was again time to upgrade. There’d been another few cars on my mind, like an F80 M3, but after seeing the B9 RS5 I just fell in love with the shape! I started inquiring at the local Audi garage – Belfast Audi – and, after deciding on the full spec I wanted, I placed the order. I’ll be honest, it was the longest wait of my life – but it was well worth it.”

    Tuned Audi RS5

    The spec he’s gone for is really quite impressive; as well as ticking the box for the Dynamic Ride Control, this RS5 is packing about £15k of factory options, including the full interior and exterior carbon fibre packs. An incredible package… but of course, this was just the beginning for Aaron. A man clearly unafraid of cocking a snook at his warranty in favour of killing the scene with yet another big-spec build.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    “Again, much like with the Golf, my initial plan was to just do a few minor mods, nothing too crazy,” he says, fooling precisely no-one. “However, I was soon approached by Plush Automotive, who were interested in developing an air-ride system for the new RS5 platform and wanted to use my car as a prototype.” This was rather an involved process, as you’d expect of a fresh system being developed for a new-to-market car, and the RS5 ended up being over in England for around five months as the setup was finessed. What resulted was an air install featuring custom Bilstein shocks, AccuAir e-Level management, and integration of the Dynamic Ride Control system, which gets the car sitting pretty as well as working hand-in-hand with Audi’s own tech.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    “The mods didn’t stop here,” he smirks. Of course not. By this point, we wouldn’t expect anything less. “I bought a set of 21” Rotiform OZT three-piece wheels, and had them rebuilt with all new barrels and hardware and refinished by the famous Wheel Unique – the best company about. I also added a custom valved cat-back exhaust system to really help that V6 find its voice.” Following this, Aaron turned his attention to the exterior; while the OEM carbon pack added plenty of accents in the lightweight weave, he wanted more – so into the mix were stirred a carbon front grille, ducktail spoiler, rear diffuser extensions, side extensions with spats, and a front splitter (which has now been smashed to bits on the autobahn – collateral damage, it’s all just battle scars). The clever Matrix LED headlights were also gutted by EM Tuning and de-chromed, then modded to incorporate changeable demon eyes and DRLs.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    “These lights attract serious attention,” he says. “And as if the Nardo Grey paint I’d specced wasn’t cool enough, I decided to change it up again, bite the bullet and get a full wrap in 3M Matte Military Green. I’m extremely happy with the colour choice, and the quality of the work completed by VSM Graphics is top class! It’s my favourite mod on the whole car.”

    Tuned Audi RS5

    It certainly takes a lot of chutzpah to go balls-to-the-wall on a brand new, high-end ride. But we’re now well aware that Aaron is very much of the mindset that you only live once, life is for living, and the brief flicker of time we have on this earth is way too short to drive boring cars. And we also know that he doesn’t just build his hot VAG to look pretty, he’s got high-octane fuel in his blood and there’s a reason for all this horsepower. Besides, the natural home for an RS Audi is on a derestricted section of the autobahn, isn’t it? Road trips are baked right into cars like this.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    “I drove the Audi down to Wörthersee 2019, and to be honest with the standard of cars out there I was shocked at the amount of heads it turned – it was a big hit,” he smiles. This is testament to his vision as much as the quality of the build; the second-gen RS5 still isn’t a particularly common sight on the road, let alone one that’s been so extravagantly reimagined. “I have a few further mods planned for the car, including more graphics, more carbon, and some engine mods, but other than that I just plan to enjoy it from now on.”

    Tuned Audi RS5

    You can read the subtext there, naturally. The enjoyment here comes as much from the modifying as the driving. And when this stuff’s in your blood, when you’re naturally compelled to do it by forces far stronger than logic or reason, there’s really only two ways this will go: reinvention, or rebirth. Either way, Aaron’s someone we ought to be keeping an eye on.

    Tuned Audi RS5

    TECH SPEC TUNED AUDI RS5

    Engine & transmission:
    EA839 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6, custom valved cat-back exhaust system, ZF 8-speed auto, quattro.

    Chassis:
    21” Rotiform OZT three-piece wheels with textured black faces, wet gloss lips and black chrome hardware, 265/20 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, ABP (Air By Plush) suspension with bespoke Bilstein shocks, AccuAir e-Level and DRC.

    Exterior:
    Wrapped in 3M Matte Military Green (original colour: Nardo Grey), black decals and badges, carbon fibre front grille, custom carbon front splitter, side extensions with spats, rear diffuser add-ons and ducktail spoiler, OEM exterior carbon pack option, Matrix headlights de-chromed inside – customised with changeable demon eyes and DRLs.

    Interior:
    OEM interior carbon pack option, steering wheel finished in carbon and Alcantara with red stitching, carbon seat side inserts, red seatbelts, custom Plush boot build.

    Source

  • 3D-printed body kits: Could it become a thing?

    Aftermarket company 1016 Industries is looking to pioneer 3D printing of body kits.

    The company, based in Miami, Florida, specializes in carbon fiber body parts for exotic cars and offers everything from individual parts to full body kits. It’s now looking to incorporate 3D printing into the manufacturing of its kits and is testing a prototype kit developed for the McLaren 720S.

    1016 Industries describes the kit as a full body replacement made from carbon. The company said the kit also adds 110 millimeters to the width of the 720S.

    It’s still early days as 1016 Industries is yet to determine whether 3D-printed body kits are durable enough to match the performance of traditionally formed kits, i.e. cured in molds. More advanced prototype kits should have better fit and finish than the one shown here.

    1016 Industries developing 3D-printed body kit for the McLaren 720S

    1016 Industries developing 3D-printed body kit for the McLaren 720S

    “Incorporating 3D printing into our production processes has been a steep learning curve,” Peter Northrop, CEO of 1016 Industries, told Motor1 in an interview published Wednesday. “While the material hasn’t proven yet that it would be the right fit for a long-term prototype, our testing has proven that a car can use 3D-printed technologies and be drivable.”

    According to Motor1, 1016 Industries will have a 3D-printed body kit for sale in 2021. It will be limited to 30 units and pricing information is yet to be announced. As a guide, 1016 Industries’ current kits for the McLaren 720S start at $22,000.

    Performance wheel manufacturer HRE has also shown off a 3D-printed wheel and the startup Czinger has shown a whole car where most of the parts are made using 3D printing.

    3D printing technology has also proven a boon for the major automakers whenever they need to produce complex parts in low volumes, for instance when building a prototype vehicle or adding a specialized part to a vehicle line. The technology has also proven useful for making parts for restoration of classic cars.

    Source