from Panoramio.com

I attended a Google/YouTube event yesterday and was completely floored by one of the examples the Google Maps dude showed us. It's a crazy mashup of Google Maps along with images pulled from Panoramio that are tagged with the location they were taken by users who uploaded them. The site is a Web Special for the Porsche Cayenne and you simply have to see it to believe it.

To get the to the cool stuff, jump out to the microsite here: Porsche Cayenne Web Special. Once you launch the web special, click on the Get in. Drive off. button. Select your Cayenne, then enter a Start location and Destination. I'd suggest trying big cities to begin with. Your route will be plotted on a Google Map, then your visual journey will begin. Pay close attention to the images in the mirrors and in the reflection on the car.

Un Freakin Believable!!! This has got to be one of the coolest uses of this technology for entertainment purposes at least. And the fact that Porsche used it for one of their cars makes it all the more richer.

Don't stop with just one route. Try different ones and see what you see.

Porsche Cayenne Web Special

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The first Tempting Porsche today is one that strikes me as a great deal. It's a 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera. Silver with black interior. 94,000 miles on it. Here are some details from the ad:

1999 Porsche Carrera Silver/Black Leather interior 94K miles, 6 speed manual trans, power seats, non smoker. Car is tight and drives beautifully. Upgraded performance software and Cold Air Intake Package.

Asking Price: $15,250

That's a great deal on a fun car. I like the color and it's tough to beat black interior in my mind. A heck of a lot of car for $15k. I'm not sure what a cold air intake package is. Maybe it's something to do with the cold climate the car has lived in for the past few years. This car should sell fast.

Tempting Porsche #2

Number two today is a car I've never thought much about owning in the modern form. It's a 2004 911 Targa. Black on black and 98,500 miles on it. Here's a little more description:

Air conditioning; AM/FM stereo; Single CD player; Cruise control; Power steering; Power windows; Power door locks; Power seats; Leather seats; Tinted windows; Xenon high intensity lights; Driving/fog lights; Anti-lock brakes (ABS); Traction control; Dual front airbags; Front side airbags; Full Leather; Shift Kit; Big Exhaust; Targa Glass Roof

The one you have always wanted…This Porsche is in fantastic condition.  It looks like a 30,000 mile car.  It is fast, fun, super rare…Its been serviced and pampered and loved its whole life.

Asking Price: $27,990

I know this has quite a bit of mileage on it, but a 2004 911 anything for $27,990 seems like a great deal. I'm not sure if the Targa model is less desirable at all. In the Pacific Northwest, the current Targa should actually be MORE desirable given all the bad weather we get. Anything to let in a little more light on the gray days.

I've always had a bit of a fascination with older 911 Targas and would love to own one (leaky roofs and all). This car has actually made me reconsider a newer one. Be a steal if you could get this baby for $25k.

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I'm sure you've seen plenty on the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car released recently at the Geneva Motor Show. I thought I'd throw my two cents in about the car. Simply put…it ROCKS!!! (end of post, no need to read any further)

The Porsche 918 Spyder concept is an ultra-efficient, low-emission, mid-engine supercar that pushes the previous limits of hybrid and electric drive technology. Here are some stats and facts for you to mull over:

• 0 to 62 mph in just under 3.2 seconds
• Top speed of 198 mph
• Lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7 min, 30 sec – That's faster than the Porsche Carrera GT!
• Capable of 78 mpg
• V8 engine produces 500+ hp and a max engine speed of 9,200 RPM
• Electric motors on the front and rear axle with an overall output of an additional 218 hp
• 4 different running modes available: E-Drive, Hybrid, Sport Hybrid and Race Hybrid – This offers a wide range of individual modes and applications in a variety of environments from track to around town.

Some other very cool enhancements have been added to the technology offered for driver and passenger. One thing that's particularly sweet is the new Range Manager function. This feature uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover. In cities that have environmental alert areas, the Range Manager also tells the driver whether or not a certain destination can be reached on electric power alone. Couple this with additional info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations and you have some great insight into how you want to adjust your driving habits to meet your desired battery charge and filling strategy.

As always, Porsche has done a great job at pushing the envelope of technology and giving us a glimpse of the future of Porsche. I can't wait to see if the Porsche 918 Spyder actually gets produced and what technology ends up showing up in one of my future Porsches.

[Source & Images: press.porsche.com]

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This was a little harder than I originally thought because they were all good efforts (except yours Andrew!  you can't be surprised you get called out for that effort…or lack of…lol)

I narrowed it down to  a few I liked a lot and of those they tended to be simple yet befitting and smart. The entries with explanations really got my interest and they showed thought behind them. I liked those.

Ultimately what would I want to see emblazoned on the engine cover of my personal car? James O. got it with Boxster GSGT, and I have to say he won by a narrow margin, it was close. There were some great efforts that just as well could have done the job, but James O. edges out!

So congratulations James! And a big thank you to Brad for coming up with the giveaway idea and choosing the winner. Thanks too for everyone who participated.

We've got 2 more giveaways (maybe 3 if I can get one sorted out) coming up over the next few months. I'll be launching a new one by next week at the latest.

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Just got back last night (we pulled in to my driveway at 11:45pm) from a blitz road trip from San Diego, California in a Porsche Cayman. Was a blast and confirmed why I love road trips. I'll try and give the abbreviated version of the story.

I was in my buddy's restaurant last Thursday for a lunch meeting. He happens to be a big car nut and mentioned to me when I walked in that he was thinking about buying a Porsche Cayman. Said he found one in San Diego that he loved. Immediately I'm thinking, "ROAD TRIP!!!" and told him I'd fly down and drive back with him if he ended up buying something.

By the time I got back to the office from lunch I had a text asking if I was serious. We had flights booked by the end of the day for Sunday and he'd purchased the car. Turns out it's a 2008 Porsche Cayman S Porsche Design Edition. Since it's a special edition, it has a little plaque on the dash showing it's #407 of 777 made. Black with black leather and only 7k miles on it.

Among other things, it came with some really cool Porsche Design accessories:

• Chrono watch
• Titanium pen
• Leather keychain
• Sunglasses
• Wenger swiss army knife

Everything is in that cool Porsche Design black. The knife is especially cool with black blades and a nice matte finish. None of it had been used by the previous owner.

We flew down, picked up the car, had dinner with his daughter and her friends, then took off early the next morning for Portland. I'd never driven or even ridden in a Cayman, but I have to say, I was dang impressed. The Porsche Design edition is especially appealing with some nice touches. Inside, there are slick shiny black surfaces sprinkled throughout the cabin with a suede wrapped steering wheel and shifter. LOVED those! Outside, the car has decals up the center that run from front to back, but they're very subtle. In fact you don't even notice them at first. There are also some on the lower doors that run horizontally. They really set the car off (and I don't usually like that stuff). Also included on this model are Porsche turbo wheels.

The car drives and rides like a true Porsche. The ride is a bit on the stiff side, even without the Sport setting engaged. Steering is precise and it corners like a dream. I was particularly impressed with the power of the car and how responsive it was. It feels more agile than the 911 because of it's smaller size and the engine being mid car rather than in the rear. I also loved the sound in the cabin with the engine right behind your back. Reminds me of the Ferrari.

I spent plenty of time driving and enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost every minute of it. I drove through the pass and ended up driving through snow and some ice on the road. I don't mind driving on that stuff, but not in someone else's new-to-them Porsche. We made it though and even made the non-negotiable In-N-Out stop for lunch just outside of Stockton.

I've been thinking a lot lately about Porsche special edition cars and whether or not they're worth it. I have a post partially written up with some thoughts and have some interesting new material to add after spending time in this Porsche Design Edition Cayman. It's definitely tainted my view a bit on the special edition cars.

God bless the "road trip"!

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This has got to be one of the stranger paint jobs I've ever seen on a Porsche (aside from Janis Joplin's 356). It's got a desert camo paint scheme. I'm not sure which is attracting more attention. The camo paint or the fact that it's a Panamera.

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I'm liking TECHART's approach more and more. I love their styling, the subtle additions that enhance the racing prowess of the cars and the interior styling. These have got to be a sight to see at the Geneva Auto Show where they're making their debut.

TECHART Concept One for Porsche Panamera

The first is what TECHART is calling the Concept One individualization study. What I can gather from the press release shows some possible performance increases with a 150 hp boost, but I think the focus is more on the exterior and interior treatments. Outside, they've added some nice trim pieces with redesigned front and rear aprons. Custom tail pipes, spoiler and integrated air openings both front and back actually serve useful purposes as well as complimenting the overall look.

What really gets me is the interior in this car. It reminds me of some of the Gemballa interiors from the 80's without the extreme in your face nature of them. The white interior with black accents looks pretty striking. They've also added some "comfort" for the rear seated passengers such as a 10.2" ceiling monitor with integrate DVD player, a rear console and folding tables built into the front seats.

TECHART Program for Porsche Panamera

Essentially this is the same program TECHART was offering for the Porsche Panamera, only now it's been extended to include the Panamera S and 4S models. Options such as the Aerodynamic Kit I include a triple-part front spoiler, side sills, rear wing and rear diffuser and TECHART dual tail pipes. There are some suggested wheel options matched to recommended tires and boost options.

This is more of subtle kit to set your Porsche Panamera apart a bit from the rest. Nice looking, for sure, but nothing that is going to cause heads to snap around. This applies to the interior as well. The base treatments are more nice touches than radical improvements you'll notice right away, in my opinion.

TECHART Individualization for Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S

The last on the list for today is the TECHART options for the new Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S. I've got mixed feelings about the photos I'm looking at for this package. On one hand, they do make the car even meaner looking, but on the other, there's something about Porsche's stock styling of the 911 Turbo and Turbo S. Personally, I think it'd be foolish to apply this package to the 911 Turbo S given it's potential collector status. Course I feel the same way about the Carrera GT. Guess that's how those of us without unlimited funds think.

Most of the upgrades are external attempting to improve the 911 Turbo design through reduced aerodynamic lift, better cooling through airflow optimization and better lighting options. There are two Aerodynamic Kits available along with the usual TECHART wheels and suggested tire options. Some minor interior enhancements compliment the treatment.

An interesting application of their individualization program was made to the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet for the Geneva Auto Show. Don't see too many tuners showcasing their products on a cabriolet, so that's a welcome addition.

Still on the fence on this one.

[Source & Images: Press.Techart.de]

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This is a pretty cool video of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. They have some great cutaway shots of the car highlighting the technology. I'm excited to see how this car does in production on the track.

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I stumbled on the Porsche 918 Spyder yesterday morning, but didn't have time to post about it. I also saw a Web Special set up for live streaming of Porsche's Premieres event live. You need to jump out and watch the event now. Pretty cool and you can see the new Cayenne Hybrid, the GT3 R Hybrid and the 918 Spyder. I'm lovin the look of that 918 Spyder!

Launch the Porsche Web Special from here: Porsche.com/USA

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