1957 Porsche 356A Speedster "Outlaw" Was Built with Parts from the Future

Most people would say it’s a crime to modify a classic Porsche 356 coupe, but what do you do when you have one so full of rust that you can’t restore to its original form? Well, if your name is Chuch Olenyk, then you start transforming it into a Speedster.

Using only original Porsche parts, including from 911 and 912 models, Olenyk converted his rusty 356A into a 356A Speedster “Outlaw” in his home garage, all by himself over a period of seven years.

The car is nicknamed the “Outlaw” because it uses parts that weren’t available at the time it was originally built – you know, from the future.

The result is spectacular to say the least: the car looks more aggressive with its Speedster windshield and lower ride height. And it drives and sounds pretty good too, as Jay Leno found out towards the end of the video.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

Porsche Flaunts New 911 Targa in Latest Promo Video

There’s no doubt that the roof of the Porsche 911 Targa will be the main reason people will buy the car. Why would anyone bother with the 911 Targa when the 911 Coupe promises to offer a sharper driving experience and the 911 Cabriolet a lot more open sky above the passengers’ heads?

A homage to the original 1965 Porsche 911 Targa, the new model really nails it in terms of design – not to mention the sophisticated, but let's be frank, rather pointless roof opening mechanism.

And since you know all the details about the 991 Targa, Porsche released a promotional video whose single purpose is to make you want to buy a 911 Targa. Well, as long as you have set aside $101,600 in the U.S. (the price of the base 911 Targa 4 model) or €109,338 in Germany, Porsche would be more than glad to have you in their showrooms.

Scroll down to watch the Porsche 911 Targa in action.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

A GT2 RS-Beating Tune for Porsche 911 GT2 Owners

In the very rare case you own and aren't satisfied with the performance of your 997-generation Porsche 911 GT2, lustily looking at the more powerful 997 GT2 RS of which only 500 examples were produced, the tuning minds over at O.CT. (OK-ChipTuning) have wrapped up a new package to give your toy that extra edge.

Dubbed Club Sport or aptly CS, the tune focuses on the 3.6-liter flat-six turbocharged engine hanging over the rear axle, adding, among other things, an Akrapovic racing exhaust system complete with manifolds and sport catalysts, a new ECU, and modified intercoolers sourced from the GT2 RS.

O.CT. says the upgrades add 148hp (150PS) over the standard GT2 (523hp / 430PS) and 59hp (60PS) over the GT2 RS (612hp / 620PS), for a total output of 671hp (680PS) and peak torque of 880Nm (649 lb-ft).

According to the tuner's data, the revised GT2 CS completes the run from 0 to 200 km/h (124mph) in about 8.4 seconds (stock GT2: 11.5 sec | RS: 9.4 sec) and from 0 to 300 km/h (186mph) in about 21.3 seconds (series GT2: 33.0 sec | RS: 26.7 sec).

From 100 km/h to 200 km/h (62mph-124mph), the GT2 CS takes just 5.1 seconds (series GT2: 7.8 sec | RS: 5.9 sec) and from 100 km/h to 300 km/h (62mph to 186mph) 18 seconds, which is said to be 5 seconds faster than the RS.

Completing the tune are new Ultraleggera HLT in 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires and an original GT2 RS rear wing with LED stoplights.

PHOTO GALLERY

New Porsche 911 Targa’s Roof Is Very Cool to See in Action

Not only does the all-new Porsche 911 Targa look like its predecessors from the 1970s, but it also marries this classic style with a state of the art mechanism that stows the roof away in seconds, doing so in a very spectacular manner.

The entire rear glass part rises into the air and allows the bit that sits above the passenger compartment to slide underneath – it would not have been difficult to remove by hand (let alone more reliable in the long term…), but here they definitely wanted to give people the chance to show off.

The opening it leaves is small yet what you’d expect from a Targa, offering limitless headroom without having to go for the much more obvious convertible model.

It really depends on what you plan to do with your 911. If you want the best driver’s car, then you go for the coupe. However, if you want the most unique looking one, then the Targa and its spectacular roof fits the bill nicely.

Check out its full range of motion in the videos posted after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Porsche Blows the Top Off Retro-Sexy 911 Targa, Priced from $101,600* [w/Video]

Porsche is returning back to the 911's roots with the new Targa edition that is making its world premiere at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show today.

In a nicely done nostalgic approach that mimics the original 911 Targa of 1965, Porsche fitted the new 991-generation model with a roof bar, a movable front roof section, and a wraparound rear window.

However, unlike the classic model, on the new 911 Targa, the roof segment can be opened and closed at the push of a button, with the top automatically stowed away behind the rear seats.

Positioned between the traditional coupe and convertible editions of the 911 for those who want a bit of both, but are willing to make a few compromises, the Targa will be offered in two engine variants, both exclusively with AWD featuring the wider rear track and body, and the same Porsche Traction Management (PTM), found in all other 911 all-wheel-drive models.

The range starts with the 911 Targa 4 that sports a 3.4-liter flat-six with 345hp (350PS), which when equipped with the optional Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission and Sport Chrono package, accelerates to 60 mph (96km/h) in 4.6 seconds topping out at 174 mph or 280km/h (175 mph or 282 km/h with the manual transmission).

At the top of the line is the 911 Targa 4S, which just like its coupe and convertible siblings, has a 3.8-liter boxer engine producing 395hp (400PS). It sprints from zero to 60 mph (96km/h) in 4.2 seconds when equipped with optional PDK and Sport Chrono package reaching a top speed of 183 mph (295km/h) when equipped with a manual transmission and 182 mph (293 km/h) with PDK.

As far as U.S. pricing is concerned, the base 911 Targa 4 will have an MSRP of $101,600 while the 911 Targa 4S model starts at $116,200, with both prices excluding a destination charge of $995.

Porsche plans to commence deliveries of the 911 Targa in the U.S. this summer.

PHOTO GALLERY

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