J.D. Power Releases 2009 APEAL Study

The reasoning behind J.D. Power and Associates’ Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout study is to find out “how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive” for each customer.

The overall winner in the 2009 APEAL study was Porsche, which maintained its dominance in the top spot for the fifth straight year. Rounding out the top five were several other luxury brands: Jaguar, Cadillac, Audi and BMW.

Individual categories included one decent upset: In the Midsize Premium Car category, the Hyundai Genesis beat out both the BMW 5 Series and the Jaguar XF. Other winners of interest included the Dodge Challenger, Volkswagen CC, Ford Flex and Nissan Maxima — all relatively new models.

Through Ian's Lens: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

How cold is it? 14 degrees? Sure, I’ll go out and take some photos of the car. It’s a convertible you say? Oh...

During a Chicago winter, there are very few cars that beg to be taken out on a gusty 14-degree day. The 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet just happens to be one of them. The slightly redesigned 911 brings an updated touch of class to a rather static line of cars, with new bi-xenon headlights up front, interior upgrades inside, some new bumper lines in back and new LED taillights to let drivers you pass know they’ve been passed.

The exterior design of this car has remained virtually the same for many, many years, and while Porsche has left the traditional 911 shape intact, the interior is what caught my attention. Deep tan-colored leather dripped from floor to ceiling, giving this car an incredibly high-end feeling from both the driver and passenger seats. The attention to detail in the stitching is impeccable, and the soft feel of the steering wheel and the entire dash made for a luxurious atmosphere. But then again, people don’t buy Porsches for the ambiance, they buy them for the driving experience. There were no exceptions here.

Please leave your remarks in the comments section; a full set of photos is below. Feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.

Porsche Delivers Preliminary Mileage for Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche unveiled more information about its upcoming Cayenne Hybrid SUV. The gas-electric hybrid will debut next year with a supercharged V-6 engine borrowed from Audi that pumps out 333 hp, combined with a 52-hp electric motor. The company says its 0-62 mph time is 6.8 seconds, which is roughly the same as the V-8 Cayenne S.

The bigger news is that the company says it will return combined mileage of 9 liters per 100 km, which by rough conversion is around 26 mpg. Porsche won’t, however, commit to a U.S. EPA figure. The Cayenne S gets 15 mpg, and a four-cylinder Honda Accord gets 25 mpg combined.

We’ll have to wait until next year for final mileage figures, but anything that sounds this fast with mileage this good can’t be a bad thing. Of course we’d expect the sticker to be much higher than the $59,400 price tag on the Cayenne S. 

First Look: 2010 Porsche Panamera's Interior

It’s been a couple months since we got our first glimpse of Porsche’s all-new four-door Panamera GT. Today, we finally get a peek at the interior and also find out more about powertrains, trim levels and pricing.

The Panamera will comfortably seat four. There’s a wide center console spanning the cockpit that also bisects the rear seats, providing storage and air for the rear passengers.

Practicality makes a rare appearance at Porsche, as the Panamera can carry a group and their cargo at the same time. The trunk has 15.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is more than a comparatively sized BMW 5 Series and about equal with a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The rear seats also fold down.

Porsche Prices 2009 Boxster, Cayman

Expect the 2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman to land at dealerships in March with improved technology, power and fuel economy. Of course, this also means a teensy price bump. The ’09 Cayman will start at $50,300, while the Cayman S will cost $60,200, not including a destination charge of $975, according to Tony Fouladpour, business communications manager for Porsche.

The Boxster will begin at a $46,600 base price and jump up to $56,700 for the Boxster S. The destination charge will be $950 for the Boxster.

Overall, Porsche’s 2009 pricing amounts to about a 1.8% jump versus the 2008 models, but this increase represents more bang for your buck. Both the Boxster and Cayman will sport Porsche’s new Direct Fuel Injection technology for increased power, while gas mileage estimates top 25 mpg — an increase in fuel economy from 2008.

First Look: 2010 Porsche Panamera

Finally, we have the first official information and photos from Porsche of its all-new four-door Panamera GT. The car has been widely anticipated by driving enthusiasts and Porsche fans for well over a year, with a healthy bit of criticism directed at its design.

The Panamera is 195.7 inches long — 7 inches longer than a Porsche Cayenne SUV but 10 inches shorter than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It represents a new subsegment in the luxury class: A four-door sports car that will arrive at dealerships this spring.

Surprisingly, Porsche is outfitting this new rear-wheel-drive halo car with both a powerful V-8 engine and a less-powerful V-6 option. There aren’t specific trim-level specifications yet, but the company says power will range from 300 to 500 hp. There will be a six-speed manual transmission as well as an optional seven-speed PDK or double-clutch transmissions. The top trim will also be available with all-wheel drive.

No matter what the Panamera is packing, all the talk is going to be about its looks. From straight-on it’s probably the most radical design the company has given any of its cars’ trademark front ends, yet it’s still recognizable as a Porsche. The profile, however, is where the love/hate for the car’s design will come into play. Even from the rear, the hatchback four-door looks good.

Of course, you can find more pictures below, along with comments on what we’re sure will be a hotly debated new car.

2008 L.A. Auto Show: 2009 Porsche Cayman

• Competes with: Audi TT, BMW Z4, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
• Looks like: A 2008 Cayman with some tweaks to the headlights, taillights and side marker lights
• Drivetrain: 265-hp, 2.9-liter six-cylinder or 320-hp, 3.4-liter six-cylinder with six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual
• Hits dealerships: March 2009

Porsche's most-affordable car, the Cayman, and its roadster counterpart, the Boxster, have been upgraded for 2009 with more power, better mileage, revised suspensions and upgraded interiors. The styling has also been tweaked, with an emphasis on the lights — headlights, taillights and side marker lights.

There are also some subtle front-end changes to distinguish the coupe and roadster more. The Cayman has round fog lights and a larger grille opening. The Boxster has rectangular fog lights. Both cars now incorporate their turn signals into the halogen headlight clusters, and LED taillights are standard. An option package includes bi-xenon headlights, cornering lights and LED daytime running lights.

2008 L.A. Auto Show: 2009 Porsche Boxster

• Competes with: Audi TT, BMW Z4, Chevrolet Corvette convertible, Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
• Looks like: A 2008 Boxster with some tweaks to the headlights, taillights and side marker lights
• Drivetrain: 255-hp, 2.9-liter six-cylinder or 310-hp, 3.4-liter six-cylinder with six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual
• Hits dealerships: March 2009

Porsche's more-affordable midengine roadster, the Boxster, and its coupe counterpart, the Cayman, have been upgraded for 2009 with more power, better mileage, revised suspensions and upgraded interiors. The styling has also been tweaked, with an emphasis on the lights — headlights, taillights and side marker lights.

There are also some subtle front-end changes to distinguish the coupe and roadster more. The Cayman has round fog lights and a larger grille opening. The Boxster has rectangular fog lights. Both cars now incorporate their turn signals into the halogen headlight clusters, and LED taillights are standard. An option package includes bi-xenon headlights, cornering lights and LED daytime running lights.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Porsche 911

Poor Kelsey Mays: Our intrepid reviewer had to go to the Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City to test-drive different variants of the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S on breathtaking mountain roads. Some guys can never catch a break, you know? Mays reports back on the Porsche flagship, which got a full update for 2009. Check out his full review to find out if this update will mean something to non-car geeks, and if the 911 can impress our reviewer with comfort and styling as much as it does with performance.

2009 Porsche 911 Expert Review

First Drive: 2009 Porsche 911

You’d have to be a serious car geek to notice the styling changes on the latest Porsche 911 models — a clipped taillight here, a widened air dam there. The major changes are under the hoods — er, tails — of the 911 lineup, where Porsche shoehorned a pair of new direct-injection six-cylinder engines with more horsepower and better gas mileage than their predecessors.

The automaker invited journalists to Salt Lake City’s Miller Motorsports Park for a day of track time in the 345-hp Carrera and 385-hp Carrera S. Racing veteran Hurley Haywood sat shotgun and offered timely advice as we took to the corners, driving home the point that (shhh!) professional writers are not, in fact, professional drivers. We also logged several hours in a Carrera S on some of SLC’s freeways and mountain roads.

The early verdict: The 911 remains a stunning track performer that’s quicker than ever, and its improved cabin controls have many competitors beat. But in drawing the line as a serious enthusiast’s car, it continues to come up short in comfort and convenience – not drastically so, but enough that casual drivers who just want a weekend cruiser should know what they’re getting into.