Following spy photos from its private unveiling in Germany earlier this month and hot on the heels of the images we brought you yesterday, Porsche has today issued the first details and photos of its upcoming 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Powered by Porsche’s twin-turbo 3.6-litre flat-six and weighing in at 1 370 kg, the 911 GT RS delivers a mammoth 462 kW, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 2.96 kg/kW. The 0 – 100km/h sprint is over and done with in 3.4 seconds.

By comparison, the current-generation GT2 offers an already substantial 390 kW, and the recently-released naturally-aspirated GT3 RS offers 335 kW. Even the 5.7 litre V10-powered Carrera GT is outgunned, with an output of 450kW. This makes it the most powerful road-going Porsche to-date.

According to Porsche, it will lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 18 seconds, putting it just inside the top six (or so) production vehicles to navigate the course in under 7m20s. In 2004, the Carrera GT covered the circuit in 7m28s, while the GT2 managed a time of 7m32s.

Some of the features unique to the GT2 RS include carbon-fibre-reinforced components with a matte black finish, wider wheels (with flared arches up front), new centre-locking light-alloy wheels and a 10 mm taller rear spoiler lip.

The GT2 RS is limited to 500 units, with its worldwide debut scheduled for the Moscow Auto Show in August.

Supercars are a given at any motor show and most manufacturers were present in one form or another at this years New York Auto Show. Only Ferrari was absent, but they’re forgiven, for having been so diligently focused on the development and launch of their new 599 GTO. Below, in no particular order, follows a list of some of the cars that caught most peoples attention…

Alpina B7

Alpina may not be a household name, but in certain circles of BMW-trust, they are the absolute masters in making a great thing even better. The new B7 starts off as a regular 300 kW 750i and gets the full treatment. It begins with a pair of Honeywell-Garrett turbos giving an even 1.0 bar of boost and stainless-steel dual exhaust system. Altogether, output is rated at 373 kW and 700 N.m of torque. This is only part of the story as the cabin of the B7 is treated to the finest materials including Myrtle Burl wood. Here’s to more exclusivity and those signature Alpina alloys!

Bentley Continental GTC SuperSports

Bentley and speed have long since been associated with each other. In SuperSports guise, that statement could not be truer. With 463 kW coming from its twin-turbocharged 6,0-litre W12 engine, the mammoth 2.2 tonne car charges to 100 km/h in only 3.9 seconds and will reach 325 km/h. Actually, SuperSports stands for weight reduction (about 90 kgs) and enhanced performance. All this performance and exclusivity at a price tag of, well, P.O.A in South Africa.

BMW 335is

Reviving an old name is sometimes tricky as fans of the original can easily get offended if the carmaker doesn’t get it right. In the case of the BMW ‘is’ and its revival, the Bavarians nailed it. Featuring a 240 kW 3,0-litre turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine, the new 335is is very much a performance coupe or convertible with a little something extra over the regular 335i. Extra niceties for the car include specific aerodynamic body pieces for better airflow and improved cooling. The 335is also uses a free-flowing sport exhaust system, tuned for a more satisfying rumble.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

As if the SLS AMG wasn’t enough to get every car enthusiast a little excited, Mercedes goes and takes the wraps off the Baywatch/Pamela Anderson equivalent at the New York show and adds the letters ‘GT3′, which have the same impact as XXX! Using the same monster V8 and having less mass to lug around, the SLS AMG GT3 will accomplish pornographic-like performance figures that will surely have fans requiring cold showers.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

The Turbo and expected Turbo S models will no doubt look a little more desirable, but for now the new Cayenne is a huge improvement over the previous generation. The first generation VW Touareg was not particularly pretty either, but deciding which one looks better would have been a tough decision for most – not something a Porsche should have an issue with. But No more! Not only does Cayenne 2 borrow styling cues from the Panamera, latest Cayman and 911, but its new Hybrid and Diesel powertrains (as well as Turbo) will make it more popular than ever.

Hennessey Camaro

Hennessey in general is really making a name for itself. The 2011 Venom GT promises to be a killer in the performance supercar category when it becomes available next year. As for the Camaro or Camaro(s), only your budget can limit the amount of rubber you can scorch. With packages ranging from 447 to 746 kilowatt, few will challenge you in a straight line, or on a track. Depending on the selected options, your Camaro will be able to pull just over 1 G of lateral acceleration, that’s some serious grip – for an American car!

Porsche Carrera GT

This Porsche is not new, but it was on display in New York and after seeing one at the Franschhoek Motor Museum Time Trial & Concours event in February, we don’t need an excuse to mention it. The Carrera GT has undoubtedly carved its spot that league of supercars that will forever and always be coveted. Think of the Lamborghini Countach, the Ferrari F40 and the GT is a natural fit. With a 451 kW 5,7-litre V10 and performance numbers like 0 – 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, 0 – 160 km/h in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 328 km/h, how could it not be?

Mazda RX-8 Racer

Based on the latest and hottest RX-8 ever, the R3, the Speed Source #70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8 is obviously no ordinary over-the-counter RX-8. Competing in the Rolex Series GT Class and piloted by Sylvain Tremblay, Nick Ham, Jonathan Bomarito and David Haskell, this car won its class in the latest edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It’s not everyday that we hear of Mazda’s GT Class racing efforts.

Subaru Impreza WRX and STI

The ‘new’ WRX is in fact not really new as it only grows ever closer to the STI in styling and performance. First came the bump in power to 197 kW and now it sports body proportions basically on par with the STI. Although the return of the sedan has made headlines (the jury is still out on it looks vs the hatch), it’s the fact that the WRX needs to continue to grow to maintain its competitive edge. One theory is that the upcoming ‘Toybaru‘ will adopt the STI badge, while WRX will be reserved exclusively for the sedan/hatch.

Spyker C8 Aileron

It’s an acquired taste, the new Spyker C8 Aileron, both in the looks department and driving experience. However, no one denies the attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship of the car. With 300 kW from a 4,2-litre mid-mounted V8, the Aileron should prove to be entertaining to drive, if not a little under powered for what its looks suggest.

One of the star attractions at the Geneva motor show is Porsche’s 918 Spyder hybrid concept. The sportscar concept is powered by a mid-engined, 373 kW V8 engine, with two electric motors driving each axle to supply an additional 160 kW.

Power is distributed to the wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed PDK double clutch transmission. The 918 Spyder hybrid can accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds, it has a top speed of 320 km/h and boasts a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of less than 7:30 minutes – faster than the Porsche Carrera GT.

Michael Macht, president and chief executive officer of Porsche, stated during the unveiling of this sports car, that Porsche has never shown a concept car that it hasn’t put into production. So that more or less tells us that we will be seeing this car in showrooms in the near future.

The 918 Spyder is one of three Porsche models with hybrid drive making their world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. This trio is made up of the new Cayenne S Hybrid SUV with parallel full-hybrid drive, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid racing car with electric drive on the front axle and a flywheel mass battery, and the two-seater high-performance 918 Spyder mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology.

Porsche Press Release (Click to expand)

The Franschhoek Motor Museum (FMM), at L’Ormarins estate in the Western Cape, played host to a spectacular time trial and concours event this past weekend. Held over two days, the event featured a multitude of rare and exotic cars battling for top honours in their respective events. Apart from the attraction of the cars themselves, the museum is situated on the beautiful L’Ormarins estate, nestled below the peaks of the Groot Drakenstein mountains.

The event kicked off with the time trial runs on Saturday morning. The competitors were divided into three classes of cars, according to their speeds, and completed four runs of the specially-designed circuit. The drivers list read like a who’s-who of local and international motorsport legends, with the likes of Sarel van der Merwe, who piloted the museum’s Porsche Carrera GT, a Le Mans D Type Jaguar and a wild Chevelle SS; Ian Scheckter, who got behind the wheel of the museum’s Tyrell and March F1 cars; as well as Serge Damseaux, 10 times SA Rally Champion, who was reunited with his 1988 Class A Championship winning Toyota Conquest. Other well known personalities attacking the course, included young Schalk Burger in his modified BMW 135i and a Shelby Mustang 350, as well as L’Ormarins’ owner, Mr Johann Rupert, whose weapons of choice were a ’63 Ferrari Lusso GT and Mercedes CLK DTM AMG.

Despite temperatures being well into the 30′s, spectators were well looked after with ample food and beverage available. The pit area was open to spectators and allowed the chance for close-up inspection of the competing cars. Various manufacturers also had their latest models on display, including Maserati with a GranTursimo S, Ferrari with their California and Porsche with a 911 GT3, 911 Turbo and a few Panameras.

Of course the museum itself opened its doors for the weekend. With over 220 cars in the collection, the museum boasts 2 700 m² of floor space with some 80 cars on display at any one time. An added bonus for those in attendance was being able to see the exhibits come to life when the Ferrari F50, McLaren F1 and Porsche Carrera GT took to the course – carrying the three winners of the lucky draw, who each won the ride of their lives.

The Concours d’Elegance took place on Sunday afternoon. Entries included, among others, a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, BMW M1, Aston Martin DBR, Ferrari Dino, Ferrari Daytona and Toyota 2000GT.

As with the Knysna Hillclimb we attended last year, we hope the FMM Time Trial & Concours event continues to grow from strength to strength. South Africa offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and successfully combining these scenes with rare and exotic machinery is certainly a trend we hope will catch on. With more events like these, spectators are given the opportunity to view motorsport in environments other than the racetrack, which adds variety to their motorsport calendar.

Time Trial Top 10 Fastest Times:

We’ve just come across some new images of the recently announced Porsche Boxster Spyder, which will make its debut at the 2009 LA Auto Show next month.

A quick refresher for those who don’t know: Weighing in at 1 275 kg, the Spyder is powered by a 3,4-litre six-cylinder engine that produces 238 kW. Mated to the optional PDK (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) transmission, the Spyder accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds before topping out at 267 km/h – with the roof down.

Click here for the Porsche Boxster Spyder article.

Porsche has released the first images and details about the 2010 Boxster Spyder.

Described as the “…purist form of the Porsche sports car – light, powerful, consistently open, and very efficient”, the Spyder is powered by a 3,4-litre six-cylinder engine that produces 238 kW. Backed up by the optional PDK (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) transmission, the Spyder accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds before topping out at 267 km/h – with the roof down. If that isn’t impressive enough, the roadster consumes just 9.3 L/100km in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

To further maximise the Spyder’s sporting prowess, Porsche put the car on a diet – it weighs just 1 275 kg, which makes it the lightest model in the Porsche lineup – lowered the center of gravity, and added an all-new sports suspension.

In terms of styling, the car features a unique soft top, extra-low side windows, and two rear deck lid bulges, which are meant to resemble the ones used on the Carrera GT. Other design touches include modified front and rear bumpers, 10-spoke alloy wheels, and revised air intakes. Inside, the roadster boasts an exclusive interior with sport seats, ‘Boxster Spyder’ branded scuff plates, and a body-color centre console.

Set to debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show, the Boxster Spyder will go on sale in February 2010 for EUR53 100 (EUR63 404 in Germany, after a 19 percent VAT and country-specific features are applied). Pricing and availability for the South African market has not been confirmed.

Press Release (Click to expand)

Source: Porsche

More than just a garage, this place is a museum, a giant archive, an art gallery, a piece of auto history and, yes, a sanctuary. It’s also the playroom of James Douglas Muir Leno, born in 1950 and better known as Jay Leno, the famous host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, who’s passionate about fantastic 2 and 4-wheel toys.

“If Jay spent as much time studying as he does acting and goofing around, he could become a big star some day.”

That’s ironically what his fifth-grade teacher told his parents back in the day.

A Buick… or a hotel?
In the early 1970s, Leno arrived in Los Angeles dreaming of a career in Hollywood. With virtually no money, he got his hands on an old 1955 Buick Roadmaster which he also used as his only sleeping place for about six months. “That’s the car I met my wife with,” he says. A few years later, Leno abandoned the Buick at his mother-in-law’s. Soon, he began climbing the echelons of the Hollywood ladder.

In 1992, much to everyone’s surprise, legendary host Johnny Carson picked him as his successor on The Tonight Show, the popular late-night talk show that started way back in the 1950s. Jay Leno has since become one of the most renowned and highest paid comedians on American television.

While comedy is what made him so famous, cars are what fuels his passion. Leno bought his 1955 Buick back, fully restored it and tuned it up by adding a Corvette suspension and a wicked 600-horsepower V8.

The venerable, juiced-up Buick is now surrounded by over a hundred automobiles, trucks and motorcycles from just about every automotive era, from the dawn of the 20th century to the present day.

Gigantic collection
One would need to write a book to describe Leno’s entire collection. Let’s start in the actual garage where a dozen craftsmen are working to restore his newest acquisitions. Then comes a succession of hangars with decorated walls and ceilings and, of course, cars after cars — each telling a unique story (narrated by one of Leno’s longtime employees).

Standing in front of a 1954 Dodge Coronet Suburban powered by a V8 HEMI Red Ram is a second-generation Chevrolet Corvair — the car that was supposed to curb the success of the Volkswagen in North America. We all know how that turned out. Yet, the rear-engined Corvair had flair with its beautiful red dress.

From the electrically-powered 1909 Baker to the exceptional 2004 Porsche Carrera GT, and from a delightful, 13.5-horsepower 1937 Fiat Topolino to the incredible Tank Car, whose 1,600-horsepower, 30-liter, twin-turbo engine was borrowed from an actual M47 Patton tank, there is something for everyone and every taste!

The greatest thing is that Jay Leno doesn’t hide his cars. He loves to show them and talk about them, especially the amazing stories behind some. The public is always invited for a visit, including on the Internet at www.jaylenosgarage.com. Hundreds of photos and videos await you. Have a nice tour!

Adapted from Auto123