Showing posts with label purists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purists. Show all posts

Thursday, July 14, 2022

2019 Porsche Cayman GT4 Is The Six-Pot 718 That Purists Have Been Waiting For (Updated)




There were countless upgrades - inside, out, and under the hood - that made the last Porsche Cayman GT4 stand out from 鈥渓esser鈥?versions. And so it will be with the new one. But as you can see from these latest spy shots, none will be more obvious than the giant wing protruding from its posterior. The top of Porsche鈥檚 718 lineup, the new Cayman GT4 (alongside the Boxster Spyder) is expected to pack the 4.0-liter boxer six from the 911 GT3, albeit likely de-tuned for the smaller package, producing just over 400 horsepower. Porsche executives have hinted that the new model will be available with both manual and dual-clutch automatic transmission options. What else should we expect? Compared to existing versions - including the Cayman GTS - it鈥檒l also have bigger wheels, a stiffer suspension, and a more aggressive aero package that will add a bigger rear spoiler. That wing looks different than the unit we鈥檝e seen attached to prototypes up to this point. It appears to bear a similar curve and even the same vertical brackets holding it in place, but this one has bigger end-plates. Much bigger, the better to channel airflow and keep it stable at speed. Big as it is, that in and of itself won鈥檛 make the GT4 the unadulterated performance machine that it most definitely will be.





To do the testing perfectly and to get the desired results requires a tester to have more than just the Technical skills required to do the job. Consider a scenario in which 2 testers with similar educational background joins an organization and undergo similar training but while at work- one tester gives absolutely wonderful results while the other remains average. There can be multiple factors leading to this situation but one major factor leading to greater performance of an individual has been the Power of focus or concentration that one exhibits while working on a task. For the people who are passionate about Software testing, would find their attention span on task at hand i.e. testing the software more than the average testers. Correlating that with Sachin's statement in previous section- when a tester is in the zone he/she always sees only the Software to be tested and works with it with full attention eliminating all other distractions. The more a skilled tester reaches such a zone, the better he/she will get at the craft of Software testing. I would really call this as "Zone of Accomplishment". Is it possible for a tester to get in "Zone of Accomplishment" everytime he/she tests ? Another idea i have found useful is to defocus and allow your mind to wander and then focus back again. The more we allow mind to work naturally, the more attention spans we would be able to get back in return. I would really like to hear from you on your experiences towards staying in present and getting in to "Zone of Accomplishment" while testing. Do share your thoughts. The Inspiration of this post comes from a beautiful article written by Aakash Chopra . You can find the article here .





It's very easy to have preconceptions about a vehicle like the Porsche Macan GTS. Some people will be predisposed not to like it because it's a Porsche. Other people, people who like the marque, may look down on it because they think it isn't a real Porsche. And I'll admit, I had my own preconceptions, since I am not generally a fan of the small SUV or crossover. So imagine my surprise when, after a week, I was forced to concede that the Macan GTS deserves to be taken seriously. It's definitely a real Porsche. And in fact, it might be the best SUV I've ever driven. First off, let's dispense with the idea that SUVs are something outside of Porsche's comfort zone. The first Cayennes started rolling off the production line in Bratislava in 2002, and that model is now in its third generation. What's more, it almost certainly saved the company in the process, subsidizing the sports cars that we normally think of when we think about Porsche. 68,900, 360hp Macan GTS.





Next up, let's dispel the idea that this is just an Audi SQ5 in a fancy new outfit. Yes, it is indeed based on Volkswagen Group's MLB architecture, like the older Q5. But so, too, were the previous Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, and A8鈥攁nd no one says those are all the same car with a different wrapper. Head-on might be the Macan GTS' best angle. It seats five and can carry cargo with the best of them, but unlike most other SUVs this one doesn't shy away from a twisty road. From the driver's seat it feels like the Macan's cockpit wraps around you. The Macan GTS is powered by a 3.0L twin-turbo V6. The Macan GTS sits 10mm lower than other Macans for better handling. Wheels are a hefty 20 inches front and rear, with brakes to match. The latest Porsche infotainment system is a lot better than the company's prior efforts.





Being part of the Volkswagen empire has its benefits. No huge all-singing, all-dancing multifunction display here鈥攜ou still get some physical analog dials. You've got 17.7 cubic feet (500L) of storage with the rear seats up and 52.9 cubic feet (1,500L) with the seats folded flat. You have to insert the Macan's key into the dash and turn it to fire the car up, just like olden days! BiXenon headlights with LED daytime running lights are standard. Just in case you forgot what car you bought, the headrest will remind you. Room in the back is adequate but not expansive. The craftsmanship is top-notch, but then it ought to be at this price. Obviously, the Macan gets a unique exterior and interior, but the differences are more than cosmetic. It uses a seven-speed dual clutch (Porsche Doppelkupplung) gearbox rather than an eight-speed automatic. And before you scoff at the idea, bear in mind that the Macan GTS has suspension that's meant to be up to the job. Air suspension is standard, as is Porsche Active Suspension Management, the control electronics and software that adjust the ride height and stiffness to keep the car as flat as possible at all times.

Saturday, May 14, 2022

2019 Porsche 911 Carrera Review: Still For The Purists




Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. Well, the 911 is back, baby, and I think we鈥檙e (I鈥檓) going to stick with calling it 鈥渢he small-t turbo.鈥?Or maybe lil鈥?turbo. By now you鈥檝e heard: the entire 911 lineup is turbocharged, and the Carrera and Carrera S use two of them with the company鈥檚 new 3.0-liter flat six. We first drove the 2017 911 back in November on the international launch, and our man J.P. Vettraino broke down all the bits and pieces. Today we鈥檒l just quickly go over the big chunks. Visually, the small t Carrera gets bigger front grilles, black longitudinal strakes on the spoiler (instead of body-color transverse ones) and redesigned dimensional taillights with standard LEDs all around. The daytime running lights now have the four-dot signature in both front and back, though personally I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 on board. I鈥檇 rather see dim projectors or something else entirely. It is distinctive, though.





Fresh out of the box with a revised look ealier this year, the new Porsche Macan is being assembled at the Leipzig facility ever since August. Four months after the new range was entered production, a new S version joins the range. Porsche announced on Tuesday the introduction of the S model for the facelift Macan, an S model which will come equipped with a new 3.0-liter 6 turbocharged gasoline engine. The new powerplant is tad punchier than the one available until now. It has a power output rated at 354 ps and a maximum torque of 480 Nm. These specifications account for an increase of 14 ps and 20 Nm compared with the previous model. Porsche says that fitting the optional Sport Chrono Package on this SUV brings the zero to 100 kph (62 mph) acceleration time down to 5.1 seconds, an improvement of 0.1 seconds compared to the model it replaces. The top speed of the car in this configuration is rated at 254 kph (158 mph). When compared to the outgoing Macan S, this new version also comes with newly tuned chassis, new spring forks on the front chassis and tuned sway bars. Braking power has been improved as well, with Porsche engineers working on every component of the system, from discs to brake pedal feel. At the interior, the Macan S benefits from all the changes made when the facelift was introduced, starting with the 10.9-inch full-HD touchscreen and ending with the Wi-Fi hotspot. The options list for the model is also extensive and includes the GT sports steering wheel of the 911, Traffic Jam Assist, and a heated windshield.





Maserati launched its first ever SUV last year, with the type of splendour normally reserved for a new Pope. Since then it has shifted 25,000 Levantes around the world - making it the best-selling Maserati for some time. But its appeal was always hamstrung by its confusing trim packages, so-so handling, limited safety equipment and just one engine option. However, for 2018, the Italians have given their SUV a fine going over, and the results should make the upmarket off-roader a little more tempting to buyers. You鈥檒l struggle to tell the revised Levante apart from its predecessor. Maserati hasn鈥檛 taken this opportunity to give the big SUV any tweaks in the styling department, so park a 2016 car next to a new one and it鈥檚 a tough game of spot the difference. The only real clue is a small chrome badge on the lower half of the front wing: it reads either 鈥楪ranLusso鈥?or 鈥楪ranSport鈥?depending on trim - and here we鈥檙e testing the new petrol-powered Levante S in GranLusso guise.





GranSport, as the name suggests, is the more sporting of the two, and can be recognised by gloss black trim, 20-inch wheels and red brake calipers. On the inside there鈥檚 lashings of carbon fibre and a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters. GranLusso is the more luxurious version, with body-coloured trim, 19-inch wheels, wood trinkets and the choice of full leather or part-Ermenegildo Zegna silk upholstery. Maserati has added a wealth of extra safety kit, too. There鈥檚 now adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, blindspot alert, highway assist, and traffic sign recognition bundled in as well. It鈥檚 a package that costs 拢1,500 - or 拢2,525 with an around view camera thrown in. Elsewhere, Maserati has ditched the Levante鈥檚 hydraulic steering for an electric set-up, which apparently makes the car more comfortable to drive around town without ruining the model鈥檚 sporting characteristics. But the old car鈥檚 hydraulic set-up was one of the Levante鈥檚 treats and delivered pleasing feel and consistent weighting. Now, though, the steering feels rubbery in the car鈥檚 Normal model, while in Sport it鈥檚 heavier but disappointingly numb.





The electric set-up makes the Maserati feel remote - preventing you from carving through tight, twisting corners with confidence like you can in the outgoing Porsche Cayenne. The result is a car that fails to bely its size, always feeling large and a little bit cumbersome. We also drove the car on the dunes of the Dubai desert, where it performed well - thanks to the Q4 all-wheel drive system offering plenty of traction. The Levante would be outclassed by a Range Rover Sport on the toughest off-road terrain, but even though it鈥檚 a road-biased SUV it showed plenty of strength on soft ground. But to add some appeal, Maserati now offers the car with a petrol engine. Up to now, the sole choice has been an off-the-shelf 3.0-litre V6 diesel bought in from VM Motori, but the petrol is more of a family affair. Badged 鈥楽鈥?it鈥檚 a 428bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 built by Ferrari, no less, and promises to offer a tuneful engine note to match the Italian鈥檚 suave character.