The New Porsche 911 Turbo: Back for its crown

Porsche has revealed the Turbo derivative of the 911, coinciding with the Turbo model’s 40th birthday. As you would expect from a car with such pedigree, the 991-era Turbo is another festival of lightning performance and advanced technology.

Now in its sixth iteration, the latest 911 Turbo will see numerous technological advances to ensure it stands proud at the top of the 991-generation tree.Retaining its customary four-wheel-drive layout, the Turbo benefits from a power increase to 513bhp (552bhp in ‘Turbo S’ form) from the twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre flat six, good for a 0-62mph sprint of 3.2 seconds in Turbo guise (with Sport Chrono Plus Package) and 3.1 for the Turbo S. This is achieved while also managing to improve fuel economy by an average of 16 per cent.


The changes applied across all 991 models (aluminium composite chassis, 100mm wheelbase extension) meet those first seen in the 911 GT3 (rear-wheel steering, PDK-only transmission), but the Turbo also brings some of its own cards to the table.Adaptive aerodynamics is now the order of the day in this performance bracket, and Porsche has given the Turbo a front spoiler and deployable rear wing, both with a choice of attack angles. These combine to enable the driver to choose between optimal efficiency (you’ll need this to attempt the claimed 198mph top speed) or dynamic performance – with the latter, Porsche’s engineers shaved two seconds off the car’s Nordschleife lap time.

The Turbo is visually differentiated from more sedate 911s not only by its traditional signifiers such as the wider arches (the 991-gen Turbo is the widest road-going 911 ever) and the vents on the rear haunches, but also its new all-LED headlights – with camera-based beam control – and two-tone forged 20-inch wheels. The latter will have central locking hubs on the Turbo S.

The Turbo S also receives the novel PDCC active anti-roll system, Sport Chrono Package Plus with dynamic engine mounts and PCCB ceramic brakes, all of which are also available as options on the standard Turbo. In the United Kingdom, the 911 Turbo starts at £118,349; the Turbo S costs £140,852.

Related Links Porsche 911 Turbos of all previous generations can be found in the Classic Driver Marketplace

Text: Joe Breeze Classic Driver
Photos: Porsche

TreMoto Leaning Reverse Trike Developments

by PAUL CROWE 

TreMoto leaning reverse trike

It's been over two years since we mentioned the TreMoto trike. They had just completed one prototype, based on a Ducati Monster 620, but it had over 2500 miles and things seemed to be working pretty well. Eddie Smith of TreMoto dropped me a note to let me know they were preparing for Pikes Peak with their trike based on a Kawasaki Z1000.

TreMoto leaning reverse trike

Even die hard two wheelers should take a look at this because in the dirt or blasting through turns where gravel is strewn across the road, you have to figure, the twin front wheels should give you a large margin of safety and control over a single wheel. The TreMoto leans 45 degrees, so you're not locked upright like a Can Am Spyder and at 464 pounds wet, and with inline 4 power, it should be enough to get and keep your attention.

TreMoto leaning reverse trike

Here's Eddie from TreMoto:

Yeah it's tons of fun to ride. Lately it's just been a lot of Pikes Peak prep, suspension settings, playing with ride height etc. The front end is pretty well dialed now, I can hang with sportbikes in the twisties. It's particularly good in low speed corners, hairpins and trail braking. The narrow little backroads are my favorite, so there's often gravel sand and dirt scattered in the middle of turns. This really freaks the two wheeled guys out but the TreMoto really doesn't seem to care. There is a lot of traction under braking so it's pretty easy to pick the rear wheel up. It doesn't really like to wheelie, but the rear slides/spins with more control than I have on a bike. Front wheels can be locked with no drama. Wet weight is 464lbs with 3 gallons of fuel with head/trail lights installed, so dry weight is 436lbs which is right on par with the stock Z1000 it's based on. Racing weight will be lighter still. On the same set of tires you can bomb down a gravel road with confidence, go drag knees in the parking lot or twisties and then ride to the drag strip and break 100mph on the 1/8 mile. I can't really think of any bikes that could do that, maybe a Multistrada?

We're also putting the finishing touches on a SuperTenere that we are setting up for a customer. It's not going to be as hard edged as the Z1000 or the Ducati but it should have good performance and be good for adventure riding.

TreMoto leaning reverse trike

Leaning trikes are showing some promise, with enclosed concepts like the TerraCraftand naked versions like the TreMoto, you can choose your personal preference, but once we made the transition from upright to leaning, the whole trike world took on a different tone and give bikers another option.

TreMoto leaning reverse trike

I'm really excited for the 91st running of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. We ran in 2011, the last year of dirt, but missed last year due to the wildfires. For 2013 we are a lot more prepared, so it should again be a great event. The PPIHC organizers are awesome about allowing experimental and unique vehicles, so we will again run Exhibition Powersports alongside Greg Tracy and Chip Yates with their high powered electric bikes, some super bikes and the Milliken camber car.

Check out the TreMoto web site, they have lots of videos and if you're in the Colorado Springs area for Pikes Peak you can see it in action.

Link: TreMoto

via the kneeslider

HONDA RUCKUS CUSTOM

I used to think that 1970s CBs were the most heavily customized Hondas. Until I discovered the extraordinary subculture that has grown up around the Honda Ruckus. Yes, it’s a scooter and it’s got a meager 49cc. But it’s a distinctive looking machine, with wide tires, a bare bones frame and twin headlights. In Japan—and some pockets of SoCal—it inspires fervent devotion.

Over the past five years, the USA has really caught on to the Ruckus—especially in California, New York and Florida. One of the leading lights is a company called Rucksters; based in Arcadia, CA, it supplies a dizzying array of custom parts.

This machine, nicknamed “The LV Project” after the luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton, is a collaboration between Rucksters and the tuner BTX Industries. The stock engine was the first thing to go: it’s been replaced by a 150cc GY6, an engine commonly used in larger scooters.

Breathing is helped by a Mikuni TM28 carburetor, a custom header pipe and a Yoshimura exhaust. With a curb weight of less than 200 lbs, you’re looking at a useful turn of speed. Certainly more than the 40 mph top speed of a stock Ruckus.

The frame and body have been stripped back and refinished in a mix of Du Pont ‘Champagne’ paint and brown anodizing. The rear wheel, in case you’re wondering, is from a golf cart. (And no, I don’t know how it goes around corners.)

As for the rest of the bike … there are too many changes to list here. Head over to Honda Tuning Magazine for the full story and a spec sheet.

from BIKEEXIF

carrosserie