Porsche Ferrier

[cfos]

So, I just received my "local" Zeitung from the Intermountain Region/PCA and they had a blurb about the new Porsche Ferrier. Basically, it is a Porsche El Camino. Has anyone else heard about this? According to the article, they will be available at the dealerships on April 1st.

[FrayAdjacent]

A what??

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[98Boxster98]

Hmmm. April 1st. April Fool's Day. Hmmm.

[Travis]

You mean like this "CorveLmino" or would it be a El Corvetteo???

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by Travis

You mean like this "CorveLmino" or would it be a El Corvetteo???

El Corvetto where have you been my whole life?

[cfos]

Here is the story as written by Eric Flynn:

"Did somebody say NASCAR? With the numbers of Porsche drivers who enjoy boating, horse-back riding, motorcycling, or just like to haul their kids and in-laws to Wal-mart on Friday night, it was inevitable that there would be an addition to the line. The very first sighting of the new Ferrier (apparently a word play on the name of the famous company founder and the pick-up's ability to haul large loads) have been in New Mexico.

Officials from Weissach -- who have a great fascination with Native American culture -- have hand-picked a Navajo family from over by Standing Rock to test one on their ranch and they've been using it since last September. According to various "sources" they styling and drive-train are unique to the heritage, incorporating a number of themes already in use. The front end is unmistakably inspired by the SUV. There is a 4.5 liter, conventionally aspirated V-8 and a truck version of the GT's 5.7 turbo-charged V-10. First versions will be gas powered, but will eventually convert to the ever more popular French0fry oil (Chalk up on for the environmentalists!).

Front wheel drive with rear wheel steering is the most radical design element on the hauler (notice the turned rear wheels in the photo), along with a solar-assisted ceramic braking system. Kentucky blue-grass hay bales or a carbon-fiber Lazy-Boy in the bed are optional, but the titanium gun-rack is standard.

A little calling around to the PCA newsleter spy network confirmed a launch date New Mexico. Apparently, the CEO, board, and the entire family (yes, that family) are coming to New Mexico early this spring for the unveiling. It'll be in the center atrium of the famous Algodones Civic Center, precisely at 11:59 midnight of March 31 of this year. And they'll be available in all the dealer-ships so you can buy one on April 1. See you in line!"

Believe it or not!

*L* The picture is too funny! I'm trying to access my photobucket but due to lags it may have to wait.

[98Boxster98]

This must be the test mule.

[cfos]

That's a better pic than the one I have (and can't seem to load). Too funny. Usually, I don't get much out of the Intermountain mag, but this article was good.

[CJ_Boxster]

Actually there is a porsche/truck looking thing in switzerland, the people at rennsport or renn something made it. seen it on discovery channel

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Porsche has talked about a pick-up for years. Whatever, they are increasingly not the company they have been for 50 years, diluting the brand tremendously all the while pretending not to...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[porsche986spyder]

Originally Posted by 98Boxster98

This must be the test mule.

That isn't any type of Porsche prototype. That's a Honda Del-sole with a modified back. Ugly and stupid as hell.

[98Boxster98]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

That isn't any type of Porsche prototype. That's a Honda Del-sole with a modified back. Ugly and stupid as hell.

Sadly, the vehicle previously posted started life out as a 1987 Porsche 928.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-928-1987-Porsche-928-truck_W0QQitemZ110052737324QQihZ001QQcategoryZ6432 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


I had my tongue firmly placed in cheek when I made my post. Sorry if I appear to present it as the actual test mule for the "Ferrier."

[Porschekid]

That Lotus Elan was also made as a Kia in its later years... ouch.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Porschekid

That Lotus Elan was also made as a Kia in its later years... ouch.

Hi,

Ouch? That's ignorant. The Kia Elan was produced by Kia from 1996 to 1997. It was a licensed copy of Lotus Type M100 Elan, which was built from 1989 to 1995.

After the final production run of the Lotus Elan in 1995, Kia began manufacturing their own version under license. The Kia version is identical to the original. The biggest difference is the 1.8 liter, 151 hp NA engine Kia used in place of Lotus 1.6 liter, DOC Turbocharged 162 hp Isuzu engine.

The Elan made by Kia was never imported here, but Lotus North America had one in Atlanta, which I drove. It is identical to the Lotus M100, except for the power delivery which due to the NA lower power engine, really gelded it. But, the manufacture, Fit & Finish and quality of components were all top knotch.

Lots of companies make cars under license from the original creator. Lotus spun the M100 off because they, and their current parent - Maylaysia's National Automobile Enterprise - Proton, wanted their production facility back to produce the Elise and fulfill a contract with GM to manufacture the Vauxhall VX220, VXR220, and Opel Speedster. This is not at all unusual.

BMW in fact, started in the Car business by producing a licensed version of the Austin 7. Kia is an excellent manufacturer with a very high customer satisfaction rating. The fact that they choose to build mid-end economy cars shouldn't be construed as a sign of inferiority...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[porsche986spyder]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Ouch? That's ignorant. The Kia Elan was produced by Kia from 1996 to 1997. It was a licensed copy of Lotus Type M100 Elan, which was built from 1989 to 1995.

After the final production run of the Lotus Elan in 1995, Kia began manufacturing their own version under license. The Kia version is identical to the original. The biggest difference is the 1.8 liter, 151 hp NA engine Kia used in place of Lotus 1.6 liter, DOC Turbocharged 162 hp Isuzu engine.

The Elan made by Kia was never imported here, but Lotus North America had one in Atlanta, which I drove. It is identical to the Lotus M100, except for the power delivery which due to the NA lower power engine, really gelded it. But, the manufacture, Fit & Finish and quality of components were all top knotch.

Lots of companies make cars under license from the original creator. Lotus spun the M100 off because they, and their current parent - Maylaysia's National Automobile Enterprise - Proton, wanted their production facility back to produce the Elise and fulfill a contract with GM to manufacture the Vauxhall VX220, VXR220, and Opel Speedster. This is not at all unusual.

BMW in fact, started in the Car business by producing a licensed version of the Austin 7. Kia is an excellent manufacturer with a very high customer satisfaction rating. The fact that they choose to build mid-end economy cars shouldn't be construed as a sign of inferiority...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Did you know that the new Lotus Espre???(spelling not sure) has a Toyota Celica GTS engine! It's not that powerfull, but it is a very light car.

[98Boxster98]

I really do hope the Panamera looks more like the concept. I realize that the actual production model must change to accomodate reality but in some cases, such as the Boxster, the prototype remains the most desirable to me.

Some of these supposed Panamera snapshots are just plain scary:

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by 98Boxster98

I really do hope the Panamera looks more like the concept. I realize that the actual production model must change to accomodate reality but in some cases, such as the Boxster, the prototype remains the most desirable to me.

Some of these supposed Panamera snapshots are just plain scary:

Now those pics are fugly. I take back everything I said.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

Did you know that the new Lotus Espre???(spelling not sure) has a Toyota Celica GTS engine! It's not that powerfull, but it is a very light car.

Hi,

That's not yet set, it's one of the possibilities. The problem is that total engine development for limited production cars just isn't profitable anymore, especially for the US Market EPA certification.

But, if the Toyota is the powerplant chosen, I guarantee you that it will look nothing like a stock crate engine once Lotus is done with it.

Lotus has always massaged existing engines rather than produce their own from scratch. The Elan and Europa had Ford/Kent blocks w/ Lotus designed and produced heads. The Seven had a BMC inline 4, again massaged by Lotus. The Esprit had it's 2.2L 910 4-cyl. drawn from a Vauxhall Delivery Lorry engine, again, all new internals and heads.

Even the Elise uses a Kent engine (ROW) and the Yamaha-designed Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine, again with thorough tuning, intake, exhaust and head by Lotus for the US Market.

The 2ZZ-GE features a stroke of 85 mm (3.35 in) to an 82-mm (3.23-in) bore to attain a redline of 7800 rpm. The block is made of fine-ceramic-fiber- and grain-reinforced aluminum-silicon alloy. The piston's rubbing surface is iron-plated, and the pistons are internally cooled by oil jets. The 2ZZ-GE's cylinders are tightly packed, with only 5.5 mm (0.22 in) of metal between the adjoining bores. The cylinder block is split at the crankshaft centerline, and the cast aluminum lower block carries five main bearing caps. The 2ZZ-GE's Lotus designed cylinder head is unique to this engine. Valves are inclined at a wider angle of 43° for freer breathing through the upright intake ports. Valves are 34.0 mm (1.34 in) in diameter - intake and 29.0 mm (1.14 in) - exhaust. The 2ZZ-GE combines the VVT-i continuously variable intake-valve-timing device with the new VVT-L, a Honda VTEC-like variable-lift and variable-timing system, employing two sets of cam profiles for both intake and exhaust. Below 6000 rpm, the VVT-L employs the low and mid-speed cam profiles, and above 6000 rpm, the high-speed profiles. The high-revving 2ZZ-GE's camshafts are sprayed with lubricant oil.

In fact, Toyota had been having problems with this engine siezing and warping the heads in the Celica. They went to Lotus Engineering, who redesigned the Oiling system, added an Oil Cooler for higher capacity and flow and the problem was solved. This is why Lotus chose this engine for the Elise, though they massaged it even further. The Kent ROW engine could not be made to meet US EPA requirements, so Lotus went with the 2ZZ-GE which was already certified and being sold here. Toyota's 2ZZ-GE versions found in their own cars in the U.S. make ten fewer hp at 180 hp than the same engine in the rest of the world which has 190 hp.

However Lotus retuned the 2ZZ-GE for use in Elise, smoothing out the torque dip at the 6000 rpm cam changeover point and strengthening the torque in the other rpm ranges. In addition to the improved torque Lotus brought the peak horsepower back up to 190 in their U.S. version of the engine.

These adjustments were largely accomplished by reprogramming the ECU and Toyota has expressed interest in the changes Lotus made to broaden and even the torque and increase the power for their own cars. Changes to the Lotus version of the engine are not purely electronic, however, as a new intake, Head, and exhaust are also fitted. The exhaust in the Elise is so fully optimized that altering it reportedly results in a significant power loss. Much to the chagrin of Aftermarket tuners and parts suppliers!

The relationship with Lotus and Toyota goes way back. Lotus did chassis development work on the famed 2000 GT in the mid-60's and engine and chassis development for the 1st Gen MR2 to name just two projects Lotus Engineering has worked on.

If Lotus chooses a Toyota powerplant, you can bet it'll be a screamer...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99