The phone calls are starting in earnest now. ‘Do you have a Porsche Panamera for sale?’ they ask. And the answer is usually ‘Sorry, no cars until September’. But there will be cars then, and they look extraordinarily good.

The thing with Porsches is you usually love them or hate them. Those that fall in to the ‘Hate’ camp cannot usually be persuaded that the drawbacks of the Porsche are minuscule in comparison to the benefits. We know of no other car with this sort of performance you can use as an everyday car, perhaps with the exception of the Audi R8. But they can be a bit Soul-less, so if you want passion and an ‘Event’ car then opt for the Ferrari or Lamborghini. But if you want extreme performance coupled with ultra reliability then opt for the Porsche.

Porsche has got a head start with the Panamera over what will probably be its biggest rival – the Aston Martin Rapide. But the beauty of the Panamera is that its entry-level model – currently the Porsche Panamera S – is its price. It comes in at a bit over £70k. Admittedly you will have to throw another £15k at bit to get some toys, but that is still a great deal cheaper than the Rapide is likely to be.

Even at the top of the Porsche Panamera tree with the 4wd Porsche Panamnera Turbo you come in well under £100k. Add in another £15k for some extras and you will still probably be a big-ish 5 figure sum in pocket from where you would be if you’d bought the Rapide. And the Porsche won’t break down.

If you choose to wait until next year there is every chance you will be able to add two more model options to the Panamera choice. There will undoubtedly be a diesel, but perhaps the most interesting will be the Panamera Hybrid. This, assuming it is based on the Cayenne Hybrid’s drivetrain, will probably give you a 0-60 time under 6 seconds, but cost you around the same as a V6 to run.

We are in no doubt the Porsche Panamera will be a big seller. If the number of calls we’ve had is anything to go by, the Panamera will be as big a success for Porsche as the Cayenne has been.

As you will know if you read here regularly, I am an unreconstructed petrol-head, but I have to confess that when we were offered a Porsche 911 GT1 it was a car I knew virtually nothing about. It rang a vague bell as being along the lines of the CLK GTR, but that was it. And then, in the space of 24hrs, we got offered another. Just like a bus – you wait for ever for one to come along and then two turn up at once.

The Porsche GT1 was designed and built in 1995 to compete in the GT1 Class at Le Mans. The homologation rules required that there were 25 road legal cars built, which is why the 911 GT1 Straßenversion (Street Version) came in to being.

Although the 911 GT1 bears a resemblance to the 993, it was actually based on the 956/962 Group C floorpan, with a watercooled, twin-turbo flat six. For road use it had to be slightly de-tuned, but it still managed around 600bhp, with a 0-60 of just over 3 seconds. So, despite the arguments about the fastest 911 being a GT2, this takes the biscuit by quite some way (assuming you could call it a real 911).

The world is full of rare and exotic cars, but these Homologation Specials from the ’90s are extremely rare; after all, they were only required to make 25, and in truth it looks like there were only 19 of these ever to hit the roads. To get one is pretty unusual (we also have a CLK GTR For sale), but to end up with two, one of the first and one of the last, is rare indeed. Oh, and the other one is white.

Go on. Spoil yourself. Have the pair!

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

Click Here to Get the Latest News & Views at Innovation Cars Straight to your Email

After what seems like endless teaser shots (they actually turn off the interest for me) Lamborghini has shown the new 4-door concept at Paris. Concept, you say? I thought it was a new model? Well, you’re probably right. Just like all the car makers these days, they’re scared to just announce a car. They have to float it as a concept first. I think they’ve learnt that from the major political parties on both sides of the pond, who seem equally afraid to announce policy without first ‘floating’ the idea to the media and public. But you can be pretty sure that the Estoque (which is pronounced es-toh-kay, with the emphasis on the ‘toh’) will be a production car. Why? Because, as I said last week, the 4-door coupe is the ‘in-vogue’ car, and everyone from Aston to Porsche and Mercedes to VW is in on the game. So it only makes sense that Lamborghini should join the party. And it puts one over Ferrari, which is always a plus for the boys from Sant’Agata.

So, apart from the pretty body, what has the Estoque got to offer? Well, it seems that Lamborghini aren’t too sure. The early money was on a turbo V8, but there is also talk of a V10 or even a hybrid. Again, a chunk of this has to do with how the options are received. But my money’s on a blown V8 plus some sort of hybrid. But, rather than me try and pull the salient bits from the hype bits of the press release, read it for yourself:

It is a Lamborghini like no other before it: a four-door sports car that brushwood resolutely to its creed. The Lamborghini Estoque belief has everything that defines a Lamborghini: fanatical, uncompromising and unmistakably Italian, it brings a totality new versatility to the name’s DNA – with its four seats and ample luggage space, this “everyday sports car” is a wonderful fit for an evenly versatile lifestyle.

Lamborghini Estoque is an analysis, a theory bent specifically for the 2008 Salon d’Automobiles in Paris. From the very first glance there can be no misgiving that this is a Lamborghini – a car with compelling specter, both matchless and unmistakable. The long wheelbase, the low profile, the broad trail, the mighty, accentuated wheels, the hygienic surfaces and razor-severe definition – every specific line breathes the will of the Lamborghini trademark.

A new and unique elegance

The Lamborghini Estoque is a totally new interpretation of the Sant’ Agata drawing ethic: it is a prototype that provides a filmy indication of the outlook. This applies to the new, elegant self confidence of the title themselves, but even more to the sculpt of the vehicle. The Lamborghini Estoque is the first vehicle in the memoirs of Automobili Lamborghini, though “vehicle” is more a location to the number of doors than any other characteristics. Even sports vehicle is an inadequate classification: the Lamborghini Estoque establishes a new variety of super sports sedans. With a deep front mid-engine, enduring all-veer push and a sophisticated, precision-tuned armature, the Lamborghini Estoque boasts a matchless technology wrap.

A sign of success

In Paris, the Lamborghini Estoque demonstrates the innovation, the creativity and the target style of the Lamborghini mark, presently represented by the giant star enjoyed by Lamborghini Gallardo and Murciélago super sports cars.

As a thought, the Lamborghini Estoque represents one of some possibilities for a third product sequence within the Lamborghini produce line-up. At this face in time, no decisions have been taken in obey of both a third class sequence of any kind or of the Lamborghini Estoque model in particular.

Of course, as a rightful Lamborghini, it goes lacking proverb that the Lamborghini Estoque also bears a duly eloquent name with a wealthy heritage from the Spanish Corrida – bull fighting. The Lamborghini Estoque is a blade (sword), about 90 centimetres (35.43 inches) long, worn in a bull conflict by the Matador.

The Concept

Lamborghini Estoque embodies the belief of a Lamborghini that is both the fanatical sports car and a relaxed Gran Turismo. As a vehicle with four doors and four individual sports seats, it is a multi-faceted vehicle for multi-faceted lifestyles.

Relaxed Gran Turismo

The Lamborghini Estoque is the flawless travelling companion, be it en path to thing meetings, the theatre, the golf course or even a weekend away with the kids. At the end of the day, it is the only car that allows you to disclose the singular major pleasure of a Lamborghini with more than one guise – maybe even with the thorough family. And there is still enough scope left over for weekend luggage or some golf bags.

Despite its awfully low profile – at a plain 1.35 meters (4.43 feet) high – the Lamborghini Estoque is surprisingly drudgery. The furtive mendacity in its very long wheelbase which, in nastiness of the rearwards positioning of the front mid-engine, enables a relaxed, athletic seats title. Entering and exiting is also pleasingly straightforward through the large, varied-breech doors.

Challenging: a thoroughbred sports car

At the same, the Lamborghini Estoque is a thoroughbred sports car with exceptionally refined right method, razor-abrupt precision conduct and a weighty engine tone. Challenging dynamic pleasure on a winding mountain path, followed by a relaxed, enjoyable journey along miles and miles of motorway- the Lamborghini Estoque is commanding across the intact major spectrum, at the premier intensity. The Lamborghini Estoque’s versatility makes it the precise addition to the balance of Lamborghini super sports cars.

Design

Such a Lamborghini must be immediately recognizable in its devise as a rare and unmistakable work of art. For the Lamborghini Estoque, this is openly a folder of “mission accomplished.”

The proportions of the Lamborghini Estoque are basically fascinating: no other automobile combines so convincingly the style of duration with the fair attributes of a low profile and impressive coverage. Or to put it into numbers – the thought painted in an all-new flush, is 5.15 meters (16.89 feet) long and 1.99 meters (6.53 feet) wide, with a height of only 1.35 metres (4.43 feet). The wheelbase is an imperial 3.01 meters (9.88 feet) – a likewise important phase of elegant vehicle architecture.

And it is unequivocally Italian – the downright fedora, the long wheelbase, the narrow chance openings, the downright rear that ends decisively with an unhelpful profit – it is all unmixed “Italianità” on wheels; everything bears the originate lingo of the large classic Italian four-door cars, albeit with a unique, advanced interpretation. Pure Lamborghini.

Clearly a sports car

The front end of the Lamborghini Estoque is a gain and unambiguous avowal of its sports car credentials. Its place with the family of Lamborghini super sports cars is also deceptive and unmistakable – with it’s swooping V-nature, its two large air intakes pulled frontward and the small front spoiler between. This front end devised gives the Lamborghini Estoque a stiffen, low stance, while providing brilliant aerodynamic efficiency. The large air intakes simplify the cooling air that is important for such a high-performance vehicle and the spoiler was specifically planned to enrich aerodynamic consider at high speeds.

Such distinctive sports car architecture is only probable by positioning the front mid-engine well towards the rear. Despite the very low boater, it goes lacking adage that the Lamborghini Estoque fulfils all wellbeing regulations and pedestrian protection values.

Taut muscles

The boater of the Lamborghini Estoque makes the origins of the sheer ability of this vehicle immediately apparent. The setting of the engine is clearly evident through the evident sector formed by two large air outlets and the additional stress of a pivotal vigor part. Farther air outlets are positioned both left and right in the wings, behind each of the front sweep arches.

Together, with the branch of the fedora, these rudiments add mass to the region above the wheels, framing the front end of the Lamborghini Estoque like a nervous muscle. The stable all-turn steer that is normal for all Lamborghinis means that the 22 creep wheels, with their new five double-spine pattern, also do their part in delivering faculty to the road. Here too, the Centro Stile has mystified safely to the Lamborghini tenet that form forever follows operate; after all, the ample cooling air flowing into the high-performance driveline also has to move briefly out of the vehicle.

Tremendous tension along the flanks

Its proportions assurance the Lamborghini Estoque an impressive appearance. The skilled sectioning along the flanks of the vehicle gives the body case an incredibly strong form. Beneath the lifeless surfaces of the panama, the incredibly emotive shoulder line, an extend trait line rising vaguely towards the rear and, finally, the uniformly manifest ridge line all add weight to the surge of license from the engine to the magnificent 23 creep rear wheels. The denial finished the masculine profile restore of the rear end. This adds auxiliary tension to the form of the Lamborghini Estoque – the totality car looks twisting and orderly to swoop at the reduction of a hat. These spiky mold form fascinating interplay of surfaces across rounded and dished curvatures. The Lamborghini Estoque clearly displays the conceive writing of the Centro Stile Lamborghini with a distinctive chic.

Powerful style at the rear

The emanate of form is brought to its conclusion by the broad, even field of the rear end. The horizontal part created by the emphatic LED light clusters and the large, enmesh-covered decrease air outlets bring additional emphasis to this extent. A narrow, faintly skewed “edge” panel surrounds the entire rear outlook and more highlights its distinct chic.

Precise facts, such as the hexagonal fuel caps on both sides of the vehicle, characterize the wisdom of the blueprint prose. The front headlamps, featuring bi-Xenon and LED technology, stock familiar a theme evident in both the Lamborghini Reventón and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 – the Y-shape of the daytime operation light. The tiny green/fair/red standard adorning the front wings discretely highlights that an automotive testimony as uncompromising as this one can come from only one country on Earth – from Italy.

The interior

Despite its really low profile, the Lamborghini Estoque offers a surprisingly generous opinion of spaciousness. The strip of the interior simplifies the relaxed spaces position for all four individual seats and theater a significant role in the supreme comfort of the super sports sedan over long distances. The interior reflects rudiments of the outdoor proposal talking, also evident in the lodge of the Lamborghini Estoque – in the distinctive shape of the door panels or in the swooping V-shape applied to the ring, reflecting the form worn on the front end and on the bonnet.

Luxurious interior

The dominant relevant of the interior is highest-quality Nappa leather. The four individual seats possess fair contours, supreme long-distance comfort and huge electrical positioning options.

Cockpit with large-screen display

The arena presents the driver with a large-area LCD monitor displaying vehicle and path information. A span of presentation formats are offered for medley depending on delicate preference – a distinctive classical arrange with circular instrument dials, or an innovative digital pageant. A top-period audio installation and a sophisticated rear seat entertainment scheme about off the utensils.

Like the interior, the luggage compartment of the Lamborghini Estoque is also surprisingly spacious. Despite the low-profile rear end, it has loads room for some golf bags or pieces of luggage.

Production feasibility

As a natural notion car, the Lamborghini Estoque is a construct essay and an extend indication of the innovative license of the Lamborghini stamp. Yet, it is based on a realistic nominal theory that offers an entire vary of fascinating alternatives for the body bombard and driveline.

Just like the strain’s super sports cars, the Lamborghini Estoque uses a mid-engine draft. However, the high-performance driveline used here is not located in front of the rear hinge, as in the Gallardo and Murciélago or in the Reventón, but behind the front hinge. This front mid-engine concept, with the driveline set way back, simplifies balanced weight distribution and a centre of gravity close to the vehicle’s vertical axis. Both ensure the unparalleled quickness and managing precision of a mid-engine vehicle.

Reserves in every situation

Like all contemporary Lamborghini models, the Lamborghini Estoque is also equipped with enduring all-swing ambition. It distributes the engine faculty to all four wheels, hence making for greater toehold in all lashing situations, as well as, providing added assets for extremely sporty lashing and for challenging endure conditions.

A span of drivelines is conceivable for the Lamborghini Estoque. This is ascended by the highly-acclaimed Lamborghini ten cylinder from the Gallardo LP 560-4 – with more torque and senior revving than virtually any other engine. A complementary alternative could be a turbocharged eight-cylinder resulting from this V10. A particularly economical, but nevertheless dynamic, reworking would be a V8 with a cross module or an extremely high-performance TDI.

The Centro Stile Lamborghini

With the Estoque, the Centro Stile Lamborghini has created farther resistant of its creativity and attention to fact. The model centre that opened in 2004 is a studio of creatives, designers and model makers that combines the nation and the spirit of the stamp with the command of innovation and of creating a new aesthetic. The Centro Stile Lamborghini is part of the best tradition of Italian vehicle pattern, and is primary the way advance with the newest in effective techniques.

The Centro Stile is located in a 2,900 sq. Meter (31,215 sq. Feet) feature, where it occupies two interconnected floors. The generously proportioned mean studio is equipped with two packed-dimension appear tables and their associated tooling and measuring utensils, while farther areas house the newest in mainframe workstations for the creative experts and a workshop for the model makers. The Centro Stile is also attached promptly to the neighbouring Ufficio Tecnico – the direct link to Lamborghini’s development department ensures the hasty realization of dreams. Speed is a key aspect for Lamborghini, for both its cars and its effective processes; the Reventón was created in the video time of less than one year.

In-house creativity and implementation

From the first sketches made either on paper or using the three-dimensional mainframe train, through 1:10 or 1:4 scale models to sate-extent models, the complete object procedure is organized within small, tight-moving teams.

Since it was founded, the Lamborghini type has been bringing innovative motif trends to the profound atmosphere of the world’s most desired automobiles, and producing vehicles with absolutely unmistakable quality. Models such as the Miura and the Countach were way upfront of their time, but quickly attained the rank of undying classics. From their first appearance, every new Lamborghini is destined to become a legend and sought-after collectors’ piece.

With the stream Murciélago and Gallardo, Lamborghini has once again perfected an innovative goal speech. The exterior proportions afford an indication of the force and dynamic appeal of the driveline. Crisply-defined edges, precision position and scrub surfaces significance in an originate that is cheap to its very essence.

Every quantity is designed quite in accordance with its behave. Examples of this on the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 contain the mutable cooling air intakes and the asymmetric sills; on the left elevation of the vehicle, the air intake is significantly superior to accommodate the pour of crisp air to the oil cooler.

Clear lines, perfect details

The unmistakable form of a Lamborghini is something that always speaks for itself: ornamentation or decoration of any kind has absolutely no place here. The securely chairs the stream models that stand the precursor of the bull within the best traditions of their brand and of 60s and 70s Italian vehicle outline. The sports cars of that time were acclaimed for their hone proportions and for their objective, functional elegance that necessary no embellishment of any kind.

The stickler execution of the defenses is complimented wholly by the passion for conscript possessed by the designers in Sant’ Agata Bolognese. The rear vista of the Murciélago LP 640 is distinctive not only for its impressive brawn, but also for the well interplay of the rudiments in the sophisticated rear light cluster.

The sensuality of precision and performance

A Lamborghini is a high performance athlete. Its high extent of sensuality is based on precision, performance and spontaneous action. This typed of elegance is the elegance of unsullied, unadulterated nation. This Lamborghini DNA is carried redirect into upcoming goods at the Centro Stile, which is destined to remain to set filmy point trends – the Lamborghini Estoque is the accurate example.

The purpose centre on the spot of the historical birthplace of all Lamborghinis guarantees the super sports cars with the bull brand will remain undivided, corporeal and challenging – and always unmistakably Italian.

So, we wait and see. But one thing is pretty much for sure. The Estoque will be for sale – sooner rather than later.

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

Autobild in Germany have told us that the prices for the Panamera are now known, which pretty much supports the idea that the car will become real in early 2009. About time too. Starting at around £70,000 and rising to over £100,000, the car ain’t gonna be cheap! But then, we all knew it wouldn’t be.

There will, apparently, be just 2 versions available at launch; the 4.8 litre V8 and the Turbo V8. Both engines will be pretty much the same as those in the latest Cayenne, and they’ll get the 7-speed version of Porsche’s brilliant PDK gearbox, which is not a bad starting point.

But the range isn’t going to stop there. Already planned, for 2010 is a 3.6 V6 (again, as with the Cayenne) and they’ve got a Hybrid planned for 2011 which will mate a 300bhp petrol engine with a 100bhp electric motor. I’m not a huge fan of hybrids, but if Porsche get this right it could well be a winner.

But what about show-stopping versions? Well, it would appear that Porsche are open to a version with the Carrera GT engine, which would easily take away the fastest saloon mantle from the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed. Plus, it seems almost certain that at some point Porsche will bite the diesel bullet by fitting the V12 from Audi (although they are already committed to using at least one of the Audi diesels in the Cayenne soon).

Don’t things change? A diesel Porsche. A diesel Porsche saloon, no less! But Porsche have to respond to the mood, and this is not necessarily a bad thing. I’m all for innovation and getting more for less (power for fuel use), and if Porsche get this right, which I’m sure they will, it should give a very good lead for other supercar manufacturers. Where will Ferrari and Aston Martin go with this route. It’s going to be very interesting to see.

Just one fly in the ointment for the Panamera. The Aston Martin Rapide, due to go on sale around the same time. Now that will be a beatiful car!

Autobild reported recently on exactly the same story, and Paultan.org covered the story, together with a very interesting image (see left). Now I have to confess that that is a fair bit more sophisticated than the ‘Golf with a Porsche Badge’ I threw up, but it seems the plans are for real. Why, I hear you ask? Simple – economics.

In the US, there is something called CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy). Basically CAFE requires manufacturers to achieve certain economies across their entire range. Now the formulae that is used to calculate the economy is based on a combination of wheelbase and engine size. So a company like Porsche, which manufactures a lot of cars with small wheelbases and big engines, is hit hard. So what better way to solve that than introduce a small premium car with a much smaller CAFE figure? And if that car can be built in relatively large numbers it will keep the rest of the range viable. So even though Porsche enthusiasts will throw up their arms in horror, this proposed ‘Mini Porsche’ could be the companies lifeline, in much the same way as the profits on the Cayenne have allowed Porsche to forge on.

So what’s the car likely to be? Well, it’s inevitably going to be based on the Golf platform with either a derivative of the R32 engine or the V6 from the Cayenne (which, incidentally, is rumoured to be getting a diesel version!). Its competition? Aimed fairly and squarely at the BMW 135i and, ‘in-house’, the Audi S3 and Golf R32, I’m sure it will be a huge success.

Don’t times change?!

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

It’s really hard not to love the 911. It is such a special car. I admit, I have never fallen in love with a Porsche yet (although I’ve done the 911 thing and I run a Cayenne), but they are wonderful machines, and in many ways I admire them more than any other car on the road. And the Turbo is in a league of its own. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can keep up with the Porsche 911 Turbo in the real world. It is so manouverable, so potent, so reliable, it astonishes every time you use it. If you want real-world, useable supercar performance you can forget the Veyron; forget the Reventon; in fact, forget anything else. The 911 Turbo will get you there more quickly, more safely and more economically than any of them.

With performance of around 3.8 to 60 and a top speed around 195 you can see on paper why the 911 Turbo is quick. But it is awesomely quick in reality, and the 911 Turbo Cabriolet loses so little to its hard-top sibling it is almost irrelevant. With summer coming, this is a great time to get hold of one of these. I’m sorely tempted, but I think Carla would have a contract out on me if I bought toys before I finished the house! But if your house is finished, you’ve no excuse not to have one of these! We’ve got 2 black and 2 silver. Good specs. Don’t hang around long.

After a ruling by the European Courts of Justice this week, the ‘Volkswagon Rule’ looks to be lost, paving the way for a full takeover of VW by Porsche.

What does that mean for the petrol-head? Does it mean a Porsche badged Golf or Beetle? Highly unlikely! But it could throw up some strange bedfellows. A Porsche badged Bentley perhaps? The Audi R8 reined in as it offers too much competition to Porsche? Both are possible, but probably unlikely. However, one thing that is going to be a potential problem is Lamborghini. It has long been rumoured that Porsche are uncomfortable with the Lamborghini marque being in the VW stable. It could mean a sell-off for Lamborghini at some point. Which would be a shame. Much as I loved the mad as a hatter Lamborghinis of old, they weren’t great cars. VW have changed that (with its ownership of Lamborghini through Audi) and the Lamborghinis of today are a serious competitor to Ferrari. It would be a shame to see them change hands and revert to the Lamborghini of old. But it might be interesting!

The takeover of Europe’s largest car manufacturer by the world’s most profitable car company certainly raises some interesting possibilities. Watch this space!

Following close on the heels of Ferrari with the F430 Scuderia comes Porsche with the 911 GT2, a car very much in the same vein – a road-legal track version of an already unbelievable piece of machinery.

I have always struggled with the Ferrari/Porsche dilemma. On one hand you have a piece of art in the Ferrari which, however much things have moved on, is not really an everyday car. On the other you have Porsche, which makes cars that are quite simply staggering in their engineering and usability. It’s like deciding whether you are turned on by Van Gogh (or ‘Van Go’ for our American friends – I’m sorry, but every time a hear that it sounds like an instruction to a delivery driver with poor English!) or Brunel. To be honest, they both rock my boat, as do Porsche and Ferrari.

There seems to be very little doubt that the new GT2 is the ultimate version of the 911 – ever. I am expecting to get my hands on one very soon (lucky boy!) so we’ll be doing a proper road test as soon as possible. But the drool-inducing information we’ve got already leaves me in no doubt that this is one awesome machine.

The GT2 is a Turbo plus. Stripped of the 4wd (it is a real rear-wheel drive car) and putting out 530bhp, the GT2 does the 0-62mph sprint in 3.7 seconds (right up there with the Scuderia). Top speed breaks the magic 200mph barrier, making this the fastest 911 ever. And, due to a number of very clever tweaks, this car is even more planted at the limits than the Turbo. Just like previous versions, the GT2 has a fair bit of weight stripping going on, and base weight drops by around 300lbs over the base Turbo. But the completely stripped-out version isn’t the only option – you can now have the leather seats and other bits to make life that bit more comfortable. About time, say I. This complete ‘naked’ fetish Porsche and Ferrari seem to have with these cars is all about headlines. The difference it makes is so tiny you can’t really notice. The F40 was probably the worst for this (it didn’t even have proper windows for goodness sake) and much as I love driving ultimate performance vehicles, I do like a few home comforts. And let’s be honest, all that weight stripping goes out of the window as soon as you have a passenger. And if you’re a fat-boy like me (16st – but I am 6′ 3″, so not a complete bloater!) you end up with a car weighing more than the standard, especially in comparison to having Frankie Dettori at the wheel! So yes, the weight drops make good headlines, but a few comforts are better!

With a new nose, rear wing and huge 325 section tyres, there is no missing this car. It looks so damned aggressive and purposeful it makes your mouth water! So here’s looking forward to the road test – watch this space!

I have to hold my hands up and confess I use a Cayenne S every day, and a very good car it is. Not the prettiest car ever made (but nowhere near as bad as Clarkson pretends) but as an all-rounder there is nothing that comes close. But as a keen driver I do find it can be irritating at times. The modern desire for ‘clever’ auto boxes and trick electronics does mean that carbon emissions can be kept in check and fuel economy figures can shine, but the truth is they do dull the driving experience. In my Cayenne I tend to use the tiptronic quite a lot, because if I don’t the car just doesn’t respond after a period of ambling. There’s nothing worse than cruising to a junction, looking to make a quick exit and finding the car doesn’t respond! But using the Tiptronic solves that. And if I really want to play I turn off the PSM and then the car comes alive – and it’s much more fun!

The new Cayenne GTS comes with a very useful extra 20bhp and a standard manual box. That could well make it a lot of fun! Whether it becomes tiresome on a day to day level I’ll leave until we’ve done a road test, but on the face of it this is a good move. Add to that the big 21in wheels, PASM (although I’d probably go for the PSM and full air suspension instead), a shorter final drive giving a 0-60 of around 6 seconds and you have a very interesting addition to the Cayenne range!

The plan was looking good. Off to sunny Spain (Y’viva Espana – you might need to be a certain age to understand that!) for a week with the extended family (Mum & Dad’s milestone birthdays this year, so the first whole family holiday for 30 years) and the joys of a hire car for the week (even if it is a people carrier). But then came the prospect of having a new Porsche 911 Turbo convertible for a couple of days to road test while we’re there. The plan was coming together! Fly out on Saturday, pick up the Chrysler Grand Voyager from Hertz and blat down the road from Valencia to the villa in Javea. Bit of afternoon sunshine to top up the tan and then a nice dinner in the evening. Lazy breakfast on Sunday morning, toast gently in the sun until well done, and a burnt BBQ (because I usually do the BBQ!) by the pool in the evening. And then, just when I was getting bored with the sun, the Porsche would turn up on Monday morning. Perfect!

Javea lies on the eastern coast of Spain, at the foot of the Montgo mountains, so lots of opportunity for nice twisty mountain roads, a couple of runs down the motorway to Alicante, stopping at Calpe on the way down to let my brother-in-law pick up a Harley to play with, and the holiday was starting to look perfect. Lots of family ‘brownie points’ and car-time too. But it’s all gone wrong!

Apparently, there isn’t a turbo convertible available for me to test! There was, and now there isn’t. Why? Who knows. So it’s going to be a week of eating, drinking and sunbathing. Not the end of the world I know. And I’m sure it will be loads of fun, even if we do have to move round the Costa Blanca like a modern-day version of the Beverly Hillbillies, crammed in to the Chrysler Grand Voyager!

The Porsche would have been nice though!