Latest news with #AndreasPreuninger
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Tariffs turn Porsche's headwinds into a ‘violent storm'
This year was already shaping up to be a tough one for Porsche. Chinese customers were losing interest in the luxury sports car, its bet on electric vehicles was failing with drivers long enamored by the rumble of its combustion engines and its stock price hovered near record lows. Then President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on all cars imported to the United States starting in April. Last week, he doubled down on that, threatening a 50 per cent tariff for all products from the European Union, sending Porsche's shares tumbling further and EU leaders and auto executives scrambling to make a deal. All of Europe's leading carmakers have been hit by the tariff turbulence when they are already facing increasing competition from Chinese automakers. But unlike BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, Porsche manufactures its vehicles exclusively in Germany, leaving it more vulnerable to the combined threat of advancements from China's rivals and tariff increases in the United States. 'The Pope of GT cars': Andreas Preuninger keeps Porsche 911 GT3s in high demand 'It is literally a perfect storm,' said Harald Hendrikse, a managing director covering the European auto sector at Citi Research. 'You have a triple threat, which is China, an EV strategy that was wrong — despite being lauded at the time — and then Trump's tariffs, which nobody had guessed would be as severe as they are.' That has led Porsche to scale back its forecast for the year, by about 2-billion euros ($3.1-billion). Its profit margin range is also expected to drop, to 6.5 to 8.5 per cent, from 10 to 12 per cent. 'Our market in China has literally collapsed,' Porsche's chief executive officer, Oliver Blume, told shareholders at the company's annual conference May 21. 'U.S. import tariffs are weighing on our business.' 'We already faced massive headwinds last year — now we are experiencing a violent storm,' Blume said. Porsche's sales in China have been declining steadily, down to some 56,800 vehicles last year, from a peak of 95,600 in 2021, as Chinese customers turn to local brands with technology that has surpassed offerings from European auto manufacturers. Weaker demand in China and declining sales of its electric models have pushed Porsche's shares down to nearly half of their value from their debut on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2022. Even before the U.S. tariffs were put in place, Blume had announced plans to lower overhead costs, moving to consolidate production at two factories, instead of four. The company has also begun eliminating 3,900 jobs over the coming years, largely through attrition and the expiration of short-term contracts. Demand for electric cars in Europe and the United States slumped after countries around the world, including Germany, slashed EV subsidies, prompting Porsche to scale back its goal of having 80 per cent electric vehicles in its lineup by 2030. Starting this year, the company is bringing back models with combustion engines and expanding its offering of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Porsche is also abandoning its planned investments in battery technology. Blume, along with his counterparts at BMW and Mercedes, has been involved in the talks with Brussels and Washington as part of Europe's overall efforts to reach a trade agreement. They have repeatedly stated that their goal is to see duties dropped on all vehicles crossing the Atlantic. The Confederation of European Business, a lobbying group in Brussels that represents firms across the bloc, said that EU leaders had reached out for data about companies' most recent investments in the United States, as part of preparations for trade meetings with officials in Washington. German companies invest three times as much in the United States as Americans do in Germany. But many have recently grown wary of doing so, citing the chaos caused by Trump's trade policies. During Trump's first term in office, the German car companies were able to fend off his threat of tariffs by stressing the importance of their contributions to the U.S. economy. BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen employ about 48,000 people in their U.S. factories, and German automotive suppliers provide an additional 90,000 jobs. Despite Trump's desire to shift production to the United States, Porsche has indicated that it has no intention of moving, citing its relatively low number of vehicles produced annually. But Porsche is majority owned by the Volkswagen Group, which includes nine other brands such as Lamborghini, Audi and Volkswagen. Volkswagen has a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and its Scout brand is also investing $2-billion to build a factory in South Carolina. Analysts have reported that Audi is exploring the idea of shifting production of some models to the United States as a result of the tariffs, although the company has declined to confirm the decision. That move could be part of any prospective deal that German automakers are hoping to reach with the Trump administration. Porsche shares many parts and platforms with Audi. If Audi opened a factory in the United States, that could pave the way for Porsche to follow, should the company eventually decide that production in North America made sense. For now, Porsche continues to see its future firmly linked to its reputation of being 'Made in Germany.' That label has taken a hit from the growing competition from Asian companies in recent years, but Germany and its leading products, including Porsche vehicles, still rank consistently among the world's best-known brands. 'There are a lot of examples of German brands that are household names,' said Cristobal Pohle Vazquez, an associate director at Brand Finance, a consulting company that studies name recognition worldwide. 'I think Porsche is a prime example.' That reputation, built up since the company's founding in 1931, and its loyal base of customers help give Porsche the pricing power to help ride out the storm, Hendrikse said. Like its parent company, Porsche has proved over time that it is able to make the changes necessary to take on new technologies and respond to crises. 'These companies have been around for 100 years for a reason — because they do adapt and they will adapt,' he said.
The Sun
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Porsche 911 GT3 secures Nürburgring record
Porsche has set a new benchmark at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with its latest 911 GT3 becoming the fastest production car fitted with a manual transmission to lap the legendary circuit. Behind the wheel of the record-setting vehicle was Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, who completed the 20.832km course in a remarkable 6 minutes and 56.294 seconds, eclipsing the previous best by more than nine and a half seconds. The achievement underscores Porsche's commitment to driver-focused engineering, particularly at a time when fully automated systems and dual-clutch gearboxes dominate the performance car landscape. This record is especially significant considering the vehicle was equipped with a traditional six-speed manual gearbox rather than the brand's quicker, seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission. The 911 GT3, fitted with the Weissach package, delivered a performance that exceeded its predecessor's PDK-assisted lap by 3.633 seconds, illustrating the substantial improvements made across key performance areas. Among the developments contributing to the enhanced pace were revisions to the suspension setup and chassis, largely influenced by insights gained from the more extreme 911 GT3 RS. The new model also features a revised gear ratio, shortened by eight per cent, which provides improved acceleration characteristics despite maintaining the same power output of 510PS. Track conditions during the record attempt were ideal, with ambient temperatures at 12°C and the asphalt warmed to 27°. The vehicle ran on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres – street-legal yet track-capable – with sizes 255/35 R20 at the front and 315/30 R21 at the rear, the same configuration used during the official lap of the earlier GT3 model. This attempt was conducted under notarial supervision to validate the timing, and the focus was clear from the outset: to demonstrate the true potential of the manual transmission variant. Porsche engineers had closely analysed the current lap leaderboard, noting that the previous record holder completed the shorter 20.6 km version of the circuit in 7 minutes and 1.300 seconds. When translated to the full track, that performance equated to approximately 7 minutes and 5.800 seconds – a target the new GT3 surpassed with confidence. Andreas Preuninger, who leads Porsche's GT model development, explained that customer demand for manual variants has grown significantly. Many owners have expressed curiosity about the capabilities of a manual-equipped GT3 on the Nordschleife. Porsche's decision to pursue this lap time was, in part, a direct response to that enthusiasm. Although a PDK version would likely have been marginally quicker, the manual car's record lap showcased not only its competitive performance but also the rewarding engagement it offers. Bergmeister, reflecting on his experience, noted that the car was noticeably more stable over undulations and kerbs, inspiring confidence and allowing for higher cornering speeds. He added that the effort required to manage gear changes manually made the lap all the more exhilarating. With this new lap time, the Porsche 911 GT3 has not only reclaimed a coveted title but also reaffirmed its role as a modern-day performance icon – one that embraces tradition without compromising on technological advancement. The manual transmission, far from being obsolete, continues to provide a visceral and rewarding experience that resonates with purists and enthusiasts alike.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche 911 GT3 is the fastest manual car at the Nurburgring
The Porsche 911 GT3 is now the fastest manual car to lap the Nürburgring, beating the previous record-holder by nearly 10 seconds. Porsche has sent the recently updated '992.2' around the Nordschleife – with ambassador and ex-racer Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel – in 6min 56.294sec. That's not only 3.6sec quicker than the pre-facelift 992 with a PDK automatic gearbox but also substantially quicker than the previous fastest manual car, the hardcore Dodge Viper ACR, which Porsche notes has a "significantly more powerful engine". The American supercar, with a 645bhp 8.4-litre V10, claimed its record lap time of 7min 1.3sec in 2017 - but that was around the shortened 20.6km circuit and corresponds to a time of 7min 5.8sec around the full-length 20.832km loop, according to Porsche. By that metric, the stick-shift GT3, with a 503bhp flat six, was 9.5sec faster around the Green Hell. The car used for the attempt was equipped with the Weissach Package – a £20k optional extra that brings a raft of weight-saving measures to shave 12kg over the standard GT3 – and was shod with sticky (but still road-legal) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 R tyres. Andreas Preuninger, who runs Porsche's GT division, said: "More and more 911 GT3 customers are opting for the six-speed manual transmission. And more and more often we are asked by these customers how fast a 911 GT3 with manual transmission would be on the Nordschleife. We have now answered this question and, although we know that the variant with PDK is significantly faster, we drove our official lap time with a manual six-speed gearbox." Porsche told Autocar that just under a quarter of standard GT3s are ordered with a manual gearbox in the UK, while just over half of wingless GT3 Touring orders are manual. ]]>
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Porsche Sets Nurburgring Record With 911 GT3 Manual
New Porsche 911 GT3 masters the Nordschleife in 6:56.294 minutes The traditional standard gearbox has captured the spotlight and earned new respect with the news that Porsche has set a new lap record for the fastest production car with a manual transmission on Germany's challenging Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Piloted by 49-year-old Joerg Bergmeister, Porsche brand ambassador and celebrated professional racer, a factory-stock 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 with a 6-speed manual gearbox circled the 12.94-mile 'Ring' in 6:56.294 minutes—beating the previous record for a manual gearbox vehicle by over 9.5 seconds. Manual, or standard, gearboxes have been around since the dawn of automobiles, when the operator was required to shift the transmission into different gears to drive the vehicle at various speeds. Engineers have spent more than a century attempting to engineer automatic transmissions that are smoother, faster, more efficient, and more convenient than a manual transmission. While early automatics, such as GM's Hydramatic four-speed hydraulic automatic introduced in 1939, reduced the driver's workload, they were slow to shift. Later iterations were quicker, but the 'slushbox' (a reference to the fluid in the torque converter) still had faults—driving enthusiasts preferred a manual gearbox. The innovative dual-clutch automatic transmission, fitted to passenger cars since the early 2000s, solved nearly all complaints. Lightning-fast shifts and full electronic integration with the engine ensured performance that no human could match. The Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (translated to "Porsche dual-clutch transmission"), or PDK, has been offered with all of Porsche's highest-performing sports cars since its introduction in 2008. And it has been the performance-leading gearbox when pitted against the traditional manual in every instance. The Porsche team celebrating the record at Nurburgring Yet many driving enthusiasts refuse to let go of the manual, citing more driver involvement and engagement. While many automakers have dropped the option, Porsche—acknowledging consumer demand—continues to offer it on many of its models, including the 911 GT3 sports car. 'More and more customers of the 911 GT3 are opting for the six-speed manual transmission. And more and more often we are asked by these customers how fast a 911 GT3 with manual transmission would be on the Nordschleife', Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Cars, said. 'We have now answered this question and—although we know that the variant with PDK is significantly faster—drove our lap time with a manual six-speed gearbox. Even without the automated, super-fast and precise gearshifts of the PDK and with a mechanical instead of electronically controlled limited-slip differential, the new 911 GT3 takes around 3.6 seconds off its predecessor with PDK.' The previous record for a production vehicle with a manual gearbox was held by the 2017 Dodge Viper ACR, with a time of 7:01.3 minutes (timed on the shorter 12.8-mile track layout). The Dodge was fitted with an 8.4-liter V10 engine with 645 hp. In comparison, the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 features a 4.0-liter flat-6 with 518 hp—the Germans accomplished a much faster lap with smaller displacement, fewer cylinders, and less power. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 'The new 911 GT3 inspires even more confidence at the limit than the previous model. I was faster in almost every corner,' Bergmeister said, describing the handling of the sports car. 'We learned a lot from the 911 GT3 RS, especially with the chassis. The car is even more stable on bumps and over the curbs. And thanks to the eight percent shorter gear ratio, there is noticeably more power on the rear axle when accelerating with the same engine power.' The lap record is another accolade for Porsche, but it is also a win for driving enthusiasts who stand behind the manual gearbox. Bergmeister readily admitted that the human involvement and engagement made the effort even more enjoyable. 'Even if it would have been a few seconds faster with the seven-speed PDK – with the six-speed manual gearbox I definitely had more to do on the fast lap and thus also a bit more fun.'
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Automatic gearboxes are taking the joy out of old-school driving
If you buy a new car, chances are you'll have the option of getting an automatic gearbox – and more people than ever are plumping for self-shifters. Automatics now make up nearly a third of cars on UK roads, with the number of auto transmissions more than doubling in the last decade. While 400,000 new cars were automatic in 2014, 10 years later the number had tripled to more than 1.3 million. So does the rapid adoption of automatics mean we've fallen out of love with driving? Or are we just shifting with the times and taking what the car-makers give us? Above all, does it mean we're abandoning one of the fundamental aspects of driving? Some makers now only sell automatics. Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lexus, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Subaru and Volvo no longer produce cars with manual gearboxes. You'll notice these are predominantly makers of large, premium and, in some cases, luxury models. Skoda believes the shift to auto is customer-driven. The firm's Pietro Panarisi said: 'The UK is a market where customers enjoy a higher specification car and the automatic is part of that. Even on the [sporty] vRS models, most buyers take the automatic to the point where we no longer offer the Octavia vRS manual.' A Volvo spokesperson added: 'It's partly down to customer demand, partly down to technology. We sell generally larger premium models, and drivers of those don't want manuals. But also the majority of our cars use (petrol-electric) hybrid technology, and that doesn't suit a manual gearbox.' With ever-more electric vehicles that don't have a gearbox on our roads, the number of cars that take care of gear-changing themselves will only grow. There is a certain joy about changing down a gear in advance of a bend and then holding that ratio as you sweep round the corner; only when the revs exceed the point that you know is the car's sweet spot for torque do you change up. In the right car it sounds great and maximises the engine's available power. The joy is total control over the vehicle: it's a visceral thrill that delivers emotional pleasure. The manual gear-change also benefits fuel economy compared with the old-school 'slush-box' automatics. You can short shift, which is changing gear when the revs are only just high enough to cope with the next ratio. Again, it's a control thing: you're using your judgement, skill, experience and knowledge of the car to save fuel. Porsche still offers a manual gearbox in its 911 Carrera GT3. The head of the company's GT division, Andreas Preuninger, said: 'For me personally, it has always been super-important to have a manual gearbox. 'A manual gearbox is lighter, which helps with fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. It also allows for more horsepower because the internal resistance is significantly lower than in a PDK [semi-automatic] transmission.' Driver trainer Rod Williams from P555 agrees, adding: 'On a pure, focused driver's car, I like manuals because you can do what you want with them.' Meanwhile, Toyota's David Crouch says of its rally-based hatchback: 'We would sell every manual GR Yaris we could get our hands on.' Formula 1 Grand Prix cars are semi-automatics. Rather than stirring a stick as the late Sir Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and James Hunt used to, drivers now pull steering wheel-mounted paddles to change gear. The clutch is a hand-operated lever used only to get the car moving. The reason this system was introduced in 1989 by Ferrari was two-fold: it enabled drivers to keep both hands on the wheel at all times (vital when you're cornering under extreme G-forces) and it prevents them from missing gear changes and over-revving the engine. The latter isn't a problem for the average road driver, but the former point is relevant, particularly with the advent of – and increasing reliance on – in-car screens. Modern automatics also use less fuel than manual cars. In many models, the automatic gearbox has seven or eight gears, so there's more likely to be an appropriate ratio for the speed you're doing. Computer control also enables the modern auto to swap cogs at the perfect point to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Automatics are more relaxing and safer, too. Williams says: 'With an auto, you keep your foot on the brake pedal when you're stopped so the brake lights are on. With a manual, you're supposed to put it in neutral and apply the parking brake when you're at a standstill so your signal to the rest of the world disappears. 'Also, automatics are so good now you're always in the right gear. With busier roads, that helps you to concentrate on what's going on around you.' This really depends on how you define driving. If it's simply getting from A to B without crashing, then the automatic gear-change is a bonus. Equally, if you assume Formula 1 drivers are the pinnacle of motoring (as is often argued), the absence of a gear lever has merely given them more bandwidth to perform other tasks vital for driving cars scarily fast. Former Williams F1 team technical director Patrick Head once said: 'Some people tell me F1 would be better if the drivers still used stick shifts. But that's a bit like saying: 'Isn't it a pity we don't still walk around in clogs?'.' Meanwhile, Williams agrees that you can't reverse the march of technology. 'I don't believe it's about forgetting how to drive. I don't think the younger generation will have the same driving involvement that we had because cars have advanced so much in so many different areas,' he says. 'And many younger drivers coming along question things on cars. Just because something like a manual gearbox is what the older generation had doesn't necessarily mean younger drivers want it. They just want to go from A to B as easily as possible.' So, are you a (clog-wearing) manual gearbox lover? Or raring to embrace automatics and the march of technology? Have your say in the comments section below. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
