Slipstream - April 2017

Obscure Porsche News Finally Revealed
By Tom Martin
Photos courtesy of the Author
H
ere’s all the news from the Porsche world that Tom Martin, our intrepid cub reporter, was able to uncover
over these past few months. There has been so much other club news for us to report here in
Slipstream, that we’ve had to push these late-breaking, unlikely news items to our April issue. Please read
on, and you may find out the reason for our publishing delay.
PORSCHE TO ENTER NASCAR WITH PANAMERA HYBRID
It’s official! Porsche will field a team of specially-prepared Panamera hybrids
to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018. Hendrick
Motorsports will spearhead the Porsche NASCAR program, and current
and past factory drivers Patrick Dempsey and Mark Webber are scheduled to
share driving duties, because NASCAR chicks think they’re “hot.”
Porsche driving guru Walter Röhrl is already preparing his young steeds
for the rigors of a NASCAR season by immersing them into an intensive “dip
and spit” program. Stay tuned for further developments.
PORSCHE TESTS NEW 917 ELECTRIC HOVERCRAFT
Porsche UK was recently spotted at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in
Northamptonshire, testing Porsche’s new 917 electric hovercraft. The effort
is more of an engineering exercise than practical application. (so they say!)
Engineering Chief Nigel Spanner observes, “It goes like the clappers, but
cornering is a problem, what with the bloody car riding on a three-inch cushion
of air. Downforce is virtually a foreign concept at this point.”
Spanner confirmed that Stuttgart is working on the issue.
MICHELIN TARGETS RETRO-LOOK WHITEWALLS
Some of the earliest Pre-A Porsche 356s sported whitewall tires. And they
looked pretty darn good too, at least by 1953 standards.
Tire manufacturer Michelin has just announced that they will offer its
highest line of performance street tires, the ultra-sticky Pilot Sport Plus, with
optional white walls. Also available will be the “Michelin” text highlighted in
different colors printed on the sidewalls, à la Formula 1.
Is this a sign of Michelin coming back to Formula 1? One can only hope
not, especially after the 2006 US Grand Prix debacle in Indianapolis. Il suffit
de dire.
THE SMART CAR RE-IMAGINED
After Mercedes Benz’ less-than-stellar reception of their Smart Car vision,
Porsche has taken up the gauntlet and begun to entertain the prospect of a
viable Porsche “city car.”
The proposed power plant is a scaled-down version of Porsche’s GT3RS
4.0 liter, 580 hp normally aspirated flat-six. The final flat-twin unit is expected
to push out almost 350 hp, which should propel the 1600 lb. “city car” to
ludicrous speed. Instantly.
The proposed Porsche sure looks cute too; with those oversize 22” wheels,
it almost looks like an old Hot Wheels© car. The millennials will love it.
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