Porsche Performance Upgrades for Speed Junkies

It is difficult to improve upon perfection - but it is not impossible! If you have a Porsche automobile, you probably appreciate great engineering, sleek handling, sporty curves and, of course, having the best of the best. And you probably like to see what your car can do. Speed and performance upgrades can help you get more power from your Porsche, helping boost speed without detracting from drivability or performance. Consider these performance-enhancing upgrades if the out of the box model is not quite enough.

Performance Chips. Performance chips are ideal for Porsche owners because they do not require permanent installation. Not only does it make installation costs virtually nil, it doesn't make any changes you can't undo easily and quickly. Stage 1 chips boost horsepower by optimizing air-to-fuel ratios and timing; stage 2 chips tweak O2 parameters to give bigger boost and low end torque; stage 3 combines these features.

A stage 3 chip is adjustable and allows you to change parameters set by your Porsche's ECU to deliver great acceleration, increased HP and torque, lower quarter mile times, and increased throttle response. Some chips can improve engine output by as much as 20 percent and increase higher top speeds.

Supercharger. With some supercharger systems, you can gain 15 to 30 HP. Installed on your air intake line, the supercharger is connected via switch to the inside of your car, and when you want more power, all you have to do is flip the switch. At the same time, more air is forced into your engine, which makes it denser. This increases fuel efficiency as well.

Performance Clutch. When you make performance upgrades to your Porsche, parts like the brakes and clutch often need to be replaced as well so they can handle the increased power and speed. A performance clutch offers a faster response time and longer life than a stock clutch. It won't slip when accelerating and will not overheat. There are different styles, including street racing, drifting, rally driving, and drag racing. One thing to be aware of, though, is that these are made for "high performance cars." No problem, you have a Porsche. But they are also harder to engage, so they're not ideal in city driving.

Porsches are gorgeous, but they are really made to perform. You can improve your driving excitement and boost your Porsche's power, acceleration, and speed with these and other upgrades.

Enid Glasgow is an automotive enthusiast and writer. Find performance Porsche parts and accessories.

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Mansory Porsche Panamera Turbo

The Panamera is the first sedan that Porsche has put into production. Many Porsche purists scoffed at the idea, declaring that the car "wasn't a true Porsche." The Cayenne was also initially frowned upon by Porsche enthusiasts but has since been one of the most successful models that the German automaker has ever produced. The Panamera is also enjoying successful sales, and to carve out a niche in the market, Mansory has created a complete tuning program for the Panamera Turbo that sends 690 horsepower to all four Panamera wheels.

The most inspiring aspect of the Panamera Turbo by Mansory lies underneath the hood. The 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 has been boosted with a new power pack. The pack consists of an ECU retune, larger turbochargers for more boost pressure, and a stainless steel sport exhaust system to reduce backpressure. These upgrades help the 4.8-liter produce 690 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. Power is sent through a Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to all four monoblock wheels, rocketing the sedan to 62 mph in just four seconds and to a top speed of 328 km/h.

If the high-powered engine isn't captivating enough, Mansory has designed a conspicuous aerodynamic kit for the Panamera. The new bodywork is made of high-strength polyurethane (PU-RIM) and Prepreg-Autoclav-Carbon. The front features a new skirt with LED daytime running lights while a carbon fiber hood exudes confidence. Each side of the Panamera has been widened with new fenders and aerodynamic side skirts for a muscular appearance. The rear wears a large carbon fiber diffuser and static carbon fiber spoiler for added downforce at high speeds.

The exterior is finished off with a new set of monoblock wheels and new tires for better performance. The stock Panamera wheels were not strong enough to handle the increased power of the 4.8-liter V-8, so Mansory replaced them with durable turbine-style monoblock wheels. At the front axle the new rims measure 9 x 22, while the rear staggers with 10 x 22s. These new 22-inch Panamera wheels are shod in sticky Dunlop SP SportMaxx 265/30ZR22 front and 295/25ZR22 rear tires for better grip.

The program wouldn't be complete unless Mansory refined the interior of the German sedan. The interior can be custom tailored by Mansory with fine woods, varnish, or carbon matched with an unlimited palette of leather colors. To improve the driving experience, new aluminum pedals were installed along with a newly designed sports steering wheel.

The entire program for the Porsche Panamera Turbo is currently available from Mansory. The price of the entire package has not been released by the German tuner.

Braxton Herring is a contributing writer at COR Wheels. COR Wheels specializes in monoblock wheels and Panamera wheels in a variety of both traditional step lip, reverse, and concave designs.

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