Engineers working with Swiss luxury auto tuners Mansory have completed work on a new upgrade package for the Porsche 997 Carrera Turbo.  Once installed, the kit will cause more than a few heads to turn, with some enjoying the new look, and purists disregarding the new look as somewhat sacreligious.

The car has a new front skirt, and carbon fiber lip and splitter.  Sidesills are not mentioned by the firm, but appear to be congruent with the modified design.  They lead back to a completely redone back end that combines a new exhaust and added air outlets.  A remodeled rear spoiler rests on the decklid, and is made from carbon fiber.

Mansory commissioned a handcrafted interior with upgrades to the stock materials used by Porsche.  Like the carbon fiber exterior, the leather interior can be customized.

Upgrades to the engine include a new exhaust manifold along with two silencers.  The car rides on one-piece 20-inch silver rims, measuring 8.5- and 12-inches.  These rims can also be used on the 987 Cayman and Boxster.

Pricing was not announced for the package.

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German tuner 9ff has a set of conversion kits for the Porsche 997 GT3 and and 997 GT3 RS that, as they boast, can turn a sports car into a supercar.

First off, let’s get to the core goodies. A bi-turbo conversion kit that can boost power up to 1000 hp. This allows for the creation of 3 seperately named models : the 9ff GTurbo750, GTurbo850 and GTurbo1000. The numbers, of course, denoting the horsepower figures. The torque figures, respectively, being 850 Nm, 910 Nm and 940 Nm.

Performance times for the GTurbo1000 are 2.9 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint and a mere 8.2 seconds to reach 200 km/h. The 300 km/h mark is reache in 16.5 seconds. A top speed of 392 km/h is also possible, dependent on gearing selection.

An aerodynamic kit is also available, which includes air intakes on the quarter panel for the intercooler and air outlets at the front to help reduce pressure in the wheel wells at high speeds.

There are also new front (with LED indicators) and rear aprons, side skirts and options for side exhausts.

The aerodynamic kits is priced at 8,900 euros, with taxes, mounting and painting excluded.

A set of 5 double spokes light alloy wheels, 8,5×19″ / 11×19″ (front/back), can be had for 4,980 euros (taxes excluded). A set of GTurbo design rims with a central lock system comes in at 5,950, taxes and painting excluded.

Prices for engine tuning were not made available.

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German tuner 9ff is set to present their second independent complete vehicle at the Essen Motor Show next weekend. Based on the potent 997 Turbo, the 9ff Speed9 pays homage to the Porsche 356/ 1500S Speedster of 1955 and features a number of modifications that give it more power and handling prowess.

9ff is a bit shy with the details, but for the body the windshield has been shortened and the rear hump that houses the folding roof has been replaced with a flat hard cover for that speedster “level vehicle silhouette” look.

The bi turbo engine pushes out 478kW (650hp) and 890Nm at 2,850rpm. Engineers used a sports air filter, upgraded the ECU, installed a 9ff sports exhaust system including a new sports catalytic converter to achieve these results. It is driven by a Tiptronic gearbox with integrated paddles.

Improved handling will come from adjustable stabilisers on the front and rear axles, double springs and four aluminium spring plates. To stop it dead on its tracks is a 9ff brake system consisting of 380mm “compound” brake discs, 6-piston calipers and 9ff brake pads.

The aerodynamic package includes a front apron, side skirts and a rear apron. The interior boasts an alcantara dashboard, special 9ff Speed9 sports seats and a sports steering wheel. Most of the other bits and pieces can be customised to the buyer’s wishes.

Hopefully 9ff will also release performance figures when unveiling the car.

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As Porsche models evolve, so do the the tuners who enhance them.  TechArt has added a new performance kit for the newly facelifted and uprated 997 S and 997 4S all-wheel drive model.

Identified as Power kit TA 097/S1, components include the “Racing” flap-controlled exhaust system as well as new ECU software for a slight boost in power output up to 35 hp in the upper rpm range for a new total of 420 hp.

The exhaust system includes two stainless steel racing headers with sports catalytic converters, rear muffler with exhaust flap, an exhaust flap control unit and twin oval tailpipes in high-gloss or black chrome.  The exhaust flap control unit allows for standard noise volume or unrestricted race car sound from the exhaust system.

As previously seen, TechArt offers the TÜV-certified Aerokit I for the 997.  Wind tunnel tested, the kit provides increased downforce over the axels via a front spoiler, side skirts, roof spoiler and adjustable rear wing.  Decorative trimmings include side mirrors, headlamp surrounds and rear diffuser.

The Power kit TA 097/S1 is available with immediate effect.

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Tym Switzer’s tuning crew is at it again. After bringing the 588kW (800hp) Porsche GT2-based P800 to the world the brand came under pressure from customers of the AWD 911 Turbo (997TT) who wanted the same amount of power and performance from their cars.

Switzer was not about to let them head off elsewhere so the crew set about making the necessary changes to increase power from the standard 353kW (480hp) to the demanded 588kW (800hp). The car is now said to be capable of a sub-3 second 0 – 60mph time and a consistent 10.5 second quarter mile.

“The P800 kit for the GT2 evolved from the SLEDGEHAMMER project car that ran in the 9s last year,” said Tym, “that was a race-gas package, but as the program developed, we were able to move to a more streetable package and keep the factory DME, unlike the SLEDGEHAMMER, which used a stand-alone system. Other than that, everything that made the SLEDGEHAMMER so special is still right there in the P800 GT2, and it’s still right there in this 997.”

The package includes custom GT30 turbos that come with custom billet compressor wheels on ball-bearing center sections in lightweight stainless housings, custom intercoolers, ECU software, competition-style exhaust and headers, an upgraded carbon clutch package and an electronic boost control. All Switzer Performance dealers now have the package available for sale.

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German tuners RUF have developed their work on the 997, with this release of the RUF Rt 12 S.  An upgrade from the non-”S” model released in Essen five years ago, the new car gets 685 horsepower from a modified biturbo boxer engine.  This is a step up of about 35hp from the Rt 12.  The new version also sees a maximum torque output of 880 Nm.

Although bodywork appears to be mostly the same as the previous version, there are definitely a few differences.  For example, the sideview mirrors have now been lifted from the RUF CTR 3, and the carbon rear spoiler looks to be a bit bigger with its “tearing edge.”  Rear fenders are also a bit larger, and have new air ducts carved into them.  LED lights are inserted into the slot where the fog lamps had been.  They also use LEDs for the turn signals.  Ruf is introducing a newly designed roll cage for this car, something they are including as a standard feature on the vehicle.

The car makes use of custom 19-inch light alloys which neatly house the big ceramic disc brakes.  As an option, hydraulics can be added to adjust the ride height by as much as 50mm with the push of a button.  Inside, the driver is kept in place by either bucket seats or sport seats.  Also, the steering wheel supposedly offers the perfect amount of grip, and has been designed to provide “fatique-proof driving.”

Like its predecessor, the new model can be delivered with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.  The RUF RT 12 S is now available for order at a cost of €255,900, excluding VAT.

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The SPORTEC SPR1 T80 is one quick car. While based on the Porsche 997 the SPR1 T80 will most certainly show the factory unit its massive rear spoiler should it come to that. Using the 3.6-litre bi-turbo flat six, SPORTEC went to the workshop with something making around 350kW (476hp) and came out with a 640kW (858bhp) hurricane. The maximum torque is 870Nm at 4,800rpm and is split within all four wheels via the 6-speed manual gearbox.

Full use of the launch control system that includes a limited slip differential sees the car leap from 0 – 62mph in 3 seconds flat, with the 300km/h indicator coming up in just 18.9 seconds and the top speed is more than 380km/h. This was achieved at Nardo in Italy.

Exterior accessories include kit such as 20-inch forged alloy wheels (255/30R20 front and 345/25/ZR20 rear tyres), a sunroof, bi-xenon headlights, fog lights, a carbon fiber rear wing, ceramic brakes and a road-illegal motorsport exhaust system.

The interior features electric windows, remote central locking, a heated rear window, a removable rear cross brace in safety roll cage, sport seats and a complete leather/alcantara interior.

Options are bountiful and include a satellite navigation system, a multifunction steering wheel, a hi-fi system, air conditioning and a fully customised interior. It can also be specced with an active suspension and an adjustable rear spoiler, depending on the package chosen.

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German tuners 9ff have released a new tuning package for the Porsche GT2, advancing on their previous design.  The new 9ff BT2 (bi-turbo 2) gives the driver access to a ridiculous amount of power: 850 horsepower, and a maximum 920 Nm of torque.

Perhaps this will send American tuning company Switzer Performance back to the drawing board.  That company released an 800 hp GT2 package just a few days ago.

Although no details yet on engine modifications the BT2’s numbers will get the Porsche fanboys salivating.  All that power gets the car from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds.  200 km/h can be achieved in 8.7 seconds, while getting to 300 km/h takes 18.5 seconds.  Eventually, the car will hit its massive top speed of 386 km/h, or 240 mph.

If you want something that is even quicker, 9ff has you covered.  The company is willing to modify the gearing to increase acceleration, while decreasing the car’s top speed.

Seen here honoring in its Gulf Livery glory, the car uses lightweight alloys and carbon fiber body panels to keep weight to a minimum.  New body panels include a hood, doors, and roof, all custom built for the project, and all using the original mounting points.  The company claims that the new Aero kit provides an additional 70 kg of downforce at the front, and 90 kilos more at the rear.

Those of you wanting to buy the new 9ff BT2 will have to fork over €285,000.  This amounts to €95,500 over the starting price for a GT2 direct from Porsche.

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Vorsteiner V-RT (Vorsteiner Race Technologies) is now offering an aerodynamics body kit and a new set of wheels in a styling package for the Porsche 997 Carrera.

The aerodynamics tuning on offer here comes with plenty of air ushering carbon fiber parts.

At the front, the 997 gets a new face with larger carbon fiber air intakes without fog lights as in the GT2 version. The fog lamps had to go in order for the proper placement of a removable carbon fiber front spoiler that greatly increases down force on the 997.

At the back is a new bumper giving the car a wider stance that features a twin-finned carbon fiber rear diffuser for the quad exhaust and comes with larger side vents to improve airflow.

A carbon fiber wing also improves down force and there is a carbon composite engine lid with extra air scoops to feed even more oxygen to this huffin’ and puffin’ 997.

The V-306 20-inch wheels are forged from 3 pieces with a twin, 7-spoked and center mesh design. They come with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.

The tuning package is available for sale as of March 23rd.

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Switzer Performance Innovations (SPI) of Ohio, USA, is a renowned tuner of Porsche products, specifically for the Porsche 996 and 997 models. At some point SPI, through owner Tym Switzer wondered what the limits of a tuned 997 would be, how much horsepower a stock engine could take.

Soon SPI was working on this ‘experiment’ and the results are here for all to see. The car aptly named the SLEDGEHAMMER makes over 850 all-wheel horsepower running on racing fuel. That translates to over 1000hp at the crank. The figures were produced from a 997 twin turbo engine through extensive ECU tuning, the use of SPI-developed headers, a sports exhaust system, an intercooler package and SPI-tuned GT30R turbos. Every part of the system was constantly metered and tested by SPI during development.

On tar the SLEDGEHAMMER creates something close to what would be considered magical numbers. The 0 – 60mph time is consistently in the mid-2 seconds, and its massive tractability is shown by a 60 – 130mph time of less than 5 seconds. The quarter mile is trashed in 9.796 seconds and 195mph was almost achieved at the Texas mile, an abandoned air strip in Texas.

Any interested party can purchase himself a SLEDGEHAMMER package for US$49,990 through SPI’s website. If that is a bit out of reach at least check out the video showing the fourth and final quarter mile attempt as well as a whistling dyno run here.

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