Don’t just go along with the crowd. Stand out. Stand out in a big way. Do it in the new Porsche Macan. Whatever challenges come your way in life, you’re always prepared in the Macan. Available in several models, there is a Macan for you and your lifestyle – Macan, Macan S, Macan GTS, Macan Turbo and Macan Turbo with Performance Package.  The standard 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine delivers an impressive 252 horsepower at 5,000-6,800 rpm. Now that gets you going places. And going places in no time. 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds to be exact. Go in style with performance and efficiency in the new Porsche Macan.

Some of the Porsche Macan’s Standard Features:

• 18-inch Macan wheels
• 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) with Auto Start Stop function
• Direct Fuel Injection (DFI)
• Porsche Traction Management (PTM) active all-wheel drive
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• SPORT button
• Porsche Communication Management (PCM)
• Daytime running lights
• Full-size airbags for the driver and front passenger

Some of the Porsche Macan’s Options:

• Panoramic roof system
• Dark-tinted privacy glass
• Roll-up sunblind
• Connect module
• Sport Chrono Package
• Sport tailpipes
• Sport exhaust system
• Navigation module
• Front seat heating

See the new Porsche Macan at Leith Porsche in Cary and learn more about this extraordinary vehicle. While you’re here, take it out for a test drive. Also go to www.leithporsche.com for even more information on new and pre-owned vehicles, special offers, our Porsche team, current news, dealership information and more.

The post The New Porsche Macan. Designed for the Road. appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

Online shopping has become a massive industry in the last decade. In 2014, Adweek reported that the world of e-commerce generates just over $1.2 million dollars every 30 seconds – and that stat is almost two years old.

The changing times

It wasn’t too long ago that people wouldn’t have dared to purchase cellphones, t-shirts, or shoes online. Now, those items make up the bulk of all e-commerce. As a car dealership, we have to wonder if one day this trend will extend to our products.

Luckily, Car and Driver released a study that may provide some insight to that question.

Let’s look at the numbers

Car and Driver reports that 68% of their respondents would not buy or lease a vehicle without visiting a dealership, and 84% would not buy or lease without taking a test drive. Personally, we’d never buy a car before test driving it either, so that’s not too surprising.

But when the study turned to the question of online shopping, we see some interesting results. 54% of car enthusiasts would consider buying a car online, while only 34% of non-enthusiasts would.

This seems slightly backwards to us. We would assume that a car-enthusiast would be more concerned about coming into a dealership, sitting in the car they were thinking of buying, and taking it for a spin on the open road.

Which, we think you should do

Because the dealership experience is like no other. We combine great prices on our vehicles, state-of-the-art service centers, and most importantly, knowledgeable people who you can rely on. Which is something buying a car online can never give you – a personal, face-to-face interaction, and the opportunity to build a relationship.

Here at Leith Porsche, our goal is to satisfy 100% of our customers 100% of the time, and we don’t think that’s unrealistic. We look out for you, and do everything in our power to ensure your car-buying experience is memorable and enjoyable.

But just out of curiosity, would you ever consider buying a car solely online? Leave us a comment on Facebook and let us know!

The post Are You Part of the 32% Who Would Buy a Car Online? appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

Do you own a mobile Apple product? If so, get ready. Apple is beta-testing iOS 9.3, which means before long all your iPhones and iPads are going to ask you to agree to their terms and conditions again. Except this time, we’ll be too excited about iOS 9.3’s features to read the agreement.

Just kidding, we’d never read it. Not even if we were anthropologists from the future, and it was the only remaining literature from our lost civilization. Anyway, the point is that iOS 9.3 is coming and it’s good. Here’s what you can expect:

Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay is nothing new, but it will be receiving some updates in 9.3. The Apple Music section will now feature a “New” section that showcases new songs, artists, and albums; it will also include a “For You” section that will recommend music based on your data-mined preferences.

Maps will also now include a “Nearby” feature which easily locates nearby gas, parking, restaurants, and more, while you drive. We can see this feature coming in handy when you can’t decide what you want to eat, or have no idea what food is around you.

Health and Notes

These two updates are consolidated into one since they’re pretty small. Apple’s Health app now displays your move, stand, and exercise data from Apple Watch, and contrasts these metrics alongside your goals. To help you achieve those goals, Health will now also suggest third-party health-apps that integrate directly to your Health dashboard. This includes apps that can track your sleep, your meals, or show how many calories you’ve burned throughout the day.

Notes will now feature a security system that allows you to protect any note you write with a password or touch identification.

Finally, Night Shift

This is the part of iOS 9.3 we’re most excited about. Night Shift is an app that is long-overdue. Back in 2012, Harvard Medical School published a Health Letter detailing the negative affect that blue light (the kind emitted by our iPhone LCD screens) has on our circadian rhythm.

In short, circadian rhythms dictate the eating and sleeping patterns of all animals; human beings included. Research has shown that while any light can disrupt this rhythm by suppressing melatonin (the chemical that helps us fall asleep), blue light has the strongest effect. Here’s an interesting quote from Harvard’s article:

“Study after study has linked working the night shift and exposure to light at night to several types of cancer (breast, prostate), diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It’s not exactly clear why nighttime light exposure seems to be so bad for us. But we do know that exposure to light suppresses the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that influences circadian rhythms, and there’s some experimental evidence (it’s very preliminary) that lower melatonin levels might explain the association with cancer.”

So every night when you set your alarm for the next morning on your phone, or browse the web until you feel tired, you’re actually suppressing the chemical trying to help you fall asleep. Now you know what we mean when we say Night Shift is long-overdue.

So will you hit “Agree” when prompted by iOS 9.3? We certainly will – and we’ll sleep well knowing we made the right call.

The post Apple iOS 9.3 Updates CarPlay, and Gets Night Shift appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

Photo credit: belfastlive.co.uk

Now that Jeremy Clarkson is finished clobbering heads at the BBC, Top Gear fans are wondering three things: 1) Will Chris Evans be the only host of the new Top Gear? 2) When will the old cast’s Amazon show debut?, and 3) Will Chris Evans and Jeremy Clarkson duke-it-out for gear-head dominance?

Chris Evans and BBC’s Top Gear

If you hadn’t heard, Chris Evans (as pictured below) is currently the only confirmed host for BBC’s Top Gear. Scheduled to premiere on May 8^th, BBC’s legendary show will star the irreverent English presenter, known for his eclectic sense of humor, and love for Ferrari’s.

Photo credit: racingnews.co

Evans has worked in broadcasting and radio for many years, and was at one time Britain’s highest-paid entertainer. He has also had a few run-ins with previous employers, and has been criticized by a High Court judge for having “the temperament of a prima donna.”

Evans signed a three-year contract with the BBC after vehemently stating he would never replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. Odd, but we get it – Evans is just a fallible human like the rest of us. Let’s just hope this time around he doesn’t stop going to work because of a change in programming.

Jeremy, James, and Hammond

No one knows what the old Top Gear squad will call their newest show, but we do know that Amazon has signed a 36-episode contract with the trio. What’s even more exciting, is that Amazon is rumored to have set a budget of $7 million per episode, which is up from the $1.5 million the BBC was allotting. That means more haphazard adventures, more hysterical banter, and (hopefully) an unlimited supply of catered food and bozo bop punching bags.

With a skeleton crew, filming for Amazon Prime's new motoring programme has begun. pic.twitter.com/8PaYvke5il

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 7, 2015

In Clarkson’s column, published by The Sunday Times, he described the new show.

“It’s going to be all new. New name. New segments. New ideas. Everything is different. Apart from James May, obviously, who is still in 1953. And Richard Hammond, who still doesn’t quite understand anything.”

Filming has already begun, but a release date and name for the show has yet to be announced. We’re hoping to see the new episodes hit screens sometime in early 2016. That is, so long as Jeremy Clarkson can keep his hands to himself.

We’re looking forward to the new Top Gear and the new Amazon series here at Leith Porsche. In our eyes, there’s room for both shows to thrive in their own fashion. So to those involved in both shows we say: Break a leg!

Except you, Clarkson.

The post News On The New Top Gear, and The Old Crew’s New Amazon Show appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

The Porsche 930 (also known as the “original” Porsche 911 Turbo) is the kind of car people will keep in their collection long after we start traveling via hovercraft. It’s a legendary vehicle, with an iconic style and performance that people can’t help but gravitate towards.

The Porsche 930 was commissioned in order to comply with changing racing regulations at the time. To enter the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s (International Automobile Federation) Group 5 division, the 911 had to look like a production vehicle and be available for normal sale – meaning it had to be street legal. Thus, the 930 was born.

The 3.0-litre flat-six engine from the Porsche Carrera RS was fitted with a turbocharger, and packed into the 911. It produced a total output of 256-horsepower and was equipped with a 4-speed manual.

The 930 is well known for its turbo lag – which is no surprise considering it’s a 4-speed – and its tendency to oversteer. This comes from a weight imbalance in the rear of the vehicle. Since the car is RWD and equipped with a rear engine, all the power and weight is concentrated near the rear of the vehicle. The harder the 930 accelerates, the more it saps traction from the front wheels.

But just one look at the 930 is enough to forgive all its short-comings. The flared out front and rear tires flow into the headlights and rear hatch fascia beautifully, leaving simple lines down the side that meet up with a functional rear-spoiler to complete the look. Not many cars can compete with the side profile of a Porsche 930.

But enough explaining. You need to see this thing in action for yourself. Luckily, Petrolicious released a video of the Porsche 930 roaring through some winding mountain roads. It’s great.

If you’re ever interested in seeing a 930 for yourself, keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter for upcoming events. A few of our owners have some of these classics, and they love to show them off at Leith Porsche.

The post After 40 Years, This Porsche 930 (or 911 Turbo) is Still Turning Heads appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

Photo credit: newsroom.porsche.com

It’s been nearly five months since Porsche took home 1^st and 2^nd place in the 24 Hours of LeMans endurance race in the 919 Hybrid. Since then, Porsche has taken home 1^st place in each of the last four World Endurance Championship races, and second place in three of them. Their last race in Shanghai secured their championship title in the series, meaning they could place last in the final race and still win overall.

The World Endurance Championship races function under the same rules as 24 Hours of LeMans, but are 6 hours instead of 24. The World Endurance Championship is a new race held by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Seven of the eight races have already taken place, with the final one occurring on November 21^st at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Porsche’s dominance in the endurance format is unquestionable. The 919 Hybrid and the Porsche team have been at the top of the races more times than not, and the other teams are more than 70 points behind. We couldn’t be more proud to be associated with the 2015 World Endurance Champions.

We hope Porsche will continue to race at their same intensity in their last event. We’d love to see a complete shut out in the WEC, which is well within Porsche’s grasp. If you’re interested in seeing what car will be speeding around the tracks, check out the video below of the 919 Hybrid that has been winning all the races.

If you’d like to know more about the 919, make sure to check out our article on its LeMans victory, or give us a call at Leith Porsche. We’d also love to hear from you on Facebook, so feel free to reach out to us there.

The post Porsche Can’t Be Beat: The Winning Streak Continues in the World Endurance Championship appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

But like Derrick Zoolander, we know there’s more to life than looks. The Mission E has grabbed a lot of attention since its announcement yesterday at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and we can see every reason why. Let’s take a look at what Porsche has packed into this concept and hopefully help stir up some excitement around this incredible vehicle.

Motor Racing Tested

The Mission E is powered by two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM).  These engines accelerate the sports car with ferocious torque and recover electrical energy during braking. The engines are similar to those installed in the 919 Hybrid – the vehicle that propelled Porsche’s 1^st and 2^nd place Le Mans victories this year.

There aren’t many better ways to test an engine’s reliability and performance than with an all-out 24 hour motor race against the best automotive engineers in the business. It’s just another testament to Porsche’s incredible engineering.

How the Mission E Is Different

It’s an electric sports car from Porsche, for starters. It’s also capable of traveling over 310 miles on one charge and it can be charged to approximately 80% of capacity in around 15 minutes. Porsche accomplishes this by using an 800-volt design, rather than a 400-volt design that is typical for electric vehicles. On top of being faster for charging, this design makes the Porsche lighter.

Porsche’s 800-volt design can be charged using the conventional 400-volt charging stations or by using their wireless charging system that functions through induction plates embedded in the ground. Simply park your car over these plates and energy is transferred wirelessly to a coil inside the Mission E.

Designed For Performance                                                

This is an electric vehicle built for the track. It has everything: balanced weight distribution, lift-reducing aerodynamics, an insanely powerful electric engine, and Porsche’s power management systems. The Mission E has been clocked at a time of under eight minutes on the Nürburgring Nordschleife race track, and it sprints to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.5 seconds. Porsche Torque Vectoring supplies torque individually to all the wheels and its All-wheel-drivetrain improves handling even further.

We could keep outlining how the Mission E is an incredible sports car, but it would take a lot of time. If you’re interested in reading all the details on Porsche’s new electric vehicle, check out their press release.

On The Surface

Everyone has their own opinion on how cars look. We get that our tastes aren’t the same as our readers, so rather than talk about it, we’re going to let you make that decision for yourself. How do you feel about the design of the Mission E?

Be sure to call us at the dealership and tell us what you like about the Mission E, or leave us a comment on our Facebook. The more people that get behind this concept, the more likely it is that we’ll see a fully electric Porsche in the coming years. We’d hate to write a eugoogaly for the mission E.

The post The Porsche Mission E is Really, Really, Ridiculously Good Looking appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

If there’s one thing we love to see in a new Porsche, it’s more power. But when we heard the 911 was getting a new turbocharged engine, rear-axle steering, and an improved chassis, our hands practically started writing without us. Sure, the new Carrera is still more than a year away, but that won’t stop us from imagining ourselves cornering through windy roads in the new 911 Carrera.

The Heart of Porsche

The standard 911 Carrera now generates 370 horsepower and 331 lb.-ft torque using a 3.0L twin-turbo engine. The Carrera S produces a staggering 420 horsepower and 368 lb.-ft torque with the same displacement. We can just hear the Porsche engines now.

Some engines sound happiest over 4000 RPMs; we love those engines. The new 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera goes 0-60 in 4 seconds flat with a top speed of 183 mph, and the Carrera S goes 0-60 is 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 191 mph. That’s not a whole lot of separation between the two, but when the stakes are high every hundredth of a second counts.

The addition of rear axle steering is optional, but it will turn your Porsche into the agile beast it was meant to be. The rear axle improves high-speed handling and reduces the turning radius of models without this option by 1.6 ft. So whether you’re parking in the city or driving with enthusiasm, you and your Porsche will be prepared.

The Extras

The new 911 also features a lower stock suspension for improved handling, thicker rims, and wider rear wheels. On top of the performance upgrades, Porsche is introducing their new Porsche Communication Management System (PCM), including an online navigation system. Let’s just hope they’ve learned from the recent car-computer hackers that exploited a Jeep Cherokee’s wireless navigation system. The thought of hackers taking control of our imaginary Porsche 911 Carrera S is horrifying.

Don’t forget to keep your eyes on the blog for all your updated Porsche news and make sure to swing by our brand new dealership for a visit. Come see our new show room, talk to our expert staff, and take a ride inside the pinnacle of German engineering.

The post New Porsche 911 Carrera Gets Turbocharged and Balanced for 2017 appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest active sports racing event in the world. It’s a non-stop 24 hour race often referred to as the “Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency” – An ultimate test of speed, economy, and reliability. Each year, motor companies put together their best vehicles for the challenge, and this year, Porsche took home their 17^th 1^st place win.

Photo credit: Wallpaperup.com

They also took home 2^nd place. It has been 17 years since their last victory, but their resurgence as the top contender was an aggressive one. Early on Porsche set the bar high for competition by breaking the record track time in the first qualifying race. Porsche’s 919 Hybrid stole the show and finished two laps ahead of Audi’s best car, which finished 3^rd, and one lap ahead of the other Porsche 919.

The Porsches were outfitted with a 2.0L Turbo V4 engine – The lowest liter engine in the race, and the only V4. They trounced many of the most anticipated challengers, like the Nissan FT-R LM Nismo, by more than 150 laps. Overall, most of the cars racing in the LMP1 division were hybrids, and those that weren’t suffered.

Photo credit: Wallpaperup.com

Speaking of hybrids, Porsche is finally ending production on the 919’s supercar cousin, the 918 Sypder. We’re sad to see it go – what will compete with the McLaren F1 now? Well, we’re not sure yet, but Porsche is definitely hiding something up their sleeve. They’ve yet to reveal their 918 replacement, but we can’t wait to see what the future holds. Perhaps a street legal Porsche 919? One can only wish.

The win at 24 Hours of Le Mans is a further testament to the quality of engineering at Porsche. Speed, strength, efficiency, durability – Porsche. They’ve got what you want in a car, and they can help you get behind the wheel when you’re ready. One of our knowledgeable associates will get you up to speed on the car, so you can get up to speed in the car. Just contact Leith Porsche and set up a time to come out and experience these racing legends for yourself.

The post Porsche Makes 24 Hours of Le Mans Look Easy appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

Photo: Darel Parker

All the world is aflutter right now over the 911 GT3 RS, but you know what? It’s a butterfly car. Unless you live in Pacific Grove, California, that’s probably not going to be your car. In Pacific Grove, naturally-aspirated $175,000 racecars fit right in with the Monterey car week and Laguna Seca raceway. If that’s your bag, then by all means google the GT3 RS until your arm won’t move anymore.

Just for reference, the 911 GT3 RS

What we thought was more interesting, was Porsche’s 25 percent purchase stake in Capricorn Composite GmbH. As that tell-tale four-letter word indicates, this is a German company. Specifically, this is a company that specializes in carbon fiber production and other components, many of which found their way into the 918 Spyder.

Carbon fiber has long been a fancy add-on for looks’ sake. But as we roll into 2020’s governmental deadlines for fuel consumption, this material’s light weight and similarity to steel’s tensile strength will make it a major asset in the construction of cars.

News: Porsche bought 25% of a carbon fiber company.
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Put simply, carbon fiber is lighter than steel and just as strong. With increasing government pressure to reduce carbon emissions, entire frames or body panels could be made of carbon fiber instead of steel, thus keeping the car light without sacrificing safety.

Porsche already owns 10 percent in Capricorn’s main carbon fiber competitor, SGL Carbon SE. It appears that Porsche wanted to increase its ownership stake there, but was blocked by other investors in SGL, namely a rag-tag scooter outfit called BMW and private parties with ties to BMW. Porsche therefore had to get a bit creative and come up with another supplier.

Learn why Porsche is investing in carbon fiber before 2020.
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Astute readers will remember that Porsche’s most recent investment was in September 2014 when it bought 10 percent of traffic data cruncher Inrix, located in Seattle. Hardware and software are thus necessary to future product developments.

If you prefer steel cars without a bunch of fancy tech, you can get a base level Porsche such as the Cayman today. The lack of options might actually make it a rarity 10 years from now.

The post You Might Know Why Porsche Is Investing In Carbon Fiber Before 2020 appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.