Carrera GT

Not in USA spec. It can be swapped out interchangeably, but few bother. For the "budget" of the GT2 RS owner, I'm guessing they can afford the swap.

911SLOW

^btw wrangler is 4 seater too ? The big three got a loophole?

A430v

What's new??? We've been struggling with this for years!

MJones

I suppose he was there in the morning for the un-wraping of the "R" but had other things to do and was not present this evening.

Carrera GT

I cannot imagine anything more important to his job with the company. Seriously. If he wasn't there, it's both rude and makes him look like a horses' ****.

Just before Wendelin Weideking stepped down, he was asked for a parting message to reassure Porsche devotees that there was no risk of VW making pernicious "not so special" models for 2011, despite VWs "milk 'em dry" track record with great niche car makers.

911SLOW

Exactly ! : )

Abstract from DER SPIEGEL full article here:
porsche story

"..Five years later, VW was confronted with yet another takeover plan, when Wiedeking proposed to the families that they invest in VW. He had a unique problem: Porsche had cash reserves worth more than €3 billion ($4.2 billion), which he would otherwise have had to distribute to the shareholders. He also anticipated trouble ahead for Porsche, because the company was too small to be able to continue developing new technologies on its own.

The families probably would have been willing to merge their two companies into the VW Group, in return for a stake in the giant Wolfsburg carmaker. But then Porsche's chief financial officer, Holger Härter, appeared on the scene. Härter is a relatively inconspicuous executive who is often unshaven, reads Kafka and is an avid fan of ice hockey. He was seen as one of the smartest managers in the financial sector.

Härter, together with investment bankers, had developed a complex model under which Porsche, with its €3 billion ($4.2 billion) in cash, additional loans and options, would acquire a stake in VW. The scheme, a masterpiece of investment banking, would even allow the families to keep their sports car company in Stuttgart and the dealership in Salzburg.

For Wiedeking, the VW adventure represented the beginning of the third phase of his tenure as the head of Porsche. The erstwhile David had turned into a Goliath. Nevertheless, Wiedeking's rhetoric hadn't changed, and he continued to rail against corporate raiders who would take over companies and drain their cash reserves to recoup their investments. Ironically, he then applied the same strategy to VW.

The Porsche CEO was convinced that he was reaching the high point of his career. In truth, however, Porsche's attempted takeover of VW would mean his downfall -- even if it was to make him the highest-paid corporate executive in Germany.

Taking on the Sacred Cows

Once a year, Wiedeking would invite members of the press to so-called editor-in-chief meetings -- secretive, behind-the-scenes gatherings in restaurants. Nevertheless, the group was always large enough to ensure that many of Wiedeking's statements, even if they were made at the bar at 3 a.m., reached the public.

He complained bitterly about VW's forays into the luxury segment, including Bentley, Bugatti and the Phaeton -- all of them developments for which Ferdinand Piëch was partly responsible. He was critical of the "sacred cows" in Wolfsburg, which included, for example, the company wage agreement. He was also quick to brag, in a poorly concealed way, about his own compensation. "We don't publish board members' salaries," Wiedeking said. "Germany couldn't bear it."


At this point, Piëch finally distanced himself from his top employee. He feared that Wiedeking would become a liability for a combined VW-Porsche group, that the Porsche CEO's abrasive manner could soon turn friendly companies into enemies and that the powerful IG Metall union would not stand for his neo-liberal rhetoric. As he had often done before, Piëch used a small act of malice to show his aversion to Wiedeking. At the VW Group's annual meeting, Piëch, as chair of the meeting, referred to the Porsche CEO as "Herr Dr. Wedeking" -- and not just once, but several times.

The Rise of WoPo

By then, however, another member of the clan had assumed a key position: Wolfgang Porsche, nicknamed WoPo. Before that, his public appearances had been limited to the parties he and his second wife, a film producer, attended. Nevertheless, he had been a member of the Porsche supervisory board since 1978 and, in 2007, assumed the chairmanship.

Porsche, who moved into his father's office in Zuffenhausen, likes to tell visitors that the desk, chairs and lamps have been there since the days of Ferry Porsche. The automobile designer's original wrenches and screwdrivers, compasses and stencils are still in a drawer in one of the cabinets, carefully sorted by size.

An economist by profession, Wolfgang Porsche worked at the German car company Daimler for five years. He imported Yamaha motorcycles and had clear ideas about how to run a company. He was opposed to developing cars at VW that garnered prestige but were unprofitable. On that subject, he agreed with Porsche boss Wiedeking. And he asked: "Why does VW need a Phaeton when Audi already has an A8?"

The world of the VW Group was foreign to Wolfgang Porsche. For the Porsche scion, the notion that the works council in Wolfsburg was so powerful, and that VW's head of human resources, Horst Neumann, was even a member of IG Metall, represented a parallel universe to his dynamic world at Porsche.

He had said as much many times to his cousin Ferdinand Piëch, who assumed the chairmanship of the Volkswagen supervisory board after stepping down as CEO of VW. "I always tell him everything," he says, "even though it doesn't always do any good."

Using the Power Structures

Even so, many at Porsche and VW were now paying attention to what WoPo had to say. And when he said in an interview that VW workers ought to return to the assembly lines instead of striking, he didn't have to wait long before hearing a loud response from the works council in Wolfsburg.

While his cousin Piëch was intimately familiar with, and knew how to use, the power structures in Wolfsburg, Wolfgang Porsche was content to keep his distance. He long refused to meet with Bernd Osterloh, the head of the VW works council. He argued that Osterloh ought to meet with his counterpart at Porsche, Uwe Hück, instead, saying that this was the appropriate level for discussions. Executives in Wolfsburg became increasingly irritated over Porsche's perceived arrogance.

The image Wolfgang Porsche had of the VW Group was very similar to Wiedeking's. Both men saw VW as a company where money had been wasted on luxury models and where the works councils had excessive claims to power. They were determined that this would change when Porsche became a majority shareholder in VW. This alone prompted Wolfgang Porsche to defend Wiedeking against all attacks from then on.

But back then, the fact that Wolfgang Porsche had Wiedeking to thank for his now being in a position he had never occupied before may also have played a role. He had become the Herr Porsche and part owner of the giant VW Group.

Formally, Wolfgang Porsche now held the most important position within the clan. Because his branch of the family owned more shares in Porsche Automobil Holding, he was the chairman of its supervisory board. The board included three representatives of the Porsche family, but only two Piëchs..."

Riz

Any info on the rumoured GT3 RS "special edition?" I actually hope they don't make one - be done with the 997 variants.

A430v

I fear, this car is more or less confirmed. There are 2 threads below titled GT3 ("SPECIAL") and GT3 (x). It will be the swan song car for the 997.

savyboy

I think the stuff in the pics is on every car? The red interior looked fantastic, totally not over the top.

You too eh? I had to request an invite from the dealer I bought four cars from as Porsche did not see fit to offer me an invitation or even advise me they had a special night available wa-WAAA haha

Kind of got that impression as well. "We are making $$ now and you can go pound sand with your extreme ideas" was the impression I got. They desparately need an "enthusiasts panel". Trust me when I tell you I made my desires clear for more track oriented cars.

They keep putting out crap like the Cayman R and let's see how long sales hold up.

I tried that tack too. No luck.

Ain't it the truth! I thought the same thing. But then we often think alike

No specifics, but no doubt, it is a done deal. Last I heard, a spring release for fall delivery.

Now, the "GT1" mid-engine coupe slotted approx $200k under 918 is still in design phase. Oops, er uh, nevermind...oh heck proceed with the speculation and place your deposit.

And the GT2RS delivery locations are selected. Think decomissioned military bases...with wide open spaces and nothing to hit.

Oh and does anybody care if PSDS were to offer a Cup car driving school?

MJones

The car was also reconfirmed (GT3(X)) to me last night, tho no details were disclosed.

A430v

I couldn't even get an invite from my dealer (though they tried)! PCNA asked them for a list of names, then no sooner, told them all full, don't bother! My GM said, this happened within a span of 2-3 hours, from give us a list to full ~ they didn't even have time to compile one! MJones ~ how did you get in!?!?!

And yup, nothing in the mail either. You'd figure, after owning 7 Porsches in our household, including a Carrera GT and getting an invite for the ahem, LAME *** 918 Event @ Monterey, we would get something for this... But alas...

You are absolutely correct! An enthusiast panel would be excellent! From personal experience, I have to say, Lamborghini and Ferrari do a much better job in this respect.

MJones

On the 29th I was at the dealership, was sent an e-mail & signed-up, it was that easy.

I was told that they had to turn people away last night that were not on the List.
It was quite packed last nite....

Po po to Mark for dropping the ball..You should have gotten in Nick.


Porsche Cars North America and your Southern California Porsche dealers
are pleased to invite you and a guest to an exclusive VIP event at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Be the first to experience the North American debut of the new Carrera GTS
and the 911 Speedster models, as well as a very special World Premiere.
Spaces are extremely limited so act now and RSVP today.
Porsche. There is no substitute.

Date:
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location:
Los Angeles Convention Center, Petree Hall

race911

While seeing this thread earlier today, I thought "why not?" $110 round trip booked, OAK-LGB at 6A, got a return LAX-SFO getting back at midnight. Will be a long day.............

Carrera GT

As long as they make the GT2 RS delivery completely over the top, memorable as one of those "bucket list" level experiences and action packed.

As for PSDS "Cup" school ... that might be the single most brilliant idea I've ever heard. You should seriously contact the guys there and see if they can sink their teeth into it. They'd have ready access to the cars (which are invariably horribly depreciated once they're a season or two off the current) and the high operating costs would be significantly defrayed by high ticket price customers and non-race conditions (and engine tune) and ready access to lowest cost parts and they've already got the resources and facilities at Barber, so the up-front capital to get the show on stage is relatively (relatively...) moderate. Good lord, it's an insanely brilliant idea!

Tacet-Conundrum

Dammit, couldn't use my invite for last night. No way in hell I'm making it this year. Reserved to going to the chessy SF show on Sunday. No write up for this years event either probably. They configured a turbo at the Porsche Booth last year, have pictures and a little story that generated buzz for other attendees for the event.