Porsche presents a number of major highlights in a hugely successful Auto China 2010, with its largest ever model line-up being enjoyed by the motor enthusiasts at the China Exhibition Centre in Beijing from April 23 – May 2.

Among the many high-performance sports cars and SUVs on display were numerous Porsche Premieres, including a first appearance in Asia for the new concept study Porsche 918 Spyder; World Premieres of the six cylinder Panamera and Panamera 4; Asia Premieres for the latest models in the immensely popular Cayenne series, led by the Cayenne S Hybrid; further Asia Premieres for the 911 Turbo S and 911 GT3 Hybrid as well as a China Premiere for the new Boxster Spyder.

Under the new motto 'Porsche Intelligent Performance', this array of innovative Porsche technology boasts unprecedented levels of performance, while maintaining a focus on low fuel consumption and low emission rates - perfectly suited to the auto exhibition theme: 'For a Greener Tomorrow'.

Gracing the Porsche stand were celebrity models Lisa S, Rosemary Vandenbrouke and New York-based Chinese supermodel Shupei Qin. Their presence drew hundreds of photographers to gather to record the brilliant moment. 

Auto China 2010 was of course full of highlights, but one truly unforgettable moment was the Asia Premiere of the Porsche 918 Spyder, arriving at Auto China after its World Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

This mid-engine concept sports car is the first-ever plug-in hybrid from Porsche, combining outstanding sports performance with ultra-efficient low-emission drive technology, with the overall design drawn from the DNA of the legendary Porsche 917.

The 918 Spyder operates using both a high speed V8 engine and electrical power-units, which can be utilised together in four different running modes for a variety of driving conditions and requirements. Producing 500 bhp from its V8 engine, and an additional 218 bhp of mechanical output from electric engines on the front and rear axle, the 918 Spyder can reach top-speed over 320 km/h, and accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds when combined with the seven-speed PDK.

This high-performance sports car recorded a lap time of less than 7:30 minutes on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring; faster than even the illustrious Porsche Carrera GT. Due to its new hybrid drive technology, fuel consumption for the Porsche 918 Spyder is limited to just 3 L/100 km with emissions standing at only 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre. In short, this high performance two-seater is destined to change the very way people drive sports cars in the years ahead.

The World Premiere of the Panamera and Panamera 4 with new V6 power-units was also a cause for great excitement, following the successful unveiling of the Panamera model line in Shanghai last year.

These new Gran Turismo models offer supreme comfort with heightened levels of performance through a newly-developed 3.6-litre V6 power-unit featuring Direct Fuel Injection and developing maximum output of 300 bhp plus peak torque of 400 Nm/295 lb-ft. The Panamera and Panamera 4 feature rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive respectively, and incorporate a lightweight design alongside the most sophisticated Porsche technology available.

This includes PDK gearbox as standard and Auto Start/Stop function, enabling each model to consume less than 10 litres of fuel on 100 kilometres in the New European Driving Cycle. Furthermore, the accelerations from standstill to 100km/h of Panamera and Panamera 4 reach 6.3 seconds and 6.1 seconds, respectively.

The Panamera 4 offering a top speed of 257 km/h and the Panamera a top speed of 261 km/h., both models offer an extremely sporty performance profile. Both are certain to be highly popular additions to the Porsche range when they enter the China market in the third quarter of 2010.

Further highlights were seen with the Asia Premieres of the new Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo, all of which demonstrate improved performance, super comfort and high efficiency in their respective segments.

This new generation of the Cayenne has a significantly lighter body than previous versions, contributing to better agility and handling, as well as a superior rate of acceleration and top speed. Its interior design has also been modified, with a new designed centre console bringing the gearshift leaver into closer reach, and a raised rear seat with three adjustable angle settings to and fro by 160 mm to improve passenger comfort.

The Cayenne S Hybrid, with its highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive, boasts fuel consumption in the New European Driving Cycle of just 8.2 L/100 km, which reduces CO2 emissions to just 193 g/km. Emissions also dropped in the entry-level Cayenne, with a similar improvement apparent in the Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo, complementing a significant output increase to 400 bhp and 500 bhp respectively.

A strong crowd favourite was the unveiling of the new 911 Turbo S, the top-of-the-range sports car which offers supreme driving dynamics alongside great levels of efficiency. With a top speed of 315 km/h, it accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds through a turbocharged PDK gearbox.

Featuring two VTG turbochargers, the 911 Turbo S boosts output by another 30 bhp over the previous 911 Turbo to reach a staggering 530 bhp. Scheduled for release in July of this year, the 911 Turbo S coupe will retail from RMB 2,639,800 (incl. PDK) with the cabriolet version retailing from RMB 2,785,000 (incl. PDK).

Similar sparks of inspiration from the Porsche engineers were displayed with the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Prompted by the desire to use the power that is lost when braking on the race circuit, this innovative hybrid technology is significantly more sophisticated than conventional hybrid systems. In this case, electrical front axle drive, with two electric motors developing 60 kW each, supplement the 480-bhp four-litre flat-six cylinder power unit at the rear of this Porsche.

By maximising the use of power still further through a fly wheel accumulator, efficiency is markedly improved, leading to longer driving times and greatly improved performance overall. This will no doubt be admired by motor sport fans worldwide when the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is tested in long-distance races on the Nürburgring in May.

The first appearance in China of the Boxster Spyder mid-engine roadster was an additional highlight. Weighing just 1,275 kg, the new model is the lightest car in the Porsche model line and the third version in the current Boxster range, complementing the popular Boxster and Boxster S. This light, powerful, open and highly efficient model has been rightly acclaimed as a classic Porsche sports car, and will be available in mid-year for RMB 1,060,000 (incl. PDK).

Porsche cutting-edge technology was beautifully displayed in the Porsche exhibition at Auto China 2010: from plug-in hybrid technology units in the 918 Spyder, Cayenne S Hybrid and 911 GT3 R Hybrid that offer a highly efficient power source without compromising performance, to the large scale improvements in the new generation Cayenne, Panamera V6 and 911 Turbo S. If one message emerged from the exhibition as a whole, it is that Porsche will continue as the leading innovator in sports car technology for generations to come.

Mr. Bernhard Maier, the newly appointed Board Member Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, reflected on the path taken by Porsche at Auto China.

"Porsche Intelligent Performance represents a new chapter in the history of Porsche. For many years, the performance of Porsche has been based on intelligent and innovative ideas for even more efficient engines and lighter car bodies, for more power on less fuel and lower emissions – what we call Intelligent Performance. Here in Beijing we are underlining this claim with no less than three Asia hybrid premieres – for the road, for the race track, and for the future. Each of these three new hybrid models is a milestone on the road to electric mobility."

Mr. Helmut Broeker, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche (China) Motors Ltd. said "Auto China 2010 proved a wonderful presentation of Porsche principles: as seen with the extraordinary 918 Spyder, the ground-breaking V6 variants of the Panamera, the new generation of the hugely-popular Cayenne and many other exciting new Porsche models. The presence of hybrid technology in three Porsche cars also demonstrates how we are responding to the need for environmentally-friendly technology without compromising our standards of performance. We are maintaining our clear commitment to our roots as a manufacturer of outstanding sports cars. Here in Beijing, we have clearly proven that efficiency and performance are not a contradiction in terms."

About Porsche (China) Motors Ltd.

Porsche is known throughout the world for creating the ultimate sports cars for everyday use. The Porsche product portfolio includes the Boxster and Cayman, 911, Cayenne, and Panamera. Porsche China commenced operations in 2001, and currently oversees the operation of 27 Porsche Centres nationwide. Beijing has three, Wenzhou has two, and there are also Porsche Centres in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xiamen, Wuhan, Shenyang, Dalian, Tianjin, Xi'an, Nanjing, Harbin, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Fuzhou, Changsha, Jinhua, Hong Kong and Macau. An additional three Porsche Centres will be opening soon in Zhengzhou, Dongguan and Shanghai Pudong. Porsche's dealer network strategy ensures that each Porsche owner receives the hallmark personalised care that customers have come to associate with the brand.