Porsche--bodyshell-

Porsche bodyshell

A new Porsche is always fascinating because its interesting to see how after more than years of development the Porsche team still manages to bring changes and improvements to this icon model.

The new bodyshell combines the sleek modern looks of the series with the popular retro styling cues from older s. The front end is completed with round lights and separate parking/fog/indicator lights. This change, combined with wider hips echoes the last of the air-cooled s, the . Other changes in the bodyshell are the new door handles, wing mirrors and the stylish cut of the rear wings into the bumper/lights.

Even if the looks a lot like the previous model, the , the new car is actually mm wider which creates a more aggressive appearance. With each new model introduced, Porsche has aimed to reduce the drag co-efficient helping the slide through the air more effectively, and so aiding performance. The same thing has been done with the new car, and if we compare the Cd of . to the `s . we can see how far the aerodynamic game has moved on. The latest body shell and rear wing combine with new underbody paneling to also offer increased levels of down force for this latest evolution of Porsche's finest.

The latest Porsche model is the best handling ever. Improving a car's rigidity helps ensure the suspension can work more effectively and while not making such a quantum leap as the team did with the . Porsche improved torsional rigidity by % and added as much as % more flexural strength.

For the new car, Porsche wanted to improve crash safety so they added two new air bags located in the side of each front seat back-rest, designed to protect the thorax. They kept the previous two front and two side airbags, which means that now there are six in total. For the same reason, crash safety, the reinforced body shell features further protection such as a more extensive use of super high strength steel.

The latest model is also kg heavier than the . The reason is that modern crash safety regulations kind of force the new cars to come with increased weight, despite the usage of a large range of weight saving measures, including an aluminum bonnet.

Aside from the crash safety improvements, much of the additional weight can be attributed to the higher standard specification of the new cars. Power to weight is similar with the latest car offering bhp per tone against its predecessors and the new models improved aerodynamics must help it post Porsches claimed performance figures, which are identical to the .

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