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#GiveAmazing: Lexus Launches Winter Campaign with Community Spin

It’s back! Lexus is back with their big red bows, a showroom staple for the holiday season, and their 19th year of the December to Remember campaign.  But- there’s a twist this year and we have to admit, we are fond of their new direction..”The Excitement of Giving.”

Earlier this month Lexus debuted three commercials, all showing how the gift of an award-winning Lexus offers amazing experiences throughout the entire year, and the excitement that comes from gifting these exceptional vehicles to loved ones.

“This time of year is full of joy, magic and cherished family traditions that last well beyond the gift-giving season,” said Cooper Ericksen, Lexus vice president of marketing. “We wanted to capture this idea that a ‘December to Remember’ with Lexus has the potential to create unforgettable moments that last all year round.”

This year, it’s truly all about the experience and the joyful moments created from one decision and a red bow. The three spots you’ll see are called “Memories” “Celebrations” and “Joy” and they all tell a different story from varying perspectives including Valentine’s Day, Halloween a summer quinceanera, Easter, and moving a new student into their college dorm room to name a few. “Joy” is previewed below.

#GiveAmazing- Extending December to Remember with the Community in Mind

Now, we shift from the joyful moments created by their line-up and to the moments their dealer teams create to give back to their communities. Starting on November 22, Lexus will share stories of giving back and issue a challenge to their dealer network and clientele. 

 

Use the #GiveAmazing on social media with your own act of kindness this season, and Lexus will donate $10 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America- up to $100,000.

 

So now it’s up to us! Park Place Lexus Plano and Park Place Lexus Grapevine will continue their community support throughout the end of the year by encouraging their members to go the extra mile to give back.

Specifically, Lexus Plano will be raising funds for the Children’s Advocacy Center during their Thanksgiving Celebration with members, and are “Adopting Angels” and will send a team to shop for at least 16 children this holiday season. Park Place Lexus Grapevine is collection Toys for Tots through mid-December. Clients are encouraged to also drop toys for donation to the dealership.

If you are interested in giving back with us this holiday season, be sure to snap a photo or video of your toy delivery, community event, or philanthropy (no act is too small!), share to social media with #GiveAmazing and #ParkPlaceCares and your act of kindness will go even further thanks to Lexus!

 

 

 

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Supporting Our Superheroes with Children’s Cape Day

Cue your favorite superhero ballad or theme song- because that’s what the Park Place Dealerships team has been playing on repeat for the past month.  

It’s no secret that Park Place Dealerships is committed to the community. In 2019 alone, we have supported over 300 organizations and causes through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. But, Cape Day was a ‘first’ for us and it’s certainly one we aren’t going to quickly forget. Now that it’s over, we humbly and fondly reflect on the super-success of this year’s Cape Day Challenge and Boardwalk Bash- benefitting the patients at Children’s Health.

All Heroes Should Wear Capes

As one of eight companies that competed in a friendly battle for the best design, Park Place created a cape that allows young patients to make a powerful and personal statement by finishing the heroic statement, “I am…” with their own words. Our design received the most votes during the Phone Bank on WFAA Channel 8, and was printed on this year’s cape and delivered to the patients at Children’s Health.

What made this extra special were the stories and support the Park Place family shared. Some have a personal connection with the organization, while others deeply support medical research and children’s advocacy on their own as well. So naturally, members were eager to sport their capes. 

For one of the first times in recent years, all Park Place Dealerships participated by taking a photo with their superpower, donating themselves and encouraging donations, and spreading the message on social media with #CapeDayNtx.

“This was a fun and creative opportunity to work with Children’s Health,” said Dave Evans, Chief Marketing Officer of Park Place Dealerships. “Everyone at Park Place is excited to see the kids proudly wearing our design on their capes. We hope our small part in this event brings a lot of joy to kids who have an illness or injury.”

The initiative ended with a Boardwalk Bash in Granite Park in Frisco, Texas. And using her own super-strength, Anam Ali, Experiential Marketing Manager managed to feature a stunning Lexus LC (famously used in the Black Panther blockbuster) and the Men In Black Lexus RC-F specification at the event. 

When it comes to community initiatives, and why supporting organizations like Children’s Health and Cape Day is integral to our mission, Anam says it best:

“The Children’s Health Cape Creation Challenge is a community effort supported by our entire dealer group,” says Anam Ali, Experiential Marketing Manager for Park Place Dealerships. “While we’re happy to win the design award, the best part of the event is seeing the smiles of so many wonderful, happy children.”

 

Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, and Karma. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

 

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We’re Not Done Yet: Park Place Motorsports Enters Race for Final Push for Porsche Cup

Park Place Motorsports enters the Hankook 24 Hours of COTA at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, with drivers Alan Brynjolfsson, Trent Hindman, Spencer Pumpelly, and a fourth driver.

This week’s race will be the first undertaking of the 24 Hours of COTA for Dallas based Park Place Motorsports. The inspiration to log additional miles in 2019 comes after Brynjolfsson regained the lead in the Porsche Cup standings after winning both SprintX West race in the SRO Pirelli GT4 America finale. German competitor Christian Reid now finds himself sandwiched between Brynjolfsson and Hindman, as Hindman respectively sits third.

The duo joined by Pumpelly will hope to upset the 24-Hour field and take home a win to offset the points potentially earned by Reid in the FIA WEC 4 Hours of Shanghai, which takes place Sunday, Nov. 10. An excellent finish could tip the scales in Brynjolfsson’s favor and give him the Porsche Cup win as well as a new Porsche 992. If Hindman hangs on to his current standing, he will take home a €25,000 Euro check.

The lineup will run the No. 73 Porsche 911 GT3 R, generation I, as opposed to the current generation II model, the team ran this season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. While it will be a first for both Hindman and Brynjolfsson to be behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R, it won’t be the first time they dominated at COTA. Brynjolfsson and Hindman took home two wins in the Pirelli GT4 America SprintX East series in early March for the kickoff of the 2019 SRO America season.

The weekend begins with private testing on Thursday, Nov. 14, followed by official practice on Friday, Nov. 15. GT Qualifying also takes place Friday with the 45-minute session set to go green at 3 p.m. CT. Friday concludes with night practice taking place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, sees the course go green for the first half of the 24-Hour race. The green flag drops at 11:30 a.m. with Part 1 coming to a close at 10:30 p.m. The final 13 hours begin Sunday, Nov. 17, at 8 a.m., with the checkered flag officially falling at 9 p.m. local. Watch Qualifying and the race live on the 24Hour Series YouTube page.

TEAM QUOTES

Alan Brynjolfsson

“No pressure, this next race will be pure enjoyment,” Brynjolfsson said. “I get to finally drive and experience the superior power, braking and downforce of a GT3 car; something that I can’t believe I haven’t done yet. I’m jumping right in with a 24-hour race, but I’m backed by some awesome co-drivers; Trent Hindman, Spencer Pumpelly and Richard Heistand. My only worry is I’ll get hooked and have to double my budget for next year.”

Trent Hindman

“Fortunately, the Park Place Motorsports/VOLT team had spent some time at COTA earlier this year with the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR,” Hindman said. “It’s a technically demanding track where seat time usually reigns supreme. Having that recent experience of running there will help with Alan’s transition into a GT3 car for the first time. It’s awesome to be a part of his progression and I think he will adapt very well to the pace of the car. It’s just nice to have the band back together for one last time in 2019.”

Richard Heistand

“This will be my first time at COTA and in a Porsche GT3 R,” Heistand said. “As you can imagine I’m excited for the new experience and for the opportunity with Alan, Patrick (Lindsey) and Park Place have given me. When I returned to racing in 2018, I competed in Porsche Supercup so while the GT3 R is new to me, racing with Porsche is not and I’m very happy to be back in the Porsche family where it all started.”

Spencer Pumpelly

“The 24-hour race at COTA will be my first time running this event and my first time driving with Alan and Trent,” Pumpelly said. “I’m looking forward to giving it a strong go and hopefully a top finish. The car is the one I raced in the Petit Le Mans in 2018 and I have a long history with Park Place. I know what each is capable of so if we can avoid the pitfalls that can lurk in any 24-hour race, we should do well. “

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#BalmoresPlace: Dreaming of a Brighter Future

El Salvador’s Balmore Salmeron Dreamed of a Brighter Future and Found it at Park Place.

Newest “My Place” video spotlights promote-from-within culture at Park Place Dealerships

Soft spoken, thoughtfully articulate and almost always smiling, Balmore Salmeron dismisses praise about his life’s achievements with uncharacteristic modesty.

“I’m not special,” he says. “I just did what I needed to do.”

But the facts are undeniable: When he came to this country from his native El Salvador in 2001, he had no official education degree, just some university computer science training. While he could read and write a little English, his speaking skills – and thus better job opportunities – were slim.

He was, however, eager to prove himself. And Park Place was just as eager to give the young man a leg up in his adopted country.

“My mother-in-law had a friend in the detailing department at Park Place Lexus Grapevine, so I was referred and hired,” he says. “I worked on cars during the day and on my communications skills at night.”

Three years later, his managers rewarded Balmore’s determination with a promotion to the dealership’s service drive, where a quick understanding of client needs along with a cheerful and professional demeanor are must-haves.

By this time, he was also taking accounting courses, since he’d always felt comfortable with the language of numbers and figures. And knowing that Park Place likes to promote from within, he kept his eye on potential internal opportunities.

“To be better than yesterday – that’s something we should always strive for,” he says.

Nearly two years later, he found what looked like a fit when an internal financial analyst position opened up. At each step of the interview process – and there were a lot of steps – he impressed managers with his gumption and positive attitude. But he worried that he didn’t have the necessary skills.

He didn’t need to.

“We hire for attitude and determination,” declares his manager, Park Place Controller David Orenstein. “If a great candidate has that, like Balmore, then we can provide all the training they need.”

“The Park Place philosophy is about helping members improve and move up,” confirms Balmore. 

Since then, he’s been instrumental in refining the company’s accounting processes to be faster and more accurate – always a good thing when it comes to numbers.

He became a U.S. citizen in 2010, completed his accounting degree at Richland College in 2014 and embodies the idea that, with hearty backing from your organization, you can achieve your dreams.

So all in all, it’s pretty clear why Balmore calls Park Place “My Place.”

“America is a dream of freedom, built around the idea that one person can make a difference,” he says. “For me, Park Place is my place because I’m a part of something great and they’ve helped me to achieve my dreams.”

To Apply for a Career at Park Place Dealerships, visit www.ParkPlace.com/Careers

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

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Park Place Wins Cape Day Challenge Benefiting Children’s Health

Park Place Dealerships had the winning design for Children’s Health Cape Day which honors the real superheroes who fight courageously against illness and injury every day.

As one of eight companies that competed in a friendly battle for the best design, Park Place created a cape that allows young patients to make a powerful and personal statement by finishing the heroic statement, “I am…” with their own words. Park Place’s design will be printed on this year’s cape, which will be delivered to patients at Children’s Health this week.

“This was a fun and creative opportunity to work with Children’s Health,” said Dave Evans, Chief Marketing Officer of Park Place Dealerships. “Everyone at Park Place is excited to see the kids proudly wearing our design on their capes. We hope our small part in this event brings a lot of joy to kids who have an illness or injury.”

Kids at Children’s Health will sport their capes Thursday, Nov. 7 to raise awareness for all the patients fighting for a better tomorrow. Cape Day’s Bash on the Boardwalk also will be held Friday, November 8th from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at The Boardwalk at Granite Park in Plano to celebrate Children’s Health patient superheroes.

Donate at Cape!

For a $20 donation to Children’s Health, anyone can purchase a cape for themselves or a patient. The donation also qualifies the buyer to be a member of the Red Balloon League, a group of people helping superheroes in the hospital. Proceeds from Cape Day will help fund patient and support services, research, and new equipment. To purchase a cape, visit Give.Childrens.com.

Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,100 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, and Karma. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

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Stories from the Luxury & Supercar Showcase Concours

The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase presented a veritable automotive cornucopia of class, style and elegance. 

The third annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase got off to a picture-perfect start on Saturday, September 28, 2019, as the weather dawned bright and clear over the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. An estimated 4,500 attendees wandered the club’s manicured fairways, oohing and aahing at 325 rare and exotic automobiles, new as well as best-of-the-best classics.

Stories from the Concours

The top three awardees (winners for Best of Show, Chairman’s Choice, and Salesmanship Club award) were not only memorable, historical, and stunning in their own right, but also came with their own intriguing backstories. 

Best of Show: Mercedes Benz 500 K Special Roadster

First exhibited at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show, the powerful and opulent Mercedes Benz 500 K instantly became the “must-have” car for business titans, movie stars and royalty all over the world. They were among the few who could afford it – $14,000 when the average car went for $650. The 500 K featured a five-liter, inline 8-cylinder engine with forced induction (the “K” stands for “Kompressor,” German for supercharger) good for 160 hp and a top speed of 100 mph.

Approximately 30 of the now-iconic “long-tail” Special Roadsters (the second of three Special Roadster designs) were made from 1936 to 1937, spanning the switch from 500 K to 540 K engines. Fewer than 10 of the 500 K “long-tail” Special Roadsters were produced and of those, only two had the elegant covered spare design of this vehicle. Neither of those original 500 K bodies has survived, and only three of the six 540 K’s with this body style exist.

This show-stopping example was delivered new to the Netherlands but the cabriolet (convertible) body was destroyed and the chassis damaged during World War Two. A half-century later, a Danish baron partially restored the vehicle and displayed it as part of his collection for two decades. During 2012-2018, marque experts added new coachwork and fully restored the original chassis and engine to their authentic, exacting factory specifications, qualifying this ultra-rarity as a real-deal Mercedes-Benz 500 K.

Owner: Craig Hopkins

 

Chairman’s Choice: 1964 Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 is a British luxury grand tourer (GT) designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superlegger and built in England (the “DB” designation is in honor of Sir David Brown, Aston Martin’s owner from 1947 to 1972).

The naturally-aspirated 4.0 liter all-aluminum inline 6-cylinder engine generates 286 hp, a top speed of 145 mph and reaches 0-60 in eight seconds.

A silver DB5 much like this example became world-famous as James Bond’s vehicle in the film “Goldfinger.” To promote the movie, two DB5s were showcased at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and the model was quickly dubbed “the most famous car in the world.”

This concours-winning DB5 (lacking 007’s ejection seat and machine guns) was built with right-hand drive for the British home market. But as it spent 30 years in the U.S., it was converted to left-hand drive in 2014. It’s been displayed at the must-see event of Pebble Beach Car Week, “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering,” and has won numerous regional “best-in-class” awards as well.  

“One of the rewarding things about having a car like a DB5 is the privilege of showing it,” says owner Ray Larson. “When I show the car, my family is typically with me, so we’re able to share great moments together, and we often see friends and meet new people with a similar passion for beautiful cars.”

Owner: Raymond Larson

Salesman Ship Club Award: 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso (Italian for “luxury”) was manufactured by Italian automaker Ferrari from 1962 to 1964. Designed by the Turinese coachbuilder Pininfarina and bodied by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the Lusso debuted at the 1962 Paris Motor Show and is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful and elegant Ferraris ever built.

The naturally aspirated 3.0-liter Ferrari/Colombo-designed V12 engine generated 240 hp, accelerated from 0-60 in seven seconds and reached a top speed of 150 mph, earning plaudits as the fastest passenger car of the time.

Although not intended to compete as a race car, the Lusso made several impressive appearances at motor sport events in 1964 and 1965, including the Targa Florio and Tour de France.

A 1987 Road & Track article stated, “All movement ceased (when a Lusso pulled on a concourse field) and everyone turned to stare. It was as though Sophia Loren in a bright red cocktail dress had just walked provocatively through a garden party of English schoolgirls.”

While in the U.K., owner Greg Brendel attended the Concours of Elegance at historic Stapleford Park with his family. He also toured on his own, noting, “It was interesting to maneuver a vintage left-hand drive car on the opposite side of the road while navigating with my iPhone in the roundabouts.”

The last of Ferrari’s legendary 250 GT road cars, only 350 were built.

Owner: Greg Brendel

Did you learn the story behind some of the entries on our Collector’s Concours? Email them to social@10.2.54.33 OR share a photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag @parkplacetexas and #supercarshowcase.

 

 

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Volvo Introduces All-Electric XC40- Available for Pre-Order

Future Volvo customers will need to answer one fundamental question: do you want a new Volvo with a cord or without one?

(Information is from Volvo Car’s Press Release) Volvo Cars introduces the XC40 Recharge, the company’s first-ever fully electric car and the first model to appear in its brand new Recharge car line concept.

The XC40 Recharge, based on the multi-award-winning and best-selling XC40 small SUV, is the first of a family of fully electric Volvos. It represents a true milestone for Volvo Cars: the company’s first electric car and the first Volvo with a brand new infotainment system powered by Google’s Android operating system.

Over the next five years, Volvo Cars will launch a fully electric car every year, as it seeks to make all-electric cars 50 percent of global sales by 2025, with the rest hybrids. Recharge will be the overarching name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The XC40 Recharge is everything customers expect from a Volvo, with the addition of a state-of-the-art, fully electric all-wheel drive powertrain that offers a range of over 400 km (WLTP) [200 miles in U.S.**] on a single charge and output of 408hp [402 hp in U.S.]. The battery charges to 80 % of its capacity in 40 mins on a fast-charger system.***

Contact Park Place Volvo Cars in Dallas for serious inquiries on any recharged pre-orders.

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Self-Driving Prototype Jaguar I-PACE Hits the Road For Testing

Jaguar Land Rover engineers tested a self-driving prototype Jaguar I-PACE on the streets of Dubai demonstrating the company’s latest autonomous driving research technologies and giving a glimpse into the future of mobility. 

The all-electric, zero emissions Jaguar I-PACE – current 2019 World Car of the Year and World Green Car of the Year – was chosen due to its strong sustainability credentials. The prototype Jaguar I-PACE was modified to include enhanced vehicle detection and avoidance capabilities through a combination of radar and cameras, alongside a traffic light detection system. The vehicle’s speed and steering, from stationary up to highway speed, was also controlled autonomously during test drives, with the system following routes from a detailed HD map showing route location and a detailed bird’s-eye view of junctions.

Jaguar Land Rover continues its drive for conscious innovation focusing on achieving its vision with Destination Zero – a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion – across its facilities, and through its products and services. Autonomous vehicle technology plays a major role in realising the strategy. To date, Jaguar Land Rover has successfully completed real-world testing of the technology on complicated inner-city roads in the UK and continues to collaborate with academia and industry to accelerate innovation.

“Jaguar Land Rover shares similar goals to Dubai’s government with regards to mobility and sustainability. We both wish to make driving safer, to free up time we spend travelling, and to reduce the negative impact travel has on our planet,” commented Bruce Robertson, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover MENA.

“The Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport tackles these same important challenges head-on, and our autonomous Jaguar I-PACE prototype is proof positive of the impressive progress our company and industry are making.”

Learn more on the current range of all-electric at Park Place Jaguar DFW, and coming soon Jaguar Land Rover North Austin, a Park Place Dealership. 

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Lexus Goes Electric with all New LF-30 Concept

 In its continued efforts to deliver innovative and amazing experiences, Lexus unveiled its “Lexus Electrified” vision for an upcoming generation of electrified vehicles.

Lexus has officially joined the ranks of luxury manufacturers who are looking towards a fully-electric future.  LF-30 Electrified embodies this vision for Lexus, delivering an innovative interior with autonomous driving technology a newly designed driving cockpit, and other key advancements.

Lexus is no stranger to electric or hybrid technologies. In 2005, the Lexus RX 400h was introduced, sporting the very technologies that Lexus has pioneered across the industry.  Now, the “Lexus Electrified” vision targets a fundamental leap in vehicle performance, handling, control, and driver enjoyment — even as mobility within our society continues to change with autonomous driving and vehicle electrification.

Passenger Focused Technologies

Driving is fun, right? Lexus doesn’t want to forget that very important tenant as they present electrified concepts like the LF-30. The new advanced posture control (and other tech) focuses on driving pleasure.  Their efforts in hybrid technology will play integral role in such goals. Notes and learnings from Lexus’ popular range of gasoline-electric hybrids including battery management, power control modules, and electric motors will only serve to improve their vision for electrification. 

Lexus LF-30 Electrified Highlights

The LF-30 concept is the first design revealed to embody the Lexus Electrified vision.  The LF-30 Electrified employs a new concept cockpit based on human-centric design philosophy and a steer-by-wire system. The exterior visually expresses the energy created by the wheels set at the corners of the vehicle body streaming toward the vehicle cabin and past the driver to then directly flow onto the road surface.

The shape of the body is fashioned with an elegantly flowing front which transitions into a linear and sharp rear. The window glass, which continually stretches from the front to rear, the muscular fenders, and the wing-shaped headlights form the contours of the Lexus iconic spindle.  In addition to the wing-shaped headlights, the sharpness of the rear lights and side air intakes combine to achieve both excellent aerodynamics and cooling performance, resulting in styling fused with function. 

Another innovative design feature, meant to personalize and enhance the passenger experience, is that the opacity of the side windows can be freely adjusted for both expansive views and then privacy when wanted.

Color Choice

 The color of the front face of the vehicle and luminescence patterns help identify from the outside whether the vehicle is being operated in its normal mode or in its autonomous driving mode, reflecting Lexus’ pursuit of both a high level of styling and functionality. The exterior color ‘voltaic sky’ employs a leading-edge metal-infused coating to achieve a unique quality tinted by a touch of blue-green.

Tazuna

We’ve briefly mentioned a new cockpit design, which is officially termed “Tazuna,” inspired by how a single rein can be used to achieve mutual understanding between the horse and rider. The steering controller-mounted switches and heads-up display have been coordinated to a high degree, creating a space that enables the driver to focus on driving while controlling various functions, such as the navigation and audio system and driving-mode selection, without having to shift one’s vision or operate manual switches. The resulting interior is one that provides comfort and convenience for both driver and passengers.

Augmented-Reality 

Various AR technologies have been employed inside for futuristic and completely responsive experience for the driver and their passengers. The new cockpit design includes gesture control and enhanced presentation of vehicle information through AR.

AR tech can also be found in the glass roof. A glass roof above the rear seats features voice control and a gesture-controlled “SkyGate” display window that uses AR to display various types of information, such as a realistic star-filled sky, user-favorite videos, and even navigation.

Learn More

To stay up to date on Lexus’ recently announced concept and electrification bookmark News.ParkPlace.com  and follow Lexus (Lexus USA, Lexus Grapevine, and Lexus Plano) on Facebook and Instagram.

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Getting Better All the Time: the 2020 911 Carrera and Cabriolet

“This new 911 series is the most revolutionary in the last 25 years.”

So declares Jordan Mizrach, General Manager of Park Place Porsche Grapevine. And while that’s something one might expect him to say, it’s still a bold claim.

Consider Porsche’s conversion from air- to water-cooled engines in 1998. Then the 2016 switch from naturally aspirated engines to flat-six twin-turbos. Pretty drastic stuff.

So what makes this eighth-generation 911 (internally coded as the 992 series), so radical?

“Just drive it,” Jordan suggests.

Let’s start with an up-close-and-personal look at the first 992 release: the Carrera S, with 443-hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.

“There are subtle changes throughout,” says Paul Kim, the dealership’s SEM (Sales Experience Manager) and all-around Porsche-nista. Unlike in years past, all 992 models will now wear the same bodywork – rounder hips, flared fenders and a wider front and rear track (45 mm and 54 mm). And that beefier body is actually seven percent lighter than the outgoing model, thanks to more aluminum and composite materials.

He also points out that the hood resembles the famed “slantnose” from the 1975-89  Turbo series, aka the 930.

But Paul really gets a kick out of the rear gills under the back window. “Nine gills line up on either side of two larger middle slots. Get it? It’s a 9-9-2! Who says German engineers don’t have a sense of humor?”

He’s also a big fan of the lush interior, full of fine leather and thoughtfully arranged controls. Five toggles on the center stack evoke a vintage 911 layout. Seating is super-comfortable and well-suited for long trips – almost unthinkable a mere decade ago. Trim options include wood or carbon fiber inserts.

The classic five-dial instrument cluster dates back to the very first 911. But technology has supplanted the dials surrounding the large tach with maps, safety and driver-assist systems and other information. The new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system features an expansive 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen for nav, entertainment and other apps, including Apple CarPlay integration.

“Here’s a Porsche world-first,” says Paul. “Wet Mode is a standard function that automatically detects water via acoustic sensors in the front wheel housing, then activates PSM, PTM and PTV for better stability.” (The acronyms refer to Porsche Stability Management, Porsche Traction Management and optional Porsche Torque Vectoring.)

We’re all about stability, so we heed Jordan’s admonition to “just drive it.”

“Just Drive It:

Tooling around town, the Carrera S is as docile as you’d expect from a finely-engineered German luxury car. The remarkable eight-speed double-clutch automatic transmission, dubbed PDK – mercifully short for Doppelkupplungsgetriebe – shifts invisibly while in Normal mode. The only way to sense any change is to watch the tach.

But when a patch of open road beckons, it’s time to switch to Sport mode (or even Sport-Plus for the hardy soul). The Carrera S drops nearly a half-inch, the gears stretch the revs higher, the suspension tightens noticeably and the docile house pet transforms into a snarling beast, rampaging to 62 mph in just 4.2 seconds (it feels faster) and hits 100 mph a few seconds later. Like, three.

And there’s more where that came from. The aptly-named “launch control” feature provides NASA-esque thrills. From a dead stop, the driver puts their foot on the brake, then floors the accelerator. The engine rises to a bellow, telling the computer, “Oh, it’s fun time now!” The computer tells the driver to release the brake. Instantly, the astonishing power band unspools with abandon as you rocket down the road.

“Launch” is such an inadequate word.

And all the while, the Carrera rides as securely, as controllably, as responsibly, as nimbly and as manageably as if it were on rails. Very fun, tight, swoopy rails.

There’s never any sense that the front will go one way or the back will go another or that the whole thing is about to unravel. The sense, instead, is that the engineering behind this drama is palpable, innovative, brilliant and amazing. 

“See what I mean?” Jordan asks with a grin. Paul laughs out loud.

No doubt about it – This new 911 series is the most revolutionary in the last 25 years.

The Carrera S and all-wheel-drive 4S models are available now in both coupe and cabriolet (convertible) versions. The base model Carrera and Cabriolet (with 379 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque) are available for order now, with delivery in the first quarter of 2020.

Available at:

Park Place Porsche Grapevine

1280 Texan Trail

Grapevine, TX 76051

(855) 341-2068

 

Park Place Porsche Dallas

6107 Lemmon Avenue

Dallas, TX 75209

(214) 736-5680