Autoblog UK

If you're looking for an unusual Christmas decoration, Porsche Gelderland in the small Dutch town of Heteren could provide you with some inspiration. The local dealership has had a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S completely coated in chocolate. Master chocolatier Jan Blancken melted 175 kilos of the stuff and used it to covert the bodywork of the Porsche. For good measure, he spread a few kilos of white chocolate onto the headlights. The photo gallery shows each stage of the creation of this masterpiece which is set to decorate the showroom in the run-up to Christmas. The Porsche has 385 horsepower tucked away under its sweet bonnet. The technical specification of the brown racer will now presumably have to be supplemented with its calorie count.

Porsche have always operated on the basic principle of supplying thoroughbred driving machines to motoring purists. This is particularly true of the legendary RS models. In its latest incarnation as the 911 GT3 RS, a member of the revamped 997 series, Porsche have once again demonstrated a sense for what is essential, giving customers the option of a lithium-ion battery which, by comparison with the conventional lead battery, offers a weight saving of over ten kilos. However, it seems that they are unable to resist making compromises: electric windows, automatic climate control and radio come as standard. You can specifically 'unorder' the radio and climate control to get closer to the ideal of the unadulterated racer. But why on earth would anyone want electrically operated windows, electrically adjustable mirrors, electric unlocking on bonnet and boot, and central locking? Away with this clutter! Dear Porsche, your new RS is great, but spare us all the gimmicks with this definitive 911. The softies at the luxury end of the market can always buy themselves a Bentley.

The most important prize award for cars in Europe was instituted by the publisher Axel Springer in 1976, and has been awarded annually since then. On the 4th November, top managers from the car industry accepted awards for the model year 2009 at the Axel Springer Building in Berlin. Eight new models in total received a Golden Steering Wheel award. For the third time, a Green Steering Wheel prize was presented for the best eco car. Fiat and Ferrari president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, received an honorary award.

The winners in the individual categories:

Small car class: VW Polo
Compact class: Vauxhall Astra
Medium class and above: Audi A5 Sportback
Luxury class: Porsche Panamera
Supercar: Mercedes SLS
MPV: Renault Scenic
Eco award: Toyota Prius and VW Blue Motion
Honorary prize: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo

In extending their R8 series, Audi have launched a full frontal attack on Volkswagen AG sister company Porsche. First it was the eight-cylinder R8 taking on the 911, and then it was the more powerful V10 version tackling the Porsche Turbo. With the arrival of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro, even the open-top 911s must now fear for their market share. The confrontation could be described as a clash of the modern with the traditional. Even in terms of everyday practicality, the R8 can compete with the 911. However, Porsche may be poised for a counter-strike, because there has been much talk recently of Porsche branching out into smaller and more affordable entry models. So the fight goes on into the next round and there is plenty more excitement to come, though at the end of the day, it seems unlikely that either of them will land a knockout punch.

Swiss luxury tuners Mansory took the opportunity of the Frankfurt Motor Show to unveil their 'Chopster' which is based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Now Mansory have set their sights on the Panamera. The Porsche family car gets a complete redesign with new bonnet and boot. The whole vehicle is handcrafted from carbon fibre and polyurethane. So far, only computer sketches are available – albeit very appealing ones. The new upgraded Panamera should be ready to make its debut in around three months' time. Although Mansory have published the first images, we still await a price list.

As retro mania continues to spread, Porsche are now also getting in on the act. The 911 Sport Classic is a deliberate throwback to earlier models and borrows many of their styling cues. In addition, though, it features every conceivable modern luxury, and can be customized even further. As we know, Porsche can meet almost any request. But that's what sets this 911 apart from classic Porsches, which were pure driving machines. The Sport Classic's powerful engine (408bhp) still ensures excellent road performance, but the car's unladen weight of 1,425 kilograms, despite doors made of aluminium, speaks for itself. This 911 should go on a diet. Now that would be really retro, because sometimes less is more.

Until now, Porsche has built the hottest SUVs in the shape of the Cayenne. But now, BMW is going head-to-head with Porsche by introducing the X5 M and, most notably, the X6 M. BMW wants the top-spot by offering more performance, even if it's just by a small margin, 555bhp as against the 550bhp of the hottest Cayenne, the Turbo S. And not just on paper: the BMW X6 series SUV already had an excellent chassis, but in the M version, it has been sharpened up and made even sportier. Porsche won't like it one bit. On a winding stretch of road, the X6 M can show the Cayenne Turbo S a clean pair of heels.

Real Porsche fans won't want to miss it. The 911 is set for launch in Frankfurt as a limited edition and will be known as the 'Sport Classic'. Porsche will display the limited-run sports car based on the Carrera S at the IAA, from the 17th to the 27th September. The car takes retro cues from the seventies. Market launch will begin in January 2010 at a price of 201,682 euros. Fans will have to hurry with their order, as only 250 examples of the Porsche 911 Sport Classic will be produced.

There are three changes to the latest edition of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show: it is now a more powerful, wider-bodied and faster machine. The successor to the most copious racing car of all times (1,400 of them were built) is based first and foremost on the 911 GT3 RS. The weight of this racer has been significantly reduced by comparison with the lightweight construction of the road version. For the first time in a GT3 Cup, the rear now conforms to the 44mm wider bodywork designed to accommodate bigger wheels. The broader arches at the front likewise indicate new wheels. Engine capacity has also received a boost relative to the previous model, the extra 0.2 litres delivering an additional 30 horsepower. Vital statistics: 3.8-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine, output 450bhp, sequential six-speed manual transmission, weight 1,200 kilos. The new 911 GT3 Cup is instantly recognisable from its front aspect and it adopts the characteristic daytime running light from the current nine-eleven generation.