PGA Cars to Go Appointment-Basis Only for Both Sales and Service

On Monday, May 18, 2020, the official and exclusive importer and distributor of Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley in the Philippines resumes physical sales and service operations of the four premium automotive brands as COVID-19 quarantine restrictions in some parts of the Philippines are eased.

PGA Cars, Inc. marks the resumption of Porsche’s, Audi’s, Lamborghini’s and Bentley’s physical operations with a strict compliance to health and sanitation protocols as it places priority on the health and safety of its clients, guests, and workforce. The restart of physical operations is complemented by the brands’ established virtual operations, some aspects of which have been recently bolstered by digital tools in response to new market conditions.

Besides continuing to observe hygienic measures practiced in Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley dealerships long before the quarantine—such as regular disinfection of facilities and vehicles, and providing hand sanitizers to all personnel—some of the steps to be taken during the restart are that servicing of vehicles will be done by appointment only, and that all vehicles accepted will be immediately disinfected upon arrival, as well as prior to releasing.

Also, all guests and employees entering the brands’ premises must first wear a mask, undergo a thermal check, remove their outer clothing, submit a health form, wash their hands, and go through a foot bath. Social distancing will be practiced as well, with the guidelines announced in signage around the facilities.

Clients who wish to visit the brands’ showrooms will have to book an appointment.

The re-opening of PGA Cars’ physical facilities for Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley follows the four brands’ resumption of manufacturing operations in their home markets.

Upon the restart of PGA Cars’ brands’ physical operations, clients can check out the latest models from Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley. These models are properly documented and covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, as well as supported by world-class aftersales services with work performed by factory-trained and -certified technicians who have access to the latest equipment and necessary software updates.

Porsche to Re-Start Production

Porsche will phase in production at its main factories in Zuffenhausen and Leipzig, Germany, starting on May 4, with operations at both sites set to ramp up incrementally in the following weeks.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the sports car maker to halt production at the two plants on March 21—initially for only two weeks. But bottlenecks in global supply chains caused the factories to remain closed for six weeks.

In restarting production, Porsche is taking all required measures to guarantee the best possible safety for employees so that operations can be increased in stages until reaching full capacity. The adapted processes in production, logistics, and procurement have been agreed with the company’s works council and health management department, with the requirements of each authority to be observed.

Among these are that employees on the production line are required to keep a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from one another, follow basic rules of conduct, and wear a face mask in defined work areas. Measures implemented during the initial suspension of production—like increased mobile working arrangements, reliance on video conferences, and a ban on business travel—will remain in force until further notice.

Porsche in the first three months of 2020 sold 53,125 cars worldwide, representing a 5 percent decline from the company’s 55,700-unit result during the comparable period in 2019—a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Porsche’s deliveries of its iconic 911 sports car reached 8,482 units in the first quarter of the year, a 16 percent increase from the same quarter in 2019.

Porsche Opens New Website to Keep Kids Entertained During Quarantine

With schools and daycare centers closed, parents working from home have to find ways to keep their children busy. Porsche is pitching in these efforts—like through Porsche 4Kids, which offers children stuck at home a welcome distraction by way of various activities that both entertain and educate.

Available to children through this website are coloring pages, craft ideas with instructions, “Find the word” and memory games, puzzles, search-and-find pictures and much more. While playing, experiencing and discovering, children are supported by Tom Targa and Tina Turbo—Porsche’s lovable mascots.

Porsche 4Kids combines unique online experiences for play with high learning standards. Children are not just entertained on the website; they can also train their concentration and learn, too. Those who want to spend their time offline can download and print out a variety of images for coloring, like Porsche tractors and Formula E racing cars. Comics or games, such as “Town, City, Porsche,” have templates that can be downloaded as well.

Children 12 years and older can take part in the Porsche Museum e-mobility challenge. On this discovery tour, they can learn plenty about electric-powered mobility—like how an electric motor works, where electrical energy is stored, and if electricity only comes from a socket.

In the Socialize section at the Porsche 4Kids site, visitors can take a virtual tour of the Porsche museum—a development that means some of Porsche’s learning programs and brand history information previously available on exhibition tours only are now accessible to all guests online.

With the Kids Driving School magazine, parents can practice proper road traffic behavior with their children. Tom Targa and Tina Turbo take a playful approach to explaining traffic rules, the most important road signs, and the ideal bicycle equipment. Children can also take an exam in the magazine.

Classic Porsches Can Now Get Apple CarPlay

Porsche is now giving owners of older models the chance to jump onto the Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay bandwagon with these special 1- or 2-DIN infotainment systems from Porsche Classic.

Now available for order through the Porsche Centre or the Porsche Classic online shop, the Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM) fist into the 1-DIN slot which was standard in sportscars for many decades. The PCCM is operated via two rotary knobs, six integrated buttons and a touch-sensitive 3.5-inch display.

It’s made to blend into the dashboard of classic Porsche cars, especially in the way the knobs are designed and finished. The German sportscar maker says the PCCM is suitable for 911 models of the 1960s to the last 911 with air cooling—the 993. Use in earlier front- and mid-engine models is also possible.

Aside from giving it Apple CarPlay, the PCCM also adds digital radio (DAB+), Bluetooth, USB, and SD Card inputs as well.

Meanwhile for 911 models and Boxster models from the 1990s onwards can also upgrade their original Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system to the Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus) system. This system not only adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it also swaps the screen to a high-res 7-inch touchscreen display while still supporting navigation/audio track display on the instrument cluster.

Porsche says installation can be done DIY, but they do recommend a Porsche Centre do it for the owner. Prices don’t come cheap though with the 1-DIN PCCM at 1,439.89 Euros (P 78,617.36~) and the PCCM Plus going up to 1,606.51 Euros (P 87,714.74~).

Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, Porsche 911 Sales Are Actually Up This Year

Porsche sold 8,482 units of its iconic 911 sports car in the first three months of the year, a 16 percent increase from the same period in 2019, even as the brand’s total deliveries dipped due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Counting in the 911’s tally, Porsche in the first quarter of the year sold 53,125 cars worldwide, representing a 5 percent decline from the company’s 55,700-unit result during the comparable three-month stretch in 2019. Porsche’s performance in Europe registered a solid 20 percent spike—from 14,004 cars in 2019 to 16,787 this year—cushioning the decrease in most markets.

“We are not alone in clearly feeling the effects of the coronavirus crisis on our deliveries. But our focus now is on standing together with our business partners worldwide. Working together, we are in a position to react quickly and appropriately to further developments,” said Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG.

China emerged as Porsche’s biggest consumer as the brand sold 14,098 cars in the country during the first quarter of the year. But the result is 17 percent less than the 16,890 cars customers there bought during the comparable period last year.

Porsche deliveries in the US, which stood at 11,994 units in the first quarter, were 20 percent lower than the 15,024-vehicle result in 2019’s first quarter. The brand’s collective performance in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East also contracted 8 percent, or from 23,989 cars in the first three months of 2019 to 22,031 cars during the same period this year.

Despite the downturn, Porsche expressed optimism over its prospects in the coming months.

“After this challenging first quarter, we are now actively preparing to restart production. Our top priority will always be the health of our employees, the employees of our retail partners and, of course, the health of our customers. We are confident that the outlook is positive, not least because we see a clear recovery in the Chinese market—almost all of our Porsche Centers there have already reopened,” von Platen noted.

Porsche SUVs remained the company’s bestsellers in the first quarter of 2020, with the Cayenne recording deliveries of 18,417 units and the Macan emerging with a 15,547-unit tally. The Taycan, Porsche’s first fully electric four-door sports car that started reaching showrooms only at the end of 2019, already saw 1,391 units sold.

TAG Heuer is the Title Sponsor of the Porsche Esports Cup

TAG Heuer, which already supports Porsche in the Formula E series, is the new title sponsor of the Porsche Esports Cup, the single-make electronic sports racing championship Porsche initiated with iRacing in 2019. iRacing is the leading provider of realistic online racing simulators.

“After joining forces in the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team this season, we are excited to now extend our successful collaboration further into the Esports world,” announced Stéphane Bianchi, CEO of the LVMH Watchmaking Division and CEO of TAG Heuer.

The executive explained TAG Heuer is an avantgarde watchmaker with historic ties to the track, and thus sees Esports as a fantastic new platform in which to showcase the brand’s values. He added the move is also a way to support a “dynamic and passionate community in the world of motor racing, where competitiveness comes alive in the digital age.”

“We are looking forward to providing an unmatched Esports experience together with Porsche and iRacing, and seeing the world’s elite road simracers push their limits,” Bianchi said, noting “both the TAG Heuer and Porsche brands are “masters of challenges, innovation and precision.”

The 2020 Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup will feature the introduction of multiple tracks to the championship. It kicked off with a pre-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last March 28.

Last year, Josh Rogers won the championship in an exciting final duel against Maximilian Benecke. Sebastian Job and Mitchell de Jong placed third and fourth. These four top drivers return to the series this year, alongside 36 other new and returning competitors.

Kjell Gruner, Vice President for Marketing at Porsche AG, said; “Esports racing offers such an emotional Porsche experience to many fans of our brand, and the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup is our most important virtual racing series. After a very successful premiere in 2019, we are now about to start the second season with a strong partner at our side.” He added that Porsche and TAG Heuer are “already a great team in Formula E.”

“Now TAG Heuer, as a brand with heritage, is helping to further establish the most aspirational competition in Esports racing.”

Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup Schedule

• Round 1 - Circuit Park Zandvoort (May 2, 2020)
• Round 2 - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (May 9, 2020)
• Round 3 - Donington Park Circuit (May 23, 2020)
• Round 4 - Circuit de la Sarthe (June 13, 2020)
• Round 5 - Nurburgring Nordschleife (July 4, 2020)
• Round 6 - Silverstone Circuit (July 18, 2020)
• Round 7 - Road Atlanta (August 1, 2020)
• Round 8 - Brands Hatch Circuit (August 15, 2020)
• Round 9 - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (August 29, 2020)
• Round 10 - Autodromo Nazionale Monza (September 19, 2020)

For P 416k, Porsche Will Put Your Fingerprint Onto Your Brand-New 911

Just imagine what sort of privacy problems this could bring. While ill-informed netizens went gaga over the OR code that comes with the LTO’s so-called “third plate,” Porsche has gone a step further, and is now offering your very own fingerprint as a decorative strip on your brand-new 911.

Admittedly, the tech behind this is cool. It’s a direct printing method developed by Porsche wherein the design, in this case, a customer’s fingerprint, can be placed directly onto any painted body part of a vehicle.

Direct printing makes it possible to produce designs that are not possible with conventional painting. In terms of look and feel, the new technology is clearly superior to film application. The operating principle is similar to that of an inkjet printer: using a print head, the paint is applied to three-dimensional components automatically and without overspray.

For those who’re concerned about privacy, there’s no need to worry says the German automaker. The biometric data is processed so as to make sure it cannot be used for an unauthorized purpose. The entire process takes place in direct communication with the customer, who has a complete overview of how their personal data is used and is also integrated in the creation process of their print graphic

Porsche says the service is now available at all Porsche Centres nationwide, but the entire process—from submission of the fingerprint to the competition of the printing job will be done by consultants straight from the Exclusive Manufaktur in Zuffenhausen, Germany. In the future, Porsche will be offering other designs as well.

The cost? Well, if you had to ask, individualizing your Porsche 911 with your very own fingerprint will cost 7,500 Euros or roughly P 416,000.

Porsche and Hyundai's Genesis Make the Best Vehicles

A week after J.D. Power released its vehicle dependability study, Consumer Reports did the same. This ranking is unique in that Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, pays for all the products it tests, and as a nonprofit organization, has no shareholders. These factors give weight to the products and services it recommends.

Consumer Report’s “brand report card” is based on an average of the overall score for each model they tested. A brand must have at least two models tested to be included. Their Overall Score is based on four key factors: road test, reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety.

The results closely mirror J.D. Power’s with Porsche and Hyundai’s Genesis division once again taking the top two spots. The top ranked brand last year, Subaru, fell to third mainly due to its below-average predicted reliability of the WRX. Mazda climbed two spots to fourth with all six models tested getting Consumer Report’s Recommended stamp. Lexus rounds up the Top 5 spots.

2020 Consumer Reports Brand Ranking (Overall Score):

1. Porsche (86)
2. Genesis (84)
3. Subaru (81)
4. Mazda (79)
5. Lexus (77)
6. Audi (77)
7. Hyundai (75)
8. BMW (75)
9. Kia (74)
10. Mini (74)
11. Tesla (73)
12. Toyota (73)
13. Lincoln (73)
14. Infiniti (73)
15. Honda (72)
16. Volkswagen (70)
17. Nissan (70)
18. Chrysler (69)
19. Buick (69)
20. Mercedes-Benz (69)
21. Dodge (68)
22. Volvo (67)
23. Ford (66)
24. Acura (66)
25. Chevrolet (61)
26. GMC (59)
27. Alfa Romeo (59)
28. Jaguar (57)
29. Cadillac (57)
30. Land Rover (50)
31. Jeep (49)
32. Mitsubishi (46)
33. Fiat (43)

In addition to the brand rankings, Consumer Reports also revealed their Top Picks. Selecting only from their list of Recommended Models, these Top Picks must come standard with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection. This is the first year they’ve required standard pedestrian detection to be eligible.

Here are Consumer Report’s Recommended Cars

• Under USD 25,000 Small Car: Toyota Corolla
• USD 25,000 to 35,000 Small SUV: Subaru Forester
• USD 25,000 to 35,000 Hybrid: Toyota Prius
• USD 25,000 to 35,000 Midsized Sedan: Subaru Legacy
• USD 35,000 to 45,000 Large Sedan: Toyota Avalon
• USD 35,000 to 45,000 Midsized, Three-Row SUV: Kia Telluride
• USD 35,000 to 45,000 Compact Pickup: Honda Ridgeline
• USD 45,000 to 55,000 Midsized SUV: Lexus RX
• USD 45,000 to 55,000 Sportscar: Toyota GR Supra
• USD 45,000 to 55,000 Electric Car: Tesla Model 3

This is How a Porsche Would Look Like in the Star Wars Universe

In a unique collaboration, designers from Porsche and Lucasfilm have come up with a fantasy starship that brings together the design DNA of both brands. The result is the Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter.

Developed over a period of two months, the project team worked together at their respective design studios in Weissach, Germany and San Francisco to create initial ideas and drafts before finally coming up with a concrete concept.

And while it will be presented as a detailed model measuring 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length at the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it won’t be in the film itself.

Regardless, Porsche says traditional cues in the Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter were clearly inspired by its sportscars including the compact layout and cabin shape.

Moving to the details, there are a number of features which are straight from the Porsche design stylebook. The front is reminiscent of the so-called ‘air curtains’ (air inlets) that go together with the headlights to create a single formal entity in the Taycan. In addition to the four-point daytime running light typical of Porsche, the so-called ‘blasters’ – long gun barrels at the front – are located at the tip. The rear grid with the louvres and integrated third brake light was inspired by the current 911 generation, and the rear section of the starship bears the brand’s hallmark light bar.

Porsche design criteria have been applied to the interior, too: the instruments in the cockpit are clearly aligned with the driver (pilot)’s axis, while the low seating position is reminiscent of the sporty ergonomics in the Porsche 918 Spyder.

Porsche says legal requirements can impose restrictions on creativity for its design people, and projects such as this collaboration with Lucasfilm offer them a new dimension of freedom.