Porsche Roadshow: A Spin With The World's Finest German Cars

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MANILA, Philippines — Some people say they can live an entire lifetime in a few minutes.

This was quite true when I participated in the Porsche Roadshow event at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga last Feb. 8.

Twenty-two Porsches were available for testing at a twisty race track for only six hours. Considering that there were at least 30 selected motoring journalists invited to the event, plus other time-consuming program sidelines such as opening ceremony, meal breaks and course briefing, we only experienced actual track time per vehicle for only a few minutes.

While writing this piece, I remembered driving an array of the finest road machines ever built on earth. It was so vivid in my mind how I pushed the Porsche to its limit.

Organized by PGA Cars, 22 latest model Porsches were flown in the country from Germany for the 2012 Porsche World Roadshow. Supervised by a group of Porsche instructors led by Patrick Freisacher, former Formula One driver (Minardi Team in 2005), the event allowed Porsche customers to learn, feel and experience driving the latest models of the German sports breed that showcased the latest high-performance driving technology and safety.

PGA Cars also took the opportunity to launch the new Type 991 that boasts of more high-tech improvements from the 997.

PGA Cars Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr arrived at the rack track on board a helicopter looking fresh and relaxed while his son, Roberto Coyiuto III, head of Porsche Center Philippines, soon followed to both witness how the Porsches amaze the journalists on their road handling prowess.

On the other hand, I felt an anxiety attack when I first gripped the steering wheel of a Porsche Carrera 4S on Handling 1 Course. Normally, it would take me several days to accustom myself on the switches and knobs elaborately located on the steering wheel, center console box and dashboard of a Carrera.

One exciting feature that impressed me most was the optional PDK or the Porsche Doppelkupplung technology that totally eradicated interruption in power when shifting in either automatic or manual mode.

Press or depress the “sport” mode button and you will instantly feel the difference in suspension, braking and even exhaust system set up. There, I also found the button that can raise or lower the rear spoiler.

Paired with Neil Pagulayan of 99.5 RT, we hopped from one Carrera variant to another as if there’s no tomorrow, attacking every corner like road savages pursuing our best lap time. Two laps per car, we also subjected to abuse the Carrera 4S, Targa and my favorite, the white Carrera GT3.

Porsche instructors were strict and did not allow us to deactivate the PSM (Porsche Stability Management) button. A standard feature, PSM is an automatic control system that keeps the vehicle stable even on extreme driving condition. It is also serves as the “divine intervention” that kept the Porsche to stay on the road, away from the concrete barriers and face the right direction despite all of our driving errors.

From racing mode, we shifted to economy driving on board a Panamera Hybrid on the backroads of Clark. Long, Luxurious and less fuel consuming, the Panamera Hybrid (powered by gas-electric drive system for utmost fuel efficiency) was not entirely outshone by the Panamera S and Turbo variants in terms of superb road handling performance.

Also along Clark’s roads, I had a five-minute drive with a sexy green Turbo Cabriolet which I longed for during Valentine’s Day. 

Although Porsches are perceived to thrive better on tracks and well-paved roads, it was a surprising feat to be able to maneuver a fleet of Porsche Cayanne on off-roads, including a treacherous 45-degree hill descent. Engaging the Hill Descent Control allowed me to let go of my foot from the brake pedal and leave the Cayenne do a downward crawl by itself on a safe 3kph speed.

Aside from this, the Cayenne also exemplified its superiority on off-road by bailing out itself from a deep sand ditch with the advance Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system. Even with only two tires from which ever side left on contact with the ground, the PTM detects which wheel should be accorded power to enable the vehicle to crawl out of the situation.

The last part of the event was the slalom competition involving the new Boxster Spyder.

Lapping between 18-19 seconds average time, we were given three chances to push the sleek Spyder hard on the course at the same time, evading pylons that were equivalent to minus points.

And even before I can determine which is faster between manual or automatic gear mode, the slalom event was over.