Weekly Porsche Wrap

Porsche Design Studio sales are UP – In a time when we’re in some of the worst financial shape our country, and potentially our world, has ever seen, we have these interesting anomalies. They’re reporting that sales are up by more than 170% over the past two years. Interestingly, this was reported BEFORE the holiday season. They’re hoping to expand from 84 stores to more than 100 worldwide in the near feature. Recession? What recession?! [Via core77.com]

No hybrids on the horizon for Porsche – This was again confirmed by Michael Macht recently. He mentioned it was technically possible, but not part of the plan. Porsche doesn’t see real benefits for the added weight of the hybrid given that it’s mostly city driving where a hybrid really shines, which they believe really isn’t the style of driving a typical Porsche owner will do. Of course an electric Porsche is still on the road map, although probably not for a while. [Via CarThrottle.com]

3-Cylinder Porsche Boxster a possibility – I was a bit stunned to read this last week. It seems that Porsche, in an effort to comply with reduced emissions and stricter fuel economy, is considering a turbocharged, 3-cylinder version of it’s engine for the Boxster. It’s anticipated the engine could still produce 180 hp to 200 hp in this setup. I don’t know why, but a 3-cylinder Porsche just seems like, well, half a car. If the engine performs like we have come to expect from Porsche, then I suppose it shouldn’t make a difference. Will be interesting to see what they end up producing. [Via AutoGuide.com]

Porsche 911 GT3 RS roll cage crushed – Yep, you read that right. It seems that the driver of a 911 GT3 RS was able to destroy his roll cage by hitting a pole, then bouncing off of it into a wall. I’m not sure what came of the driver, but that’d be one heck of a crash. This was in Korea and the car was a 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. [Via WreckedExotics.com]