Thursday 30th October 2008

911 Turbo ‘knock-offs’

New wheels for Turbo based on RS Spyder

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For God's sake don't kerb them!

Porsche will offer these uber-cool centre-locking alloy wheels for the 911 Turbo from January next year, in a design that’s based on the wheels from the RS Spyder LMP2 racer.

Instead of large chrome spinners like the ones on your old MGB, the factory says its new 911 ‘knock-offs’ will come with an innovative security mechanism on the wheel bearing, made up of a cartridge fitted in the wheel hub with spring mounted security bolts.

The bolts are expoxy-911 Turboplated in a titanium finish, and topped off by a set of Porsche badges.

This homage to the RS Spyder won’t come cheap for new 911 buyers, with a retail price announced in Germany of €3,510. Although, frankly, we think they’re destined to become a ‘must have’ option for the Turbo brigade.

[willcrookz]

If I was going to get a 911 turbo (which I would if I could afford it!) then i'd get those wheels!

[Essex Exile]

They should be standard, even if they put the price up by 3000 euros

[AbarthChris]

What the heck is epoxy-911 turboplating??

[Droptheclutch]

I like the look of them, however, what is the overall advantage of fitting them going to be, for a 911 Turbo that's driven on the roads, day in, day out?

[Mark-C]

Old Hat .... the RS Spyders have been running low drag wheels recently

[S1MMA]

kind of limits you to OPC tyre changes also, I don't think most places will have the attachment for taking the nut off.

Mildly boring point, but I thought i'd mention it all the same. As you were...

[aerospoke]

On the picture you can that there is just a plastic ring fixed with cableties to the discussed wheels!

Cheers Jens

[New Scot]

AbarthChris said:

What the heck is epoxy-911 turboplating??

It's either late for 01 April this year or early for next? Else perhaps it's a story intended to defuse the "We bought VW and upset the hedgefunders who are our best customers" news?

[james21]

I like the idea, it really cleans up the look of the wheel. I hope the idea filters down into more affordable cars. Also in response to S1MMA, the attachment tool to remove the wheel is in the picture!!!! Even Porsche aren't cruel enough to leave you unable to remove your own wheels in an emergency.

Edited by james21 on Thursday 30th October 16:20

Edited by james21 on Thursday 30th October 16:20

[don logan]

Mark-C said:

Old Hat .... the RS Spyders have been running low drag wheels recently

THEY are HORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
suddenly the new offering doesn`t seem so exciting!

[S1MMA]

james21 said:

I like the idea, it really cleans up the look of the wheel. I hope the idea filters down into more affordable cars. Also in response to S1MMA, the attachment tool to remove the wheel is in the picture!!!! Even Porsche aren't cruel enough to leave you unable to remove your own wheels in an emergency.

Edited by james21 on Thursday 30th October 16:20

Edited by james21 on Thursday 30th October 16:20

Oh yes, so it is. Suppose that would work! I'll jump back under my desk now.

[98C4S]

I hope they are 20" - they would fill the arches perfectly..

[bruh_la]

Mark-C said:

Old Hat .... the RS Spyders have been running low drag wheels recently

What make of wheel is that? i see they have been running the car with this wheel without the aero bit but i cannot seem to find out who makes it...anyone know?

[adt310]

The are BBS Competition Magnesium wheels. The wheels on the competition car are different to the ones
that will be offered to the road going Porsche.

[Thom]

Does this new gadget actually save weight ?

[tr7v8]

Dodgy typo as well it's spelt epoxy NOT expoxy!

[Roop]

Tidy.

I always though that you couldn't run single fixing wheels on a road car though...? Perhaps something about having a minimum number of nuts/bolts holding the wheels on...?

If it's legal, then I'll chuck a set of Gp.A Centerlock BBS's on my five-hundred...

[hugoagogo]

nice, but shame the actual spoke design is the exact same as a million sets of cheap alloys fitted to every boy racer's golf, corsa, fiesta, peugeot, renault in europe

[ultegra]

So Porsche have taken a leaf out of Nissan's book and decided to fit some Unobtainium to their cars to lock owners into the OPCs in the same way as GTR owners can only get their tyres filled with special gas at the Datsun garage?

Can't see these being popular with anyone who might want to go to a trackday/swap to a second set of wheels/buy tyres at Micheldever etc....

Edited by ultegra on Friday 31st October 11:13

[Ranger 6]

[pedantmode]

They stop being called Knock-Offs when the 'ears' were taken of and they became known as Centre Lock wheels.

[/pedantmode]

I think they look superb!