Aussies grab top Porsches

Australian Porsche enthusiasts have already signed on for a record number of the most expensive and fastest series production 911 to ever come Down Under.

With the first Australian-delivery Porsche 911 GT2s just revealed to the media yesterday and production slots for local right-hand models still to be finalized, Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) is already holding a record 31 orders on the $425,700 326km/h supercar.

Based on the 911 Turbo, the 997-Series GT2 is built in limited series production by the German sportscar company's racing division on the same line that produces the racetrack-ready 911 GT3, GT3-RS and Carrera Cup models. Production of the latest GT2 commenced early this year and will run through to the end of 2008 -- an 11-month period. PCA says approximately 700 GT2s will be produced for worldwide consumption.

Already the local company is holding 31 confirmed orders for the 390kW/680Nm twin-turbo 3.6-litre flat-six-powered machine. This is a significant percentage increase on the total of 27 996-Series GT2s delivered to Australian customers over the previous model's two production runs in 2001 and 2004.

PCA expects to sell between 35-40 of the MY-08 GT2s. The sales will be split between the overtly competition-oriented Clubsport variant and the 'standard' model, the company says.

In this case 'standard' is somewhat of a misnomer. The GT2 is by definition a racetrack-oriented model featuring semi-slick tyres, race-style carbon-shelled bucket seats, fully-adjustable suspension and ceramic composite brakes on both variants. By way of explanation, the Clubsport version also includes a bolt-in half-cage, onboard fire extinguisher, five-point race harnesses and a battery isolation switch as required in competition cars at no extra cost.

Local enthusiasts' penchant for the upper-level variants of the 911 is significantly stronger than overseas markets. In addition to the GT2 -- which costs more than double the standard 911 Carrera -- Aussie 911 shoppers have been quick to opt for the $300K-plus Turbo and GT3-RS models. The $250K-plus GT3 is also a favourite.

According to PCA's Sales and Marketing chief, Kevin Nichols, Australians are increasingly gravitating to top line 911s. Last year Porsche sold more than 520 911s Down Under and over 40 per cent of them were the 'premium' variants listed above.

"Australia has a remarkable percentage of high-end [911] models. At 42 per cent it's one of the highest in the world… There are one or two anomalies in other parts of the world, but in terms of a mature market that's one of the highest numbers," Nichols told the Carsales Network.

"Yes, it's [the choice of top-end models] related to model cycle -- GT3 and GT3-RS and those cars [GT2s] are here [in the model line-up] for a very short period of time -- but it does underline the situation of Porsche in this market as very much an enthusiast marque and those [special build] cars hit the bullseye," he explained.

It's true rather than manufactured demand that's driving the numbers, however, Nichols says.

"The other thing we want to point out is that we're not forcing sales. We want growth like all manufacturers, but we want profitable growth and we will try and balance demand and supply rather than build the [special order] cars and try and get rid of them by pushing them into the dealer network.

"This [strategy] fundamentally drives our resale values which for cars at the high end, which we do a lot of, is very important. Those [GT2/3 and Turbo] customers are as keen as all of us not to lose significant amounts of money on the resale of those cars. And that's [strong resale] what keeps them coming back in to keep trading through the 911s," Nichols said.

While media and prospective customers were able to sample one of the two MY-08 GT2s already in the country at Porsche's events at Sydney's Eastern Creek raceway this week, the driver's seat of the other was off limits. That car will front the starter at next month's Targa Tasmania tarmac rally with seven-time winner Jim Richards at the helm.

Look out for the Carsales Network's first local drive of the new GT2 and Cayenne GTS.