Special Equipment: Perfecting Your Porsche

Paul Meyers

10/01/2006

In the name of style, performance, and innovation, some Porschephiles are forsaking the traditional Porsche crest in favor of the newfangled TechArt logo. "It’s really a love-hate relationship," says Mark Carrillo of CEC, TechArt’s official North American importer. "Some people within Porsche see us as a competitor, but the reality is that owners are happier with a customized vehicle."

TechArt, headquartered in the heart of Porsche country in Leonberg, Germany—a modest suburb halfway between Weissach and Stuttgart—has been modifying Porsche automobiles since 1987, producing designs fit for both the showroom and the racetrack. With an array of tuning options from the Cayman to the Cayenne, TechArt ensures that each vehicle showcases individuality and exclusivity. "We give our customers the choice of style or performance alterations, and in most cases they opt for both," says Carrillo. (Click image to enlarge)

The TechArt Magnum widebody design, for example, reshapes the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The most significant exterior changes include the Gun Smoke package, which offers a new metal-finish coating, a three-piece front grille, and an aero front hood with air ducts that cool a 600 hp twin-turbo V-8 engine (an upgrade of 150 hp). And though power output is up, exhaust system modifications actually make for a quieter ride. A revamped brake system reigns in the added power, and handling has been improved by virtue of shorter springs. On the interior, sleek carbon-fiber additions take the place of plastic on the dashboard and steering wheel.

As Carrillo explains, "Before we begin on a concept design we ask ourselves: ‘Where did Porsche have to compromise in order to sell this car around the world?’ And then we refine the car by bending those compromises, satisfying the needs of the individual driver." Depending on the options selected, customization can take from three days to two weeks.

CEC, 310.203.3900, www.cecwheels.com