When they want to buy a new car, many people consult car magazines, take test drives and compare models before coming to a final decision. For others, the name of an automotive legend is all they need. Lawyer Amélie Leperre-Dimeglio, financial manager Wang Yin and legendary surfer Robby Naish belong to the latter group. They ordered their new Porsche 911 “on spec”. And waited eagerly for their “blind dates” in Paris, Hawaii and Shanghai.
PARIS – CENTRE PORSCHE PARIS, 17 RUE GROS
She had only caught a fleeting glimpse of it from a distance – in the Centre Porsche in Paris, following its world premiere in September 2011. But the round, transparent headlights and the unmistakable silhouette of the new Porsche 9111 had left her wanting more. From then on, she could hardly wait till they met again.
DRIVING THE NEW CAR ALONG THE SEINE –
Lawyer Amélie Leperre-Dimeglio in Paris:
“I associate Porsche with a great
sports car tradition.”
Same place, three months later. Amélie Leperre-Dimeglio has a rendezvous at Porsche in the 16th arrondissement, where her new, bright red 911 Carrera S2 is waiting for her. “Wow, it’s beautiful”, she can’t help but say. A successful lawyer and notary, Amélie Leperre-Dimeglio bought the sports car as a birthday present for herself: “40 is the perfect age to drive a Porsche”, she says. Now in its seventh generation, the new 911 comes in two engine versions: As a 911 Carrera3 with a 350 PS 3.4-liter engine and as a Carrera S with an output of 400 PS from a cubic capacity of 3.8 liters. Thanks to its efficient drives, lightweight design and fuel-saving innovations such as the start/stop function, fuel consumption is around a fifth below that of the previous model. When it comes to CO2 emissions, the new 911 tops the table in the sports car segment with under 200 grams per kilometer.
“The fact that I am willing to order a car without knowing what it’s like to drive it has everything to do with this brand. I associate Porsche with a great sports car tradition.” Now that the 911 is within reach, Leperre-Dimeglio wants to take it on the road. “I like listening to loud music and driving fast.” The first thing she reaches for in her new car is the Bose stereo system; the second is the Sport Plus button in the center console. Driving along the Seine, she explains why she has opted for the new Porsche. “The 911 is the car of my dreams, because it’s more than just a sports car. It packs a powerful punch but is still the height of elegance. Sporty, but still suitable for everyday life.” Amélie Leperre-Dimeglio savors every inch of the road and says happily: “From now on, it will be my constant companion.”
HAWAII – NAISH HAWAII LTD., 155A HAMAKUA DRIVE, KAILUA
The unadulterated pleasure of driving a 911 is something that the Paris-based lawyer shares with surfing legend Robby Naish. The 48-year-old, who won his first World Surfing Championship title at the tender age of 13, now lives on the island of Maui in the Pacific Ocean. A corner of the earth where wind and water hold sway, it offers the perfect surroundings for the “Lord of the Boards”. However, he does have another great passion: cars. As you might expect from someone who calls himself a car guy, he is impatiently waiting for his new 911 Carrera S in Kailua, Hawaii.
LOVES THE SEA, WAVES AND CARS –
Surfing legend Robby Naish: “Porsche has
a lot to do with passion.”
The silver-gray classic sports car will be the third Porsche in Naish’s garage, along with a Panamera and a Cayenne. “Silver brings out the best in the car’s lines”, he enthuses as soon as he sets eyes on the new 911. Together with the extended wheelbase – 100 millimeters longer than the previous model – the wider tire tread and the flatter roof contour give the sports car a more solid roadholding feel. Connoisseur Naish appreciates that.
His gaze travels over details like the elegantly designed door mirrors and the strikingly slim tail lights. Only then does he open the door, touch the leather of the interior door trim and swing himself into the driver’s seat. He engages first gear in his 911’s seven-speed gearbox, starts the engine and sets the wheels in motion. “The sound of the engine alone – perfection.”
And then the man known for surfing the waves at speeds of over 80 km/h demonstrates that he is also an exceptional driver. “Porsche has a lot to do with passion”, says Naish as he expertly steers the 911 around the bends. On the coast road overlooking the vast ocean, he glides along leisurely, savoring the sound of the engine, the sun and the view: “For me, the 911 is not about driving fast – it’s all about the feeling.”
