"Each Person Has a Different Porsche That Suits Them"... Why Do They Travel the World with Dozens of Sports Cars?

"Making Sports Cars in Every Segment"
German Luxury Brand Porsche PWRS Event
Driving Over 30 Vehicles for Diverse Experiences
Touring 55 Countries... 640 Participants in 2 Weeks

An instructor group participating in the 'Porsche World Roadshow 2022' held last month at Yongin Speedway

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] "If you had to choose just one Porsche, you might think you'd pick the most expensive car or the one with the highest specs, but when you actually drive them, that's not the case. Everyone has their own idea of what the right car is."

This is how Admi Sharul, who participated as an instructor at the 'Porsche World Roadshow (PWRS)' held for about two weeks from mid-last month at Yongin Speedway, expressed it. He is a Malaysian-born racer and also holds an official Porsche instructor qualification.

Sharul grouped me and four others into a team and let us drive nearly 30 different Porsche models ourselves, then asked which car we liked best. All five of us chose different models. As if he expected this, he said, "Each model has distinct characteristics, so you can only choose after actually taking the wheel."

Models that can be driven or experienced firsthand at the 'Porsche World Roadshow 2022'. Some models have not yet been released in Korea.

Models that can be driven or experienced firsthand at the 'Porsche World Roadshow 2022.' Some models have not yet been released in Korea.

PWRS is an event where Porsche, which turns all its cars into sports cars, goes directly to major countries around the world to give those interested in Porsche a chance to experience the vehicles. Cars not released domestically are directly imported. The participation fee is 770,000 KRW. About 640 people attended this year's domestic event. It is an event directly hosted by the German headquarters, and so far, about 47,000 people from 55 countries worldwide have participated.

This year, four local instructors sent from Porsche headquarters and domestic instructors helped participants on-site with handling, braking, slalom, and circuit driving. The model that drew the most attention during the event was the pure electric Taycan GTS. It is a hot new car not yet introduced in Korea. The Taycan is Porsche's pure electric lineup, and this is the third model added after the Turbo and Turbo S.

Porsche Taycan, a pure electric vehicle in motion

Porsche Taycan GTS. This model, not yet released in Korea, was brought to the PWRS event but does not feature the panoramic roof with sunshine control.

As the name GTS suggests, it means a vehicle (Gran Turismo) suitable for long-distance travel with added dynamic performance (Sport). Despite its performance surpassing most sports cars, the space under the tailgate for luggage exceeds 1200 liters.

What differentiates it from the existing Taycan (Turbo and Turbo S) is the panoramic roof with an electronic liquid crystal film that allows brightness adjustment. It reduces glare without being dark and can be divided into nine zones with different brightness levels. The heat-blocking function is said to be better than regular glass.

Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo in motion. It features a wagon-style exterior designed with off-road driving in mind. It has not been released in Korea.

The launch control I experienced that day was also impressive. Thanks to the internal combustion engine that heats up slowly with a time lag and the electric motor that can deliver maximum power immediately from the start. Launch control operates by pressing the accelerator and brake simultaneously, then releasing the brake to shoot forward instantly. The Taycan GTS produces 598 horsepower at this moment and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. The feeling of your head and body being pushed back at launch is quite different from that of traditional internal combustion engine Porsches.

Porsche Panamera and Cayenne in motion. The 4-door models also demonstrate performance comparable to sports cars.

Porsche 911 Turbo S. It is the top model among the 911 series, which symbolizes the brand. It has 662 horsepower and reportedly takes 2.8 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h.

Although the 911 lineup, which easily exceeds 500 to 600 horsepower, and the Boxster, which turns as you wish, represent the Porsche brand, the models that have recently been sustaining the company are four-door or SUVs like the Macan, Cayenne, and Panamera. Porsche people call them 'Big cars.' At this event, there was also an opportunity to experience new or not yet domestically released models such as the new Cayenne S, Cayenne GTS, Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, and Macan GTS. After finishing the domestic event at the end of last month, the PWRS team’s next destination is Taiwan.