New Porsche Boxster and 911 To Be Featured on Detroit Auto Show Broadcast

Nationally televised two-hour NBC Sports special will for the first time bring the 2005 North American International Auto Show to America's Living Rooms

ATLANTA, Jan. 18 -- NBC Sports' two-hour telecast from Detroit's famous North American International Auto Show (The International Auto Show, 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005) will give viewers a first-hand look at the world car culture and Porsche's all-new 2005 Boxster roadster and 2005 911 sports car through the eyes and ears of the network's NASCAR broadcast team.

Bill Weber, Allen Bestwick, and Benny Parsons will handle the show commentary with live political convention-style coverage from the show floor, while reporters Dave Burns and Marty Snyder will provide in-depth reports on the latest production and concept cars. Both Porsche sports cars are expected to be showcased in a test-drive segment at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., home of the Porsche Driving Experience ( http://www.porschedriving.com/ ). The Porsche test-drive segment is one of seven featuring various models, and the two-hour special will include coverage of up to 50 vehicles.

The show will include a closer look at the second generation of Porsche's Boxster sports car line that includes the 240-horsepower (SAE) Boxster and 280-horsepower (SAE) Boxster S. Both come with even stronger brakes, the latest computerized vehicle-control and performance-enhancing technologies, and they are the first roadsters equipped with standard head-protecting side airbags.

Viewers also will see the newest generation of the iconic 911 model line, including the 2005 911 Carrera Cabriolet and 911 Carrera S Cabriolet models that made their world debut at the Detroit show. Just like their coupe brethren -- the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S -- these open-air models offer greater performance and enhanced safety over the previous 911 models. The 911 Carrera Cabriolet has a 3.6-liter flat six-cylinder engine with 325 horsepower (SAE), while the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet draws on a 3.8-liter flat six that provides 355 horsepower (SAE). Both models feature six airbags, including head-protecting airbags that deploy from the doorsills, as standard equipment.

Finally, four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon and 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch will be behind the wheel in some of the above-mentioned test-drive segments.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 204 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.