When Tom Cruise and the Porsche 928 were taking their star turn together in Risky Business, the star had to be taught how to use a clutch pedal for the driving shots. This is faintly ironic because the 928 was the original iconic automatic-transmission Porsche, designed to use a slushbox from the jump by Ernst Fuhrmann and intended to be a continent-cruiser grand-touring car instead of a wobbly-nosed air-cooled icon.
In the years since now and then, Porsche’s been a little short on star power; when the celebrity name most commonly associated with your brand is “Jerry Seinfeld”, there’s some work to be done. Roc Nation, the management company which methodically soaks every possible dime out of represents R&B superstar Rihanna, did their part to reverse the trend this week.
“Turbo on dat a$$,All I see is signs, all I see is dolla $ign$.” That’s what the lady said about her new ride. We don’t actually know it’s a PDK, but that’s probably a safe guess. In our brief time driving a similar car we were massively impressed by both the power delivery of the tuned-up turbomotor and the seamless shove provided by the PDK. Miss Rihanna will no doubt feel the same way, right up until the point she hits a telephone pole harder than (insert completely uncalled-for joke about “Breezy” here).
All jokes aside, this gift is kind of a big deal and it’s nice to see. Porsche needs some star credibility and the 911 itself could benefit from association with people other than disaffected 41-year-old suburban jerks. With any luck, the car will appear at a few red-carpet benefits. A word of caution to the new owner, however; don’t wear a skirt getting out of the thing. Or, if you do, let me know when and where.
right up until the point she hits a telephone pole harder than…
Stefan Eriksson?
A word of caution to the new owner, however; don’t wear a skirt getting out of the thing. Or, if you do, let me know when and where.
So that our tame racing driver can gallantly throw himself in the path of the paparazzi and defend her modesty.
…defend “what’s left of” her modesty.
!!!
“We don’t actually know it’s a PDK”
In Europe (but i would bet it’s the same in the US) the Turbo S isn’t available with a manual, even as an optional extra.
Reminds me when Britney Spears flashed her bare lady parts, and my buddy at work commented that she didn’t shave it, no, she wore that fur off! Ouch baby! Thankfully she’s doing better these days.
Who or what is Rihanna?
You’re not missing anything.
I did not khow who Rihanna was either. The current celeb market is too fragmented. I’m trying to imagine one entertainment figure who would advertise a car for me, and all I’m coming up with is Karen Iwata. Bet nobody else on TTAC knows who she is too.
P.S. I know who Snoop Dogg is: the guy who took a stand against entertainment mafi and their fascist DRM regime. But I don’t know what he looks like!
She’s the one who got beat-up by the dude how tossed a chair through a window at the ‘Good Morning America’ studio.
If either one of them is famous for anything else, it’s news to me.
>>the dude how tossed a chair through a window
Are you talking about Steve Ballmer? And was it Windows Vista?
Isn’t that some sort of new vegetable?
Yeah, 0bama used to buy it at Whole Foods and bitch about the price.
Chris Brown’s punching bag.
Rihanna is a singer of R&B Pop and dance music. Since this a car site, her most relevant song is probably “Shut Up and Drive”.
Wow. You’re 41 already, Jack? Damn.
“Porsche needs some star credibility and the 911 itself could benefit from association with people other than disaffected 41-year-old suburban jerks.”
Epecially since all those kind of people do is whine about the resale value of their two generation old Boxsters being impacted by potential IMS failure. Not buy new Porsches. Or at least that’s what I hear.
Anyway, in honor of the automaker that the Porsches knocked off for the Beetle, 356 and 911, here is Kanye West driving a rare Tatra (starts at 0:40): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg5wkZ-dJXA
Oh, SNAP!
Money culture, boi
Who cares about any of this? And what’s wrong with Jerry Seinfeld? I’d rather have a brand associated with a genius comedian than this Rihanna nonsense.
I’m 20 and more of my peers watch re-runs of Seinfeld than listen to Rihanna. For what its worth….
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
The 991 is festooned with synthetic feedback electric steering, software to brake the inside tire as you turn in, thus helping you feel like Da Man, PDK, ABS, and traction controls to make you look better than you really are.
Rihanna is the perfect choice. Is it time for the sex now?
Y’all forget. Any expensive European ride will have a high douchebag/badge whore to appreciative drivers ratio. This site is filled with appreciative drivers.