Porsche Gives Los Angeles an Early Christmas Gift
Just in time for the holidays, Porsche has given Los Angeles automotive enthusiasts the ultimate gift — the Porsche Experience Center (PEC). This has been a long time coming, as Driving Line first reported on the center almost two years ago.
Nestled right against the 405 freeway at Main St. in the city of Carson, the PEC is a 53 acre Disneyland of sorts as mentioned in the previous feature.
With a built in track which includes it’s own homage to the Nürburgring Carousel along with a wet skid pad and off road sections to showoff the Cayenne and Macan’s capabilities, the PEC has something for every type of vehicle Porsche offers.
Just look at all of the track options you can choose from:
- Dynamics Area: Test the speed, agility and lane-change performance on a large asphalt pad designed to simulate unique maneuvers you may encounter during your daily driving
- Handling Circuit: Designed not as a race track but as a challenging country road. Using the contours of the land we have created a flowing series of corners and undulations that all offer very different challenges for both car and driver.
- Kick Plate: A computer-controlled hydraulic plate set flush to the road surface is designed to induce loss of rear wheel traction, putting the car into a skid or spin.
- Ice Hill: A 7% slope, computer-controlled water jets and a low friction surface. A combination which provides a unique and challenging scenario to test even the most experienced of drivers.
- Low Friction Circle: Consists of highly polished concrete on a wet surface that in turn creates an ideal environment to provoke, correct and hold oversteer all at speeds which enable you to build an understanding of car dynamics.
- Low Friction Handling Course: Consists of a polished concrete surface with many curves to provide a situation where a vehicle can be placed in a oversteer condition.
- Off Road Course: Designed to show how the technical systems on how the Porsche Cayenne works in off-road conditions. Offering 40 degree declines and ascents, rough terrain and unfeasible side slopes name just a few obstacles.
- Acceleration Straight: provides a safe and controlled environment to fully explore how a Porsche accelerates using launch control with an added twist. Near the end of the nearly 3/4 mile straight, a replica of the Karussell (Carousel), the famous banked curve on the Nordschleife (North Loop) of the Nürburgring, is awaiting for your enthralling g-force experience.
This is not an open track, so you are to limited driving vehicles provided by Porsche, which is understandable for liability reasons, but it is still somewhat of a disappointment if you’re looking to drive your personal Porsche at the limit.
That’s not to say the cars they have on-tap aren’t suitable to push your skills to the limit. First you choose from 6 different Porsche Models: 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, Macan and Panamera to drive. Then choose a specific course or challenge to work on. For example, they have a "Master the Manual" course with a Carrera S and a Cayman GT4 that includes the Dynamic Area, Handling Circuit, Low-Friction Circle, Low-Friction Handling Circuit and Kick Plate courses.
Along with all the track fun, the PEC is also a complete venue, which includes an onsite restaurant, a gift store, breakfast café and vehicle museum. Restaurant 917, named after one of their most successful race cars, is on the second floor, which overlooks the track and specializes in farm to table food.
Their Porsche branded gift store is between the lobby and café, a nice stop before you enter onto the track. The business center and event venue — with board rooms and the capabilities to host corporate events is sure to be a draw for those looking to entertain potential clients with a taste for Porsche’s or speed.
The open lobby area is an incredible place to see the heritage of Porsche, with some of it’s earliest offerings to the latest. Everything from a Gruppe B Porsche 959 to full 917 Race cars behind class is accessible.
There is a constant rotation of cars that come through — similar to the homebase Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
There was discussion about the PEC being a delivery spot for new Porsche owners, but at this time they do not have that capability. All vehicle deliveries will take place through their current dealer network.
Hopefully, we’ve all been a good boys and girls this year, because a visit to the Porsche Experience Center is definitely on our wish list!
