9ff

The Porsche 997 has turned into the platform of choice for tuners looking to transform mere sports cars into tire vaporizing hypercars capable of rivaling stalwarts like the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCX. Maybe it's the bullet-proof engine or the inherent aerodynamic efficiencies, but a host of German and domestic mod shops have been cranking out some amazing performance from this platform. Ruf, Gemballa and Switzer all have proven packages with stratospheric specs, but 9ff has time and time again brought some game-changing fighters to the Porsche wars.

The company's latest offering, the 9ff GTurbo is based on the Porsche 911 GT3 or the hardcore GT3 RS and offers 3 level of performance - 750 hp, 850 hp or a whopping 1,000 hp. With this much additional power being delivered, 9ff has crafted a special aero kit which includes a new front apron with LED indicators, side skirts and a rear apron (with variations for the center mounted GT3 and GT3RS and a left/right configuration for the other 997s). Special vents in the rear fenders deliver air to the intercooler while outlets in the front fender reduce wheel well pressure at speed.

The number of insanely-fast, custom-tuned Porsche supercars this year has been as numerous as the drops in a rainstorm. Every month either the top companies put out an updated model or a new challenger steps into the ring. Each time the cars get a little better looking, a little bit faster, and a little more expensive. One of biggest names this year has been 9ff, offering custom versions of nearly every Porsche model.

While its cool when a shop adds 50hp to a Cayman S, it's like watching fly-weight boxing. Sure they're nimble, and hit fairly hard, but it just tides you over until the next Tyson fight. For tuners, the thrill happens when they create that “let's see what you can really do” model. This is 9ff's, the TR-1000. Oh, did I mention it goes 243mph (392km/h)? (See the videos after the jump.)

The Essen Motor Show always presents a plethora of European tuner cars. It's like SEMA, but mostly showcasing tricked out rides from Porsche, BMW, Audi and Mercedes instead of Camaros and Mustangs. 9ff always has something pretty wild for this event and this year will be introducing the Speed9. This fresh speedster takes its inspiration from the legendary 356/1500S Speedster from 1955 and will be the second complete vehicle offered by this German tuner.

Based on the Porsche 997 Turbo Cabrio, the 3.6-liter twin-turbo flat six engine was boosted from 473hp up to 650hp. The increase in horsepower comes by way of a tweaked ECU, new air intake, exhaust system and catalytic converter.  The tiptronic gearbox is controlled via integrated paddle-shifters. Handling gets improved through the use of adjustable stabilizer bars mouted in front and back along with double spings and aluminum spring plates. There is also a full brake system upgrade with new 380mm compound discs, 6-piston calipers and 9ff pads.

It was only a matter of time before the venerable world of Porsche tuners descended on the new 2010 Panamera. Two German mod shops that are world class, Gemballa and 9ff, are first out of the gate to take a stab at the new super sedan. Neither company has released full details or actual photos but we do have some preliminary information and artistic renderings.