What is Alcantara and How Do I Clean It?

Alcantara Trim on Porsche GT3

For the past few years Porsche has offered Alcantara as an upgraded seating surface, steering wheel covering and headliner material but many people do not know what Alcantara really is.

The appearance and tactile feel of the material is similar to that of suede, and it may be incorrectly identified as such, or as "Alcantara leather", on occasion. The truth is, Alcantara is a composite material composed of 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. It is this mixture of materials that gives Alcantara its increased durability and stain resistance. There are currently three versions of Alcantara available: cover (made for seating surfaces); panel (made for door/dash applications); and soft (made for headliners).


The material was developed in the 1970s by Miyoshi Okamoto, a scientist working for the Japanese chemical company Toray. In 1972, a joint venture between Italian chemical company ENI and Toray formed Alcantara SpA in order to manufacture and distribute the material.
Alcantara has the luxurious look and feel of fine Italian lamb suede. It is soft to the touch and makes a beautiful compliment to leathers used by Porsche. When used as seat covering inserts the Alcantara provides a unique "grip" when making tight cornering maneuvers.
Care and maintenance for Alcantara is quite simple.
Daily cleaning
It is sufficient to dust Alcantara using a soft brush, a dry cloth, or a vacuum cleaner.
Weekly cleaning
After having dusted Alcantara, run a slightly moistened white cotton cloth over it. Avoid the use of printed absorbent cloths/papers as they can release ink onto the material.
Yearly cleaning
Dust the material with care; moisten a soft cloth or a sponge in clean water, wring it thoroughly and run it over the whole Alcantara material, making sure not to wet it excessively; rinse the cloth or sponge and repeat as necessary. Leave to dry (overnight). Once dried, in order to restore the material, brush it delicately with a soft bristle brush.
General instructions for stains removal
In the case of localized stains, and when the specific products for the cleaning of Alcantara are not available, (a list of such products is available on the web-site www.alcantara.com), the upholstery can be cleaned as follows:

• Act immediately (within 30 minutes) and begin treating the stain from the outside edge into the center in order to avoid the stain spreading.
• Never pour a cleaning product directly onto Alcantara.
• Before removing the stain, remove any of the substance that has fallen on the upholstery: if it’s thick (yogurt, jam, etc.) use a spoon or a plastic spatula; for liquids, use non printed absorbent paper or a sponge.
• Avoid rubbing to prevent the stain from spreading or going deep into the material.
• Use a white cloth or a well wrung sponge for the removal of the stains.
• If you use a sponge, rinse it in clean water and wring it well between each wipe.

For the specific treatment of the different types of stains and the relative materials that should be used, follow the instructions listed on Alcantara's web site. Care Instructions PDF

Beverly Hills Porsche stocks a variety of Porsche cars and SUVs fitted with Alcantara interiors. We invite you to visit our showroom and experience this versatile an luxurious material for yourself.

Beverly Hills Porsche is an authorized factory dealership of Porsche cars, SUVs, accessories, parts and merchandise. Centrally located to all of Los Angeles, we aim to be a complete lifestyle destination for all Porsche owners and fans!

Visit us on-line at www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com

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Beverly Hills Porsche
8425 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211 

Beverly Hills Porsche Presents,The Porsche Panamera

An entirely new branch on the family tree.

Porsche. It is not just a brand name. It is a family name. A family made up of some of the finest sports cars ever created. But, Porsche is also a family of owners, collectors, racers, enthusiasts and fans. A family of anyone who lives for the joy of driving.

And now, Porsche is welcoming a new addition: The Panamera. The first uncompromised sports car built from the ground up to be shared by four people. A continuation of an idea that began over 60 years ago.

We invite you to explore the Panamera and the rest of the Porsche family on our exciting website www.panamera.com. There, you can read the personal stories of Porsche owners and fans on our Family Tree, as well as have the opportunity to tell your own Porsche story.

The new Panamera.
Four, uncompromised.®

To experience the Porsche Difference visit Beverly Hills Porsche at

8425 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

310.557.2472

Beverly Hills Porsche is an authorized factory dealership of Porsche cars, SUVs, accessories, parts and merchandise. Centrally located to all of Los Angeles, we aim to be a complete lifestyle destination for all Porsche owners and fans! Visit us on-line at www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com

Follow Beverly Hills Porsche on twitter @BevHillsPorsche

Ferry Porsche's 100th Birthday

The Management and Staff of Beverly Hills Porsche take a day to celebrate the 100th Birthday of Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche also know as Ferry Porsche.

The successful story of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, would be inconceivable without the lifetime achievement of Ferry Porsche. For it was under his guidance that the engineering office established by his father Ferdinand Porsche became an independent car manufacturer presenting the first sports car to bear the name Porsche in 1948 – Porsche Type 356.

“At the beginning I looked around, but I could not find the car I was dreaming of. So I decided to build it myself.” Building the first Porsche 356 and, later, the Porsche 911, Ferry Porsche consistently lived out his dream of “driving in its most beautiful form”.

With a precise feeling for each and every detail, he set the foundation for the Porsche. As the Managing Director and Chairman of the Supervisory Board he shaped the destiny of the Porsche Company for five long decades. In particular, it was his achievement as a visionary and an outstanding entrepreneur to make Porsche the world’s leading manufacturer of sports cars.

When Ferry Porsche passed away on 27 March 1998 – the same year the last air-cooled 911 left the production line – he left the world as one of the last great automobile men. His lifetime of achievement earned a him a position in the European Automotive Hall of Fame. “If you manage to create something that withstands time,” he once said, referring to the design of the company’s sports cars, “something that remains untouched by the eccentricities of a particular age – something timeless, in other words – that is the greatest achievement.”

On 19 September 2009 Ferry Porsche would be celebrating his 100th birthday. Among other notable activities, the Porsche Museum will be releasing a new book, Ferry Porsche 100 Years to mark the occasion.

To experience the Porsche Difference visit Beverly Hills Porsche at 8425 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills Porsche is an authorized factory dealership of Porsche cars, SUVs, accessories, parts and merchandise. Centrally located to all of Los Angeles, we aim to be a complete lifestyle destination for all Porsche owners and fans! Visit us on-line at www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com

Beverly Hills Porsche #1 In the USA!

Beverly Hills Porsche Number One in Sales for August 2009

It’s only been a couple of months since Rick Nanas took over the reigns as General Sales Manager at Beverly Hills Porsche and already they’ve grabbed the sales volume title. Beverly Hills sold more new cars for the month of August than any other Porsche dealer in the country. Rick has challenged his staff to do it again in September.

Rick’s take on the sudden spike in sales, “There’s been a lot of pent up buyer frustration over the last few months and we finally found the pressure release valve.” When economy blues meet endless days of sunshine in one of America’s most recognized shopping destinations something’s gotta give. Rick continues, “People still come to Beverly Hills with shopping and buying on the brain. We’ve just enlightened them to the fact that driving a new Porsche can be one of the best forms of ‘retail therapy’. For some of our clients it’s not really a financial decision, it’s more of state of mind. They somehow think they need to participate in the lagging economy by cutting back and denying themselves. We help them get over that during the test drive.”

Thanks to the Cash for Clunkers program, the automotive industry’s entry and mid priced car lines have seen a bit of relief. But the real question is what’s in store for the high line market? A new Porsche client said he was finally ready to take the plunge when he started to notice new cars appearing in the employee parking lot of his Downtown Los Angeles business. Will that be enough for others in the high end market to justify showing up to the office in a new car too? Who’s to say but one thing is apparent, ten plus years of reward based spending habits just don’t change over night. The successful still want to reward them selves for a job well done and there are plenty of great deals out there.

As far as Beverly Hills Porsche’s participation in the grand scheme of economic recovery Rick says, “We’ve opted out of the recession and will continue to do business as usual.”

To experience the Porsche Difference visit Beverly Hills Porsche at 8425 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills Porsche is an authorized factory dealership of Porsche cars, SUVs, accessories, parts and merchandise. Centrally located to all of Los Angeles, we aim to be a complete lifestyle destination for all Porsche owners and fans! Visit us on-line at www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com

Porsche Panamera is coming to Beverly Hills Porsche

The revolutionary 2010 Porsche Panamera is coming to Beverly Hills Porsche this October!

The Panamera is an amazing four door Gran Turismo that elicits million dollar quotes from those fortunate enough to have driven it. In a recent video test drive by Edmunds.com, Senior Road Test Editor, Josh Jacquat can be heard saying, “Man this thing rips!” just as he punches the throttle of the 500bhp twin turbo V8 version in an Autobahn passing maneuver.




It seems clear that once you’ve driven the Porsche Panamera you’re sold.

Even Robby Naish 24-time world champion and wind-surfing legend extraordinaire was blown away by the Panamera in his recent trip to the Porsche research and development center in Weissach. On the test grounds, Naish made a few swift rounds accompanied by Porsche engineers. Of course, his visit also dealt with the topic of wind surfing and aerodynamics: In the development center, Naish discussed the possibilities of improving surfboards and sails by means of trials in the wind tunnel but the conversations kept coming back around to, you guessed it, the Panamera!

Initially, all Panameras will be available with two V8 engine options, standard seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch transmissions and rear- or all-wheel drive. All engines feature Porsche Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) for highest efficiency. For additional fuel savings, all Panameras include an engine stop-start function that can turn off and restart the engine at certain times, like when stopped at an intersection or in traffic.

The rear-wheel drive Panamera S has a 400-horsepower, 4.8-liter V8 engine that can propel it from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds on its way to a top test track speed of 175 mph. The manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) is $89,800. The all-wheel drive Panamera 4S receives the same 4.8-liter power plant. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, achieves a top test track speed of 175 mph, and has an MSRP of $93,800.

At the top of the Panamera lineup is the Panamera Turbo with its 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8. Also featuring the new PDK transmission, the all-wheel drive Panamera Turbo sets a breathtaking 0-to-60 time of 4 seconds flat and a top test-track speed of 188 mph. The Panamera Turbo has an MSRP of $132,600, and all three Panamera models will go on sale in Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Porsche this October.

PORSCHE PANAMERA IS COMING TO BEVERLY HILLS ON OCTOBER 17th 2009!

SO, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS ANY UPDATES AND NEWS ON THIS AMAZING MOTOR CAR

For more information or to be included on our Interest List Contact Jay

Beverly Hills Porsche is an authorized factory dealership of Porsche cars, SUVs, accessories, parts and merchandise. Centrally located to all of Los Angeles, we aim to be a complete lifestyle destination for all Porsche owners and fans! Visit us on-line at www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com

Welcome to Beverly Hills Porsche

Welcome to the official blog of Beverly Hills Porsche.
We will be posting product and event announcements here as well as happenings around Beverly Hills and the Porsche community.
Beverly Hills Porsche on Wilshire blvd. is centrally located to all of Los Angeles.
Porsche drivers in Beverly Hills will agree. There is nothing more rewarding than the thrill of soaking in the Southern California sun in a brand new Porsche that's all your own. With our sensational selection of all new Porsche automobiles, and our strong commitment to customer satisfaction, you will find it incredibly easy to purchase a brand new Porsche from Beverly Hills Porsche.
We treat all our Beverly Hills Porsche customers like family, our mission is to make sure your Porsche fantasy becomes your own Porsche reality.
To learn more about our incredible new Porsche inventory, including information on limited time offers available for select Porsche models, you can send us your inquiry online, call or visit our VIP department here at Beverly Hills Porsche.
Jay Huffschmidt
VIP Internet and Fleet Sales
310.481.8238
www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com

Beverly Hills Porsche is an authorized factory dealership of Porsche cars, SUVs, accessories, parts and merchandise. Centrally located to all of Los Angeles, we aim to be a complete lifestyle destination for all Porsche owners and fans! Visit us on-line at www.BeverlyHillsPorsche.com