????保時捷（Porsche）就能免受供需規律的影響嗎？請看以下快訊：

?????盡管全球經濟遭遇滑坡，這家豪華運動車廠商2012年的銷售卻比2011年增加18%，并且它預計自己2013年還將繼續增長。

?????保時捷已成功克服品牌遷移和產品結構調整這一棘手的挑戰，以運動車為基礎，開發出四門轎車和SUV，同時保住了自己的忠實用戶。

?????保時捷一反常規經濟模式，旗下的高價跑車銷量是其相對便宜車型的四倍。

?????保時捷的單車利潤業內最高，是量產車廠商的三倍，是一些豪華品牌的近兩倍。

????為什么會這樣？為了更好地了解保時捷成功的奧秘，我與保時捷北美分公司約好長時間試駕兩款最新車型：911卡雷拉S敞篷車（Carrera S Cabriolet）和博科斯特（Boxster）。考慮到保時捷的運動基因，我自行設計了競速計劃，以更好地檢驗每款車的性能。本次試駕結果如下：

競速先鋒：2012款 911卡雷拉S敞篷車

????這款911搭載一臺后置的Boxer引擎，是一款經典版的保時捷。這款車的原型約半個世紀前問世，現在算是第三代。新款車更長更寬，裝有電子控制設備，是一款更寬適的跑車，但是它高達400匹馬力的引擎、七速手動變速箱，以及快如閃電的響應速度都使它保留著經典的運動車氣質。新款911精致、舒適，既適合日常通勤，也能輕松用于周末度假。

挑戰飛車：2013款博科斯特

????20世紀90年代中期，由于911系列定價過高，保時捷開發了更年輕化的子系列車型。這種車的引擎置于底盤中部，車頂為織物材質。現在，這款名為博科斯特的跑車終于羽翼豐滿、全新亮相，它變得更長更寬，采用了更多鋁材以控制整車重量。在我設計的這次試駕中，讓博科斯特與它的大哥抗衡顯然不太公平，但博科斯特的中置引擎構造使它更富運動感，而且很多人表示，這讓它更富駕駛樂趣。

試駕路線：水路，紅杉林和葡萄園

????為了讓試駕路線和保時捷一樣經典，我選擇了以舊金山為起點，一路北上到加拿大的溫哥華，試駕路線長達1200英里。試駕途中，至少前三分之二的路段符合我的期望。駛過金門大橋后，GPS就引導我們順著101高速公路，沿著荒涼的太平洋海岸一路向北，駛過參天的紅杉林，來到俄勒岡州威拉米特河谷那規劃得整整齊齊的葡萄園。抵達那兒后，我們把911換成了博科斯特繼續開，直到西雅圖，再穿過加拿大邊境到達溫哥華。

????Is Porsche immune to the laws of supply and demand?

????Item: Despite the global economic slowdown, the luxury sports car maker expects to sell 18% more vehicles in 2012 than in 2011, and it is forecasting another increase in 2013.

????Item: Porsche has pulled off the tricky business of moving beyond its sports car roots into four-doors and SUVs without alienating its devoted followers.

????Item: Turning conventional economics upside down, Porsche's more expensive sports car outsells its cheaper sibling by four to one.

????Item: Porsche's per-car profits are the highest in the industry, with margins three times those of volume producers and nearly double that of some luxury marques.

????Why is this so? To better understand the dimensions of the Porsche mystique, I arranged with Porsche Cars North America to spend some extended time driving two of its newest models: the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and the Boxster. Given Porsche's racing heritage, I devised my own competition to better examine the merits of each car. Here are my findings:

The contender: 2012 911 Carrera S Cabriolet

????With its Boxer engine mounted behind the rear axle, the 911 is the archetypal Porsche, the third generation of a basic design that was introduced nearly a half-century ago. The new model is longer and wider and festooned with electronic control devices, making it more of a grand touring car, but this 911's 400-horsepower engine, seven-speed manual transmission, and lightening-quick reflexes have enabled it to retain its traditional sporting character. Refined and comfortable, the new 911 handles a weekday commute as easily as a weekend romp.

The challenger: 2013 Boxster

????When 911s got too pricey in the mid-'90s, Porsche developed its younger sibling by moving the engine to the middle of the chassis and fitting the car with a fabric roof. Now fully grown, this year's Boxster is all new, longer and wider, and built with bigger doses of aluminum to keep its weight in check. Putting the Boxster up against its big brother for this drive may seem patently unfair, except that its mid-engine layout makes it sportier and -- many say -- more fun to drive.

The route: Water, redwoods, and wine country

????To devise a route as classy as the cars, I plotted a 1,200-mile drive from San Francisco north to Vancouver, British Columbia. At least the first two-thirds lived up to my expectations. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, GPS guided us north on Highway 101 along the wild Pacific coast, then through giant stands of redwoods and in to the geometrically precise vineyards of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. There, we swapped the 911 for the Boxster to make the run up to Seattle and across the Canadian border to Vancouver.