Many will remember 2016 as a rollercoaster of a year. And while we can’t deny the ups and downs—we need not get into the ugly details—we’re looking back at the year through our own lens and noticing a stellar 365 days.
From international auto shows to riveting race victories to our ever-entertaining community events, 2016 was full of memorable Porsche Moments.
Thanks to our guests, partners and staff for making 2016 a banner year for Porsche Centre Oakville. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.
A trip to the North American International Auto Show
We kicked off 2016 full throttle and made tracks down across the border to Detroit for the North American International Auto Show. One of the premier events in the automotive industry, the Detroit show is the place for car aficionados to get the lowdown on the future of all things automotive. The Porsche booth was a busy place, especially with a new Porsche Cayman GT4, a stunning Boxster Spyder and the all new 2016 Porsche 911 in both cab and coupe on display.
The 718 Boxster
Porsche announced the new Boxster 718 in Spring and the word immediately had Porsche enthusiasts dreaming of melting snow and top-down driving. Bringing back the 718 badge for the Boxster felt right. It presented this perfect mix of nostalgia (an appropriate tip of the hat to the venerable past of the 718 badge that won several races including the Targa Florio and Le Mans) and the future of the Boxster.
Jonathan Bernier at the Canadian International Auto Show
All the way back in February we had the privilege of hosting NHL goalie and our Brand Ambassador, Jonathan Bernier, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. To give our guests a glimpse at Porsche outside the madness of the busy hours, we set up a breakfast buffet where guests could browse the collection of Porsches while enjoying some food and coffee. The display included the new Porsche GT4 Club Sport and the Porsche 919 Le Mans Hybrid Prototype class.
Premier Dealer Repeat Winner
In March we received the 2016 Premier Dealer Award once again. The Porsche Premier Dealer Program is an annual global rewards initiative that recognizes a select number of Porsche Centres in each country for their representation of the Porsche brand’s pillars of prestige, authenticity and passion. Just three dealers in Canada were granted the honour--we were thrilled to accept the hardware for the second year in a row.
Hunting Easter eggs among Porsches
Easter can only mean one thing here at Porsche Centre Oakville: our annual Easter Egg Hunt. The hunt has been growing every year and this year was no exception. The showroom was full of eager egg hunters. Who doesn't want to search for eggs hidden amongst some of the finest sport cars in the world?
911 Launch
We wanted to usher in the new Porsche 911 in a befitting manner. Our team put on a fantastic event full of food, drink and great people, including our brand ambassadors Sebastian Giovico and Jonathan Bernier. With the crowd gathered around, we took the wraps off the new 911. The changes to the exterior were subtle, but the heart of the beast was all new – and turbocharged.
Racing — It’s what we do
Racing is in our DNA. This was our second year in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama series. In 2015 the team took home the Platinum Team Champion title and narrowly missed the driver's title. With one year of experience under our belts, we put the pedal to the metal in 2016. Over the course of 12 race events, including the Toronto Honda Indy and The Montreal Grand Prix, across two countries and countless kilometers of asphalt, the team fought their way to the top, securing the Platinum Cup Team title while our own Daniel Morad captured the Driver Champion title in Canada and the North American Champion title for his performance in the final races of the GT3 Cup Challenge USA.
Panamera on the scene
Towards the end of the year, we welcomed the all-new Porsche Panamera to the family. We held an exclusive event in our very cool storage area. The walls were lined with Panameras of various vintages and models alongside the all-new version, which was ceremoniously unveiled to our special guests. The event was topped off with a live streamed walk-around provided by our own product specialist, Harris Theodore.
The list of Porsche Moments from 2016 goes on, with many other Porsche Club of America events, Concourses, drive events, Cars and Coffee gatherings and more marking the calendar. Thanks once more for being a part of a spectacular year at Porsche Centre Oakville.
And now, 2017, full throttle.
Date Posted: January 2, 2017