Which Will Win Standing-Mile Drag Race? Porsche Cayman vs Subaru Impreza WRX STI

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Porsche Cayman are two very different cars, yet both have the basic characteristic of going fast intrinsically linked to their character. They achieve and maintain speed quite differently and both can be thought of as weapons in certain road conditions.

However, what happens when you pit the heavier and less aerodynamic 305hp Subaru against the rear-wheel drive Porsche with 275hp in a one-mile drag race? Well, since the Porsche has a derestricted top speed and the Subaru is limited by gearing to around 240 km/h, it could go either way, due to the length of the proposed race.

Obviously, the Subaru gets off the line much quicker and cleaner than the Porsche, but it’s what happens next that could be called insightful, when the Porsche’s aero, weight and gearing advantage begin to come into play.

Porsche 918 Spyder debuts with new Nürburgring lap record

 It's been a long time in the making, but Porsche has finally revealed the final production version of its long-awaited 918 Spyder here at the Frankfurt Motor Show. And yet that's not even the big news surrounding the hybrid hypercar.

No, the big news is that, while Porsche was preparing to take the wraps off the car here in Frankfurt, elsewhere in Germany a team was setting a blistering lap time at the Nürburgring. And not just any blistering lap time, but a new world record.

Porsche claims that, on the morning of September 4, a team of three drivers (including former rally champ Walter Röhrl and Porsche test drivers Timo Kluck and Marc Lieb) broke the Nordschleife lap record, Lieb finally setting the best time at 6:57 at an average of 111 miles per hour.

That's over four seconds faster than the Dodge Viper ACR that has held the record for street-legal production cars for the last two years. It's also faster than the Gumpert Apollo, and just behind the barely-legal Radical SR8. And maybe best of all, it gives McLaren something to keep gunning for. Go ahead and scroll down to watch a video of the 918's 'Ring adventure.

All-New Mitsubishi Pajero Still Three Years Away – Will Go Hybrid

The Mitsubishi Pajero (or Montero in the US) has been around in its current form since 1999. It did receive a major overhaul in 2006, which brought it up to date, with revised styling and new safety features, but the SUV was basically the same underneath. Even if you count the 2006 update as a new generation, it's still almost seven years old and in need of a rethink.

However, according to a report from GoAuto, which spoke to Mitsubishi's head of product and strategy development, Ryugo Nakao, at the Geneva Motor Show, an all-new Pajero is still at least two years away, if not three.

The new model will sit at the top of the Japanese automaker's range, so Mr. Nakao was keen to point out that the 2015 model would be considerably more refined and luxurious than what they are offering today - perhaps they want to challenge the Range Rover?

Yet, in spite of its upmarket push, the Pajero will still be able to cope with off-road driving, and be just as capable as the current model. It will be built on a new platform, which will also be compatible with the brand's P-HEV hybrid system, which has already made its commercial debut in the third generation of their Outlander crossover.

SUVs Ahoy! Mitsubishi Pajero Stuck in Sea Needs a Helping Hand

Fortunately, an automobile stuck in sea is a very uncommon scenario. When it happens, though, it calls for a special solution. From what we understand, this incident appears to have taken place at St Ives Bay on the Atlantic coast of north-west Cornwall in the United Kingdom (we could be wrong about that; if we are, tell us in the comments) when a Mitsubishi Pajero owned by a rental boat company got stuck in the sea.

 

Pushing with your hands won't do any good in this situation, so the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was called in to aid the driver with a special crawler that pulled out the SUV.

See how it went down in the video below, which is best viewed in full screen mode.

Mitsubishi Boss Says Next Pajero May be Sold in the U.S, Emphasis on SUVs and Not Sports Cars

There's good news and bad news for Mitsubishi's future in the States and it all comes straight from the mouth of the Japanese company's President Osamu Masuko, who was recently interviewed by Autonews Asia Editor Hans Greimel.

For starters, despite some rumors, Mitsubishi has no plans to withdraw from the U.S. market nor will it shut down its Illinois plant where 1,900 workers are employed manufacturing the Outlander Sport. In fact, according to the automaker's three-year business plan named "New Stage 2016", it aims to boost global sales 29 percent to 1.43 million vehicles and North American deliveries by more than a third to 150,000 units annually.

Masuko, 64, told the news agency that the key ingredient to pushing up sales will be a "back to basics" strategy that will improve the brand's foothold in SUV and crossover segments, and at the same time, place more focus on electrified and hybrid drive-trains, while also making the best of an agreement it has with the Nissan-Renault Alliance on the development of sedans, small cars and EVs.

As part of that plan, Mitsubishi is readying a new Pajero SUV (also known as the Montero and Shogun), which is the brand's equivalent to the Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser, that will be offered as a hybrid. The series was discontinued in the United States in 2006, but Masuko said the new model might return to the market.

"We would like to bring the next-generation version [of the Pajero] that we are developing, partly because it will have a plug-in hybrid version," said Masuko. The bad news is that Mitsubishi's new strategy doesn't give much love to the brand's livelier sporty side. Asked about what "happened to Mitsubishi's sporty cars such as the Eclipse or the Lancer Evolution", the 64-year old executive answered: "When you look at the global ranking of top-selling Mitsubishi vehicles, at the top are pickups, then the Pajero and Pajero Sport and then the Outlander and Outlander Sport," explained Masuko.

"We want to further enhance our strong suits. That will better secure the future of our brand. This is a simple strategy of back to basics. We have produced sports cars in the past. But we have to prioritize. When you consider Mitsubishi's size and management resources, we can't do everything on our own."

While the Mitsubishi boss didn't outright kill the brand's sports car future, his words are exactly promising, now, are they…

Mitsubishi to Build Pajero Sport Midsize SUV in Russia

While dash-cam videos are all the craze from Russia these days, the world's biggest country in terms of land mass is also a producer of cars – not only from its own brands, but from foreign automakers as well that expect Russian sales to keep rising in the future, even though this year, they're around 4 percent down.


Mitsubishi said that it has commenced local production of its Pajero Sport midsize SUV at the PCMA Rus factory in Kaluga, Russia, a joint-venture assembly plant owned by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).




The Japanese company said demand for SUVs "has been expected to steadily increase in the Russian market", where it initiated production of the previous generation Outlander in April 2010, followed by the all-new Outlander in November last year.


The Pajero Sport was first introduced in Russia in 2008 as an import model, with Mitsubishi having sold 24,000 units through May of 2013. The automaker said it plans to build and sell around 10,000 units of the locally built Pajero Sport and 25,000 of the Outlander annually.

Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 in Verde Mantis in Pictures and on Video at the Ascari Track

Some of us are quite pleased that Lamborghini has brought back some of the bolder exterior colors of the 1970s (but less thrilled about the green interior) to its new Huracán LP610-4, like the "Verde Mantis" that translates to "Green (Praying) Mantis" seen on this example that was photographed in Marbella, Spain.

If you're wondering how the Huracán ended up in southern Spain, the guys over at Pistonheads have the answer, as the same car was featured in their test drive that included a few laps around the nearby Ascari racetrack (about an hour's drive from Marbella). Evidently, Lamborghini hosted the press event in the region.

The new Huracán that replaces the 10-year old Gallardo will try to steal the thunder from supercars like the McLaren 650S (see Chris Harris' Ascari track drive here) and Ferrari 458. Behind the passenger compartment, you'll find a naturally aspirated 602hp (610PS) 5.2-liter V10 engine driving all four wheels through a newly designed seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Why Did the Old Man Throw a Stone at the Lamborghini Aventador?

Unlike the classic joke about the chicken crossing the road, this question regarding the older man in the baby blue shirt throwing rocks at a Lamborghini Aventador does have a definitive answer: he was clearly annoyed with the driver.

In the VVS (Vertical Video Syndrome) footage, the man is heard yelling "Keep racing" to the driver of the Lamborghini and then proceeds to throw a rock that hits the Italian exotic.

Now, whether he was being a "dick" as the video author says in the clip, or if he had genuine reasons to be mad at the Lamborghini driver is another story that we don't get to find out – though, the presence of the guy filming it would suggest that the Aventador was doing several passes on the road.

Nevertheless, like the guys over at Jalopnik said, it would have been wiser and more mature to call in the cops to get whatever issues he had with the motorist straightened out without resulting to violent acts.

Lamborghini Ad Personam Debuts Patriotic Aventador Nazionale in Beijing

Alongside the Asian debut of the all-new Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 at the Beijing Auto Show, Lamborghini is also showcasing a special Aventador model built by its Ad Personam customizing program. Offered as a coupé, the Lamborghini Aventador Nazionale features dedicated color and trim composed by light exterior colors in combination with the Italian flag and a particular Ad Personam trim in the interior.

The car on show in Beijing features the light and glittered exterior color Bianco Opalis, adorned with a painted Italian flag livery, running as a stripe from the front bonnet over the roof and parts of the engine bonnet to the rear wing. Other standard features are the forged Titanium matt rims Dione in 20-/21-inch with red brake calipers, the transparent engine bonnet and full carbon fiber parts.

On the inside, the Italian flag theme is continued by a leather stripe on the central part of the headliner and the rear bench. The cabin combines the two contrasting colors Nero Ade and Blu Cepheus, while the seats feature Q-citura stitching and a small Italian flag embroidered on their upper part. An embroidered Ad Personam logo on the upper door panel insert, the branding package and extended stitching on the steering wheel underline the exclusive character of the interior.

The Aventador Nazionale is also available in the special Blu Pavo exterior paint with Nero Ade and Bianco Polar interior. The engine remains the same 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 with 700PS (690hp), capable of catapulting the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds and to a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph)

Lamborghini 5-95 by Zagato Revs its Engine at Villa d’Este

Zagato's one-off Lamborghini Gallardo-based 5-95 may feature a controversial design, but I have to admit it is impossible to ignore. For those attending the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como in Italy over the weekend, the Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato was a curious sight, made even more intriguing by the brutal sound of the 562hp (570PS) 5.2-liter Lamborghini V10 engine.

Based on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, the 5-95 Zagato was commissioned by Albert Spiess, one of the most significant Lamborghini collectors in the world, to mark the Italian design firm’s 95th birthday (1919 – 2014).

As you can see, Zagato managed to hide the Gallardo completely with its design – it’s up to you to decide if that is a good or bad thing.

Scroll down to watch the 5-95 Zagato come to life and parade on the Villa d’Este domain – you may also notice a well-known Lamborghini man on the passenger seat, former factory test driver Valentino Balboni.

Lamborghini Urus Could Bring Turbocharging to Sant’Agata Bolognese for the First Time

Lamborghini's upcoming Urus SUV, scheduled to launch in 2017, may be the first ever turbocharged model from the Italian sports car manufacturer. As emissions regulations are more stringent around the world, the Urus may be powered by a turbocharged V8 instead of the brand’s traditional naturally-aspirated V10 or V12 engines.

“An SUV could be a turbo engine for the first time for us,” Stephan Winkelmann told Auto Express at the launch of the Huracan. It’s not the first official hint at possible turbocharged Lamborghini engines, as R&D head Maurizio Reggiani earlier said the company would be forced to use turbocharged engines in the next three to four years.

There are no details about the V8 engine, but the most logical option would be the 552hp 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8 unit used by parent company Audi AG in the RS6 and RS7. Since the Urus will share the MLB platform with the new Audi Q7 and Bentley SUV, sharing powertrains is a vital prerequisite for profitability.

Design-wise, the production Urus SUV will stay close to the 2012 concept vehicle (pictured), as Lamborghini chief designer Felipo Perini revealed. “In this moment it is very close [to the Urus concept]. We try to avoid concepts that are not feasible – we can’t afford it. The Urus is amazing, the way it moves. Our goal is to preserve this with the production car,” Perini said.

The Urus will feature an aggressive tuning for the suspension, steering and gearbox in order to be the sportiest SUV on the market.

This is the First-Ever Lamborghini Countach to Sell for Over $1 Million

The Lamborghini Countach is such a radical and recognizable shape, it’s amazing the early ones don’t already cost in the millions… However, things are headed in that direction, as proved by this stunning (Tahiti) blue example, built in 1976.

It just sold at a Bonhams auction for $1.21 / €0.89 million, making it the most expensive of its kind ever.

One of the first 150 examples that came with unique periscope-style side mirrors that earned them the nickname “Periscopa,” this car has additional reasons to have fetched the price that it did.

The odometer reads 16,500 original kilometers, which is just over 10,000 miles. The car was part of the current owner’s collection since 1978 (it was originally sold to a Swiss gentleman) and is, by all accounts, in perfect shape. It does show signs of wear, but with the recently repainted body, it now looks as good as it did new.

Still, it’s an old car from Italy in the 1970, and for that reason alone, “the speedometer and odometer on this Countach are not currently operational.”

New Lamborghini Huracán Review Finds it Slightly More Civilized than Gallardo

Reviews of Lamborghini’s latest baby, the Huracán LP610-4, have started to pour in, with the latest one coming from Auto Express magazine. Like the previous first drive test, this one was filmed during the press event hosted by Lamborghini at the Ascari circuit in Spain.

Obviously, the big question is how the Huracán feels to drive compared to its predecessor, the Gallardo. Although the new model is more powerful and faster, the reviewer found that it’s harder to get the car’s rear end to slide. While the four-wheel-drive setup carries a part of the blame, we must remember that the Gallardo was also AWD too - minus RWD specials like the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni.

However, the Huracán is described as fun to drive, despite the car’s complex electronic systems that intervene quite often to correct the driver’s mistakes.The new entry-level Lamborghini is described by the reviewer as a fusion between modern electronics and old-school theatrics.

To me, that’s another way of saying it is a tamed beast. The market will decide whether that is a good thing or not for a Lamborghini. Point your mouse down to watch the review.

Man Gives Homeless People a Ride in a Lamborghini – Good Deed or Selfish Tease?

YouTube deed- and prank- (see second clip with the Mercedes McLaren) master Dennis Roady took a white Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder to Santa Monica in California and picked up a number of homeless people giving them a quick ride in the Italian supercar.

"I got a 2014 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder today, so I went to OPCC SAMOSHEL in Santa Monica, CA and took a few Homeless people for a wild ride. They loved it so much, it made their week! Spread the Deeds!" wrote Dennis.

Other than providing a teaser sample of what rich people enjoy on a daily basis (and a clickable story for Roady's YouTube channel), I'm not sure what good this does to people who are far less fortunate in life.

Your thoughts?

7-Year-Old Lamborghini Fan Gets the Best Birthday Present Ever

Lamborghini North Los Angeles organized a nice birthday surprise for a seven-year-old kid who is an obsessed Lamborghini fan, according to his father. In fact, the boy loves the Italian sports cars so much that he is already saving for his own Lamborghini.

Whenever he gets 100% percent in school tests, his father gives him $10, which he saves towards his Lamborghini.

Here’s what Jacob’s dad wrote on Lamborghini North Los Angeles Facebook page: “I know it would be a dream come true for him to be able to sit in Lamborghini or get a short drive in one. His birthday party is in Hancock park at our home. Are there any Lamborghini owners who would like to make a 7 year old believe in dreams?”

As you probably guessed, many Lambo owners responded to the call and showed up at Jacob’s house. The boy’s reaction was more than worth their effort, especially when he learned he would get a ride in an Aventador.

Lamborghini Aventador Smashes Into Parked BMW and Mazda in London

From the sheer number of supercars rolling around on London's crowded streets, it was only a matter of time before something bad happened, and it did on Sunday, fortunately, without any human victims, when a matte-black Lamborghini Aventador LP640-4 hit a Mazda and a parked BMW 3-Series E46 on Sloane Street in Knightsbridge.

Paul Wallace of Supercarsoflondon received video footage from cyclist RichnWilliams, who was behind the Lamborghini just before the accident happened. "The Lamborgini Aventador was apparently racing a Maserati before smashing into a car pulling out of junction. The damage is pretty bad on all cars involved," he said.

We still haven't confirmed the presence of the Maserati, though.

The owner of the stationary BMW was art consultant Lila Afshar. According to the Daily Mail, she told London Evening Standard: "We showed up about three hours after the incident and there was a letter on the windshield. The Lamborghini was being towed away and the owner came up and explained what had happened. He was really apologetic about it."

While we haven't discovered footage of the accident shot at the moment it happened, with so many people on the street, there's a good possibility that someone filmed it – if you find it, you know where to send it…

Lamborghini Urus SUV will Reportedly Be Built in Slovakia from 2017

The Lamborghini Urus SUV will be built at VW Group’s factory in Slovakia starting in 2017, according to sources from within the company. The vehicle will be based on a modified version of VW Group’s MLB platform that will also underpin the next-generation Porsche Cayenne, the same sources told German publication Automobilwoche.

The Lamborghini Urus will be built at the Bratislava plant alongside the Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg, Audi Q7 and bodies of the forthcoming Bentley SUV. To prepare for increased SUV production at the plant, VW is said to have installed the group’s largest metal press in Bratislava, which is capable of producing steel and aluminum body panels.

According to the same report, the automaker will increase the use of reinforced aluminum in future SUVs in order to reduce weight and fuel consumption.

The Urus will be Lamborghini’s first SUV since the LM002 of the 1990s. Popularly known as the Rambo Lambo, the Lamborghini LM002 was discontinued in 1993 after a failed effort to make military vehicles.

It is not just VW Group’s luxury brands adding new SUVs to meet demand from wealthy customers from China, Russia and the Middle East; Maserati also plans to introduce the Levante SUV next year, while Rolls-Royce is getting closer to making a decision on whether to enter the segment.

Lamborghini forecasts record global sales in 2015 because of strong demand for the recently launched Huracan. In 2013, Lamborghini delivered 2,121 supercars, up from 2,083 in 2012. The best ever sales year for the Italian brand was 2008 when it sold 2,430 supercars

Watch a Lamborghini Aventador Crash into a Mazda and a BMW in London!

Earlier today, we shared two videos of the aftermath of the Sunday accident in London involving a Lamborghini Aventador LP640-4. Our suspicions that one of the many bystanders must have captured the accident as it happened turned out to be true.

The video you're about to watch was filmed by Thomas Melsens and shared on Shmee150's YouTube channel.

It shows the moment the matte-black Italian supercar smashed into a Mazda minivan that had already turned halfway on Sloane Street in London's Knightsbridge, with the impact catapulting the Lamborghini into the air before it hit a parked BMW 3-Series E46.

As previously mentioned, fortunately, no one was injured.

Lamborghini Teases Huracán Super Trofeo Race Car

While the all-new Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 has successfully replaced the Gallardo as the brand’s entry-level sports car, the Italian company still has to replace the Gallardo on the racetrack.

That mission belongs to the new Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo, which had its first shakedown on Tuesday on the “Piero Taruffi” Vallelunga circuit in Italy. Unfortunately, Lamborghini did not release photos with the car except one teaser that shows the front end of the racer wearing camouflage.

We can also see a big air intake in the lower part of the bumper and…that’s about it. The car is due to start racing next year in all three Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Series' (Europe, Asia and North America). Next season’s Series will feature both the Gallardo and the Huracán which will share the grid but will race in different classes.

For its first track outing, the new Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo was driven by Lamborghini chief test driver Giorgio Sanna along with the two official Lamborghini Squadra Corse test drivers Adrian Zaugg and Fabio Babini.

“The first shakedown is always a very special moment. I’ve followed the development phase step by step in Sant’Agata Bolognese, and we are all enthusiastic about this very important moment. We have full confidence in both Zaugg and Babini, as well as in the young drivers who will contribute to refining the new car. The new Huracán Super Trofeo will ensure Lamborghini a key role in International motor sport,” said Giorgio Sanna.

Ferrari LaFerrari vs Lamborghini Sesto Elemento on Qatar Highway!

Anyone know what the Italian equivalent for "wow" is, because that's what you'll be saying after watching and hearing this video of two rare exotic supercars…illegally, we assume…drag-racing each other in Qatar.

As if the sight of a yellow-colored Ferrari LaFerrari wasn't enough to turn heads around, Maranello's 21st century pride and joy was joined by one of the most special production Lamborghinis in history – the Sesto Elemento of which only 20 were made at $2.2 million a pop.

Whereas the extraordinary lightweight Sesto Elemento gets its mojo from a more traditional V10 engine returning 562hp (570PS) that was borrowed from the Gallardo Superleggera, the ballistic LaFerrari relies on a normally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 engine working together with an electric motor to give out a combined 950-horses.

What are you waiting for…click the play button below!

New One-Off Lamborghini 5-95 by Zagato Looks Like a Spyker

Look at what Italian design and coach-building house did to a Lamborghini Gallardo for one very special client. The one-off production car is named the Lamborghini 5-95 by Zagato and it will be displayed for the first time at this weekend's 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como in Italy.

The 5-95 is an official collaboration between Lamborghini and Zagato and it was commissioned by Albert Spiess, who is described as "one of the most significant Lamborghini collectors" in the world, on the occasion of the Italian design firm's 95th birthday (1919 – 2014).

"I always appreciated the ability of Zagato to create timeless lines with a forceful visual impact," said Spiess "I believe that a sensual design inspired by nature, together with the best technology, strike a perfect balance that is possible to achieve only in Italy. The 5-95 will be a fundamental piece of my collection."

Using Lamborghini's Gallardo LP570-4 as a creative base, Zagato re-did the entire exterior of the Italian supercar, but we can't help but see some similarities with an older Zagato concept, the Spyker C12 from the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, especially in the profile.

Commenting on his company's latest build and the selection of the Gallardo, Andrea Zagato said:

“We have chosen the Gallardo because it is the most sensational project in Lamborghini’s history. An extraordinary car, perfect in engineering terms, that has brought the image of ‘the Bull’ from a ‘cottage industry’ to a worldwide major industrial reality. The Gallardo production figures exceeded the whole Lamborghini production since its foundation.”

Lamborghini's Outlandish Egoista Concept Flies Back Home and Goes on Display

Made by Lamborghini as a birthday present to itself and unveiled during the Italian brand's private 50th anniversary party last year, the one-off Egoista is by far the most exotic and radical model to wear the Raging Bull badge of recent memory.

Now, a year later, the Egoista is returning home in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, where it will be permanently displayed at Lamborghini's headquarters, initially in the showroom, and then in the firm's Museum where the general public will have its first opportunity to see the concept up close and in person.

Developed by Walter De Silva, head of Volkswagen Group Design, the mad single-seater (hence the Italian name Egoista that translates to "selfish") supercar takes Lamborghini's aeronautic theme to the extremes, with inspiration coming from the Apache attack helicopter and jet fighters.

The Egoista's body is made from lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum finished in a military-grade, radar-resistant paint to highlight the vehicle's stealth capabilities, while power comes from a tuned version of the Gallardo Mk1's 5.2-liter V10 churning out 600PS (592hp).

Even more impressive is the Egoista's cockpit that features a removable survival cell made of carbon fiber and aluminum along with anti-glare windows in an orange hue.

According to Lamborghini, "in order to leave the vehicle, the driver must remove the steering wheel and leave it on the dashboard, open the dome by actuating an electronic control and climb out of the cockpit with a specific series of movements, as required in fighter jet aircrafts." Not the most practical thing in the world, but just imagine yourself seeing, or better yet, being the one to perform it.

Lamborghini Donates Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia to the Italian State Police

Remember the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Polizia that the Italian sports car manufacturer donated to the Italian police? Well, since the Gallardo has recently been replaced with a new model, the Huracán LP 610-4, Lamborghini thought to keep the Italian State Police updated with the latest hardware and built a police version of its newest sports car.

The new police car will replace the Gallardos used by the Italian police force since 2004 and 2008.

The special vehicle was handed over by Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, to the head of the Italian State Police, Prefect Alessandro Pansa, in a ceremony in Rome at the “Museo delle Auto Storiche della Polizia di Stato” (Museum of Historic Vehicles of the Italian State Police).

The Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia will be the pride and joy of Italian police officers and will begin patrolling the country’s roads towards the end of the year to help prevent accidents and crime.

The lucky police officers who will get to call the Huracán their office will no doubt appreciate the increased power of the 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine compared to the Gallardo. In the Huracán LP 610-4, the powerplant produces 610PS (602hp) – 50PS (50hp) more than in the Gallardo.

In theory, the breathtaking acceleration of the car (0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds) and its 202 mph (325 km/h) top speed should discourage most attempts to run away from the police.

Lamborghini Drops New Photo Gallery of the Huracán

If you recognize the setting in these new official Lamborghini Huracán photos that’s because there were taken during the test drive event at the Ascari Circuit in Spain and on the mountain roads around Marbella.

The event lasted two weeks, with media and dealers from all over the world invited to get acquainted with Lamborghini’s newest and most important model, the Huracán LP 610-4. There aren’t new things to say about the Gallardo’s successor that haven't been mentioned before, so I’ll only remind you the technical specs of the Huracán before you head to photo gallery.

The car is powered by a mid-mounted 5.2-liter V10 engine that produces 602hp (610PS) at 8,250 rpm and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm. The engine is linked to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission “Lamborghini Doppia Frizione” (LDF) and sends power to all four wheels via a fully electronically controlled four-wheel drive system.

The Huracán sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.9 seconds. Top speed is over 325 km/h (202 mph).

Lamborghini Makes its Huracan LP610-4 Official in Geneva

With its hybrid chassis made from aluminum and carbon fiber coated in an outer skin also made of the malleable metal, the Lamborghini Huracan is definitely a supercar of this age. Some have said that one of these now has to be an actual hybrid-electric to really earn that distinction, but with 610 EU6-compliant horses, sent to all four wheels, it doesn’t need any extra boost anyway.

The manufacturer from Sant'Agata Bolognese quotes the Huracan as being able to return 12.5 l/100km (18.8 mpg US / 22.6 mpg UK), which doesn’t unreasonable at all – you'll likely never get near it if you actually want to experience the car, but as a window sticker, it’s pretty good.

Now the we wait for the scene’s early first-hand impressions, which I’m sure will pop up on YouTube way sooner than the car’s actual showroom arrival term – the efficiency numbers will be the least of their concerns, if it’s as good a car as it ought to be with a predecessor whose success story was so resounding.

Officially revealed to members of the press during the opening day of the Geneva motor show, the Huracan was probably one of the most hunted premieres of the entire venue, and the Giallo Midas car riding on black wheels you see in the gallery below certainly didn’t disappoint.

Disgruntled Owner of Brand New Porsche 911 Says His Car is a Lemon

For most, owning a Porsche 911 is destined to remain an unfulfilled dream, and generally, when people can’t have something they tend to idealize the experience of those who are fortunate enough to afford it. Even though Porsche 911s are renowned for their reliability, there must be some exceptions to the rule - let’s keep the 911 GT3s out of the discussion for now, as this case involves a lesser 911 Carrera S model.

Nick Murray says his car is definitely one of them, as the Porsche 911 he bought in July 2013 has been what is called a “lemon” – a car that is found to be defective only after it has been bought. Among the 911’s many alleged defects, Murray lists the windows that roll down on their own, the engine that wouldn’t start, the battery suddenly discharging. The man says all these problems culminated with the car breaking down on the highway several times because the engine cut out or the gears locked.

Unfortunately for Murray (and for Porsche if all this is true), the problems are too many to list here. What’s even more unfortunate is that he claims Porsche couldn’t make the car work properly, although it spent 60 days in their repair shop. Furthermore, he claims Porsche Cars North America threatened to take the case to arbitration, as he doesn’t want to keep the car and wants either a new one, or his money back. Scroll down to hear what the man has to say.

EVO Track Battle Pits Unlikely Rivals: Porsche Cayman VS BMW M235i

While the BMW M235i is more powerful than a stock Porsche Cayman, it’s nowhere near as focused. EVO discovered that even with the 40-odd horsepower advantage it has over the Porsche, the BMW is neither more fun nor faster around a track.

Still, while the Porsche is faster over a whole lap, it’s the BMW with its turbocharged grunt and shorter gearing that would be more usable on the road. It depends on what you want and how much you’re willing to spend on your desired sports car.

If you go to frequent track days, then the video below suggests you go all-out on the Porsche, whereas if most of your driving is done on-road, then the more spacious, more practical and beefier BMW is the one to go for.

EVO Thinks the Porsche Cayman GTS Has the Best Exhaust Sound in the World

We have seen enough reviews of the Porsche Cayman GTS and Boxster GTS, so EVO magazine thought about spicing up its review of the Cayman GTS with a reference to its exhaust note.

Henry Catchpole believes the Cayman GTS has the best sounding exhaust note that £55,397 can buy. The 3.4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, which delivers 335hp (340PS) in the Porsche Cayman GTS, gets a sports exhaust that makes it sound better than lesser Caymans and better than its rivals – according to the Brits.

Of course, the Cayman GTS is more than its exhaust note, but when one buys a sports car, the last thing he or she wants is to have a restrained sound. In this respect, the Cayman GTS certainly doesn’t disappoint, as you can see (and hear) in the video posted below.

This is The First Purpose-Built Porsche 911 Rally Car

With a motorsport history that arguably shames any other car manufacturer on the planet when it comes to the number of overall race wins, Porsche has been present over the years in just about any type of racing there is, including some fields which normally wouldn't be exactly appropriate for a sports car manufacturer.

One such racing scene is rallying, where cars like the funky-looking Porsche 911 SC below had its fair share of success. After a previous involvement with a works team back in 1968, which lasted only until the early 1970s, the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer made a brief return to this motorsport category in 1978, with the so-called 911 SC “Safari”, a car that came close to actually win the 1978 East African Safari Rally.

Had it not hit a rock while crossing a small river, which damaged its rear suspension, the car in the footage below could have won the aforementioned rally after leading it for quite a few hours into the race. Despite having been beaten by a much slower Peugeot 504 – a car by the same manufacturer which didn't leave Porsche name their car the 901 back in the 1960s – it proved that the 911 could also evolve into a off-road rally car that can win races and ride with the big boys outside the tarmac.

Apart from the raised suspension, off-road tires, extra headlights and a roll-cage, the 911 SC “Safari” was mostly stock, with the car that actually participated in the East African Safari Rally now sitting in the Porsche Museum, with the exact same specification as it did in the 1978 event.

Custom Porsche 993 by Rauh-Welt is Pure Widebody Perfection

Founded in 1997 as a small countryside body shop, RWB or Rauh-Welt Begriff is a Japanese Porsche tuner specializing in creating stunning(ly good) widebody kits for various models of 911. They don’t only do cars for Japanese customers, though, as they have offices in many major cities around the world, including one in the US, located in San Mateo, California.

One of their most notable recent creations is this expertly widened 993. It has some of the widest flares you could ever put on a 911 without making it look ridiculous and all the rest of the package is comes to compliment the extra girth, featuring special bumpers, skirts, spoilers and wheels.

This particular car is even more special because it’s the culmination of a father and son’s collective dream of what one of these cars could be, if done by the book, a book that could be written by RWB founder Akiar Nakai, who personally worked on the project

Porsche 921 Vision is a Design Concept for a Modern 928 GT Coupe

Since we were on the topic of French industrial designer Anthony Colard this week (he's the talented guy who penned the AC 5-28 Mont Ventoux, aka the misreported "Dubai Roadster"), we thought we'd share another one of his projects, the Porsche 921 Vision made as a modern interpretation of the classic 928 built from 1977 to 1995.

Colard says he created the 921 Vision concept following a preliminary job interview at Porsche, where the Germans told him that his portfolio was "lacking of clean and simple designs".

"Designed as a job application for Porsche, this was a very quick project (2 weeks)," explains Colard . "Simple but efficient, the idea is to bring back the 928 model to the current line-up at Porsche. Keeping true to the original four-seater aluminium body design, the car has a slick and simple bodywork without any fancy speed activated wing or things like that. It stays clean and true to its origins."

The French designer further elaborates:

"The front end is very tidy and designed with very few lines, the volumes yet express strength and refinement with precise detailing in the lamps to show the technological quality of the car," says Colard.

"The rear echoes back to the original 928 design with its very specific glasshouse, here now with a floating A-pillar to emphasize the curvature and continuity between windshield and side windows. The tail shows its Porsche DNA by mixing the original 928 recessed lamp design with the new Porsche 991 lamps. The lower valance stays simple, integrating in orderly fashion the number plate and reflectors above a double exhaust diffuser," he added.

According to Colard, the 921 was made to be fitted with a front-mounted V8 engine.

Drag Race Between Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and Mercedes S63 AMG

We wonder what EVO was trying to prove when they staged a drag race between a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and a Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG – by what margin the latter would sail ahead?

Obviously, the Mercedes was ahead by some margin when it crossed the one-kilometer marker, helped by more power, roughly the same weight as the Porsche and the massive aero advantage it had over it. However, it did show that for the first few yards after starting off, the all-wheel drive of the Porsche means it sprints off the line 0.3 seconds faster than the Merc, reaching sixty in 4.1 seconds. However, thanks in part to its long wheelbase, the S63 doesn’t lose too much traction off the line and immediately pulls ahead.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo Pitted Against ML 63 AMG by Fifth Gear

Two all-wheel drive leviathans were recently pitted against each other by the chaps over at Fifth Gear, and as with just about any other comparison test out there, only one of them emerged as the victor. First, we should see whom exactly we are dealing with: in one corner, we have a performance SUV from Stuttgart, while in the other one, we have...a performance SUV from Stuttgart.

Actually, the resemblances between the two rivals are more than meets the eye, as both cars have 500+ hp, offer a naught to 100 km/h (62mph) acceleration time of less than five seconds and have all-wheel drive. On top of that - and very few people know this - they were almost blood brothers, since way before the first generation of the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg/Audi Q7 were developed, Porsche had approached Mercedes-Benz for a co-produced premium SUV in the mid 1990s.

Getting back to the heavyweight boxing match that Fifth Gear's Tiff Needell and rally driver Mark Higgins put together, it's bound to stir some heated discussions. We have a 525 hp and slightly heavier Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG driven by Tiff, while Mark tries to show him who's the boss in a 500 hp and slightly lighter Porsche Cayenne Turbo, with both cars being driven on a mildly fast section of a rain-drenched British circuit.

With the tests first consisting of a 0-100-0 mph (0-162-0 km/h) sprint and then of a full lap at high speed, we had a hunch about the winner right from the beginning, but we won't spoil the surprise.

First Recorded Porsche Macan Crash Creeps Up on the Web

Deep down inside, you knew that an accident involving Porsche's new Macan was bound to hit the airwaves sooner rather than later and it happened in Poland last Friday when an Audi A4 Avant violently smashed into an example of Stuttgart's compact SUV knocking it over on its head and onto a tree.

Polish news station kontakt24 didn't mention any fatalities, but said that, according to a police spokeswoman, the drivers of the two cars along with a 63-year old passenger, were taken to a local hospital to treat their injuries.

The Porsche Macan went on sale earlier this year and is offered with up to four powertrains in some markets, including the brand's first four-cylinder unit in more than two decades.

Porsche Offering Short Leases for Boxsters, Caymans to Sweeten Wait for Macan Customers

The new Porsche Macan crossover is in such high demand that the entire production slated for the U.S. this year is already sold out. And since customers have to wait more than six months to get their Macans delivered, Porsche Cars North America has figured out a way to keep them happy by offering very short-term leases on Porsche Boxster and Cayman sports cars until their Macans arrive.

“I hate to have customers who don’t know Porsche to visit for the first time a Porsche dealership, prepare to enter the family and then get an answer from the dealer, ‘Oh, yes, we’d love to have you, but you have to wait six or seven months to get your order,’” Porsche Cars North America CEO Detlev von Platen told Autonews.

The executive’s concern is legitimate, as approximately 80 percent of Macans are expected to be sold to first-time Porsche buyers. However, he stressed that the short-term lease program is open to anyone who puts in a firm order for the Macan.

Von Platen said the response to the recently launched program is positive, but it is too early to say how many Porsche Macan buyers are taking short-term leases. These leases are offered at a similar monthly cost to what they would pay for a Macan, which starts at $50,895. The Boxster starts at $52,395, and the Cayman at $53,595 - all prices include shipping.

Porsche sold 1,263 Macans in the U.S. in May, but supply constraints will limit full-year sales in the United States to less than 10,000 in 2014. However, as soon as next year U.S. sales could reach 18,000 units annually.

Porsche Spied Testing Lightly Facelifted Boxster

You could say that Porsche is being cheeky and playing games of the "Can you spot the differences?" kind with their prototype Boxster facelift that was nabbed by our spy shooters on public roads.

Open up the scoop shots in a new window and you'll see that the tester is wearing Porsche's beloved fake prints over the headlamps and what appear to be, repositioned LED daytime running lights on the front bumper, which itself, may be sporting some subtle changes.

We can't see anything else, but since this is Porsche we're talking about, the Germans may have re-sculpted the entire body and nobody would notice.

In a recent interview, Porsche boss Matthias Müller made it clear that the brand's upcoming four-cylinder turbocharged boxer engines would appear on the next generations of the Boxster and Cayman, so for now, we're not expecting any ground-breaking changes for the facelifted model's powertrain lineup

Porsche's Ferrari 458 Rival Rumored to Feature 600HP 8-Cylinder Boxer Engine

Rumors about Porsche developing a supercar that would rival the Ferrari 458 Italia are growing in intensity, with a fresh report from the UK saying that the car will have an eight-cylinder boxer engine. UK magazine Autocar says Porsche’s supercar will carrying the development name “988” and sit above the iconic 911 in the company’s lineup. The decision to use a flat eight engine is reportedly due to the fact that Porsche’s flat six engine is nearing its capacity limit – the recent 911 GT3 recall caused by a defect of the 3.8-liter engine may indicate that.

 

The eight-cylinder boxer engine is expected to boast a capacity of 4.0 liters and feature turbocharging. The prototype engine is reportedly being tested with four turbos, with the output nearing 600 hp – more than Ferrari 458 Italia’s 562 hp. Peak torque is said to be bigger too, at around 400 lb-ft (542 Nm), and available much lower down the rev range.

 

Like the 458 Italia, the Porsche 988 will be mid-engined. In terms of design, the supercar will feature design cues from the 918 Spyder hypercar (pictured), such as the shape of the headlights, as well as a long rear deck because of the mid-mounted flat eight engine.

 

The supercar is expected to go on sale in 2017, followed by replacements for the Boxster, Cayman and 911.

Porsche Pajun Sports Sedan Reportedly Delayed until 2019

Porsche has diversified its range in recent years by adding SUVs and a luxury sedan to its sports cars lineup, and the trend is set to continue in the future. However, it appears that the expansion into new segments will not carry on at the same pace, as the BMW 5-Series-sized Pajun sedan has been delayed until at least 2019.

 

Porsche’s future product plans have undergone an overhaul, and the baby Panamera sports sedan has been put on hold for the moment. The internal plan called Porsche Product Strategy 2018 initially included seven different car lines that would be on sale by 2018, including new sports cars, SUVs and sedans. The Pajun was supposed to launch within the next four years, but the plan has undergone significant changes.

 

According to a report from CAR magazine, the Volkswagen Group needs Porsche’s profits so investments in future products have been reduced to what is absolutely necessary. Obviously, the BMW 5-Series rival is not essential at the moment for Porsche and has been delayed.

 

However, the project of a baby Boxster sports car has not been shelved and may see the light of day. All the other projects have reportedly been decontented, delayed or dropped. The Pajun will be a five-door "coupe" that will emulate the shape of the Panamera and may feature design cues from the Panamera Sport Turismo concept car (pictured here). At launch, the car is expected to feature V6 engines including the 3.0-liter V6 TDI. Petrol units could go all the way up 500 hp

Hamann Shows Five Alloy Wheels for New Porsche Macan

The aftermarket world is abuzz with Porsche's new entry-level family model, the Macan, and all for good reason, since the premium SUV is selling faster than the Germans can produce them.

It's a given that tuners like Hamann Motorsports will introduce a variety of customization and performance upgrades for the Macan, but for the time being, the German firm has released photos of the SUV wearing the five available alloy wheel designs on offer.

In no particular order, these include the anodized Edition Race, Anniversary EVO, Unique Forged, Anniversary EVO Black, and Anniversary EVO Hyper Black, which are made in 21- and 22-inch diameters.

New Porsche 911 Turbo Cabrio VS Old 1989 Turbo Flatnose

UK magazine Autocar taught us a valuable lesson by doing this video comparo between the latest Porsche 991 Turbo Cabrio and its predecessor from many generations ago, the 930 Turbo Cabrio from 1989. The lesson is that modern cars are technically better and more competent, yet in becoming as competent as they have, they’ve lost their soul.

 

It’s very obviously the same lesson we keep on learning when we drive old cars and find that the experience, while slower and more clunky, is more rewarding and enjoyable. It’s even safer, if you will, since you’re not going nearly as fast as  you would in a new car and you’re aware that you’re at the wheel of something not at the cutting edge, so focusing is a bit easier.

 

Reviewer Steve Sutcliffe concedes, at the end of the video, that the 991 is a technical marvel and a great drive, but that he’d still have the old “Flatnose” 911, even though it is worse in every single measurable way.

See 685HP Opel Kadett Take on Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 Turbo and Yamaha R1

 

Some people call them “sleepers”, while others call them “Q-cars” or “quiet cars”, but no matter their nomenclature, they bring the most smiles and drop the biggest amount of jaws when they appear on a drag strip. In essence, they are monsters that look just like an ordinary beater car on the outside - with no modifications whatsoever - and yet have the performance to put actual sports cars to shame.

A perfect example of such a vehicle is most definitely the Opel Kadett in the following video, a downright hellspawn of a car that looks like a grand and goes like a million. Created by the Germans from WKT, the car sports a two-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger the size of a large watermelon, which apparently works at maximum boost of 2.45 bar (35.5 psi).

The result is 685 hp and an undisclosed torque figure, with which the car becomes a hard to beat contender in any type of drag race from a roll, as the footage below clearly shows. The first race is against a Ferrari 458 Special with a Capristo exhaust, which the little Kadett from hell manages to obliterate in a straight line.

A Porsche 911 Turbo of the 997 variety, which is also tuned to 660 hp, puts up a bit of a fight but the Kadett still wins by a hair, while the Yamaha R1 in the end is the only competitor that manages to beat this wolf in sheep's clothing.

There are no official acceleration times for the car, apart from the fact that it can allegedly go from 100 km/h to 200 km/h (62 mph -124 mph) in just 4.57 seconds, while the 100 km/h to 250 km/h (62 mph – 155 mph) time sits at an unbelievable 8.26 seconds.

1993 Porsche 968 Coupe in Mint Condition, with a Manual and Only 18k Miles

With prices for acceptable BMW M3 E30s driven out of reach for most people who want to enjoy a lightweight, four-cylinder car with a mechanical feel, free from electronic nannies and made-up sounds, it's time to look at other options. Like the Porsche 968 Coupe with its big 3.0-liter four-pot and 928-inspired styling.

The 968 was the last of Porsche's front-mounted, four-cylinder engine series that started with the 924 in 1976 and continued with the 944 in 1982. It was built from 1992 through 1995 with only 12,776 made, about a third of which made it to North American shores. In base trim, the 3.0-liter straight-four made 240PS or 236hp, allowing for a 0-60mph (96km/h) in 5.6 seconds (Coupe, 6sp manual).

This one we found on eBay and it looks to be in mint, original condition, sans the tasty Porsche 17-inch wheels and bigger factory brakes. As a bonus, it's finished in a rare Oak Green Paint, has three pedals and a stick shift, and the best of all, the odometer reads 18,401 miles (29,607 km) – what more could you ask for?

Well duh; how about a super low price and a super close distance from home for transport purposes….

Being that we live in real land and not Lego land, the 968 is located in Hawaii and is owned by a car collector who obviously knows his stuff and won't likely let it go for cheap – the current bid on eBay stands at $21,000. And the search continues…

By John Halas
Seller's Description:

"At auction is a beautiful Porsche 968 coupe. I am the third owner, and I have original purchase and maintenance records from the first owner, and many records from the second owner. In addition to the original window sticker, I also have a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity for the car. Lots of other original equipment and documentation make this an unusually complete car, including original work receipts, the complete set of original owner's manuals, original tool kit, and other factory extras. VIN number WP0AA296XPS820413. CarFax, AutoCheck, or any sort of Vehicle History Reports/inquiries are encouraged prior to bidding. As stated a number of times, I encourage vehicle inspection by the bidder or bidder's representative prior to buyer commitment to buy.

I am a hobby collector of sports cars (see picture), and have owned a dozen or so Porsche sports cars over the years. This 968 is the only water cooled Porsche I have owned, and I have been very pleased with the car. I looked long and hard for a great example, and found one! The main thing I would say about this car is it has very low miles, and has been well maintained over the years. Who ever buys the car will get a vehicle that is sorted out and ready for the road. This car would make a great driver, and previous owners have shown the car at a number of Porsche venues. You can pick the car up at the shipping port of your choice, and drive it anywhere, in my opinion. It would make a great car for you collection, a great driver, or ideal for a son or daughter going off to school. Everything works, the air conditioning blows cold air, the fit and finish on the car is excellent, and in many respects the car looks, feels, and even smells as new. The only blemishes I have noticed are finger marks in the paint behind each door handle, where finger ends naturally touch the paint when opening or closing the doors, and very small paint blemishes. All of the blemishes on this car, in my opinion, are consistent with the car's age and limited use. The original paint and factory pen striping are in very good condition.

Total price per the window sticker was $45961 when new. I have scanned the window sticker for your information. Among the most desirable factory options (as listed on the Window Sticker and Porsche Certificate of Authenticity) are the Oak Green Metallic paint (Code N9N9), color matched Protective Side Moldings, Limited Slip Differential, Right and Left Sport Seats with electric height adjustment, and Porsche CD Changer. The second owner replaced the original wheels with optional 17 inch Porsche wheels, and mounted new Yokohama S-Drive tires: 235/45R17 97W in the front, and 275/40R17 98W in rear. The tires are less than three years old and have about 2,200 miles on them, and are in excellent condition. Another important performance and safety option was the installation of a set of four Porsche "Big Red" Brake Calipers and new discs. This optional brake work cost nearly $3400, and the braking performance is outstanding. Sport seats (leather panels for the seat and back, Porsche imitation leather for bolsters and surrounds) have gotten nice, synthetic sheep skin covers that are custom fit to protect original seat material. All carpets have custom Porsche mats to protect the original carpet treatment, and thus original carpets are in excellent condition. All told, I have receipts for about $8000 worth of options and regular maintenance costs since the car was new.

The car has a clear title from the State of Hawaii. It is also currently registered in Hawaii, and has had a recent State Safety Check. I will send by Registered Mail the original title and all of the books and documentation associated with the car once payment is complete. As noted in the payment section, I require a $1000 PayPal good faith deposit once the auction is finished, plus full payment balance by Bank Wire Transfer within seven days of the end of the auction. I will send you my Bank Wire Transfer instructions once the auction is complete.

Ocean shipping to the West Coast is safe and easy. Shipping to San Diego or Covina (near LA) on Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines costs about $902. The car ships as roll-on, roll-off freight, and is protected within the ship's hold from salt spray or weather.

In addition, the car can ship in a dedicated, enclosed shipping container to Long Beach, Oakland, or Seattle-Tacoma on Horizon-Lines. The cost for Horizon-Lines is $1200. I will tender the car here in Hilo, Hawaii for your shipment, and help guide you through the shipping process. Again, once the car is at your chosen port, you can drive it to it's final destination if you wish. However, if you'd like help with a transport truck service from the port, I am happy to assist with what I know about the car transport industry.

I reserve the right to end the auction early, as the car is advertised elsewhere. I will work within eBay policies and guidelines regarding this sale. The car is being sold "as is, where is" with no warranties expressed or implied."

Take That BMW, Porsche: Maserati Will not Build More than 75,000 Cars a Year to Keep Exclusivity

While Maserati is currently expanding its range to levels never seen before in the history of the brand, there is also a concern about retaining exclusivity. In a similar way to Ferrari, which has capped annual production to 7,000 units, Umberto Maria Cini, head of Maserati’s general overseas markets, said the carmaker will not sell more than 75,000 vehicles globally a year to retain the exclusivity of the brand.

Maserati is expected to reach 75,000 sales in 2018, after first passing another sales target of 50,000 registrations set for 2015. In 2013, the sports car manufacturer sold 15,400 cars worldwide.

The revival of the Maserati brand is a key element of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ plan to become profitable in Europe, along with the re-launch of the Alfa Romeo brand. FCA wants to make money again in the region, which is slowly recovering from six years of declining sales.

Maserati’s current lineup includes the Ghibli, Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio, but will be extended in late 2015 with the Levante SUV and in 2016 with the Alfieri sports car.

New Porsche Exclusive 911 Turbo S GB Edition for the UK Only

 

Porsche Exclusive, the automaker’s bespoke division, has released a new 911 model destined for the UK market named the 911 Turbo S GB Edition. Limited to 40 units, the car celebrates 40 years of the 911 Turbo with distinctive exterior styling and luxurious interior features.

Designed and manufactured by Porsche Exclusive, the limited edition 911 Turbo S features the mechanical package from the standard model, meaning it has an all-wheel drive chassis with active rear axle steering and a 560 PS (552hp) flat six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine.

It also inherits standard features such as adaptive aerodynamics, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active anti-roll system, Sport Chrono Package Plus with dynamic engine mounts, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and full-LED headlights. Thus configured, the 911 Turbo S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 317 km/h (197 mph). Also, the 911 Turbo S lapped the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is 7 min 27 secs.

To this, Porsche Exclusive’s 911 Turbo S GB Edition adds unique features including the black rear upper spoiler, Sport Classic wheels in black, black finished exterior door handles, and the black ‘Porsche’ script along the sills – all paying homage to the original 911 Turbo ‘930’ from 1974.

On the inside, the black leather upholstery features Guards Red contrasting stitching, while unique highlights include an embossed Union flag on the center storage compartment lid.

Other unique features are the personalized carbon door sill guards with ‘911 Turbo S – Exclusive GB Edition’ in illuminated lettering, carbon interior trim, including PDK gear lever, with chrome logo on dash insert, bespoke floor mats with leather edging and decorative stitching in Guards Red, as well as complementary accessories including personalized indoor car cover, a unique photo book and key pouch in leather with decorative Guards Red stitching.

The 911 Turbo S Exclusive GB Edition is offered with a choice of three exterior colors (GT Silver metallic, White, Guards Red) and is priced from £150,237 (€189,367) in the UK.

VW to Build Facelifted Porsche Cayenne SUVs at Osnabrück Plant

Volkswagen has announced that the Porsche Cayenne will also be assembled at its Osnabrück plant from summer 2015 due to high demand for the luxury SUV. About 20,000 facelifted Cayenne SUVs will be built in Osnabrück each year, following a €25 million ($33.8 million) investment.

Currently, the body shells of the Porsche Cayenne are built at VW’s plant in Slovakia, painted and then shipped for final assembly at the Porsche plant in Leipzig. The decision to shift a part of final assembly to Osnabrück has been made because the Leipzig facility is at maximum capacity due to strong demand for Cayenne, Macan and Panamera models.

“The optimization of the existing factory capacity and the agreed assembly of the Porsche Cayenne in Osnabrück underlines the high degree of flexibility within the VW Group production network and it demonstrates the good cooperation between Volkswagen and Porsche. The team in Osnabrück deserves this great product,” said Thomas Ulbrich, Board of Management member for Production and Logistics at Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

Obviously, this decision is good news for Volkswagen Osnabrück employees as well, since production of the Boxster and Cayman will be gradually shifted back to Zuffenhausen by the end of 2016.

“The employees in Osnabrück have proven with their many years of experience in sports car production that they deliver the highest quality Porsche. We appreciate the opportunity to trust them with a part of the final assembly of the Cayenne. This is an important contribution to achieving the strategy objectives Porsche in 2018,” said Dr. Oliver Blume, head of production and logistics at Porsche AG.

Porsche Cayenne Facelift Revealed, Gets 410HP Plug-in Hybrid and Turbo'd V6

Porsche has opened up its cards in regards to the refreshed 2015 Cayenne prior to its first public outing and world premiere at the Paris motor show in October.

In sum, Porsche reworked the Cayenne's body giving it edgier look, while adding two new powertrains under the hood, including a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid and a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6.

Unlike so many other facelifts we see today, Stuttgart's designers actually made plenty of changes to the body, even if they're not immediately recognizable to an untrained eye. Porsche says the 2015 model has a sharper exterior design, and for the most part, this author agrees.

At the business end of the luxury SUV, Porsche redesigned the grille, bumper, lights and even the (more contoured) hood, which now hovers over to the corners of the reshaped fenders. The Diesel, S, and S E-Hybrid models get Bi-Xenon headlights with "hovering" four-point LED daytime running lights, while the flagship Cayenne Turbo benefits from LED headlamps with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS).

Swerve your eyes towards the back, and you'll find thinner and much better looking tail lamps in red, which together with the redesigned tailgate, bumper and exhaust pipes, offer the SUV a less swollen appearance that the current model.

Porsche hasn't graced us yet with photos of the interior, but they do tell us that there's a new standard multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles, the looks and functions of which, "are based on the steering wheel of the 918 Spyder", along with a new rear seating system that includes optional ventilation.

Below the hood, all 2015 Cayennes obtain an improved "auto stop-start function plus" system and optimized thermal management, while Active air flaps are being used for the first time in the SUV's history to improve aerodynamics and consequently, fuel consumption.

The S E-Hybrid is a new addition to the range and according to Porsche, "the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment". It uses the same parallel plug-in hybrid system as the Panamera, pairing a 94hp (95PS) electric motor to a 3.0 liter supercharged V6 gasoline engine generating a combined 410hp (416PS) at 5,500 rpm and 435 lb.-ft. of peak torque from 1,250 to 4,000 rpm. With this powertrain, the Cayenne shoots to 100km/h (62mph) in 5.4 seconds and on to a top velocity of 243km/h (151mph). The manufacture also quotes an all-electric top speed of 126km/h (78 mph).

Also new is the 414hp (420PS) and 406 lb.-ft. 3.6 liter twin-turbo V6 engine that replaces the naturally-aspirated 395hp (400PS) 369 lb.-ft. 4.8-liter V8. With the standard eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission, the new Cayenne S goes from zero to 100km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds (5.1 sec with the optional Sport Chrono package), or 0.4 seconds faster than the previous, V8-powered Cayenne S. Its top speed is 257km/h or 160 mph.

Rounding out the changes is the retuned chassis with Porsche promising greater levels of comfort without compromising the SUVs "dynamic pace".

In the U.S., the 2015 Cayenne goes on sale on November 1, with prices starting from $61,700 (excluding a $995 destination fee) for the Diesel model that has a 237hp (240PS) 3.0-liter V6 (0-62mph or 100km/h in 7.2 sec), rising to $113,600 for the 513hp (520PS) 4.8-liter V8 Turbo model (0-62mph in 4.2 sec).

New Porsche 911 Club Coupe Special Edition with 424hp Limited to 12 Units

On May 26, 1952, only four years after Porsche began producing cars, a group of seven enthusiasts in Germany established the first Porsche Club in the world. The same year saw the foundation of a second Porsche Club with six members. Today, there are 640 official Porsche Clubs with some 181,000 members in 75 countries around the globe.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the first Porsche Clubs in Germany, the Stuttgart sports car maker has readied a special edition version of the 991 aptly named the 911 Club Coupe. Based on the latest 911 Carrera S, the new model is available exclusively to Porsche Club members with production limited to only 13 units, one of which will remain with Porsche.

All 13 examples of the 911 Club Coupe are painted in a classic “Brewster Green” hue and feature the standard Sport Design Package that adds a new front bumper and a 'ducktail' rear spoiler, while riding on 20-inch SportTechno alloy wheels.

The interior package includes dark brown leather sport seats with decorative beige stitching, illuminated door entry guards bearing the model designation and anniversary logo, and an aluminum trim kit with a personalized laser engraving "911 Club Coupe – personally built for" and the name of the client.

Under the sheetmetal, the standard PASM sports suspension allows the driver to drop the 911's ride height by as much as 20mm, while the newly developed Carrera S Powerkit provides an extra 30-ponies lifting output from 394hp (400PS) to 424hp (430PS).

Porsche says that with the PDK double-clutch transmission, the 911 Club Coupe completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.0 seconds. As mentioned earlier, only 12 club members will have the chance to acquire one 911 Club Coupe, each through a lottery and only after they register their interest on Porsche's dedicated website until July 16, 2012.

Pricing in Germany is set at €142,831 (excluding taxes) and in the U.S., at $175,580.

Porsche 911 Turbo Wallpaper