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Watch a Group B Porsche 911 tear up the 'Ring in the snow

The Nurburgring is a motorsports fantasyland during the best weather, but it looks even more exciting when the snow starts to fall. While the course isn't open to the general public during the winter, this Porsche 911 SC RS rally car managed a lap of the snow-covered Grand Prix Circuit, sliding the whole way around. The 911 SC RS isn't as famous as Porsche racers like the 917, but it has an interesting story. Porsche's development of the 959 was slow in the '80s, and this coupe was the company's stopgap for Group B rallying. The SC RS used the 911 Turbo's wider body, suspension, and brakes, but the car had a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter flat-six to drive the rear wheels. It couldn't compete against all-wheel drive beasts like the Audi Quattro, but one managed third place in the 1985 Tour de Corse in France. The SC RS sounds great in this video, and it looks even better kicking up snow. There's so much accumulation that you can't tell which way the track goes, but driver Patrick Simon knows his way around. After watching this clip, we think the 'Ring should unleash a few more old rally cars on the track for a new racing series next winter.

Listen to the Porsche Macan's exhaust note ahead of its LA debut

As if we need further proof that the Porsche Macan won't just be another small CUV, it'll be a small Porsche CUV, the German automaker has released a video of the vehicle's raucous exhaust note. In short, the Macan will sport a far racier soundtrack than most of its competitors.
The raspy sound coming from one of the Macan's two turbocharged V6 engines sounds great (the video isn't clear as to whether we're listening to the base 3.0-liter or the Turbo model's 3.6-liter engine), and it's accompanied by a nice crackle on overrun. It isn't like a 911 or other flat-six model, but it is more or less what we expect a Porsche to sound like. We'll have all the details on the newest member of the Porsche lineup when it debuts later this month at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. Scroll down for an official press release from Porsche, as well as the video of the Macan, and be sure to turn your speakers up.

Porsche 911 puts Turbos on its turbos

Distinct from the turbo-but-not-Turbo Porsche 911, the new high-performance models come to market with either 540 or 580 horsepower, depending on which version of the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six engine you choose. Both figures count as a 20-horsepower bump over the last Turbo/Turbo S, allowing both models to hit 60 in under three seconds – 2.9 and 2.7 seconds, respectively – and in the case of the S, on to a 200-plus-mph top speed. This capability will not come cheap, of course. Before so much as dipping a toe into Porsche's notoriously deep options catalog, the base Turbo will demand a $160,195 check. That's awfully spendy, and things don't improve as you climb up the range. The cabriolet adds $12,300 to that, while the S starts at $189,095. Going topless in the Turbo S will require $201,395. We had no trouble building a Turbo S Coupe up to $211,000 without adding some of the more obnoxious options, like the $1,720 leather air vents. Check out our live galleries of both the new 911 Turbo and the 911 Turbo S at the top of the page. Redefining fast: the new 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S Top model of the 911 range offers more power, fresh design, and enhanced features ATLANTA, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche will be off to a powerful start in 2016 when the 2017 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S make their debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The top-of-the-line 911 models will be available in both coupe and convertible body styles and are equipped with engines offering 20 horsepower more than before, a sharper design, and enhanced features. The 3.8 liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine powering the 911 Turbo now develops 540 hp. The increase in horsepower is achieved through modified intake ports in the cylinder heads, new fuel injectors, and higher fuel pressure. The 911 Turbo S now makes 580 hp thanks to new turbochargers with larger impelle. In addition to a higher maximum torque (553 lb.-ft. in overboost compared to 523 lb.-ft. on the Turbo), the Turbo S also has a higher redline (7200 rpm instead of 7000). Porsche is still the only manufacturer to use turbochargers with variable turbine geometry in gasoline engines. The engines now also have a dynamic boost function, which improves throttle response during spirited driving. It maintains the boost pressure during load changes – i.e. when the accelerator pedal is briefly released.