06 Carrera S Coupe 6 Speed Navi Manual Leather Roof Bose on 2040-cars

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Porsche planning more plug-ins

Which automaker offers the most plug-in models in the industry? The answer may surprise you, because it's not Toyota, it's not Renault or Nissan or any other automaker that might spring to mind. The answer is Porsche, which already offers the Cayenne and Panamera in plug-in hybrid spec in addition to the 918 Spyder. And it could offer more in the near future. Speaking with Automotive News, Porsche's global sales and marketing chief Bernhard Maier spoke of the importance of plug-in range-extended models to the company's future plans. The 55-year-old executive, who endeavors to make his 56-mile round-trip daily commute from home to the company's headquarters in Stuttgart entirely emissions free, indicated that his company only plans to offer more plug-in models. Previous reports indicated that E-Hybrid powertrain in the Cayenne and Panamera wouldn't fit in the Macan, and that no such plans were in store for the Boxster, Cayman or 911. But when asked what Porsche had in store for the future, Maier replied: "We have a lot of ideas, but we have not approved them for production yet. The 918 Spyder shows that Porsche has the capability to produce very convincing hybrid sports cars." While clearly guarded, Maier's answer points to a future of more plug-in hybrid models from the storied German marque. All that remains to be seen is whether that will come in the form of a Boxster, Cayman, Macan or another new model altogether, like the rumored mini-Panamera dubbed Pajun or a mid-engined V8 supercar.

Consumer Reports selling its road-tested roadsters [w/video]

Here's a chance to acquire a celebrity-owned vehicles, and this time at a discount instead of a premium. So the celebrity in this case is Consumer Reports, that magazine that could be equally adored and abhored by car enthusiasts. CR buys all of its test vehicles and usually finds willing second owners within its own ranks, but its opening its small used-car lot to the public. On the forecourt are four roadsters: an automatic 2012 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic with 6,600 miles for $36,500, a manual 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i with 8,400 miles for $45,000, a manual 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 for $39,500 and a manual 2013 Porsche Boxster with 7,000 miles for $48,000.
Those numbers mean a savings of $9,000 to $10,000 before haggling - each car is listed with an "Asking price" so there could be some wiggle room if you show up with pockets full of dough and eyes full of serious intent. Since the money CR earns from the sales go back into the magazine's budget to buy more test cars, however, it probably won't take any oddball trades, so you can forget about getting any purchasing help from that track-day AMC Javelin project on blocks in the back yard.
The vehicles have been taken care of and spiffed up for sale; buyers will take delivery at the CR test track in East Haddam, Connecticut and get a tour of the facilities. While you're there they'll even take you on a lap around the track so you can feel how your car handles when driven by one of its testers. They will probably not help you with advice on which toaster and dehumidifier to buy - you'll still need to get a subscription for that. Have a look at the video below to see a day in the life of a CR test car.

Porsche 911 Carrera gets turbocharged engine for under $90k

There's a new Porsche 911 Carrera blowing into dealerships in March of 2016, and it will be the first such model from the German automaker to boast a turbocharged engine. Making 370 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque from 3.0 liters of displacement, the new flat-six engine in the base Carrera is 20-hp stronger than it was in 2015. Carrera S models bump the power level to 420 ponies and 368 lb-ft thanks to tweaked tuning parameters. The added grunt makes these the fastest 911 Carrera models ever, with Porsche touting a 7:30 lap – a full 10 seconds faster than before – of the famed Nurburgring track in Germany as proof. Those who only care about going fast in a straight line will be delighted by the 4.0-second 0-60 time of the base Carrera and even more impressed by the S model's 3.7-second run. Top speeds are 183 and 191 miles per hour, respectively. A seven-speed manual transmission is standard, and Porsche's Doppelkupplung (PDK) automated manual gearbox is optional. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. When equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, the 911 Carrera features a new mode switch on the steering wheel with settings for Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual. Porsche Active Suspension Management is standard on all models, and, in another first for a Carrera, rear-wheel steering is optional. Efficiency hasn't been forgotten for 2016, either. Porsche says its new 911 Carrera models will be as much as 12-percent more fuel economy with their new turbocharged engines. Tech buffs will surely appreciate the new Porsche Communication Management infotainment system, which features multi-touch gesture capability and handwriting recognition right on the seven-inch display. Apple CarPlay is also supported, and Google Earth and Streetview are new to PCM for 2016. The 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera is slated to hit the States with an MSRP of $89,400 (we assume that won't include destination, which in 2015 equals $995), which is about $5,000 more expensive than the 2015 model that's currently available. The 2016 Carrera S will carry a sticker price of $103,400, which is a $4,500 increase. Cabriolet models will run from $101,700 to $115,700. Porsche will show its latest 911 Carrera off at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, but you can read all the details right now in the press release below.