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Porsche's former CEO Wiedeking to stand trial over VW-share manipulation

Former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking (left in the above photo) could potentially be facing some time in the slammer after all. The last we had heard, he and former Chief Financial Officer Holger Haerter (right) had avoided a trial in April due to a lack of evidence. However, an appeals court in Stuttgart has looked at the case again and overruled the earlier decision, finding that the executives should be tried for share manipulation during Porsche's failed attempt to take over Volkswagen in 2008, Bloomberg reports.
The judges in the appeal "list numerous indications that could suggest that there was a hidden decision to increase the stake as they could suggest the opposite evaluation by the lower court," said Stefan Schueler, a spokesperson for the court, in a statement cited by Bloomberg. Wiedeking and Haerter put out their own releases saying that there was no merit to the charges.
The prosecutors allege that Wiedeking and Haerter had a plan to buy up VW stock options in 2008 to take the automotive giant over but hid it from investors. The whole thing was a massive failure and eventually allowed VW the chance to acquire Porsche and forced the two execs to step down. In addition to the criminal investigation, hedge funds have attempted to sue the company multiple times in civil court for the same reason, but they have repeatedly failed.

2017 Porsche Panamera leaked looking sporty and sleek

The Internet isn't very good at keeping secrets. Someone got hold of some images of the 2017 Porsche Panamera ahead of its official debut next week and leaked them online. While that's bad news for Porsche, it's good news for the auto-loving masses, because the next Panamera is pretty darn... pretty. While the overall shape of the next-gen Panamera doesn't stray far from the car it replaces, the details make for a more cohesive overall package than before. It's clearly a Porsche, and obviously a Panamera (look, four doors and a hatchback!), but it's no longer bulbous or ungainly. Lighting front and rear is inspired by the latest 718 models, and the sleek bulging hood is apparently hiding a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. We expect a range of six- and eight-cylinder engines for production, along with a plug-in hybrid. Inside, the only analog gauge we see is a tachometer, helpfully placed directly in front of the driver. A quartet of digital dials flank the throwback tach, but we can't see much past that. There does appear to be a good amount of space for the rear-seat passengers, along with what looks to be a touch-sensitive control surface at the rear of the center console. We expect similar capacitive buttons for the front occupants, along with a large LCD infotainment screen. Take a look at the images above for an early glimpse at the 2017 Porsche Panamera. And stay tuned for all the details on June 28. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2017 Porsche Panamera leaked images News Source: Motor1.com Design/Style Porsche Hatchback Luxury Performance Sedan

Modded budget Mazda Miata takes on new Porsche Boxster in more challenges

Earlier this month, our friends across the pond at Auto Express released the first in a two-video series that would see them try and build up a second-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata that could best a standard Porsche Boxster around the track. While that first video detailed the mods to the MX-5 - a supercharger, some suspension upgrades and a new set of super-sticky rubber being chief among them - and set baseline lap times for the stock car, today, we have the results of the 5,000-pound ($8,200) upgrade job.
Of course, we aren't going to spoil those for you. You'll need to watch the full video, which recaps the upgrades before digging into a comparison of both straight-line-speed differences between the 2.7-liter Porsche Boxster and blown Miata, as well as their behavior and lap times on the track.
Take a look and let us know what you think in Comments.