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Fatal Tesla Autopilot crash, Porsche debuts 2017 Panamera | Autoblog Minute

A roundup of this week's car news includes the first fatal Tesla Autopilot crash and Porsche's reveal of the 2017 Panamera. Senior Producer Chris McGraw reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] A motorist is killed while using Tesla Autopilot. In what is believed to be the first fatal accident involving Tesla's autonomous driving feature, the Model S failed to stop when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S, and the car drove underneath the truck. Tesla said the trailer's white paint set against the bright sky were the reason the driver and the Autopilot didn't stop the car. Tesla also called this accident a "tragic loss," and pointed out that it's the first death involving Autopilot in more than 130 million miles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [00:00:30] has opened a preliminary evaluation of Tesla's Autopilot. Its evaluation will look at the design and performance of Autopilot during the crash. Find more details at Autoblog.com. The 2017 Porsche Panamera made its official debut this week. With a clear styling link to the Porsche 911, we think this is the best looking Panamera yet. The new Panamera's body is made mostly from aluminum, minus some high-strength steel and optional large panoramic roof overhead. A completely new range of engines powers the second-gen Panamera, starting [00:01:00] with a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 that puts out 440 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. The Panamera Turbo boasts a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 with 550 hp and 567 lb-ft. Both the 4S and the Turbo come with standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission. Porsche is claiming that this Panamera set the Nurburgring record for a production sedan finishing just 14 seconds quicker than the outgoing model. We expect to see the 2017 [00:01:30] Porsche Panamera hit deals in January of 2017. Find more details at Autoblog.com. I'm Chris McGraw. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Porsche Tesla Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video

Best new convertibles for 2024 and 2025

If you’re here, then youÂ’re already in the right mindset. Convertibles rule, and we have all the best convertibles listed for you further below. Driving around with the top off is an experience you need to live to fall in love with. When the weatherÂ’s right, youÂ’re on a proper bit of road, and the car youÂ’re in is a good one, few automotive experiences can top it. The experience is extra special when you have a musical exhaust note filtering directly into your ears and echoing off the landscape around you. And while rolling the windows down and opening a moonroof can get you part of the way there, it's nothing like feeling the wind wash over you with absolutely no roof overhead. The downsides can be just as harsh as the upsides when youÂ’re in the wrong conditions, though. Convertibles are typically worse to live with in cold climates, and driving around with the top up frequently means you might be subject to more road noise and worse visibility than an equivalent coupe. And when it comes to pure performance, convertibles are inherently compromised from a weight and structural rigidity perspective. All that said, we still think the upsides outweigh the compromises if your number one objective is to simply have fun. ItÂ’s a good thing then that there are a ton of great convertibles for sale these days. And no, the list of possibilities isnÂ’t as long as it used to be. Long-running standbys like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and C-Class Convertibles are gone (replaced by the one CLE-Class). And so are others like the Audi TT Roadster, Fiat 124 Spider and Nissan Z Roadster. Nevertheless, opportunities abound from the ultra-cheap and fun, to physics-defying supercars and everything else in between. WeÂ’ll give you options for which new convertibles we think are the best below, so read on to find out.   Mazda MX-5 Miata Pros: Lightweight and compact; great engine and transmission combo; one of the most raw and pure driving experiences out thereCons: Not great for tall people; infotainment is dated; tiny trunk Read our Mazda MX-5 Miata Review Miata is always the answer, right? In this case, that rings even more true than usual. In fact, you could stop reading this list right here and go buy a Miata and youÂ’d likely be just as happy driving it around as you would be in any of the more expensive offerings that follow. ThatÂ’s just the magic of the MX-5.

The List: Best of Scenic Drives

The List hosts Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre have gone on some incredible scenic drives throughout the series, including a drive through the Italian Alps, a cruise on the Pacific Coast Highway, and winding their way across the Tail of the Dragon. Here's a look back at some of our favorite moments of scenic driving. If you like what you see, stay tuned to watch the full episodes, or click here to go directly to our episode archive and pick out some of your own favorite moments of The List to revisit. The List #0100: Drive the Italian Alps The List #0567: Drive The PCH The List #0011: Drive the Tail of the Dragon Have an RSS feed? Click here to add The List. Click here to subscribe to The List in iTunes. Click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick. Bentley Maserati Porsche Driving Convertible The List Videos Original Video