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Porsche confirms four-cylinder Macan for New York

There aren't a lot of problems with the Porsche Macan. It's clean, handsome, and very, very nice to drive. But it's expensive, starting at $55,450, and thirsty, at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. To improve on both of these, Porsche is adding a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder Macan to the lineup. The new engine moves the compact CUV downmarket on both power and price fronts. In the Macan, the 2.0-liter pumps out 252 horsepower, 273 pound-feet of torque, and compared to old base model, cuts the curb weight from 4,112 pounds to 3,902 pounds. Combined with a seven-speed PDK and a standard all-wheel-drive system, the new base level CUV will hit 60 miles per hour in just 6.1 seconds. You still have to suspend logic when buying a Macan, though. At just 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, it's scarcely more efficient than the 340-hp S model. Admittedly, the Macan's competitors all eke out substantially better fuel economy, but each of these vehicles does so with less power than Porsche's new base Macan – the BMW X3 has 240 ponies, the Mercedes GLC has 241, and the Audi Q5 just 220. But they also do it for a lot less money. The new Macan starts at $48,550, including a $1,050 destination charge. That's $6,900 less than the Macan S, but it's still around $7,000 more than the all-wheel-drive versions of the aforementioned cars. And yes, that chasm is almost certainly going to widen after digging into Porsche's options catalog. Still, this is an intelligent and overdue move for Porsche here in the US (the four-pot Macan has been on sale in Europe for years). It opens up the Macan to a far wider swath of customers, not unlike what the V6 model does for the Cayenne. Look for more on Stuttgart's new entry level CUV in a few weeks, when it makes its big debut in the Big Apple. Related Video: PORSCHE ANNOUNCES NEW YORK AUTO SHOW LINE-UP North American debut of Porsche 911 R, 718 Boxster, and Macan Atlanta, Georgia. The New York International Auto Show will be host to three North American debuts for Porsche this year. The 911 R and the 718 Boxster both represent the latest interpretation of driving pleasure and dynamics in their respective segments. The 911 R is a pure, uncompromised driving machine with a naturally-aspirated, 500 horsepower engine mounted in the rear. The 718 Boxster features extensive chassis enhancements and an all-new turbocharged, mid-mounted flat-four cylinder engine.

The holidays are coming and this Singer Designs book is great

None of us should expect to get one of Singer's beautifully reimagined Porsche 911s for the holidays, but a new book titled One More than 10: Singer and the Porsche 911 at least lets you give, or receive, some sensational photos of them. The 275-page book tells the story of Singer founder Rob Dickinson and what inspires him to put so much effort into making 911s even better. The opinions of auto writers and industry personalities accompany Dickinson's tale, but the lavish photography is the true highlight. Based on the preview photos in the gallery above, the shots perfectly capture the company's machines from all the best angles. Former Autoblogger Michael Harley co-authors the book. There might still be time to order the $85 book for a friend (or yourself) in time for the holidays because the publisher guarantees delivery by Christmas for the first 200 of them. Dickinson will also sign copies at the Petersen Museum's re-opening preview day on Dec. 6. The publisher will also offer 100 copies of a limited edition for a hefty $911. These will come in a custom display case from Singer's craftspeople, and they'll include exclusive artwork. SINGER VEHICLE DESIGN EXCLUSIVITY MAY NOW BE MORE ATTAINABLE AS POINT OF ENTRY BEGINS WITH BACKGROUND STORY "One More than 10: Singer and the Porsche 911" New Book – Perfect Holiday Gift for Porsche 911 Fans PR Newswire, LOS ANGELES – November 10, 2015 As the world continues to take notice of a little restoration shop in Southern California that has provided a re-birth of sorts to old and tired Porsche 964s, many have come to believe the ability to enter the inner circle of Singer Vehicle Design was well beyond reach. However, as the holiday season draws upon us, there's one pathway to ownership within a less limited perspective that enthusiasts just may find easier on their pocket-book too – that being the release of the background story of the impeccable craftsmanship within Rob Dickinson's "re"imagination of Porsche 911s and the launch of his book "One More Than 10: Singer and the Porsche 911" currently available at www.singervehicledesign.com on a pre-order basis, as well as through publishing house Stance & Speed at http://www.stanceandspeed.com/automotive-books/one-more-than-10-singer-and-the-porsche-911.

Former Porsche CEO Wiedeking indicted over VW takeover bid

Do you recall the failed efforts by Porsche to take over Volkswagen? According to a Bloomberg report, former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking (above) and ex-CFO Holger Haerter have finally been charged with market manipulation over the exercising of options as part of the German sportscar manufacturer's ill-fated attempt to take over the much larger VW. That failed bid eventually resulted in the reverse coming true - VW swallowing Porsche.
The charges leveled by Stuttgart prosecutors come after a three-year investigation centered around allegations that Porsche execs made a concerted effort to increase the company's share in VW to 75 percent in preparation for a hostile takeover. Porsche had previously told its investors on at least five occasions that it had no intention to buy VW.
Portions of the investigation have subsided, according to prosecutors, citing an inability to prove certain improprieties with a "necessary degree of certainty." The number of charges is down to 5 from a previous 14 counts regarding "information-based market manipulation."