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The 2014 Ruf RCT offers rear-drive action with 911 Turbo fun

Ruf has 37 years of experience of turning Porsches into even higher performance machines. For the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, it's unveiling the RCT, or Ruf Carrera Turbo, which offers power to split the difference between Porsche's 911 Turbo and Turbo S models.
The RCT starts with a unique body kit with a new front air dam and drastically changed rear deck that combines both a small spoiler and air intake. Power is provided by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter flat-six with 525 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque paired to either a seven-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch transmission. That gives the Ruf a 5-hp and 15-lb-ft advantage over Porsche's own Turbo but is still less powerful than the full Turbo S. The RCT sprints to 62 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds and to a top speed of 196 mph.
However, the Ruf's big advantage is that it offers buyers the choice of either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while Stuttgart's turbo models are only available spinning all four wheels. The RCT can also offers upgrades like an integrated roll cage and custom suspension packages, should the buyer be so inclined to splash out on racing kit.

Porsche 918 Spyder to birth stretched 2+2 version?

Porsche is known for its ability to spin off a litter of variants from a single model, and according to a report in Automobile the 918 Spyder (pictured here) might not be spared the house trick. Having taken too many brains and too much money for too much time, company chiefs are said to be examining ways to get more for their development euro out of the supercar, and Plan A is apparently otherwise known as Plan 984. That would be a four-seater, rear-wheel drive supercar that uses a stretched mold of the 918's carbon fiber tub, keeping the V8 in the same mid-mounted place and costing around 350,000 euro.
That would be less than half the MSRP of its inspiration, but the details don't sketch out a car that's just half as good. Automobile speculates it would get something like 700 horsepower in order to best the coming 911 GT2, and about 440 pound-feet of torque. The 984 is quite a ways short of being confirmed; even though a full-size study is said to exist, it's like the 918 would need to become a bigger sales hit for the 984 to happen.
The 984's fortunes don't change those of the 960, the supercoupe Porsche is building to challenge Ferrari. Its potential specs haven't changed since the last report in January, power coming from a 5.0-liter, twin-turbo, eight-cylinder boxer engine with something like 650 hp pushing a curb weight of roughly 3,100 pounds. The means a suspected 0-to-60 mile-per-hour time of 2.5 seconds.

2015 Porsche Panamera Exclusive Series is a seriously quick way to spend $260k

Porsche is usually associated with being a sports car brand, but with vehicles like the Cayenne and Panamera it takes a step into the world of luxury against firmly established players like Mercedes-Benz. One way for the company to poke its head above the high-class fray is by taking things further, and in the case of the Panamera Exclusive Series at the Los Angeles Auto Show, it means pushing grandeur to extreme levels.
Coming in at an absolutely eye-watering $263,900, plus $995 destination, the Panamera Exclusive starts its life as the already sumptuous Panamera Turbo S Executive with a 4.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 making 570 horsepower on an extended wheelbase. To help justify the extra $63,000 for the Exclusive, though, the model gets 20-inch black Sport Classic wheels and an interior in swaddled in Nappa leather with dark walnut and piano black trim. Rear passengers also get 10.1-inch touchscreens mounted on the back of the front seats. A set of fitted Poltrana Frau leather luggage is included with each one, as well.
The luxurious sedan earns it Exclusive moniker because just 100 of them are being made worldwide. Scroll down to read about Porsche's ultimate limousine.