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Porsche announces four flavors of updated Cayenne [w/video]

The new Macan may be getting all the attention lately, but Porsche hasn't forgotten about its larger crossover – the one that put it on the map in 2002 and on the road to profitability, with over half a million sold so far. So to keep the Cayenne at the top of its game, Porsche has announced several key upgrades for the 2015 model. For starters, Porsche has updated the Cayenne's appearance with new front- and rear-end styling. The front bumper, fenders and hood are entirely new, with air fins flanking the nose to direct air into the intercoolers (each model now being artificially aspirated), and new bi-xenon headlamps and daytime running LEDs on every model but the Turbo, which goes all-LED. Around back there's also new taillights, tailgate handle, lower rear fascia and exhaust pipes. Meanwhile the interior has been upgraded with a 918-derived sport steering wheel and reformed rear seats with available ventilation. The bigger news is under the engine bay, where Porsche is offering four choices. The base model is gone as the range starts with the Cayenne Diesel, followed by the Cayenne S, the new Cayenne S E-Hybrid and the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo. The Diesel model carries over the same 3.0-liter turbo diesel with 240 horsepower. The Cayenne S however packs a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 that's similar to the one found in the Macan Turbo and packs the same 406 lb-ft of torque but more power at 420 hp, 20 more than either its little brother or the model it replaces to reach 62 mph in 5.2 seconds. The new Cayenne S E-Hybrid makes Porsche the world's only car manufacturer to offer three plug-in hybrid models. Porsche has also ported over the powertrain from the Panamera S E-Hybrid to make what Porsche refers to as "the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment" and, along with the 918 Spyder, make it (almost unbelievably) "the world's only car manufacturer to offer three plug-in hybrid models" (unless, of course, you count the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera as separate from the Chevy Volt and Cadillac ELR). The system mates a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 333 hp to an electric motor with 95 hp to give it a combined output of 416 hp (more than the diesel and almost as much as the S) to propel it to 62 in 5.4 seconds, hit an all-electric top speed of 78 mph and an all-out top speed of 151 mph – offering a substantial improvement over the previous Cayenne S Hybrid.

Former Porsche execs acquitted of stock manipulation charges

A German court acquitted former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and former CFO Holger Harter of stock manipulation charges, according to Bloomberg. Prosecutors alleged the men hid plans to takeover Volkswagen while publicly denying their intentions to investors. The presiding judge didn't find any merit to those claims, though. "There is nothing to the allegations, absolutely nothing," Judge Frank Maurer said, according to Bloomberg. "There was no secret plan to take over VW." Rather than Porsche taking over VW, the exact opposite eventually happened, and both execs stepped down. Investigators first indicted Wiedeking and Harter for alleged stock manipulation in late 2012. A court in Stuttgart dismissed the case in 2014 because of a lack of evidence, but an appeals court later overruled that decision. The current trial finally began in October 2015. If convicted, Wiedeking faced up to 30 months in prison, and Harter could have received up to 27 months, Bloomberg reported. Prosecutors also wanted one million euro ($1.1 million) fines from them and 807 million euros ($910 million) from Porsche. The acquittal might not be the end of this long-running case, though. In Germany, prosecutors have the right to appeal a ruling, and the lawyer hasn't made a final decision yet. If the court thinks there's a reason, the former execs could be back in front of a judge at some point in the future.

Porsche needs more people for Mission E

In an effort to get the all-electric Mission E on the road, Porsche is hiring an additional 400 people – on top of the 1,000 it previously hired – to work on the production and development of the vehicle. The majority of the new employees will work at the automaker's plant in Zuffenhausen, which is located close to Stuttgart, Germany, while others will focus on e-mobility, vehicle connectivity, and other related fields. In addition to hiring these new employees, Porsche is also looking for roughly 100 IT specialists, 50 creatives, and 70 more apprentices as part of an industry-wide push, though the Mission E is still four years away from going into production. In an interview with Australia's Drive, August Achleitner, product director for the 911, revealed that the automaker does not have any current plans to put an electric 911 on to the road. "Right now it wouldn't make sense in our opinion to offer an electric 911, or hybrid version, because there are so many disadvantages of such a concept with this narrow layout of a 911," stated Achleitner. While the automaker is currently not interested in creating an electric 911, Achleitner believes that vehicle could become a possibility in the future – 10 years into the future. Achleitner points towards a lack of demand for an electric 911 as another hindrance to the vehicle. Achleitner's comments go directly against what Lutz Meschke, a board member at Porsche AG, stated earlier this year. In March, one of Porsche's official Twitter accounts claimed that the automaker would offer a hybrid version of every model in its lineup, including the 911. Porsche never released any specific dates on when its mass hybridization project would begin, as the automaker uses the term "near future" to describe its plans. Related Video: Featured Gallery Porsche Mission E Concept: Frankfurt 2015 View 37 Photos News Source: Drive, PorscheImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Green Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Porsche Coupe Electric Sedan porsche mission e porsche mission e concept