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Porsche introduces Boxster and 911 Black Editions

In case choosing which Porsche to buy weren't challenging enough, the German automaker has announced a new special edition to make it even more so - particularly for people who like the murdered-out look. Called the Black Edition, it's being offered on the 911 and Boxster. As you might have guessed, the principal defining feature is the black on black color scheme, with metallic black paint available as an option. But it also comes bundled with otherwise optional equipment as standard. Both versions come from the factory with heated seats and auto-dimming mirrors as well as embossed headrests, unique sill plates and a Sport Design steering wheel. The 911 version also includes 20-inch wheels, dynamic LED headlights, front and rear Park Assist, reversing camera and Bose audio. It's based on the standard 3.4-liter model with 350 horsepower and is available in rear- or all-wheel drive and in coupe or carbio form. The Boxster Black Edition likewise starts out with the base 2.7-liter, 265-hp model, and upgrades with its own set of 20-inch wheels, wind deflector, bi-xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, navigation, upgraded audio and park assist. Porsche dealers in the US are now taking orders on the Black Editions, with deliveries set to commence at the end of July. Pricing range from $59,100 for the Boxster and $88,800 for the 911 Carrera, ratcheting all the way up to $104,600 for the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (all prices excluding the $995 destination charge). Show full PR text Exclusive editions of 2016 Porsche Boxster and 911 Carrera in classic color combination In elegant black: Porsche 911 Carrera and Boxster Black Editions Atlanta. Porsche has created a special model of the 911 Carrera and Boxster: the Black Edition. The combination of black exterior and interior emphasizes the timeless, classy elegance of each sports car. As the name indicates, Black paint is standard, while Jet Black Metallic is available as an option. Standard equipment on the 911 Carrera and Boxster Black Edition models has been enhanced in regards to the wheels, headlights, and sound system while additional equipment has been included such as the Sport Design steering wheel, door sill guards with Black Edition logo, heated seats, auto dimming rear-view mirrors, and the headrests are embossed with the Porsche Crest. The 911 Carrera Black Edition is based on the standard model with a 3.4 liter flat-six engine developing 350 hp.

Consumer Reports selling its road-tested roadsters [w/video]

Here's a chance to acquire a celebrity-owned vehicles, and this time at a discount instead of a premium. So the celebrity in this case is Consumer Reports, that magazine that could be equally adored and abhored by car enthusiasts. CR buys all of its test vehicles and usually finds willing second owners within its own ranks, but its opening its small used-car lot to the public. On the forecourt are four roadsters: an automatic 2012 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic with 6,600 miles for $36,500, a manual 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i with 8,400 miles for $45,000, a manual 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK250 for $39,500 and a manual 2013 Porsche Boxster with 7,000 miles for $48,000.
Those numbers mean a savings of $9,000 to $10,000 before haggling - each car is listed with an "Asking price" so there could be some wiggle room if you show up with pockets full of dough and eyes full of serious intent. Since the money CR earns from the sales go back into the magazine's budget to buy more test cars, however, it probably won't take any oddball trades, so you can forget about getting any purchasing help from that track-day AMC Javelin project on blocks in the back yard.
The vehicles have been taken care of and spiffed up for sale; buyers will take delivery at the CR test track in East Haddam, Connecticut and get a tour of the facilities. While you're there they'll even take you on a lap around the track so you can feel how your car handles when driven by one of its testers. They will probably not help you with advice on which toaster and dehumidifier to buy - you'll still need to get a subscription for that. Have a look at the video below to see a day in the life of a CR test car.

Porsche tops J.D. Power quality index as Korean brands soar

While complaints about infotainment systems remain a thorn in the side of automakers for J.D. Power's annual Initial Quality Study, there's a lot to celebrate this year. The average number of problems reported per 100 vehicles fell to 112 in 2015 – a three-percent improvement compared to 116 in 2014. The results of this year's survey are based on the responses of over 84,000 people about problems within the first 90 days of buying or leasing a 2015 model-year vehicle. For the third consecutive year, Porsche tops the rankings with an average of 80 problems per 100 vehicles. Although, that's slightly more than the 74 the German sportscar maker scored in 2014. "While the Japanese automakers continue to make improvements, we're seeing other brands, most notably Korean makes, really accelerating the rate of improvement," Renee Stephens, vice president of US automotive quality at J.D. Power, said in the study's release. In fact, Kia ranks as one of the biggest movers in this year's list. The Korean brand jumped to second place from seventh last year. The company had an average of 86 problems per 100 vehicles, a 20-point improvement. Third place went to Jaguar with an average of 93 problems reported, versus last year's second-place finish with 87 of them. Fourth place was Hyundai, and fifth-place Infiniti also earned a gold star for improvement with 97 issues per 100 vehicles – 31-points better than last year. Fiat still anchored the bottom of the list. However, its 161 problems this year is a lot better than the 206 in 2014. Ranked by nationality, Korean brands (Hyundai and Kia) are now leading the industry in initial quality with an average of 90 problems reported per 100 vehicles. According to J.D. Power, this is the first time Europe's figure beat Japan with 113 and 114 issues, respectively. The American brands also averaged 114. Whereas General Motors dominated last year, the segment awards are spread out in 2015. GM, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen Group are all tied with four models each earning prizes. For more information, you can also see all of the graphs, here. J.D.