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Porsche employees take pay cuts so they can build Mission E

Porsche's 13,000 workers in Zuffenhausen, Germany, agreed to work more and at adjusted wages to ensure that the factory can build the production version the Mission E electric performance sedan. Their sacrifices could save the German sports car maker several hundred million euros, according to Reuters. The Zuffenhausen site was possibly in danger of losing the Mission E because workers there receive higher wages than Porsche's other factories. The specific savings from these concessions reportedly include increasing the workweek by one hour to 35 hours and eliminating portions of pay increases between 2016 and 2025. Porsche didn't officially confirm the precise cuts, but a spokesperson told Reuters: "Employer and employees have jointly drawn up measures that have led to the decision of producing the Mission E model at Zuffenhausen." Porsche plans to invest about $768 million into the Zuffenhausen factory over the coming years. That money will help create over 1,000 new jobs and will build a new paint shop, assembly plant, and upgrade the engine factory to produce electric motors. The expansion will also allow the company to move all production of the Cayman and Boxster to Zuffenhausen by August 2016 rather than the current strategy of outsourcing some of the models' assembly to Osnabruck, Germany. The Mission E should enter production by 2020, and Porsche Executive Board Chairman Dr. Oliver Blume promises it to be the "most sophisticated model in this market segment." The concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show offered a glimpse at the next-gen technology by presenting a swoopy EV sport sedan with all-wheel drive and a total of 590 horsepower from two electric motors. Porsche claimed the concept could reach 62 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds and go nearly 311 miles on the European testing cycle.

Ward's Automotive Ten Best Engines of 2014 dominated by diesels, turbos

With the Car and Driver Ten Best decided, the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced and Cadillac, Ram and Subaru chalking up wins with Motor Trend, it's fair to say that the automotive awards season is in full swing. The next set of trophies to be handed out will be from Ward's Automotive, which has announced the winners of its 2014 10 Best Engines.
The latest contest was marked by the widespread emergence of diesel power and the continued success of turbocharged engines. There was even an electric motor on this year's list. In fact, only three of the ten winners were naturally aspirated and only two winners returned from last year.
"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with the flood of new powertrains," said Ward's Automotive Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. Those new powertrains include the 83-kilowatt electric motor from the Fiat 500e, the 1.0-liter, EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Ford Fiesta and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the Chevrolet Cruze.

Porsche turns up boost on 911 range with new Turbo and Turbo S

You didn't honestly think Porsche would stop with just a turbocharged Carrera and Carrera S, did you? No, that'd be silly. Of course Stuttgart had to follow up those two smash hits with a new Turbo and Turbo S. Naturally, both cars build on the 370-horsepower Carrera and 420-horsepower C2S. The base Turbo offers 540 horsepower and starts at $160,195, while the Turbo S packs 580 horsepower and demands an extra $28,900. Adding a folding fabric top to either model will drive the cost of entry up by $12,300, regardless of output. For those keeping track at home, that's a 20-horsepower bump for both vehicles over the previous models, while the Turbo's price jumps by $8,100 and the Turbo S will cost an extra $5,400. In terms of actual performance, the Turbo hits 60 in just 2.9 seconds and will carry on to 198 miles per hour, a one-tenth and three-mph improvement over the current car. Going for the Turbo S will only shave a tenth of second off the 60-mph sprint, although you'll pick up an extra seven mph on the top end. That compares favorably to the current car, which takes 2.9 seconds to get to the magic six-oh and stops accelerating at just 197. The stopwatch improvements are only part of the story. Porsche claims the new dynamic boost function will maintain turbo pressure during sudden throttle load changes, like you might experience when pushing the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six hard. That means snappier throttle response. As with the current 911 Turbo and Turbo S, Porsche's excellent dual-clutch transmission is the only way to fly. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Both cars also get Porsche's Sport Chrono Package and Porsche Active Suspension Management as standard, while upgrading to the Turbo S will add Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and carbon-ceramic brakes. While there's lots of free hardware, we're betting Porsche's options catalog will remain just as robust. As for the design, you can expect the same look shown on the new, turbocharged 911 Carrera, albeit with some Turbo and Turbo S exclusives. 20-inch wheels are standard, with super-wide rubber in the back – Porsche doesn't list tire specs, but the rear hoops are 11.5-inches wide. Both the 911 Turbo and Turbo S will get their big debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Naturally, we'll have much more then, including live photos from the show. In the meantime, read on for the official press release from Porsche.