2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Hatchback 4-door 4.8l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Porsche 911 R might be manual-only with a GT3 engine

Two of Porsche's best cars only come with two pedals and a PDK transmission. That automatic is inarguably one of the very best on the planet, but it's still not the same. The debut of the latest Porsche 911 GT3 was met with much moaning and groaning when it was revealed it would be PDK-only. A rumor from our friends at Car and Driver could signal that three-pedal fans may finally get the Porsche they really want. C/D is claiming that Porsche might resurrect the 911 R badge for a limited-edition Carrera. Such a vehicle would feature not only a nearly 500-horsepower, naturally aspirated flat-six derived from the GT3's engine, but also a do-it-yourself manual transmission. We're betting it'd be the Carrera's well-regarded seven-speed manual, provided it could handle the output. As for how this car will look, that is perhaps the most exciting angle. According to C/D, Porsche insiders called the 911 R "a wolf in sheep's clothing," describing subdued sheetmetal that won't trumpet this car's high-performance nature. Yes, there's could be a sleeper 911. We'll keep our eyes open for anything that corroborates Car and Driver's rumor, but until then, take this news with a grain of salt. If the 911 R does see the light of day, it will likely be in March at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. News Source: Car and Driver Rumormill Geneva Motor Show Porsche Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance rumor porsche 911 r

Porsche spotted testing next-gen Panamera in the snow

It's winter testing season in northern Sweden, and the latest spy shots our paparazzi on the ground have brought us is the upcoming Porsche Panamera testing in the cold and snow. The upcoming new four-door Porsche, spied wearing only minimal camouflage, appears to have a more elegant and sloping roofline than the existing model. Other details like the lights, mirrors and grille openings look fairly consistent with what we've been seeing on Porsche's other models as they've trickled out. Based on the new MSB platform, the new Panamera is set to share its underpinnings with the next Bentley Continental and possibly an Audi variant as well – though the prospect of a Lamborghini version to follow the Estoque concept seems to be off the table. The new platform will, however, make the new Panamera lighter than the current model. A new range of V6 and V8 engines are expected to provide motivation, driving the rear wheels or all four, along with the available e-hybrid system. Porsche's first four-door sedan was introduced in 2009 and underwent a facelift in 2013, so the all-new second-generation model should arrive sometime later this year or next as a 2017 model. This new model could provide the impetus for Porsche to put the Sport Turismo shooting brake version into production as well, and maybe – just maybe – a two-door coupe and possible convertible versions to follow in the footsteps of the 928.

Porsche planning jacked-up 911 Safari? [w/poll]

The Porsche 911 may, for some, be the quintessential sportscar. And that typically means keeping it on paved roads and racing circuits. But there's a proud history to taking the Elfen off-road that traces back to specially-prepared 911s (like the one pictured above) which Porsche fielded in rallies in the late '70s and early '80s. And now Porsche is reportedly preparing to tap back into that history with a new off-road 911 model, according to the Auto Bild Motor Revue.
Tipped to be called the 911 Safari, the special variant would be based on the Carrera 4 but upgrade with bigger tires fitted to a beefed-up suspension with higher ground clearance and underbody skid plates. The model is expected to be presented initially as a concept at the Beijing Motor Show next April. But if enough interest is expressed - particularly from buyers in developing markets where the roads might not be as smooth as those to which North American and European drivers have become accustomed - Stuttgart could put it into production in 2016, when the current 991 is expected to get a mid-cycle refresh.
View Poll