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Watch the incredibly complicated operation of Porsche's new targa roof

Despite Porsche having claimed the name, targa tops are nothing new. In addition to the semi-roofless version of the 911, plenty of cars in the past have used removable roof panels - the new Corvette Stingray has one (as have prior generations), and this type of open-air experience has been available on past vehicles like the Pontiac Solstice Coupe and Honda Civic del Sol.
But when Porsche took the top off its brand new 911 Targa here at the Detroit Auto Show, it was indeed cause for pause. Simply put, this is one of the most complicated and intricate electronic roof panel removal techniques we've ever seen, save perhaps, for the setup found on the Japanese-market Civic del Sol from the 1990s.
We won't spoil the video for you, but basically, rather than just the roof panel coming off, the entire rear glass area lifts away the body in order for the small section over the passenger compartment to slide back. This has to be incredibly expensive to repair once it inevitably breaks. And we highly doubt you'll be able to operate this mechanism at any speed.

Porsche CEO outlines Cayenne diesel US repair proposal

Porsche has announced a plan to fix the emissions issue on the Cayenne with the 3.0-liter diesel V6, and it includes a software update and the replacement of the catalytic converter on some early examples, according to Reuters. The company believes these repairs are enough to make the SUVs emissions compliant, but the automaker's proposal still needs approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board before it can implement a recall. This authorization could come by the end of January. Note that the proposed 3.0-liter TDI plan is separate from the 2.0-liter TDI fix that was rejected by CARB on Tuesday. There are around 13,000 Cayennes on the road that the company needs to repair. Models from 2013 and 2014 would require a new catalytic converter and a software update, but those from 2015 and 2016 would just need the new software. "The technical aspects have all been submitted, we will wait whether there will still be proposals for corrections by the Americans," Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said to Reuters. He wasn't sure how long the repair process would take, but suggested less than half of the affected examples would require the upgraded exhaust hardware. Blume indicated to Reuters that Audi actually created this repair plan. The EPA first issued a violation notice against the 3.0 TDI in early November and later broadened it to around 85,000 vehicles from the 2009-2016 model years, including diesel examples of the Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5, and Q7. Audi later admitted the engine contained previously undisclosed auxiliary emission control devices. CARB gave the automaker 45 days to come up with a recall proposal to fix the 15,000 affected models in the state. Related Video:

New J.D. Power Initial Quality Study puts Porsche, GM in spotlight

J.D. Power and Associates has released its annual Initial Quality Study, and this year, Porsche and General Motors took the spotlight. The study, which asks new car owners to report problems experienced during the first 90 days of ownership, found that overall, the industry averages 113 problems per 100 vehicles.
Porsche managed a score of just 80 problems per 100 vehicles, while GMC took the second spot on the podium with 90. Lexus filled out the top three with 94 problems per 100 vehicles, followed by Infiniti at 95 and Chevrolet at 97. The study also looks at specific models, and found the Lexus LS to enjoy the best initial quality at 59 problems per 100 vehicles.
Interestingly enough, the report found that around two-thirds of most owner problems experienced in the first 90 days are attributable to vehicle design instead of mechanical failure. Specifically - echoing a refrain we've been hearing for the last few years - owners are having a hard time figuring out how to use the technology present in their new vehicles. Head over to the J.D. Power site for more information, or scroll down below for the company's related press release.