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Porsche exec confirms Macan Diesel for US

The idea of a diesel-powered Porsche is the sort of thing that sounds really, really weird... until you actually drive it. The result of sticking glow plugs under the hood of Stuttgart's finest, though, is a vehicle that's nearly as entertaining as a gas-powered model but with much more torque and better fuel economy. Considering that, we think it's absolutely splendid news that following previous reports, Porsche has now confirmed a diesel-powered Macan for the US market.
"We are now busy with the development and the engineering," Andre Oosthuizen, Porsche's North American marketing VP, told Automotive News. "I can confirm that V6 diesel offering with about 245 horsepower."
Yep, that's the same 3.0-liter V6 found, most notably, in the CUV's Audi Q5 platform-mate as well as a plethora of other Volkswagen Group vehicles, both in the US and abroad. Stuttgart already offers the 3.0-liter oil-burner in the Euro-spec crossover, where it churns out 258 hp and 427 pound-feet of torque.

Xcar considers the Porsche 911 GT3's PDK

Porsche ruffled some feathers when it unveiled the latest 911 GT3 a couple of years ago with a dual-clutch transmission instead of an old-school manual. The rationale was (and remains) that the PDK makes the enthusiast's Elfen faster than it would be with a stick. The purists scoffed, but Zuffenhausen held firm – and even did the same with the even more hardcore GT3 RS. In its latest video, the boys at Xcar set out to find out if the GT3 with its fancy automated gearbox is as good as the previous model (or as good as the current model could be) with a manual – and took in some of the track toy's other trickery while they were at it. Check out the video above to find out what conclusion they reached.

Car Club USA: Porsche Club of America Escape to Rushmore

The Porsche Club of America, whose motto is "it's not just the cars, it's the people," plans its annual Escape in a different city every year. This year's was particularly epic, as Porsche fans headed to the Black Hills of South Dakota for their gathering. The scenery and the history are part of the attraction, but the winding roads are the real headliner. "This road right here is the reason why we chose the Black Hills of South Dakota to do the 2015 Escape," said Ron Johnson of the Nord Stern Porsche Club as he navigated the mountain range. "These Porsches really love these twisty, curvy roads." That statement neatly sums up why the sports cars have resonated so deeply with their owners and enthusiasts for so long. In addition to the guided tours and drives around the winding terrain, the club hosts a car show. This year marks the club's 60th in the United States, and the Escape drew a wide range of Porsches of all vintages. Lloyd and Donna Nelson from Valley City, ND, arrived in their 1955 Porsche Speedster, which they purchased alongside a 1951 coupe in 1964 for a grand total of $750. Needless to say, it was a good investment – although they didn't know it at the time. "We had two children, one on the way, we were both working and I really didn't see the sense in two old cars," explained Donna. "I said, 'one of them has to go,'" to which Lloyd responded, "which one of the kids?" They sold the coupe long ago, but the speedster is still gorgeous and gets more than its fair share of stares and use. Will they win best of show? "This is what us as enthusiasts dream of," Johnson said. Watch the latest episode of Car Club USA to see how it turns out and for a snapshot of life at the Escape. Each Car Club USA episode features a different car club or event from across the US, where passionate owner communities gather to share automotive experiences and embark on incredible adventures. From Main Street cruises to off-road trails, catch all the latest car club activity on Autoblog.