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The 2017 Porsche 911 RSR goes mid-engine, purists be damned

Porsche unveiled its World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech Championship competitor with the 2017 911 RSR. And this 911 is different from the rest, as the 4.0-liter flat-six engine powering this beast is in front of the rear axle, not behind it. That's right, this 24 Hours of Le Mans competitor ditches the iconic rear-engine layout. Porsche isn't talking specifics on how exactly things are arranged back there. The engine is new, now based on the 991 911's block instead of the previous Mezger motor that's been used for years. The transmission design is new as well – it would have to be to accommodate the new location relative to the engine. The racecar has been engineered to meet the LM-GTE class, where it will go up against other mid-engine cars like the Ford GT and Ferrari 488 GTE. Moving the engine to the middle has given Porsche the ability to fit the 911 RSR with massive bits of aero, like the humongous rear diffuser that looks like it would be more at home on a machine of war. The only thing that can compete with the diffuser for size is the top-mounted rear wing, which shares a similar design to the one found on the 919 Hybrid. Going back to the engine, the direct-injected boxer motor, depending on the size of the restrictor, generates as much as 510 horsepower and sends all of its fury to the rear wheels. The engine is paired to a six-speed sequential gearbox, which drivers can employ through paddles on the steering wheel. The new engine doesn't have a lot of weight to push around as the 911 RSR, as required by regulations, weighs 2,740 pounds. Speaking of weight, the engine layout isn't the only change for the 911 RSR. For 2017, the car ditches its steel body for one that's made out of carbon fiber. The body attaches to the chassis via quick-release fasteners, making the vehicle easier to service as exterior elements can be removed with minimal effort. The racecar also gets a radar-based collision system – aptly named the "Collision Avoid System" – which is meant to limit the 911 RSR's encounters with faster LMP prototypes. Only time will tell if the new layout and aerodynamic components help the 911 RSR beat its competition. But there will be plenty of opportunities to see the racecar in action as Porsche plans to run the 911 RSR in 19 races during the 2017 season, the first of which will take place at the IMSA opener on January 28th at Daytona, where the racecar will make its track day debut.

Hamann Porsche Macan S Diesel promises more performance, questionable looks

Ignore the Gulf Oil livery for a minute (we know, it's hard). What we have under the blue-and-orange paint scheme is a diesel-powered Porsche Macan S, which is fascinating enough in and of itself. But this particular example has been upgraded by the folks at Hamann, for that added bit of oomph. Power output from the 3.0-liter V6 diesel is up from 258 horsepower to 300 hp. We buy diesels for torque, though, so it's the 494 pound-feet, up from 427 lb-ft, that really gets us excited about this modded Porsche. Taken together, the Hamann Macan S Diesel can hit 60 miles per hour in a decidedly un-diesel-like 5.7 seconds, down from 6.1 seconds. German tuners like Hamann are not known for their subtlety, of course, so beyond the power ugprades, the company has made its own aesthetic tweaks. The new body kit is, um, aggressive? Okay, it's really not very nice to look at. The Macan is a handsome vehicle on its own, but Hamann's efforts haven't done it any favors. It's extremely busy, particularly around the front and rear ends, where the tuning company's efforts seem focused. We're guessing some attention has been paid to the cabin, although it's impossible to tell on the Geneva show car, which has had all of its windows heavily tinted. Here's hoping any changes to Macan's cleanly styled cabin are kept to a minimum. Take a look at our full crop of live photos of the modded Macan, direct from the floors of the Geneva Motor Show. High-performance power, long-distance comfort, extravagance: the benchmark figures of the formidable Porsche Macan S Diesel are impressive. For all fans of the dynamic vehicle Hamann's tuning experts now sets the bar even higher. As is generally known, the model's name "Macan" was derived from the Indonesian word for tiger – and exactly this tiger Hamann frees from the ties of a series actor. The face of the Macan, which Hamann presents in the S Diesel version in Geneva, has self-confident traits. The tiger seems ready to jump – an effect achieved by the low line of the front apron and the lowering of the car. Hamann's aerodynamics attachment emphasises the sharp "teeth" of the Macan Turbo's standard front and sets distinctive accents. The car refiner's interpretation of the Macan S Diesel appears well-toned and is coherently continued in powerfully shaped wing extensions making the predator's body grow by twelve centimetres in width.

Audi welcomes Porsche back to Le Mans like any sibling would

Ah, sibling rivalry. It really is a beautiful thing. It's even more beautiful when said siblings are automakers with very, very well-known racing histories. That's how you get videos like this, which is Audi's way of welcoming Porsche back to the top flight of Le Mans racing.
Yes, Audi has taken its R18 E-Tron Quattro back onto public roads, wowing schoolboys and scaring farmers (who appear to be riding classic Porsche tractors), as it travels from Ingolstadt to Zuffenhausen, just to taunt its corporate frenemy.
Take a look below for a video to see just what that teasing looks like.