2006 Porsche Cayenne S Awd 4dr Suv on 2040-cars

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2017 Porsche Panamera caught testing without camo

One of these days, Porsche is going to introduce the 2017 Panamera. That day is not today, though, so we've got yet another round of spy photos showing the new sedan undergoing winter testing. This is easily the closest we've seen to a production body on the new Panamera – it's completely free of camouflage aside from the unconvincing stickers over the headlights and taillights. They're not very good, though. We can see the taillights will adopt a similar look to the new 911 – they'll be slim LEDs that occupy a lot less space than on the current car. The headlights are slimmer too, but there's no light being shown through the stickers, so we can't discuss actual changes as easily as we can on the tail. As we've said before, the Sport Turismo Concept styling has been plainly converted to create an evolved version of the Panamera's existing design language. According to our spies, the next Panamera will ride on a new MSB platform that aims to slash 200 pounds of fat from the next-gen model. Aluminum and high-strength steel play a big roll in that weight loss. Underhood, there should be the usual range of six- and eight-cylinder engines with a plug-in-hybrid option. As we reported previously, expect the Panamera to show up at a European show, likely Paris or possibly Geneva in 2017. Related Video:

China bans military license plates on luxury autos

Driving a vehicle with a military license plate in China provides many privileges. Legally reserved for official vehicles only, the designation apparently allows drivers to enjoy special liberties on the roads, including breaking traffic laws, filling up with free fuel and receiving light-and-siren escorts through congested cities. So attractive are the benefits that there is a secondary market for used legal and counterfeit plates - especially among those wealthy enough to afford luxury cars. But all of that is reportedly coming to an end, as President Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, is on a mission to fight corruption in his country.
A new license plate system goes into effect today, and it is designed to "maintain social harmony, stability and the reputation of the military," says the PLA Daily, the armed forces' official newspaper. While the abuse has been going on for many years, the internet has put the spotlight on the bad behavior, and the negative press does not represent the morals and true colors of the armed forces, say officials.
While military-plated Porsche drivers have been singled out as offenders, Bloomberg notes that all vehicles with engine displacements above 3.0 liters and with a sticker price in excess of about $73,000, will be banned from receiving military plates. This includes vehicles from Audi, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln and the Volkswagen Phaeton. Even if drivers are savvy enough to circumvent the new issuing system, the military has put technology at toll gates to catch users of counterfeit plates. There has been no word on the punishment if caught.

Techart tastefully tunes Porsche 911, Cayenne

German tuning haus Techart is making a big showing at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, introducing modified versions of a number of Porsche products. At the fore, we have the new, all-turbo 911 range. Techart has turned its hand to both the turbocharged 911 and the new 911 Turbo (this will get less confusing, right?) with a range of upgrades covering performance and aesthetics. Techart has boosted the Carrera S from 420 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque to 460 ponies and 413 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo S gets a bigger boost, going from 580 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque to 640 hp and 649 lb-ft. It's not clear how Techart has made these gains, aside from the company's "Techtronic" engine management. Surprisingly for an aftermarket tuner at Geneva, Techart's exterior treatments are downright tasteful. There are new front and rear clips and a selection of rear wings, helpfully called Rear Wing I and Rear Wing II, while the diffusers and side skirts are also swapped out. We also dig the center-exit exhaust and its four meaty tips. On the opposite end of the equation, Techart is also modding the Cayenne range. The new Magnum Sport treatment can be applied to the base diesel-powered Cayenne and Cayenne S, the gas-powered GTS, and the Turbo with varying degrees of performance, but it's the force-induced Cayenne we're most interested. In its most potent form, the turbocharged V8 can be boosted from 520 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque to 700 hp and 678 lb-ft. At this level of performance, the Cayenne's sprint falls from 4.4 seconds to just 4.1. That ties the stock Cayenne Turbo S, but it's worth noting the Magnum Sport will do 183 miles per hour to the factory model's 176. Like the 911, there's a slew of aesthetic upgrades regardless of which Cayenne your Magnum is based on. The full body kit isn't as tasteful as the 911. The overall look is far more aggressive and dare we say aftermarket, with plenty of carbon-fiber accents, a very low ride and a serious wide-body look. In particular, the new front and rear fascia present a much more imposing appearance. There's also a carbon-fiber hood, because the aftermarket. We've snapped Techart's modified Cayenne and 911 on the floor of the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. And if you scroll down, there's also the official galleries and press releases for both models. Have a look, and register your opinion in Comments. Related Video: TECHART Personalization for the new Porsche 911 models.