2011 Porsche Panamera Turbo Hatchback 4-door 4.8l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2012 TechArt Porsche 911 is visually dazzling, both inside and out

One way to ensure that your brand-new Porsche 911 (a.k.a. 991) won't look like the one in your neighbor's driveway is to give TechArt a call. The famed German tuner has rolled out its version of the latest Carrera and Carrera S at the Geneva Motor Show and trust us, it won't be mistaken for anything from the factory in Stuttgart.
Up front, TechArt has fitted its own unique two-part spoiler with integrated splitter while more aggressive side skirts adorn the rocker panels. The rear has a new lower diffuser, wrapped around the TechArt exhaust, and a large fixed rear wing (complete with an integrated third brake light). Look more closely to notice the subtle trim panels on the exterior mirrors and front headlights. The wheels are lightweight forged 20- and 21-inch alloys with matching paint on their rims.
Inside the heavily modified cabin are even more drastic enhancements (let's say TechArt has gone over the top). Don't let the aluminum pedals be a distraction as you inspect the black Alcantara and high-grade leather covering nearly every square inch. Flirting with gaudy, the dark upholstery is contrasted by vehicle-color-coordinated stitching and painted trim splashed throughout. However, the icing on the cake is an insanely thick TechArt three-spoke sports steering wheel.

Porsche is planning a hybrid version of the 911

Changes at Porsche are coming thick and hot. It's been a few decades since the last major engine technology change – the very dramatic shift from air- to water-cooling. Now we're seeing a turbo shift, in which even pedestrian 911s, Caymans, and Boxsters are being fitted with turbos. Next up is hybrid proliferation throughout the manufacturer's full range. Hybrids aren't new to the Porsche lineup, of course. The Panamera hybrid has appeared in two forms, one in 2012 and one in 2015. Likewise, the Cayenne hybrid was recently upgraded to plug-in spec. The 918 Spyder is also a plug-in hybrid. The 911, Cayman, and Boxster have been left off the hybridization program so far, but that's about to change. The 911 is "next in line" for hybrid tech, says Lutz Meschke, a board member at Porsche AG. That means we'll likely see a hybrid 911 before the fully-electric production Mission E arrives. Every Porsche model will eventually get a gas-electric option, so the Macan crossover and 718 Boxster and Cayman will follow the iconic sports car's lead soon. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The turbocharged base 911 has fractured critical opinion somewhat, although we loved our first drive of the 2017 911 Carrera with its twin-turbo flat-six engine. Do you fear or welcome the coming hybrid epoch? Let us know in the comments. Related Video:

Matthias Muller officially named VW Group CEO

While the vast number of rumors made it seem like a foregone conclusion, Porsche boss Matthias Muller has officially been named Volkswagen Group CEO to replace the recently resigned Martin Winterkorn. His contract runs through the end of February 2020, and until a replacement is found, Muller also gets to hang onto his old job as chairman of Porsche. At the same time, the VW Group Supervisory Board is announcing a massive structural reorganization across the entire company, with the new management model in place by the beginning of 2016. Contrary to previous rumors, Michael Horn remains as President and CEO of VW Group of America. The board wants a greater emphasis on brands and regions going forward, and the scale of this shift can be seen in the US. On November 1, VW Group business in the US, Mexico, and Canada is being combined under the leadership of current Skoda chairman Winfried Vahland. However contrary to previous rumors, Michael Horn remains as President and CEO of VW Group of America. Other brands are also seeing some significant changes mechanically. Porsche, Bentley, and Bugatti now fall under the Group's "sportscar and mid-engine toolkit." This means that the brands will start sharing standardized technical parts. A Chief Technical Officer across all of the company's brands will also start working toward future innovations. The new brand-centric view means the end of a group-wide production department. "Going forward, the brands and regions will also have greater independence with regard to production. So it follows that they should also hold the responsibility for these activities," Berthold Huber, interim Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said in the announcement. In a statement with the press release about his promotion, Muller promised to turn the company around after such an international crisis. He said: "My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation. Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry." Matthias Muller appointed CEO of the Volkswagen Group Muller remains Chairman of Porsche AG until a successor has been found Matthias Muller (62) has been appointed CEO of Volkswagen AG with immediate effect.