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2014 Porsche Panamera Turbo S is a 911 Turbo for the family man

In the event that the Porsche Panamera Turbo's 520 horsepower and 189-mile-per-hour top speed aren't enough to sate the appetite of the speed freak, Porsche has just given the auto show debut to the faster, more powerful Panamera Turbo S.
With 570 horsepower being pumped from a 4.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V8, the Panamera Turbo S promises even faster acceleration, hitting 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, a 0.3-second improvement over the standard Turbo. The top speed, meanwhile, climbs to 192 mph, which is kind of ridiculous for a car with four doors and a trunk.
Other enhancements that come with this Panamera's extra syllable include carbon-ceramic brakes and the entirety of Porsche's active chassis systems, including Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and Porsche Active Suspension Management. The performance goodies come standard, but that doesn't mean the Panamera Turbo S is cheap.

Studiotorino shows new Cayman-based Moncenisio sports car

While the recent bankruptcy of Bertone shows that it has become very difficult to be a coachbuilder today, it seems there is still a business case in creating unique bodies for premium vehicles. Case in point, Studiotorino a small, Italian coachbuilder that has been creating limited-edition cars since 2005. Its latest creation is the Moncenisio, which debuted as a prototype at the National Automobile Museum of Turin on March 21. It's named after the 1902 Susa-Moncenisio race in Italy, the first automotive hillclimb in the world.
The Moncenisio begins life as Porsche Cayman S, and each car will be built to order with a planned production run of 19 examples. The chassis, mechanicals and engine are all left untouched. The only thing that Studiotorino alters are the body panels and interior appointments. Prices start at at a heady 145,000 euros ($200,420 US), plus the cost of the donor vehicle.
Architect Daniele Gaglione penned the shape of the Moncenisio, taking inspiration from the 1963 Porsche 904. The sports coupes receive carbon fiber pieces that replace the front bumper, side panels and rear bumper. Studiotorino also covers the rear side windows with welded metal panels. The design is still clearly a Cayman, especially from the front, but the extended roof and support pillars create a new look from behind, which features a new exhaust treatment and rear spoiler. The interior receives leather upholstery on the engine compartment cover, the partition between the engine and seats, ceiling and A-pillars. Scroll down to view a walkaround of the Moncenisio and read the full press release about it.

VW will reportedly offer cash to cheated diesel car drivers

If you're feeling burned by Volkswagen's decision to cheat on diesel emissions tests, you might get some compensation for your troubles. Sources for The Truth About Cars understand that VW will launch a "TDI Goodwill Program" that compensates diesel car drivers with cash in the form of prepaid cards. In the US, you'd get both a $500 universal card as well as a VW-only card worth $500 to $750. The automaker isn't confirming details just yet, but it tells the New York Times that it's planning an announcement on Monday. Dealers also tell the newspaper that they're aware of a program in the works, although they don't know the specifics. It may not include the expanded range of cars reportedly tainted by the scandal, though, since VW is denying claims that it cheated with some models. This isn't the only olive branch VW has been offering: it's been handing out deals to existing owners willing to hop into new vehicles, and there are more discounts than usual across the board. However, the goodwill effort would represent the first instance of VW directly compensating drivers who'd previously thought they were getting an eco-friendly machine. This isn't going to make up for years of unnecessary pollution, but it may represent the company's best hope of holding on to customers. This article by Jon Fingas originally ran on Engadget, the definitive guide to this connected life. ?> News Source: The Truth About Cars via The New York TimesImage Credit: Ralf Hirschberger/dpa via AP Earnings/Financials Green Audi Porsche Volkswagen Hatchback Wagon Diesel Vehicles Sedan vw diesel scandal compensation