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Porsche looks back on very first 911 Turbo

Porsche has really hit on a winning formula with its series of videos going inside its vault. So far, we've seen the V8 911 prototype, mid-engine test mule and aerodynamic prototype. The company is sticking with the 911 theme in the latest entry, but this time it's an actual production car - the very first 911 Turbo ever made.
Being the first Turbo would make it important enough, but the car was also a birthday present for Louise Piëch, daughter of Ferdinand Porsche and sister to Ferry Porsche, and she regularly used the car. The family didn't just hand her a random car off the assembly line, either. She got to make it her own with some interesting modifications. She supposedly even painted landscapes from inside the car.
You have to wonder what Piëch thought of her present. The early Turbos had a reputation for being a bit of a handful to drive. The boost tended to bring the power all at once, which wasn't always welcome when cornering. She deserves some honor just for driving the car on the curvy, alpine roads. Scroll down to learn about this important Porsche, and we can't wait to see what car the brand showcases next.

Next-gen Porsche Panamera loses its buttons

We have our first interior images of the next-generation Porsche Panamera. Caught undergoing testing in what looks like the area around Ann Arbor, MI, Porsche's second-gen sedan ditches the multitude of buttons found on the center stack of today's cars in favor of touch-capacitive controls. The new look works on the interior. It's clean and stylish, and the overall layout is clearly inspired by the Panamera Sport Turismo concept. We're particularly fond of of one of the features absent on the concept car – the wide, high-resolution infotainment screen. Judging by the lack of a dedicated controller on the center stack and the screen's proximity to where the driver's right hand would be, this is almost certainly a touchscreen. According to our spies, the software on that screen will be shared with Bentley, as will the Panamera's underlying platform. The new steering wheel, meanwhile, looks like it's been plucked straight from the 918 Spyder. There's a very visible protrusion at the four-spoke wheel's four o'clock position, and the button layout on the spokes looks identical to the hybrid hypercar. On the 918, this controller manages the hybrid systems, but as our spies claim this is the gas-powered Turbo S model, we aren't really sure what role it will play as we can clearly see drive mode controls on the center console. Speaking of the Sport Turismo, this prototype backs up the argument that the next Panamera will adopt the cleaner look of the 2012 Paris Motor Show concept. Even with the camouflage, the C-pillar and rear quarter window, squared-off trunk aperture, and the four LED accents in the headlights are clearly inspired by the Sport Turismo. However, the concept's most dramatic feature – its strong hatchback profile – doesn't seem to have made the transition into this prototype. We'd expect to see the new Panamera in either Geneva or Paris. The Swiss show is the unlikely choice, though, considering it's just over a month away and Porsche already has another big debut planned. So expect the new Panamera in the City of Light. Sales should begin some time in 2017.

Porsche Classic to offer vintage 911 dashboards

Porsche Classic already offers everything from oil specifically for the brand's air-cooled models to GPS navigation units for them. For restorers looking for just the right piece, the division is now also selling replacement dashboards for early 911s. Fitting models from 1969 to 1975, these dashboards aren't 100-percent original replacements. Instead, Porsche Classic reengineered the part with a modern substructure to hold up better to the sun, temperature changes, and humidity. The outer surface still looks entirely correct, though, to fit the design of these vintage air-cooled coupes. Porsche Classic is selling them for $1,353, but the the windshield needs to come out for installation. While the price may sound steep, it appears to be right in line with other dashboard replacements for the vintage 911. The Porsche specialists at Stoddard offer an example for $1,325 and list a factory part for $1,501.29. Shopping around might be worthwhile, though, because another website already seems to show the Porsche Classic unit with a markdown to $1,150. Porsche Classic Recreates Dashboard for Historic 911 June 1, 2015 New dashboard built to original specifications Atlanta. It is back: Porsche Classic is reproducing the dashboard for vintage 911 models from years 1969 to 1975. A sophisticated manufacturing process combines high quality meeting today's standards and a design that is true to the original. The new dashboard consists of a modern substructure and the original surface design. The fluted texture, tactile feel, gloss and shade of black are designed to be as close as possible to the original. The new part is now available to be ordered from any authorized Porsche dealer in the United States. MSRP is $1,353 plus any applicable taxes, shipping, and handling. Like the technical equipment, the classic vehicles' interiors are subject to normal wear. Solar radiation as well as fluctuations in temperature and humidity attack the surface and materials over time. Today's materials hold up better; therefore, to help preserve the long-term value of classic Porsche cars, Porsche Classic re-engineered the dashboard. Extensive tests conducted to modern standards assure precision fit and quality. As an original equipment part, the dashboard, which contains the loudspeaker cover, can only be installed by the original assembly procedure – which involves removing the windshield.