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Fast Porsches and gold BMWs | Autoblog Podcast #548

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Reese Counts and Contributing Editor James Riswick. The trio discuss driving the BMW X2, the Porsche 911 GT3, the Volkswagen GTI and Autoblog's new long-term Kia Stinger GT as well as a new engine for the Ford F-150. They also reflect on FCA and Ferrari head Sergio Marchionne and what his passing means for the future of those two companies. Autoblog Podcast #548 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we've been driving: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3, Volkswagen GTI, BMW X2 and Kia Stinger GT Sergio Marchionne Ford F-150 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Earnings/Financials Podcasts BMW Ferrari Fiat Kia Porsche Volkswagen Coupe Crossover Luxury Performance porsche 911 gt3 bmw x2

Crash sends race car driver sliding into first place

A Belgian race car driver won an unexpected victory at the 2016 FIA GT World Cup race last weekend when he slid to victory on the roof of his car. According to Motorsport.com, this year's FIA GT World Cup race at the Macau Guia race track in Macau was more accident prone than usual. The race had already been delayed by one crash earlier in the day when Belgian driver Laurens Vanthoor went into Mandarin Bend too hot chasing Porsche driver Earl Bamber, to whom Vanthoor had just lost his lead. Vanthoor's Audi clipped a wall at about 155 miles per hour causing his car to flipped on to its roof and continued down the straightaway at speed. Thankfully, despite the speed and violence of the crash, Vanthoor escaped mostly unscathed. Officials immediately red-flagged the race and, because of delays caused by the earlier crash, the race was called. Since the race was canceled, officials performed a countback on the previous lap's results and declared Vanthoor the winner despite the fact that he finished upside down. In the aftermath, a shaken Vanthoor questioned whether or not he deserved to win. "I don't really know if I deserved it in a way, as I crashed and made a mistake and I am still a winner – which is very awkward," Vanthoor told Motorsport. "But I don't really know what to say. It would have been a better show for everybody without the crash and a better victory, but I don't know what to think about it." Related Video: News Source: Motorsport.com Auto News Weird Car News Audi Porsche fia macau red flag

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.