1990 Porsche 911 / Carrera 2 / Targa 2-door / 3.6l on 2040-cars

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Auto journalist ordered to pay big money for blowing up Porsche 917 engine [UPDATE]

Racecars blow engines all the time, but a Porsche 917 isn't just a run-of-the-mill racecar. British automotive writer Mark Hales reportedly borrowed a 917 from 82-year-old former Formula One racer David Piper for a magazine article, and mechanical tragedy ensued. Nobody is arguing that the engine failed after being spun to 8,200 rpm. However, Hales was warned not to exceed 7,000 rpm, says owner Piper, and the affair landed in English courts with Piper seeking £50,000 - over $79,000 US - in reimbursement funds for an engine rebuild and loss of use of the car while it was being repaired. Judge Simon Brown ruled in favor of car owner Piper, putting Hales on the hook for £110,000 ($174,000) including legal fees - a whole lot of money in any language.
Hales says the Porsche suffered a mechanical fault while lapping that allowed it to slip out of gear and over-rev. Piper wasn't convinced, and sought to have the repair paid for by the guy who broke the racer, saying "If you bend it, you mend it." It's not like Hales is a novice driver, having seat time in both professional and amateur races over 30 years, notching about 150 wins, but even the best drivers sometimes miss a shift, and that's what Piper contended happened to his car.
According to reports, Hales has had to sell most of his valuables to pay his lawyers and is now facing bankruptcy with the ruling against him. Members of the Pistonheads website are trying to coordinate a collection to help him out, as well.

A beastly 1979 Porsche 930 is unleashed by Petrolicious

The 911 Turbo held a special place in Porsche's lineup for decades. Much of the mystique came from its performance potential, but that huge capability also required a deft hand and foot to keep things in check. These days even the most basic 911 packs turbos, but Grant Karnes and his 1979 Porsche 930 demonstrate why the early models remain classics in the latest video from Petrolicious. Karnes says he gets attention from everyone he passes in his 930, and it's easy to understand why. Even before the coupe comes into view, the upgraded, turbocharged engine pops and crackles with a wonderfully raw sound. People then see the Porsche's classic combination of wide fenders and a big rear spoiler. Karnes also adds a vintage racing vibe with Martini decals on the hood and doors, and his license plate tells folks exactly what kind of machine this is. Plus, if you happen to spot this car at night, the exhaust can shoot bursts of flames. Porsches are a fairly common subject in Petrolicious' videos, and they run the gamut from well-worn classics to heavily modded canyon carvers. Karnes' 930 leans more in the latter direction but still maintains a vintage look. He promises the coupe is always exciting to drive, and this clip does a fantastic job of showing why. Related Video:

2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

Porsche's Performance Plug-in Preamble
By the end of this year, Porsche will be producing as many plug-in vehicles (two) as mainstream automakers such as Toyota, Chevrolet and Honda. Before the 2015 918 Spyder hybrid supercar goes on sale in the US, though, it will be warming its customers up to the idea of a plug-in model with the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid. A step up from the previous Panamera S Hybrid, the new plug-in Panamera adds a more powerful and advanced electric drive system that pledges to deliver the performance expected of a Porsche with the added benefit of improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Going on sale in November, the Panamera S E-Hybrid is aimed at customers also considering the upcoming plug-in version Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the car's dimensions and performance could make it a competitor for Tesla Model S customers. We headed to Germany at Porsche's invitation to see how well it performs, as well as check out the full range of newly refreshed Panamera models, which now numbers nine offerings - although we're still waiting for a production version of the gorgeous Sport Turismo wagon concept.