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China may surpass US as Porsche's largest market this year thanks to Cayenne

China has already surpassed the United States as the world's largest automotive market, so it's no surprise that one day soon it will be the world's largest Porsche market.
In fact, that day may already be here, as the PRC's Porschephiles outbought their American counterparts in September. Porsche's Chinese dealers sold 4,344 cars last month to America's 3,607. Through all of 2014 so far, though, the US is still the larger market for the German brand.
"The U.S. performed very well this year, after a great year in 2013, but China is growing fast, thanks to the Cayenne which is our best seller there," Porsche's sales and marketing boss, Bernhard Maier, told Automotive News Europe.

The hottest modern sports cars rendered as rally racers

The modern-day World Rally Championship a monumental amount of fun to watch – I should know, as I recently was lucky enough to head to the UK to watch WRC Wales Rally GB – but even the most monstrous of the current WRC cars are based on fairly pedestrian European hatchbacks. Back in the heyday of rally, the Group B era in the 1980s, much hotter cars were the basis of even more incredible competition machines, for the most part. Take the exotic Ford RS200, or the Lancia Delta S4 with its twin-charged engine. And the hatchback-based Group B cars were bonkers, too. So what would some of our favorite modern cars look like if Group B had never ended? A British site named CarWow hired an artist to reimagine everything from the Rolls-Royce Wraith to the Porsche 911 as a retro-inspired rally car, and they were kind enough to let us share the results in the gallery above. The gallery features an Alfa Romeo Giulia in Martini livery, an Audi TT in classic Ur-Quattro colors, a Fiat 500 Abarth sporting massive flares and a hood blister full of auxiliary lights, a new Ford Mustang in RS200 livery, a Lancia Delta in Alitalia colors, a Porsche 911 in Rothmans livery, a Renault-Alpine in classic blue, a Rolls-Royce Wraith tribute to the Jules cologne Corniche Coupe, and a relatively modern-looking VW Touran. So far, the favorite around the office is the incredible Mercedes-Benz S-Class that is an homage to the wonderful 300 SEL 6.8 AMG "Red Pig" that essentially put AMG on the map. Check out the gallery above and see which one you like the best. Related Video:

Porsche introduces Boxster and 911 Black Editions

In case choosing which Porsche to buy weren't challenging enough, the German automaker has announced a new special edition to make it even more so - particularly for people who like the murdered-out look. Called the Black Edition, it's being offered on the 911 and Boxster. As you might have guessed, the principal defining feature is the black on black color scheme, with metallic black paint available as an option. But it also comes bundled with otherwise optional equipment as standard. Both versions come from the factory with heated seats and auto-dimming mirrors as well as embossed headrests, unique sill plates and a Sport Design steering wheel. The 911 version also includes 20-inch wheels, dynamic LED headlights, front and rear Park Assist, reversing camera and Bose audio. It's based on the standard 3.4-liter model with 350 horsepower and is available in rear- or all-wheel drive and in coupe or carbio form. The Boxster Black Edition likewise starts out with the base 2.7-liter, 265-hp model, and upgrades with its own set of 20-inch wheels, wind deflector, bi-xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, navigation, upgraded audio and park assist. Porsche dealers in the US are now taking orders on the Black Editions, with deliveries set to commence at the end of July. Pricing range from $59,100 for the Boxster and $88,800 for the 911 Carrera, ratcheting all the way up to $104,600 for the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (all prices excluding the $995 destination charge). Show full PR text Exclusive editions of 2016 Porsche Boxster and 911 Carrera in classic color combination In elegant black: Porsche 911 Carrera and Boxster Black Editions Atlanta. Porsche has created a special model of the 911 Carrera and Boxster: the Black Edition. The combination of black exterior and interior emphasizes the timeless, classy elegance of each sports car. As the name indicates, Black paint is standard, while Jet Black Metallic is available as an option. Standard equipment on the 911 Carrera and Boxster Black Edition models has been enhanced in regards to the wheels, headlights, and sound system while additional equipment has been included such as the Sport Design steering wheel, door sill guards with Black Edition logo, heated seats, auto dimming rear-view mirrors, and the headrests are embossed with the Porsche Crest. The 911 Carrera Black Edition is based on the standard model with a 3.4 liter flat-six engine developing 350 hp.