Porsche 914 2.0 on 2040-cars

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How the 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera S falls short of perfection

We know Harry Metcalfe loves a good Porsche 911. After all, he's shown off his personal 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo and 993 GT2 replica in previous videos. However, he can't seem to muster so much passion for the forced induction engine in the 2016 911 Carrera S. The chassis impresses him, but in Metcalfe's latest clip, he explains why he's not a huge fan of the new powerplant. Before any actual driving, Metcalfe takes a thorough walk around the new car where he goes to the unusual trouble of using a magnet to show which parts are steel and which are aluminum. Remember, though, this is a 911. So, this latest refreshed model, just like all previous remodels, isn't all that aesthetically different from the previous version. So, Metcalfe's real focus here is on how it drives. He comes away with mixed impressions. Metcalfe loves the 2016 911's handling, especially the directness from the rear-wheel steering, but he isn't in love with the new engine. At least with the seven-speed manual, he complains of turbo lag below 3,000 rpm. He also misses the direct throttle response from the previous naturally aspirated unit and doesn't think the turbocharged mill's fuel economy is very impressive. Take a ride with Metcalfe to get the full experience and intriguing take about the biggest change in more than a decade for the iconic 911. If you can't get enough Porsche-flavored goodness, click here for our own First Drive report on the quintessential sportscar. Related Video:

Autoblog Podcast #344

Doug DeMuro from Plays With Cars, Infiniti Q50, Subaru BRZ STI, Porsche Macan
Episode #344 of the Autoblog podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth and Executive Editor Chris Paukert are joined by Doug DeMuro, author of Plays With Cars and prolific internet autowriting presence. Topics include the latest spy shots of the Porsche Macan, the 2014 Infiniti Q50, and the teaser images we've recently seen of a Subaru BRZ wearing STI badges. As always, we start with what's in the garage and finish up with some of your questions. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. You can follow along after the jump with our Q&A. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #344:

2015 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

When the Porsche Panamera joined the hybrid poker game with the S Hybrid, it started with a seat at the penny-ante table: engineers inserted a 47-horsepower electric motor between the gas engine and eight-speed automatic, powered by a 1.7-kWh nickel-metal hydride battery. It was tiny stakes, the kind of non-risk taken when you're trying to figure out both how to play the game and how you want to play the game. After two years of experimenting, the 2015 Panamera S E-Hybrid makes a bigger bet – the kind that requires paper bills and the maxim, "If you can't fold it, hold it." Porsche's plug-in hybrid gets every adjective we expect of a successor from Stuttgart: more complex, more efficient, more powerful and faster. Driving Notes The electric motor leaps from 47 hp to 95 hp thanks to more windings on the stator coils and new power electronics. The battery goes from a 1.7-kWh nickel-metal hydride unit to 9.4-kWh lithium-ion setup; it's the same physical size as before, still mounted under the cargo deck. Internal combustion still comes from the Audi-sourced, 333-hp, supercharged V6, but total system power goes from 380 hp and 428 pound-feet of torque in the S Hybrid to 416 hp and 435 lb-ft in the S E-Hybrid. The previous system could run a mile on electricity, this one is estimated to last more than 20 miles on e-power on the European cycle. The 0-60 dash takes 5.2 seconds, down from 5.7 seconds; top speed in electric-only mode is 84 mph – up from 50 mph. It takes 2.5 hours at a 240-volt outlet to fully recharge the battery; the Porsche Universal Charger comes equipped with a cable for that and a standard 120-volt socket. Only Panamera obsessives will notice the sheetmetal changes for 2015, but there are sharper lines on the front and rear fascias, faint revisions made to the light clusters, wider glass – over the same-sized opening – on the rear tailgate, and a wider rear spoiler. Outsiders will know the S E-Hybrid because of Acid Green highlights on the fender and tailgate logos, as well as the Acid Green brake calipers. Inside, the central tach remains, but the analog speedometer was evicted to make space for the battery power meter, and Acid Green needles dance across all the gauges. The navigation screen shows your electric driving range and the Porsche Car Connect service provides the expected, smartphone-controlled e-mobility features.