2008 Porsche Cayenne Gts on 2040-cars

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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.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS spec sheet leaked, promises 500 hp

Axis of Oversteer has three pages of what's purported to be the spec sheet for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and it's got a few bolded items noting key differences with the already spectacular 911 GT3. Prime among them is its output, pegged at exactly 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, which looks at first blush to be a minor bump: just 25 hp and 14 lb-ft over the GT3, and the redline drops 200 rpm to 8,800 rpm. If the document is accurate, though, there will be a hefty dose of weight loss to make the most of it. The bodyshell and doors are aluminum, carbon fiber reinforced plastic is used for those vented front fenders (the vanes are plastic), the front trunklid, the rear engine cover, and the rear wing, while the roof is made of magnesium and the side windows are polycarbonate. The bucket seats, door entry guards, and other interior trim pieces are also fashioned from CFRP, and it gets lightweight door panels with pull-loops. Elsewhere around the coupe, the body grows wider by 50 millimeters in front and 30 mm in back over a track that's 36 mm wider. There's a pit-lane speed limiter for track days, tinted taillights, an optional Clubsport package with a six-point seatbelt, and GT3 RS logos everywhere. It's looking more and more like this car was developed to define the word "epic." Featured Gallery Porsche 911 GT3 RS spec sheet Related Gallery 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS News Source: Axis of Oversteer Geneva Motor Show Porsche Coupe Performance 2015 Geneva Motor Show porsche 911 gt3

Updated J.D. Power APEAL study shines on VW Group, Chevy

J.D. Power has just revealed the results of its 2013 APEAL Study, which looks at which brands have the most appealing cars based on sales figures, dealer inventory, brand loyalty, transaction and trade-in prices. The study was revamped for 2013, and places a larger focus on the new tech and infotainment options available to customers. All told, study participants gauged their vehicles on 77 different attributes, delivering a score out of a 1,000 points.
The Volkswagen Group had the greatest success of any corporation, topping the APEAL rankings with the Audi Allroad, Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayenne, VW GTI and Passat. Chevrolet had the highest number of awards for a single brand, though, with the Avalanche, Sonic and Volt all taking home a prize.
The best brand overall was Porsche, which scored 884 out of a possible 1,000 points. The top Japanese brand was Lexus with a score of 847, while the top American brand was Cadillac, at 841. The best mainstream brand was Ram, which received a very respectable 817. The industry average for this year's study was 795, with 16 brands, all of which were mainstream, falling below the average.