2007 Porsche Cayman 2dr Cpe on 2040-cars

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Horn, Hackenburg, Hatz to be fired as VW diesel scandal deepens

Volkswagen will sack three more high ranking executives, including the head of its US division, as the company's diesel scandal deepens. Reuters reported Thursday morning that the executives are: Michael Horn, who has led VW's US operations since January 1, 2014; Ulrich Hackenberg, who oversaw Audi's research and development; and Wolfgang Hatz, who was in charge of R&D for Porsche. A VW spokesman wouldn't comment in response to an Autoblog email. The moves come in the wake of longtime VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn stepping down on Wednesday. Volkswagen's board said at the time that it expected more personnel changes to follow. Volkswagen's board is scheduled to meet Friday, and Porsche CEO Matthias Muller has reportedly been named as Winterkorn's successor. The German auto giant was plunged into crisis last Friday when the EPA charged that the company manipulated software in its diesel-powered cars to pass US emissions tests. About 482,000 vehicles in the US are affected, and VW estimates 11 million around the world could have the rigged software. The revelations have prompted outcry from governments and regulatory agencies, and in the US, Volkswagen could face a fine of up to $18 billion. The departure of Horn, Hackenberg, and Hatz is a stunning downfall for three of the company's top and most visible executives. Horn had led US operations for less than two years, taking over from Jonathan Browning, who was well-respected but failed to reach VW's ambitious sales targets. Before overseeing Audi R&D, Hackenberg was hailed as a visionary for work in developing VW's modular architectures, which allow the company to save time and money by building many vehicles off the same chassis. Hatz had led Porsche R&D since 2011 and also was in charge of engines and transmission development for all of Volkswagen. Related Video: News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Getty Images Government/Legal Green Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Audi Porsche Volkswagen Emissions Diesel Vehicles vw diesel scandal vw diesel ulrich hackenberg michael horn wolfgang hatz

Porsche planning something track-focused for Geneva [w/poll]

At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show next month, Porsche has confirmed that it will be showcasing two potentially exciting new models: One is the new Cayman GT4 we've already seen, but we don't know what the other will be just yet. All the German automaker is saying at the moment is that, "the second new model is another exceptional Porsche that sets new standards on the racetrack" and that "this vehicle confirms the sports car manufacturer's commitment to high performance sports cars that manage a very special link between everyday driving and motorsports." Given those two statements, we can probably rule out a crossover or sedan at one end of the spectrum or a purely competition-spec racer at the other. The likelihood is, then, that Porsche's surprise for Geneva will be the new 911 GT3 RS. But then it could be the Boxster-based convertible counterpart to the Cayman GT4 (whether dubbed Boxster GT4, Boxster Spyder or something else), or even a track-tuned version of the 918 Spyder to take on the McLaren P1 GTR and Ferrari FXX K. We'll just have to sit tight to find out, but you're welcome to read the press release below and tell us what you think Zuffenhausen has in store for us at the Swiss expo this year. Double world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 Porsche shows two new high-performance cars for the first time Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is celebrating the world premiere of two extreme sports cars at this year's Geneva International Motor Show. The new Cayman GT4 is the first high-performance sports car belonging to the GT family that is based on the mid-engine coupes. Clocking a lap time of seven minutes and 40 seconds on the North Loop of the Nurburgring, the new entry-level model makes a great debut. The second new model is another exceptional Porsche that sets new standards on the racetrack. The world premiere will take place during the Porsche press conference at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva at 11:30 (CET) on March 3, 2015. A live webcast will be available in German and English on: http://porsche.gomexlive.com/. This vehicle confirms the sports car manufacturer's commitment to high performance sports cars that manage to make a very special link between everyday driving and motorsports. These two premieres continue Porsche's tradition of presenting motorsport highlights at the spring car show on the shores of Lake Geneva. The 911 GT3, 918 Spyder and 919 Hybrid all celebrated their debuts in Geneva in recent years.

Touring Italy in a classic Porsche will have you feeling continental

It's hard to believe there was a time when a Porsche 911 didn't come to market with 400 horsepower. But as the latest video from Petrolicious reminds us, with this video of a 1968 911T, owned by Donato Maniscalco, that time wasn't so long ago.
You might think, being a distinguished man living in Italy, Maniscalco would be more enthused by a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini, but in reality, it was always Porsche that enamored the Italian as a boy. And it was that passion that led him to purchase the glorious 911T he's seen tossing about in this video.
Maniscalco goes into detail about what makes the old 911 such a legend, while also mentioning how he and the car participate in classic rallies and races. There's also some typically beautiful footage of the Italian countryside, as well. So take a look below for the latest video from Petrolicious.