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Porsche 911 2.7 RS values up by nearly 700% in the last 10 years [w/video]

These days if you have a wad of cash to invest in a classic car, Ferrari seems to be the best option. Hagerty's price index for the Italian supercars was up 43 percent in 2014, and Prancing Horses made up eight of the highest-selling vehicles at auction for the year. However, if you really want to watch your funds grow faster than practically any other legal investment, it might be worth setting your sights north of Maranello to Porsche in Germany. According to research from the Discovery Channel, the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS is the quickest-appreciating vehicle in the past decade, at least in the UK. In 2004, prices hovered around 65,000 pounds ($101,350 in current money), but buying one today would set you back over 500,000 pounds ($779,600). Rarer lightweight models go for even more. More than just a solid investment, buyers get what is considered to be the ultimate expression of the early 911. Built as a homologation special for racing, Porsche used the classic tactic of fitting a larger engine to boost power to about 210 horsepower while simultaneously cutting weight. A lower front air dam, extended fenders for wider wheels and ducktail spoiler at the back made sure the grip, aero and styling fit the motorsports attitude. You can get a brief taste of what it's like to drive one of these rare Porsches in the video from The Telegraph below. This one is even for sale, with an ambitious price of around 600,000 pounds ($935,000), and it also features legendary racer Derek Bell's autograph on the ashtray. Hopefully the car's eventual buyer remembers that the RS is a fantastic piece to drive, too, and stretches its legs every once in a while. News Source: The TelegraphImage Credit: The Telegraph Porsche Car Buying Ownership Coupe Performance Classics Videos porsche 911 carrera collector cars classic car values

VW to pay $1B in settlement with US government over V6 diesels

Volkswagen and the US government have come to a settlement for the civil claims against the automaker's 3.0-liter, diesel V6s. Over 83,000 V6 TDI-powered models are currently prowling US roads in violation of emissions laws. The settlement allows VW to recall over 75 percent of its cheating V6 diesels – about 63,000 units – and bring them into compliance. These represent newer VW Touaregs, Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5, and Q7s, and Porsche Cayennes built between 2013 and 2016. According to the company, the recall will bring these so-called Generation Two engines up to emissions specs, provided the EPA and CARB okay the modifications. Should the regulators say no to VW's tweaks, the company will buy back or terminate leases with the affected owners. For older V6 TDIs built between 2009 and 2012, Volkswagen will do broadly the same thing, only in reverse. It will lead with buy backs of older Touaregs and Q7s – the only vehicles the company sold with the earlier engines – but could offer fixes if EPA/CARB give the okay. As part of its agreement over the emissions-cheating V6s, Volkswagen will contribute $225 million to the "environmental remediation trust" it established as part of its settlement over cheating 2.0-liter TDIs. VW is also on the hook for $25 million with CARB, bringing the total for the six-cylinder part of its emissions cheating scandal to around $1 billion, Automotive News reports. This initial agreement still needs approval from US District Court Judge Charles Breyer. Related Video:

Aston Martin Valkyrie could beat that new Nurburgring record, Red Bull F1 boss says

During last weekend's Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Race Fans asked Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner about the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The question was whether the coming hypercar, a collaboration between Red Bull and title sponsor Aston Martin, could beat the stunning lap record around the Nurburgring just set by the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo. Horner's answer: "I'm not sure a Formula 1 car could actually do it, but I think that the Valkyrie — certainly the track version of the Valkyrie — could be a contender." That's a qualified endorsement, but it still counts as support merely putting the Valkyrie AMR Pro in the conversation. Let's compare, shall we? The 919 Hybrid Evo is based on the 2017 World Endurance Championship-winning 919 Hybrid. Freed from motorsport regulations, Porsche Motorsport upgraded numerous performance bits. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged V-four-cylinder went from 500 hp to 720 hp. The two KERS units went from 400 hp to 440 hp. We don't have a figure for downforce, but items like active aero, a larger front diffuser, optimized turning vanes, and larger rear wing increased downforce by 53 percent over the WEC car, at the same time being 66 percent more aero efficient. It weighs 849 kg dry, or 1,868 pounds because Porsche threw out everything that didn't contribute to speed. The Valkyrie specs we know of so far state a weight of 1,000 kilograms, or 2,200 pounds. Powering that is a custom, naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter AMR Cosworth V12 with more than 900 horsepower, augmented by a kinetic energy recovery system contributing around 230 hp. According to Autocar's sources, the Valkyrie could generate up to 4,000 pounds of downforce at an aerodynamically-limited 225 miles per hour. That boggling number comes courtesy of Adrian Newey's prowess at making changes such as openings between the front wheel arches and the cockpit that work the front wing harder. The two-seater coupe's unrestricted top speed is 254 mph. Note, though, that the Valkyrie AMR Pro will be more powerful, lighter, and could have even more downforce. And since Aston Martin and Newey continue to work on the hypercar, specs could get even better before deliveries begin. Right now, Horner's suggestion doesn't seem all that outrageous. We'll also wait to see if the Mercedes-AMG Project One pokes its nose in the ring, too. Not long ago, AMG chief Tobias Moers said it's "reasonable to speculate" the F1-inspired hypercar could claim an absolute lap record around the 'Ring.