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Porsche digitally dissects its 918 Spyder for your viewing pleasure

At this point, you'd think we'd know all there is to know about the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder - except what it's like to drive - but Porsche has released a new video giving us a more in-depth look at its new plug-in hypercar all the same. The animated video gives us numerous cutaway looks at the 918 Spyder while giving a visual demonstration of the car's four hybrid driving modes.
Though nowhere near as exciting as watching the 918 blast around the Nürburgring in record time, this new video is nonetheless both interesting and informative. Scroll down to watch the video yourself, and be sure to check out our live gallery of the production version of the car along with a stock gallery.

Next-gen Porsche Panamera snapped running in E-Hybrid spec

The Porsche Panamera first debuted back in 2009 and underwent a facelift in 2013. That means the all-new, next-generation Panamera should be arriving in time for the 2017 model year, and here were have our first look at its plug-in hybrid variant. Following the last prototype spotted undergoing cold-weather testing in Sweden, this new Panamera test mule spotted in southern Europe appears to be running the E-Hybrid powertrain setup – judging, at least, by the presence of a second filler cap hiding what's likely an charging port on the left side rear fender. We'll just have to sit tight, however, to find out whether it will be packing an evolution of the existing powertrain or something entirely new. Though the prototype may look largely undisguised, those head- and taillight graphics look like stickers to throw us off the scent, and these do not appear to be production-ready body panels. Expect the finished product to look far more polished when it arrives sometime in the middle of next year, with the hybrid version to follow sometime thereafter.

Playboy reveals its 2013 Cars of the Year

Vaunted men's magazine Playboy knows that its readers are nearly as interested in cars as they are in the female anatomy... sorry, we thought we could write that with a straight face. Anyway, the buff-book does occasionally fill some of its spreads with sexy metal, to accent all the rest of the sexiness.
To wit, the magazine has unveiled its feature on the 2013 Cars of the Year. Without giving us much in the way of criteria for the awards, nor a clear framing of the categories ("Responsible Ride" is a particularly challenging concept, especially when you consider that the Mazdaspeed3 was the winner), Playboy has nevertheless highlighted what we assume to be it's favorite 12 or 13 (depending on how you count) cars from the 2013 model year.
Headlining the class is the Porsche 911, which Playboy writers single out for having "remarkable electronic voodoo." BMW M5 is named "Slickest Sports Sedan" though the Cadillac ATS then follows on because "we couldn't resist giving the new Caddy a shout-out." The rest of the picks are pretty conventional (save, perhaps, the Honda Fit EV as "Ace Electric"), even if the categories and methodology are fairly wonky. Cruise through or gallery for a taste or check out the full list, here. The site is safe for work, and you can legitimately (this time) say that you were reading it for the articles.