1973 Porsche 914 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

I don't care who you are; when a new Porsche 911 rolls up in your driveway, that's a pretty good day. This was my very first experience with Porsche's 991 911, and after having spent time with just about every tune and trim of the last car, I was hotly anticipating comparing and contrasting.
Somehow (I don't remember sending out any cash-filled, unmarked envelopes) I'd scored a week in the 911 Carrera 4S over a long holiday weekend, too. That meant that I'd get to A) log a ton of miles in one of the best cars in the world, B) get to show-off the Porsche to family and friends and C) tempt cops in three states to pull me over. Good thing I've got the Autoblog traffic lawyer on speed dial...
Driving Notes

Volkswagen Group's Vision 2030 strategy could bring revolution to the brands

One would expect a corporate plan called "Vision 2030," looking 11 years ahead through wildly tumultuous times, to involve great change and numerous forks in numerous roads. According to Automobile's breakdown of Volkswagen's path forward, though, the plans contain some lurid potential surprises. The ultimate aim is return on investment, and that means ruthless reorganization of a conglomerate with eight primary car brands, two car sub-brands, and Ducati motorcycles. The first two Vision 2030 cornerstones Automobile mentions are near boilerplate: Production network restructuring, and "streamlining of key technologies." The latter two are the ones that could upend what we know as the Volkswagen Group: focusing on the Group's core brands — meaning Audi, Porsche, and VW — and transitioning to EVs, autonomy, and other mobility solutions. Based on the report, a quote from Audi's CTO referring to the Audi brand could cover how the Group plans to handle all of its brands: "We need to find a sustainable solution for the indefinite transition period until EVs eventually take over." The boutique divisions adjacent to carmaking, Ducati and Italdesign, look likely to be spun off. For the halo car brands — Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini — apparently shareholders want double-digit returns on investment, and the trio doesn't have long to hit the target. One eyebrow raiser is when the report states, "Bugatti is tipped to be gifted to [ex-VW Group Chairman] Ferdinand Piech." Piech fathered the Veyron during his tenure at VW, and it was thought he commissioned the La Voiture Noire, but he's lately stepped so far back from VW that he sold all his shares in the Group. Automobile quoted a senior strategist as saying of money-losing Bentley, "Why invest on a backward-looking enterprise when you can support a trendsetter? A proud history and excellent craftmanship alone don't cut it anymore." We guess no one at Ferrari, McLaren, or even Porsche got that memo. Bentley is reportedly close to being put in time out, and if brand CEO Adrian Hallmark can't right the Crewe ship, the hush-hush Plan B is to prop the Flying B up enough to lure a buyer. As for Lamborghini, caught between two masters at Audi and Porsche, even record-breaking numbers at the Italian supercar maker barely staved off sacrilege. It's said that VW brand CEO Herbert Diess considered putting a 5.0-liter Porsche V8 into the Aventador successor.

Porsche releases new Panamera Edition models

We can't remember the last time we came across a special edition called "Edition," but that's what Porsche is offering with the Panamera. Available on the base, 310-horsepower models, the Panamera Edition is so subtle you'd need to be in the secret owners club to identify it. High-gloss black trim strips outline the windows, it sits on 19-inch Panamera Turbo wheels with colored center caps, the sills are inscribed with the word "Edition," and body-colored door handles are fitted if you pay extra for Porsche Entry & Drive. The cabin gets Porsche logos in the seat headrests, those front thrones being 14-way in the US, climate controlled seats throughout, and a two-tone treatment in black and Luxor Beige. Oh, and special floor mats. Performance upgrades come in the inclusion of active suspension, and convenience comes with the included Park Assist. Tempted? Head to your Porsche dealer in June to take one home. The Panamera Edition will require $80,000, an eminently reasonable (for Porsche) $1,900 premium over the standard car. The Panamera 4 Edition needs $84,300, an even more reasonable $1,500 premium. Destination adds another $995 to both of those prices. The press release below has a few more details. Related Video: Porsche Panamera Edition: Sports sedan with extensive standard features Atlanta. A new special version of the Porsche Panamera sports sedan stands out through elegant styling combined with a significantly expanded range of standard equipment. Two models with powerful six-cylinder engines will be offered: the Panamera Edition and Panamera 4 Edition both come with an engine that delivers 310 hp. The Panamera 4 Edition features active all-wheel drive with an electronically controlled, map-controlled multi-plate clutch (Porsche Traction Management, PTM). The exterior of the Panamera Edition models is marked by additional subtle design tones, including high-gloss black trim strips on the side windows. The standard 19-inch alloy wheels in Panamera Turbo II design feature wheel center caps with a colored Porsche crest. The door handles are finished in exterior color when Porsche Entry & Drive is optionally selected. The Panamera Edition also boasts a two-tone standard interior in Black / Luxor Beige with the Porsche crest embossed on all head rests, Sport Design steering wheel, door sill plates with "Edition" lettering, and special floor mats.