1974 Porsche 914 Base 2.0l on 2040-cars

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McQueen's Porsche 917 from Le Mans races to the auction block

Steve McQueen may have been the headline actor of the motorsport cult classic film Le Mans, but we all know who the real star was. Or rather, what: the Porsche 917. More specifically, it was the Gulf-liveried #22 - not McQueen's #21 - that won the race, making it one of the most iconic cars ever to drive across the silver screen. And now it's going up for auction.
This 1969 Porsche 917K, chassis 917-024, has a storied history both on and off the screen, even if it didn't win any (off-screen) races of note. This example was the first 917 to be campaigned in an actual race when Porsche handed it to Jo Siffert to drive against the Ferrari 312P and Ford GT40 at the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 Km race in 1969. Siffert found the early example too unstable and ultimately drove an earlier 908 to the checkered flag, but after 917-024 set the fastest time at the following year's Le Mans test day, Siffert acquired it outright.
The Swiss racing driver loaned the car to Solar Productions for use in the film, after which it returned to Siffert's collection until he was killed in an F1 exposition race at Brands Hatch in 1971. In a testament to how much he loved the car, it was 917-024 that lead the funeral procession. The car subsequently fell off the radar until it resurfaced in 2001 as one of the greatest barn finds of the new millennium. Now fully restored and resplendent in its original baby blue and orange, 917-024 is headed to the auction block at Pebble Beach where you can be sure that Gooding & Company will bring in a suitably high price for arguably the most iconic example of one of the most iconic Porsches of all time.

Listen to the Porsche Macan's exhaust note ahead of its LA debut

As if we need further proof that the Porsche Macan won't just be another small CUV, it'll be a small Porsche CUV, the German automaker has released a video of the vehicle's raucous exhaust note. In short, the Macan will sport a far racier soundtrack than most of its competitors.
The raspy sound coming from one of the Macan's two turbocharged V6 engines sounds great (the video isn't clear as to whether we're listening to the base 3.0-liter or the Turbo model's 3.6-liter engine), and it's accompanied by a nice crackle on overrun. It isn't like a 911 or other flat-six model, but it is more or less what we expect a Porsche to sound like. We'll have all the details on the newest member of the Porsche lineup when it debuts later this month at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. Scroll down for an official press release from Porsche, as well as the video of the Macan, and be sure to turn your speakers up.

Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe vs Porsche Panamera Turbo S in unusual lux showdown

We'll admit it, we're really looking forward to more time with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe. Compared to other high-dollar luxury coupes - we're looking at you Bentley Continental GT - it's more stylish, easily more affordable, and since it's a Mercedes, lacks the sense of fragility that comes with a more exotic name plate.
Auto Express has taken a whack at reviewing the new two-door S-Class, and for some reason, the British mag is comparing it with a Porsche Panamera. Now, while comparing the looks of an S-Class Coupe and a Panamera is a bit like holding a beauty contest between Kate Upton and Medusa, this isn't as bizarre a pair as you might think, particularly when you opt for the high-dollar S63 AMG Coupe and the Panamera Turbo S.
The two offer similar power outputs from their force-induced V8s - 577 horsepower in the Benz and 570 horsepower in the Porsche - and are even similar in terms of interior and exterior dimensions. The S-Class actually has an extra inch between the axles and is 1.2 inches longer overall (it's also about 300 pounds heavier). In the cabin, the S-Class also has a tiny bit more rear legroom, with 33.4 inches to the Panamera's 33.3.