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Porsche responds to PETA after tiger cub displays at Macan dealership events

Porsche has found itself in the good graces of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which is pretty odd considering it's the only brand we know of that offers leather-lined vents. The activist group is praising the sports car manufacturer's handling of reports that some of its dealerships were set to feature tigers or tiger cubs at the local launch events for the Macan. Apparently, "macan" is the Malay word for tiger, which explains the connection between a highly touted crossover and a jungle cat.
A Tampa, FL dealership already displayed some three-week-old cubs, with PETA saying tigers for display should be at least eight to 12 weeks old. Even then, the group argues that the animals can suffer due to stress, malnourishment, neglect and a lack of veterinary care. The group brings up legal concerns, as well, arguing that if one of the cubs bit a customer, the dealership could be held liable (we're no big cat experts, but it seems unlikely a three-week-old cub could do that much damage).
Porsche's PR department quickly reacted to PETA's claims, with Vice President of Marketing Andre Oosthuizen, telling the group that Porsche is concerned about the "welfare of any animal, large or small, wild or domesticated." Oosthuizen's statements were reported in an official PETA blog.

Former Porsche boss Wiedeking won't face criminal charges over VW bid

Hedge fund managers have been suing Porsche for years now, alleging that the car company lied about its intentions during its failed attempt to take over Volkswagen, a gambit that caused them billion in losses. Over the same period, authorities in Stuttgart built a criminal case against former CEO Wendelin Wiedeking (above, left) and Chief Financial Officer Holger Härter (right), filing charges in December 2012. When those fund plaintiffs lost their most recent court case, one of the dimming lights in the dark and receding tunnel was that the criminal investigation might unearth more evidence about Porsche's actions that could help the plaintiffs in pending litigation.
Bloomberg reports that another light has gone out, though, with a Stuttgart court dismissing the market manipulation case before going to trial because, as a court spokesperson said, "there wasn't enough evidence backing up the charges." When prosecutors get the files back from the court, they have a week to decide to refile, but unless they've been sandbagging evidence that could bolster the case, the only lights at the end of the tunnel will be those welcoming Wiedeking and Härter back to the world of legally unencumbered men.

Porsche turns up boost on 911 range with new Turbo and Turbo S

You didn't honestly think Porsche would stop with just a turbocharged Carrera and Carrera S, did you? No, that'd be silly. Of course Stuttgart had to follow up those two smash hits with a new Turbo and Turbo S. Naturally, both cars build on the 370-horsepower Carrera and 420-horsepower C2S. The base Turbo offers 540 horsepower and starts at $160,195, while the Turbo S packs 580 horsepower and demands an extra $28,900. Adding a folding fabric top to either model will drive the cost of entry up by $12,300, regardless of output. For those keeping track at home, that's a 20-horsepower bump for both vehicles over the previous models, while the Turbo's price jumps by $8,100 and the Turbo S will cost an extra $5,400. In terms of actual performance, the Turbo hits 60 in just 2.9 seconds and will carry on to 198 miles per hour, a one-tenth and three-mph improvement over the current car. Going for the Turbo S will only shave a tenth of second off the 60-mph sprint, although you'll pick up an extra seven mph on the top end. That compares favorably to the current car, which takes 2.9 seconds to get to the magic six-oh and stops accelerating at just 197. The stopwatch improvements are only part of the story. Porsche claims the new dynamic boost function will maintain turbo pressure during sudden throttle load changes, like you might experience when pushing the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six hard. That means snappier throttle response. As with the current 911 Turbo and Turbo S, Porsche's excellent dual-clutch transmission is the only way to fly. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Both cars also get Porsche's Sport Chrono Package and Porsche Active Suspension Management as standard, while upgrading to the Turbo S will add Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and carbon-ceramic brakes. While there's lots of free hardware, we're betting Porsche's options catalog will remain just as robust. As for the design, you can expect the same look shown on the new, turbocharged 911 Carrera, albeit with some Turbo and Turbo S exclusives. 20-inch wheels are standard, with super-wide rubber in the back – Porsche doesn't list tire specs, but the rear hoops are 11.5-inches wide. Both the 911 Turbo and Turbo S will get their big debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Naturally, we'll have much more then, including live photos from the show. In the meantime, read on for the official press release from Porsche.