Porsche Boxter Blue Metalic on 2040-cars

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2014 Porsche 911 GT3 [w/video]

The Bearable Lightness Of Being
Start with a standard Porsche 911 Carrera and its 350-horsepower, 3.6-liter flat six-cylinder engine. Bore a crepe-thin slice of aluminum from each cylinder to get to 3.8 liters, add a wider track out back and two extra exhaust pipes and voila, you can append an S to the Carrera's name. Hang two sets of wet, multi-disc clutches along its spine and you can make that a 4, or a 4S. Bolt on two forced-induction compressors and piping, add two fender vents and comically wide rear tires and you've redeemed your ticket to a Turbo. Increase the boost pressure and swell the corral to 560 horses and you have the Turbo S, which is the Virginia Slims of the 911 line-up because it's come a long way, baby.
Or you can go in a different direction. At that second stop, grab the 3.8-liter and cart it over to the engineers at Porsche's development center in Weissach, Germany. If racing were meat, they would be among the alpha carnivores. The baseboards in their homes are probably painted with miniature billboards for motor oil and vintage cigarettes along the straights, red-and-white stripes around every corner.

U.S. tariff threat hits European automakers' stocks

FRANKFURT, Germany — A U.S. warning that it may introduce tariffs on foreign auto imports hit shares in German carmakers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen on Thursday, which together have a more than 90 percent share of North America's premium car market. Washington said on Wednesday it had launched an investigation into whether car and truck imports are a national security issue due to signs they had damaged the U.S. auto industry. That could lead to new U.S. tariffs — up to 25 percent — similar to those imposed on imported steel and aluminum in March. BMW and Daimler shares fell as much as 3.1 percent in early Thursday trading, while Volkswagen's dropped as much as 2.5 percent. "(U.S. President) Donald Trump is obviously not thinking about how to prevent a trade war. Import duties on cars would be a nightmare for the German auto industry and would lead to a massive sales impact," said Thomas Altmann at Frankfurt-based asset manager QC Partners. BMW on Thursday condemned the move to consider tariffs. "The BMW Group is committed to free trade worldwide. Barrier-free access to markets is therefore a key factor not only for our business model, but also for growth welfare and employment throughout the global economy," it said. Daimler, which makes Mercedes-Benz cars, and Volkswagen, which makes upmarket Audis and Porsches, were not immediately available for comment. German carmakers produced 804,000 cars at local factories in the United States and exported 657,000 German-made cars into North America last year, according to German auto industry association VDA. China took pains on Thursday to welcome German firms and investments, with Premier Li Keqiang talking up relations after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. BMW and Mercedes have expanded production capacity in the United States, but BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and Daimler have also invested billions to build new factories in Mexico in the hope of selling locally produced cars into the United States. German carmakers hiked vehicle production in Mexico by 46 percent to 620,000 cars last year, while production levels inside the United States fell by 6 percent to 804,000 cars because of a shift to Mexico, according to the VDA. BMW has its biggest factory worldwide in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and is the largest vehicle exporter among all the carmakers in the United States measured by value of goods exported. More than 70 percent of BMW's U.S.-made cars are exported.

Ferraris, Porsches and planes star at McCall’s Motorworks Revival

MONTEREY, Calif. – McCall's Motorworks Revival, sometimes called The Jet Party, kicked off vintage car week here as enthusiasts streamed into the region for days of car shows, official automaker events and hob-knobbing leading up to Sunday's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Held at the Monterey Jet Center, the revival featured an array of exotic and classic cars blended in with planes, racecars, motorcycles and luxury items like jewelry. This year the eclectic lineup of cars included vintage Ferraris and Porsches, a raised 1964 Chevy Impala, a classic Toyota Land Cruiser and a Cobra. The 1960s Ford GT40 racecar sat near the modern Ford GT, while Camilo Pardo, the designer of the in-between generation (2004-06), held court nearby. Iconic planes like the B25, P51 and an ancient biplane were intermingled with the flashy cars. Show-goers tipped drinks, tossed back heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts, ogled the seemingly random collection of amazing machines and prepared for days of celebrating the automobile on the Monterey Peninsula. The revival is in its 26th year and is put on by McCall Events, whose owner Gordon McCall is a class judge at the concours and the cofounder another Monterey car week staple, the Quail. The revival also collects donations for a California police charity. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery McCall's Motorworks Revival 2017 View 29 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2017 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Ferrari Lamborghini Porsche Coupe Motorcycle Luxury Performance Pebble Beach