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Investigators blame speed in fatal Paul Walker crash

When the tragic news first came in that actor Paul Walker had been killed in a car crash, family, friends and fans were left searching for answers. They now have at least one key question answered, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department blaming "unsafe speed" for the fatal accident.
According to a statement released by the LACSD, "Investigators determined the cause of the fatal solo-vehicle collision was unsafe speed for the roadway conditions". The investigation into the November, 2013 crash determined that Walker's 2005 Porsche Carrera GT had been driven by his business partner and racer, Roger Rodas, at speeds between 80 and 93 miles per hour - less than the 100+ mph initially suspected, but still far too fast for the road on which they were traveling, which carried a posted limit of 45 mph.
In the investigation into the death of the Fast & Furious star and his friend, some people were quick to finger the Porsche in which they were riding as the culprit. The Carrera GT does, after all, have the reputation of being a notoriously difficult car to control. But after an exhaustive investigation, law enforcement officials in California have vindicated the car and dismissed any mechanical fault as the cause of the accident.

2015 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S gets faster, more powerful [w/video]

Porsche just isn't letting development of the Cayenne Turbo S cease. The 2014 edition was unveiled at last year's Detroit Auto Show boasting 550 horsepower from the brand's 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8, and it could hit 60 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds to a 175 mph top speed. Those seemed like very impressive specs for an SUV, but only a year later, the German brand has revealed an even more powerful take on its flagship trim in the model lineup. The 2015 Cayenne Turbo S now makes 562 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque from the same V8. The key to seeing such a significant boost in grunt so quickly is that the two turbos are now integral and are located directly in the exhaust manifolds. Porsche's eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox still routes power to all four wheels. All of the tweaks let the SUV hit 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and a 176 mph to speed. Stopping should come quite rapidly too thanks to 16.5-inch diameter ceramic brake discs up front with 10-piston calipers. Of course, the Cayenne needs to be able to put that added grunt to good use. Porsche claims that the model can lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:59.74. Comparatively, the 550-hp Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR previously touted its SUV 'Ring lap record with a circuit in 8:14 in 2014. The Turbo S doesn't try hard to show off its added prowess, though. Up front, the bumper and undersides of the door mirrors are done in high-gloss black paint. Meanwhile, the roof spoiler and wheel arches are body color. The 21-inch wheels with black edges provide a little flash, and LED headlights are standard. The interior should be comfy too with black and creme leather and carbon fiber accents. The whole package rings up for $157,300, plus $995 destination and delivery, and US deliveries start in late April. Check it out in Porsche's video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The new Cayenne Turbo S The top athlete among SUVs At the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Porsche is also introducing the new Cayenne Turbo S – the top model of the sporty SUV model series. Its re-engineered 4.8-liter V8 biturbo engine now develops 570 hp (419 kW) and 800 Nm (590 ft lb) of torque. A chassis that is tuned for maximum driving dynamics and packs a wide range of control systems also makes the Cayenne Turbo S a genuine top athlete.

Are you the next Porsche 911 GT3 RS or GT2?

Porsche typically keeps to a suitably fast schedule when it comes to rolling out increasingly hard-core performance versions of the 911. After the 997 Carrera debuted in 2004, the GT3 version followed in 2006, and by the end of the 2007, Porsche had rolled out both the GT3 RS and GT2 versions. Then the facelifted 997.5 came out in 2008 and it was back to the start: the GT3 came in 2009, the GT3 RS and GT2 RS in 2010, and the GT3 RS 4.0 in 2011. But things have slowed down some with the latest 991 generation.
The new Carrera came in 2011 and the GT3 followed in 2012. By recent history's example, we should have at least two more hardcore models by now, but we don't. Maybe the engineers in Zuffenhausen have had their hands full fixing the spontaneous-combustion issues with the existing GT3, or maybe their attentions have been focused elsewhere altogether. But if these spy shots are anything to go by, it seems like they're back on the job.
Now we don't know if this prototype foreshadows a new GT3 RS or a GT2, but it sure looks more hard-core than the existing GT3 that many purists have derided as too soft, what with its automatic transmission and four-wheel steering.