2012 Porsche Panamera Diesel by McChip-dkr

With 250 HP, the Panamera Diesel isn’t the most powerful model in the line-up by a long shot. By comparison, the Panamera Turbo doubles this output (500 HP) and the Turbo S goes to 550 HP. Lucky for us, McChip DKR has revealed an impressive upgrade package to help the diesel engine out just a little bit.

The engine modifications prepared for the Panamera Diesel increase its 3.0 L V6 engine’s output to a total of 285 HP and 442 lbs-ft of torque. As a result, the sports sedan’s top speed can now go up to 152 mph with an undoubtedly faster 0-60 mph sprint time (no official time provided).

Next to the engine update, McChip-DKR is also offering a new set of performance springs from H&R which lowers the big Porsche by about 30 millimeters, as well as a new set of 22" wheels wrapped in Dunlop Sport Maxx GT high-performance tires.

It may not be the power and performance provided by the Turbo and Turbo S models, but this extra little boost to the Panamera Diesel may just be enough to make some Porsche customers happy.

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The VW and Porsche "Corporate Restructuring" is Officially Official

Finally! After a long and drawn out process, the corporate restructuring that brings full control of Porsche’s automotive side under Volkswagen’s control is approved and official. The deal sent 4.49 billion Euros and one voting share of VW stock from VW and Porsche SE to Porsche AG, the latter item being simply a concession to avoid paying a load of taxes and was left out of VW’s press release.

This officially gives Volkswagen AG 100 percent holdings in Porsche and effectively gives VW the ability to do whatever it wants with the famed sports car builder. We have already alluded to the possibility of VW overriding Porsche’s CEO and continuing on with the “Baby Boxster” project that gained notoriety lately. That possibility was given more solid ground with a statement released by VW CEO, Martin Winterkorn.

Winterkorn was quoted saying “The path is now finally clear for a bright future together. Even closer cooperation will enable us to significantly strengthen Volkswagen and Porsche, and further expand the group‘s product portfolio with fascinating new vehicles.”

You see, it is that last section about bringing new models that really drives home the possibility that VW may be about to force Porsche to build a lesser-priced version of the Boxster. We see that as making perfect business sense because if Porsche buyers can accept a sedan and a pair of SUVs, why can’t they accept a lower-priced Boxster?

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1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion

In the mid-1990s, Porsche unveiled the 911 GT1 - a race car specially developed for the GT1 class of sportscar racing. Despite being called a "911," the GT1 had very little in common with the 911: only the frontal chassis was shared with the 993 911, while almost every other element was borrowed from the Porsche 962, including the flat-six engine.

During its first appearance at the 1996 Le Mans, the GT1 walked away with a second and third overall finish, as well as first and second in class. Despite these finishes, Porsche still wanted more, so in 1997, they came up with the GT1 Evo - a model that featured aerodynamic tweaks to the bodywork and a revision of the suspension. These changes helped the GT1 score more victories, including a one-two finish at Le Mans in 1998, where it beat out teams from McLaren, Toyota, and Panoz.

Not willing to let the fun rest solely on the track, Porsche set out to make a street-legal version of the award-winning GT1, which is then dubbed the Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion. The model was limited to only 25 units and cost a cool $912,000.

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Spy Shots: Take a glimpse at the Porsche Macan’s interior

In the past few weeks, Porsche has been busy developing both the 918 Spyder and the upcoming Cayenne Junior - aka Macan. Today, our spy photographers have caught the car testing one more time, and luckily, they have also managed to take the first shots of the interior.

The interior images aren’t as clear as all of us would like them to be, but they are still enough to see that the next Macan will be stuffed with all of the latest technology. Some of these elements may even be borrowed from the new Boxster’s interior, including the information on the on-board computer, communication, audio settings, and the navigation system being displayed on a high-resolution TFT color screen. Other elements include a 3-spoke sports steering wheel and all kinds of leather goodness.

As for the engines to be used in the next Macan, Porsche has already confirmed that the SUV will get a 370 HP 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine for the Turbo version, as well as a new four-cylinder engine with an output of about 220 HP. There will also be a diesel version for markets like Europe, and a hybrid version that could combine a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor.

The new Porsche Macan will go into production in 2013, so we should get tons more information before that time comes. Stay tuned!

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2012 Porsche Panamera White Snow by Anderson Germany

German tuner Anderson Germany hasn’t been in the news lately, but for better or worse, when they do have a program, it makes headlines. Their latest project for the Porsche Panamera is called the White Snow and as its name suggests, it’s really powdery white. Maybe even a little too powdery.

Along with the White Snow finish, Anderson Germany gave the Panamera a comprehensive bodykit that includes a wider bumper spoiler, new air intakes, and two new ribs taking the place of where the bay fog was. We’re not exactly big fans of this, if we’re being honest.

From there, the German tuner also built borders surrounding the headlights, fitted a new set of 22" wheels, and added a lightweight spoiler, a rounded rear bumper with unique designs of their own, and a new dual-pipe exhaust system.

Inside, Anderson Germany dressed up the Porsche Panamera with a unique combination of carbon fiber, beige leather, Alcantara, and suede. Combine all of that with the "White Snow" exterior, and you have a German luxury sports saloon that doesn’t strike us the way Anderson Germany normally does. We just needed more of a fiery tuning program in the middle of the Summer.

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2014 Rolls Royce Corniche Coupe

After debuting the Series II for both the Phantom and Phantom Coupe models, Rolls Royce engineers are now busy testing their latest creation: the 2014 Rolls Royce Corniche Coupe.

Our spy photographers managed to catch the first prototypes as they were taken out for some testing, and even though Rolls Royce engineers tried to camouflage the true shape of this Corniche prototype, it’s not very hard to see that the roof-line slopes much more at the rear than the Rolls Royce Ghost sedan. These prototypes were also sporting fake door handles, in order to pretend that the Coupe will get conventional doors, but don’t be fooled, the Corniche will get the same type of suicide doors as the bigger Phantom Coupe and it won’t be offered with four doors.

The future Corniche Coupe will be built on the same platform as the Ghost sedan and will most likely feature the same 6.6 liter twin-turbo V12 pumping out 563 HP.

Expect to see the new Rolls Royce Corniche Coupe debut sometime in 2013, more than likely at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

UPDATE 08/01/2012: British magazine Autocar is reporting that the future Coupe will be powered by a turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine ready to deliver a total of 600 HP. This amazing output will make the Corniche the fastest Rolls Royce ever! It will be capable of hitting a top speed of 155 mph, while the 0 to 60 mph sprint is expected to be considerably lower than on the Ghost which makes it in 4.7 seconds!

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2012 Chevrolet Camaro "King Camaro" by 813 Customs

Actually, "excessive" even feels like an understatement, especially when you’ve had the time to process exactly what you’re looking at.

In this case, what you’re looking at is supposed to be a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible SS. It still looks like a Camaro SS, at least for the most part, but what we can’t wrap our heads around is just how far 813 Customs took to giving this muscle car one of the most insane programs we’ve ever seen. For starters, the chrome wrap isn’t all that bad, as is the custom front grille, the red racing stripes, the LED strips on the hood opening, and the red headlights. We can live with those components and actually like them to a certain extent. But after that, things get a little hairy.

The standard-sized wheels have been taken off in favor of a new set of 32" versions. 32 inches, people. From there, the interior of the Camaro was dressed in a combination of red leather, red chrome, and other red what-have-yous to create a visual eyesore. Then, there are the speakers, which all look like planted mushrooms on a small field and probably have enough bass to make your ears bleed even if the volume’s at mute.

The finishing touch for this true one-of-a-kind Camaro? A double-sided LCD flat screen whose purpose in this whole cacophony of absurdity we still can’t seem to understand.

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