Porsche Announces Macan SUV

The Porsche Macan compact SUV will slot below the Cayenne in Porsche's linup, bringing the automaker's sport-ute count to two. Porsche previously announced plans to sell a compact SUV, but it was rumored to be called Cajun. The Macan name is a new one for Porsche, and it is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger.

Though we don't know much about the Macan, it's likely that it will share its platform with Audi's compact SUV, the Q5. Based on the sketch, the Macan looks like a compact four-door crossover with a sloping roofline, sleek lines and coupe-like silhouette. Its closest competitor will probably be Land Rover's newest SUV, the compact Range Rover Evoque. To wit, Porsche says the Macan will be off-road ready.

The Macan will be built at Porsche's plant in Leipzig, Germany, in late 2013. No word on when it will hit U.S. dealerships, but probably in early 2014.

Infiniti Boasts World's Fastest Hybrid

Do hybrid buyers have a need for speed? It seems counterintuitive, but Infiniti thinks so. The automaker recently crowned its M hybrid sedan the world's fastest hybrid. Nissan's luxury arm pitted its M35h against the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid in a drag race.

During a 90-second video called "The Duel," the M leaves the Panamera in a cloud of dust and beats it to the finish line. Infiniti lists an 11.5-second zero-to-100-mph acceleration time and a quarter-mile time of 13.4 seconds for its hybrid. The automaker says a third-party testing company confirmed the results, which have also been certified by Guinness World Records.

Infiniti didn't say how much gas was wasted in racing these two hybrids, however.

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Infiniti

Porsche Delays Plans for Entry-Level Car

Porsche's plans for an entry-level roadster that would have priced below the Boxster, which starts at $49,500 for the 2013 model year, excluding a destination charge, have been delayed, according to Automotive News.

There are fears that the cheaper Porsche would dilute the brand's image, according to the carmaker's CEO Matthias Mueller. Early last year, Mueller said the carmaker was looking to make a more affordable mid-engine roadster that would launch in 2014. Now, he says the carmaker will likely delay that plan until it can reshape its brand image enough to accommodate the small car. Porsche may even wait for a new generation of car shoppers before introducing the model.

The small roadster, along with the still-planned Cajun small SUV, is part of a strategy to expand Porsche's sales. The brand wants to sell 200,000 vehicles annually by 2018. Last year, the premium carmaker only sold about half that amount.

Porsche to delay entry-level roadster, report says (Auto News)

2013 Porsche Boxster: First Look

• Competes with: BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Audi TT
• Looks like: Porsche has a new design language 
• Drivetrain: 265-hp, 2.7-liter flat-six engine or 315-hp, 3.4-liter flat six; six-speed manual transmission or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission 
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2012

First, Porsche came for the Cayenne and then the 911. Now it's Boxster's turn — the venerable soul of the brand — to morph into a sleeker, more fuel-efficient form.

For the 2013 model year, the Boxster is all-new. Along with fresh exterior and interior styling, it rides a new longer, wider chassis and also gets a lightweight body and new engines and drivetrain components.

Unlike the Porsche 911, which looks unchanged from the previous generation, the 2013 Porsche Boxster gets a thoroughly new look. The oval headlights have been replaced with tall, vertical ones. The rear spoiler is now seamlessly integrated beneath the rear deck lid. It even continues into the rear LED taillight lenses, which form the backup light; it looks sharp. The whole spoiler deploys automatically at speeds of 75 mph or higher to reduce lift.

2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet: Photo Gallery

The redesigned 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet goes on sale this spring and the 2012 Detroit Auto Show was our first chance to see the model in the flesh.

More 2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

The new model is now composed entirely out of lightweight aluminum-steel composite. You can see the difference between the new and old model just by looking at the taillamps.

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet: Up Close

The all-new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet nails the trifecta of convertible design by looking good with the top up or down and maintaining its coupe counterpart’s sleekness. Like the 2012 911 Carrera coupe we saw at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show, the 2012 Cabriolet (available in Carrera and Carrera S) shares the same chassis and powertrain updates.

More 2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

What Are the Top 10 Most Expensive Cars?

What automaker makes the most expensive cars? Rolls-Royce? Bentley? If that’s your guess then the Occupy protestors probably aren’t complaining about you. For members of the 1% — or probably the 0.1% in this regard — there’s an even more exclusive list of rides, with price tags nearly as long as their nameplates.

To be fair, you’ve probably heard of a couple of these cars. The Bugatti Veyron remains the most expensive car on the market, according to Forbes.com, which compiled the top 10 list. The Bugatti comes in at $2.6 million for the newish 1,200-horsepower Supersport trim. We’ve also looked at the Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid, which is actually one of the cheapest (at $845,000) and least powerful cars on the list.

2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet: First Look

• Competes with: Chevrolet Corvette, Maserati GranCabrio, Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
• Looks like: More 911 iterations are ready for primetime
• Drivetrain: 350-hp, 3.4-liter flat-six engine or 400-hp, 3.8-liter flat-six; seven-speed manual transmission or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2012

Like most German makes, Porsche is known for having just a few models that come in what seems like a limitless number of models and trim levels.

The options are beginning to grow rapidly for the all-new seventh generation 2012 Porsche 911. The model was first shown this summer in base Carrera and Carrera S trims. While there wasn’t much doubt, we now know there will be convertible options for each – known as the Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S Cabriolet. The convertibles will arrive at dealerships just a few short months after the coupe variants go on sale in February.

Besides the addition of the power droptop, most of the features are the same as the coupe. 

2012 Porsche 911 Video

It may not look like it, but the Porsche 911 is all-new for the 2012 model year. While the car maintains its timeless look for the most part, what’s changed is the 911’s interior, which really “raises the bar,” according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley.

2012 Porsche 911: Photo Gallery

The 2012 Porsche 911 may not look significantly different than previous generations to all but 911 loyalists, but underneath there's an all-new chassis and wider stance.

More 2011 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Most notable changes on the outside include new taillights, while the inside is redesigned with a touch of influence from Porsche's Panamera sedan. Despite the subtle update it will likely draw huge crowds during the public show.