The Porsche Cayenne GTS returns for 2021, and there is a coupe version as well. Power comes from a V-8 engine once again, like in the good old times. We expect this Cayenne to be an especially popular model, packing a lot of the Turbo’s attitude and amenities at a much lower price. Back in […] More

Porsche opens first branded luxury charging hub in Germany, featuring six 300-kW DC fast-charging stalls and four 22-kW AC charging points. Entry to the lounge is designed to be activated by an automatic license plate recognition system, or by using the MyPorsche app, with food and drinks inside.The automaker plans additional hubs in Austria and Switzerland in the near future as more electric vehicles are added to its lineup.After Audi’s early success with reservations-only charging hubs, we knew it wouldn’t be long before another VW Group brand offered a similar experience. Porsche inaugurated a new luxury Charging Lounge this month in Bingen am Rhein, Germany, offering its own take on the EV experience.The lounge, offering six 300-kW DC fast-charging stalls in addition to four 22-kW AC charging points, is the first of its type, with the brand set to expand the concept to other countries in Europe fairly soon.Positioned just a couple of minutes from the busy A60/A61 junction, the Charging Lounge is designed to be open 24/7, offering a spacious and luxurious interior stocked with snacks and soft drinks.A Porsche ID is required to enter the lounge itself, but there’s an automated system for that as well. If a given Porsche’s license plate is stored in the computer, an automatic license plate recognition system will let the car in. And even if the license plate isn’t stored in the system, drivers can use the MyPorsche app to access the station, or scan a QR code or use the Porsche Charging Card to access the station. The interior of the charging lounge is not too dissimilar from an airline lounge, with snacks and drinks inside.PorscheThe station generates some of its own electricity thanks to solar cells on the roof of the building, but the majority of the power comes from a dedicated grid connection. Speaking of power, the station itself features 300-kW chargers produced by South Tyrolean specialist Alpitronic. And in the future, Porsche anticipates even faster charging speeds will be afforded by 400-kW chargers. This would also drastically reduce the amount of time one will have to spend in one of these lounges, so perhaps there wouldn’t really be time for a physical workout in front of a smart mirror, which is yet another item currently offered by the lounge.The entire concept of an airport-style charging network isn’t new per se, with a number of automakers having explored the idea in the early years of EVs. But Porsche is one of the first to commit to building several lounges of this type, with a number planned for Austria and Switzerland, in addition to more sites in Germany.More on EV ChargingThe station draws some of its power from solar cells on the roof, but the fast-chargers require a grid connection, as with Audi’s charging hubs.PorscheWill we ever see a charging lounge like this in North America?At the moment that’s hard to say, with just one battery-electric Porsche model currently on the market. But even when the variety of electric Porsche models begins to outnumber internal-combustion vehicles, there would still have to be a business case behind it. There are certainly some cities in the U.S. where the number of electric Porsche models could make the idea worthwhile. Depending on how popular the charging lounges become in Europe in the next few years, we wouldn’t rule out seeing a handful open stateside by the end of the decade. And given the recent collaborative announcement from seven automakers for a vast new charging network across the U.S., some earmarked as “flagship” locations with certain amenities, this idea could start catching on here regardless of what Porsche decides to do. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum. Despite being followed around by French cars for the past decade, he has somehow been able to avoid Citroën ownership, judging them too commonplace, and is currently looking at cars from the former Czechoslovakia. Jay has been with Autoweek since 2013.  More

Aston Martin has announced that there will be a new V12 Vantage.It will use a version of the company’s twin-turbo 5.2-liter V-12 engine.More information is coming soon and the car is set to go on sale sometime in 2022.When it comes to the many press releases sent to us by automakers large and small our job is normally to spare you from corporate verbiage and dig out salient points from what often feels like word soup. But with the official announcement of the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage, that would be hard. Because here is the release in its entirety: “You’ve heard about it. You will certainly hear it coming. V12 Vantage. It’s not just a Limited Edition, it’s a Final Edition. Returning in 2022.”
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A teaser video accompanying this release promises a truly savage engine noise. So there are plenty of blanks to fill in.

Don’t worry, we’ve got answers to some of them. When we drove the V12 Speedster earlier in the year we were told that the windshield-free lightweight’s underbody structure effectively combined the front end of the DBS Superleggera with the rear of the Vantage Roadster. We can safely presume the V12 Vantage is based on the same underpinnings, and uses what will likely be a similarly brawny version of the company’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12 engine. Let’s hope it’s in the same 690-horsepower state of tune. Aston boss Tobias Moers has previously confirmed that the V-12 doesn’t have a long-term future for the brand, which is set to switch entirely to AMG-sourced powertrains. The official release’s line about a “final edition” suggests that the Vantage could mark the end of the road for the venerable motor, which although heavily revised and turbocharged when the DB11 was launched in 2016 is still closely related to the V-12 developed when Ford owned the brand and launched it in 1999. Using this same sonorous powerplant, the last V12 Vantage was always one of the highlights of the range, combining a 510-hp naturally aspirated V-12 engine with a manual gearbox, a combination that was only slightly less exotic in 2010 than it appears now. Sadly there seems to be no chance of Aston repeating the combination, with insiders having told C/D that the current V-8–powered Vantage will be the last car the company offers with the option of a clutch pedal. We’re pretty sure the last V12 Vantage’s $181,000 price tag will seem like an outrageous bargain when compared to the figure being asked for the new car.Not that we’re complaining about the chance to experience one of Aston’s greatest hits for a final time. We look forward to being able to tell you more.
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Bugatti revealed that all 500 units of the Chiron and all 40 units of the Bolide have sold.The final units of the Chiron and Bolide could be the last Bugattis powered by the massive 8.0-liter W-16 motor. Future Bugattis will use electric powertrains developed with Croatian automaker Rimac, which merged with Bugatti last summer.With Batmobile-esque styling and an 1825-hp quad-turbo 8.0-liter W-16, Bugatti’s Bolide concept merely seemed like a flight of fancy, but Bugatti shocked the world last summer by announcing that it would go into production as a track-only hypercar with a still-bonkers 1578 horses. Now Bugatti has revealed that all 40 Bolides have been sold out, with each customer spending around $4.8 million for the privilege of owning one of Bugatti’s most radical models.

Bugatti

Bugatti also reported that the remainder of the Chiron’s production run is sold out, with 110 wealthy customers putting in orders for the street-legal hypercar. The Chiron was first unveiled in 2016 as the successor to the Veyron and has since spawned several special editions, including the Super Sport 300+, which topped 300 mph on the Ehra-Lessien test track in 2019. Only 500 Chirons will be built in total, and as of last fall 300 units had already been produced.

Bugatti says that of the 150 customers who ordered a Bugatti in 2021, 60 percent were new to the brand. With the Chiron and Bolide now sold out, Bugatti will turn its attention to an electrified future. Last year, Bugatti merged with Croatian electric supercar maker Rimac and announced that future Bugattis will employ Rimac’s high-performance electric drivetrains. It shouldn’t be too long before we see the first product of this budding new partnership, but we wouldn’t be surprised it this marks the end of the line for Bugatti’s epic W-16 engine.
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Bring a Trailer has set another record for most expensive car sold.The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT sold for $2 million, and it did so with no reserve.This Porsche took the crown from another Porsche Carrera GT that sold earlier in January.Just two weeks ago, we told you that the online auction site, Bring a Trailer, had sold its most expensive car ever, a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that went for a little over $1.9 million. That title has now been usurped. Another 2005 Porsche Carrera GT just sold for $2 million.

Bring a Trailer

Bring a Trailer

Whereas the earlier record-setting Porsche had 780 miles on the clock, this latest one had been driven just 250 miles. Against that, the $2 million Carrera GT is finished in GT Silver metallic, a more common color than the other car’s Guards Red. Then again, to our eyes, the silver car’s Terracotta interior is preferable to the red car’s black leather.

Bring a Trailer

Mechanically, of course, the cars are identical, with a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V-10 with dry-sump lubrication and an 8400-rpm redline; a six-speed manual transaxle; a twin-plate ceramic clutch; and rear-wheel drive. The Carrera GT also boasts a carbon-fiber central-tub chassis over which is stretched carbon-fiber bodywork.This later car benefits from a fresh, $18,000 service that included a new water pump, battery, belts, plugs, tires, and TPM sensors—so maybe that accounts for some of the $98,000 price difference versus the earlier car. Or maybe that just represents two weeks’ worth of price appreciation for under-1k-mile Porsche Carrera GTs.
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