The latest Porsche 911, today revealed to the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, is a dramatic combination of old and new, mating the classic Targa concept with today’s cutting-edge roof technology... And doesn’t it look terrific? There was much ooh-ing and aah-ing in the Classic Driver office when the first picture was released, thanks to the characteristic wide bar that replaces the 911’s existing B-pillars. This bar is an unambiguous testament to the first 911 Targa of 1965 – when the stainless-steel-clad rollover bar was a necessary, functional feature adopted to address strict American safety regulations. Today, it has become a striking design element to complement the lines of a modern 911.

As with the original Targa of the 1960s, the latest Porsche also features a wraparound rear window with no C-pillar plus – of course – a removable roof section above the front seats. But thanks to modern technology, today’s 911 driver can open and close the Targa roof at the touch of a button. Porsche promises that the innovative, automated process of stowing the roof behind the rear seats will be an eye-catching spectacle in itself.

There will be two model variants, both offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. The 911 Targa 4 has the 3.4-litre, 350HP engine, while the 911 Targa 4S delivers 400HP from a displacement of 3.8 litres. Acceleration from rest to 62mph is given as 4.8 seconds and 4.4 seconds, respectively.

The new models will be launched onto the market in May 2014 and, in Germany, will carry price tags of 109,338 euros for the 4, and 124,094 euros for the 4S, inclusive of VAT and country-specific equipment.

Remember the Eighties... and digital dashboards?!

Pagani Zonda in full bloom.

2015 Ford Mustang Spy Photos. Ford's next muscle car looks like it's been through P90X. From Car & Driver.

What It Is: The next-generation Ford Mustang, buried under enough camouflage, cladding, and vinyl to make Lady Gaga jealous. Like the pop star, we’re pretty sure this Mustang is on parade, dressed this way, to get some attention. (Okay, sure, Ford has real-world testing to do, too.)

Why It Matters: Along with the F-150, the Mustang is nothing less than the heart and soul of Ford. The upcoming version is the company’s attempt to bring its storied muscle car into the 21st century—meaning this could be the model’s first real break from orthodoxy since the 1970s. It should be lighter and faster than the outgoing Mustang, and it will kick the retro styling.

Platform: A new platform, codenamed “S550,” finally will bring an independent rear suspension to the series-production Mustang. (If you recall, the 1999–2004 SVT Cobra, built in limited numbers, had a special IRS.) Engineers suggest the sixth-generation Stang will be as many as 200 pounds lighter than the outgoing car.


Powertrain: You name it. Today’s 3.7-liter V-6 will undergo slight renovation before slotting into base cars, power climbing past the current 305 horses. Europeans—and potentially we Yankees—will be offered a turbocharged 2.3-liter four, complete with an EcoBoost badge and a higher sticker price than the six. The top of the Mustang line will, of course, be V-8–dominated. Base eights will displace more than five liters, while engines for higher-performance cars will see liberal modification and forced induction.

Competition: Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and/or SRT Barracuda.

Estimated Arrival and Prices: Look for a debut on the Mustang’s 50th birthday next April. Figure on needing $23,000 for a basic V-6 car and at least $32,000 to get into an eight-cylinder model. More photos here: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-ford-mustang-spy-photos-news-1?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1458_9688833