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Photo of the week (2009): Porsche Panamera in a lift

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 21 April 2009 14:22 CAR’s editor Phil McNamara is in China this week, reporting on everything weird and wonderful at the Shanghai motor show. But when he called to say he was pouring over Porsche’s Panamera 425 metres up in the air, we started to think that maybe the jetlag was getting to him. Apparently not – on the evening before the opening of the Shanghai show, a select group of the world’s automotive media was invited to a preview of the Panamera on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Centre.

Land Rover previews Discovery Vision Concept ahead of NY show

Land Rover has given a first taste of the Discovery Vision Concept, which will debut at the New York International Auto Show later this month. The concept introduces the design themes that will define both the next generation of Freelander/LR2 and Discovery/LR4 models. Land Rover had previously announced that it would align its models under three pillars - 'luxury' for Range Rovers, 'leisure' for Discovery models – of which the Freelander/LR2 becomes – and 'dual purpose' for the long-awaited replacement for the Defender.

Alfa Romeo 4C arrives stateside in New York

Not long after the last transport departed New York Harbor with a cargo of unsold 164s, an Alfa Romeo executive was probably quoted as saying, "we will return next year!" We have been eagerly anticipating the return of Alfa Romeo for the last 19 years, long enough for the last Milano to rust whence it came, every year the brand just another year away! Well, this year -- yes, this year, finally, no really -- the Alfa Romeo 4C heralds the brand's reintroduction to America -- just as it did last year, remember -- as early as this summer. You'll have to forgive us for such skepticism -- we've been burned by our desire to invoke Italian driving passion and all that, but it's also hurting the Fiat dealers who scrape by on a lack of product.