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Porsche says Panamera avoids gas-guzzler tax

Few expenses were spared in conceiving the Porsche Panamera, but consumers will avoid at least one cost of ownership: the ignominious gas-guzzler tax. Porsche has announced ratings for the 2010 sedan; it will get a combined figure of 18 mpg or 19 mpg from the EPA, depending on the model. This means Porsche’s four-door foray will avoid a fairly substantial cost of ownership--a tax of up to $7,700 is levied on the most prolific guzzlers.

6th l'argus Design Competition announced

This week French magazine L'argus de l'automobile launches its 6th Utility Vehicle European Design competition. The contest runs until the 5th November, with the task to design a new commercial vehicle on the theme: "How to optimize urban goods delivery in large cities". Traffic flow is an issue for most of today's cities.

Video: Ferrari F70 caught drifting at Fiorano

0-60 tipped us off to this short video of Ferrari's forthcoming Enzo successor drifting its way around Ferrari's Fiorano test track. The F70's V12 can be heard, though there's no evidence of the rumored KERS-like hybrid system. Ferrari tells us to expect a sub-2,500-pound curb weight, and we're also hearing the 920-hp figure bandied about.