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Porsche Panamera convertible plans uncovered

A series of European and U.S. patent applications obtained by AutoWeek show that Porsche remains committed to building a four-door convertible version of its flagship Panamera, despite recent comments from Zuffenhausen insiders indicating the car had been canceled. The new car, depicted in official drawings that accompany the latest Porsche patent applications filed in February, eschews the two-door route taken by all of its upmarket rivals for a practical four-door body.

Abarth Fiat 500 Convertible confirmed. Punto Abarth coming?

It looks like plans for an Abarth version of the 500C for 2010 are confrmed But a successful model is always going to spawn whatever variants a car maker can viably muster, so our report in July that we will see an Abarth version of the 500C in Spring 2010 – probably at the Geneva Motor Show – now seem to have been confirmed as ‘jokeforblog’ has published pictures of what seems to be a road-ready Abarth Convertible at Abarth’s facility. Now that will be a bunch of fun – and just in time for next Summer. Spy shot of the Abarth 500 Cabriolet It also now seems likely that Fiat are pushing ahead with a new Abarth version of the Punto.

E85 makes inroads on cost and availability

Three years ago, we embarked on a Midwest road trip in search of what was then the Holy Grail of fuel: E85. Our findings weren't too positive--there were far more E85-compatible vehicles on the road in 2006 (5 million) than there were E85 pumps to fuel them (about 700 out of some 200,000 fuel stations nationwide). In addition, those burning the mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol were paying a pretty penny for their earth-friendly ways, losing about 15 percent in fuel economy while often paying the same price as for regular unleaded.