Porsche will update the Panamera Sport Turismo for its ’20 model year, and here’s a prototype of the new car hitting German roads.

Expected to be revealed early next year, the Mercedes AMG GT four-door rival will receive subtle revisions to the exterior look, including an altered taillight design with an LED strip linking both units. The changes will bring it into line with newer Porsche models, such as the Cayenne and 992-generation 911.

It won't be just a cosmetic upgrade; however, as Porsche is planning to introduce its first mild-hybrid powertrains for the Panamera Sport Turismo. The S and 4S models will make use of the same 2.9L twin-turbo V6, but like U.S. market versions of the Audi S6 and S7, the two variants are likely to adopt a 48V electrical architecture.

This will allow the fitment of a mild-hybrid system, using the usual integrated motor generator to harvest electrical power to provide an efficiency boost and allow the start-stop system to activate sooner. Perhaps more important to Porsche buyers, however, will be the expected inclusion of Audi’s electric compressor system, filling in the gaps in torque delivery while the turbochargers spool up.

With the interior already as up to date as its siblings, expect more technology upgrades than design changes inside. We’ll see more advanced infotainment and assist features, but nothing dramatic is predicted. 

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Porsche will update the Panamera Sport Turismo for its ’20 model year, and here’s a prototype of the new car hitting German roads.

Expected to be revealed early next year, the Mercedes AMG GT four-door rival will receive subtle revisions to the exterior look, including an altered taillight design with an LED strip linking both units. The changes will bring it into line with newer Porsche models, such as the Cayenne and 992-generation 911.

It won't be just a cosmetic upgrade; however, as Porsche is planning to introduce its first mild-hybrid powertrains for the Panamera Sport Turismo. The S and 4S models will make use of the same 2.9L twin-turbo V6, but like U.S. market versions of the Audi S6 and S7, the two variants are likely to adopt a 48V electrical architecture.

This will allow the fitment of a mild-hybrid system, using the usual integrated motor generator to harvest electrical power to provide an efficiency boost and allow the start-stop system to activate sooner. Perhaps more important to Porsche buyers, however, will be the expected inclusion of Audi’s electric compressor system, filling in the gaps in torque delivery while the turbochargers spool up.

With the interior already as up to date as its siblings, expect more technology upgrades than design changes inside. We’ll see more advanced infotainment and assist features, but nothing dramatic is predicted. 

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Porsche will update the Panamera Sport Turismo for its ’20 model year, and here’s a prototype of the new car hitting German roads.

Expected to be revealed early next year, the Mercedes AMG GT four-door rival will receive subtle revisions to the exterior look, including an altered taillight design with an LED strip linking both units. The changes will bring it into line with newer Porsche models, such as the Cayenne and 992-generation 911.

It won't be just a cosmetic upgrade; however, as Porsche is planning to introduce its first mild-hybrid powertrains for the Panamera Sport Turismo. The S and 4S models will make use of the same 2.9L twin-turbo V6, but like U.S. market versions of the Audi S6 and S7, the two variants are likely to adopt a 48V electrical architecture.

This will allow the fitment of a mild-hybrid system, using the usual integrated motor generator to harvest electrical power to provide an efficiency boost and allow the start-stop system to activate sooner. Perhaps more important to Porsche buyers, however, will be the expected inclusion of Audi’s electric compressor system, filling in the gaps in torque delivery while the turbochargers spool up.

With the interior already as up to date as its siblings, expect more technology upgrades than design changes inside. We’ll see more advanced infotainment and assist features, but nothing dramatic is predicted. 

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Porsche will update the Panamera Sport Turismo for its ’20 model year, and here’s a prototype of the new car hitting German roads.

Expected to be revealed early next year, the Mercedes AMG GT four-door rival will receive subtle revisions to the exterior look, including an altered taillight design with an LED strip linking both units. The changes will bring it into line with newer Porsche models, such as the Cayenne and 992-generation 911.

It won't be just a cosmetic upgrade; however, as Porsche is planning to introduce its first mild-hybrid powertrains for the Panamera Sport Turismo. The S and 4S models will make use of the same 2.9L twin-turbo V6, but like U.S. market versions of the Audi S6 and S7, the two variants are likely to adopt a 48V electrical architecture.

This will allow the fitment of a mild-hybrid system, using the usual integrated motor generator to harvest electrical power to provide an efficiency boost and allow the start-stop system to activate sooner. Perhaps more important to Porsche buyers, however, will be the expected inclusion of Audi’s electric compressor system, filling in the gaps in torque delivery while the turbochargers spool up.

With the interior already as up to date as its siblings, expect more technology upgrades than design changes inside. We’ll see more advanced infotainment and assist features, but nothing dramatic is predicted. 

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Porsche will update the Panamera Sport Turismo for its ’20 model year, and here’s a prototype of the new car hitting German roads.

Expected to be revealed early next year, the Mercedes AMG GT four-door rival will receive subtle revisions to the exterior look, including an altered taillight design with an LED strip linking both units. The changes will bring it into line with newer Porsche models, such as the Cayenne and 992-generation 911.

It won't be just a cosmetic upgrade; however, as Porsche is planning to introduce its first mild-hybrid powertrains for the Panamera Sport Turismo. The S and 4S models will make use of the same 2.9L twin-turbo V6, but like U.S. market versions of the Audi S6 and S7, the two variants are likely to adopt a 48V electrical architecture.

This will allow the fitment of a mild-hybrid system, using the usual integrated motor generator to harvest electrical power to provide an efficiency boost and allow the start-stop system to activate sooner. Perhaps more important to Porsche buyers, however, will be the expected inclusion of Audi’s electric compressor system, filling in the gaps in torque delivery while the turbochargers spool up.

With the interior already as up to date as its siblings, expect more technology upgrades than design changes inside. We’ll see more advanced infotainment and assist features, but nothing dramatic is predicted. 

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

As OEMs roll out advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) on new vehicles, the latest technologies are proving to be a mixed bag for the aftermarket.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2019/12/adas-problem-solving

Here are some of the more popular tactics marketers use to create buzz on social media, along with the tools you can use to analyze how each tactic is working for you.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2019/12/seven-tactics-for-creating-social-media-buzz

Retailers need an organized way to monitor and respond to trash talk and other comments about them that appear online—or face potential peril.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Aftermarket Performance Group Announces CEO Departure

The Aftermarket Performance Group (APG) has announced the departure of its CEO, Matt Jordan. APG and Jordan have mutually agreed to seek new leadership for the organization to allow him to focus on recent health issues and to better support APG’s next stage of growth. Over the past five years, APG has doubled the sales and employee count of the business through organic growth and multiple acquisitions. The board of directors has announced that Russ Spieler has agreed to assume the role of Interim CEO while the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Spieler is a managing director at Capital Partners and brings considerable experience and strong leadership skills to the role, having served on APG’s board of managers for five years. 

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Junior Johnson

NASCAR Hall of Fame Member Junior Johnson Passes Away

NASCAR legend Junior Johnson, 88, has passed away. According to The New York Times, he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Johnson was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in its inaugural Class of 2010. He won 50 races in NASCAR’s top division—the most of any driver without a championship—and added 132 victories and six championships as a successful team owner for many legends of the sport. Johnson won the second running of the Daytona 500 in ’60, then added two more victoires in the Great American Race as a car owner in ’69 and ’77.

Robert Glenn Johnson Jr., who became known as “Junior,” was born in 1931, in Ronda, North Carolina. The family business was farming and manufacturing and transporting untaxed whiskey. Johnson was convicted of moonshining in ’56 and pardoned by President Ronald Reagan, December 26, 1986. Until his death, he sold moonshine legally under the Midnight Moon label.

Johnson’s first appearance in NASCAR’s top division was in the ’53 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. He finished 38th in the 59-car field. His first victory came at Hickory Speedway, May 7, 1955, and he added four more victories by the end of his rookie season. In ’60, he beat Bobby Johns in the Daytona 500, using the “drafting” technique he discovered, which consisted of an aerodynamic push and pull created by the air at high speeds.

In ’65, Johnson won 13 of his 36 starts, including his final win as a driver at North Wilkesboro Speedway. That same year, Johnson was featured in Tom Wolfe’s iconic article, “The Last American Hero is Junior Johnson. Yes!”

Johnson ended his driving career at the age of 35 and became a team owner for three more decades. He was enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, joining Bill France Sr. and Jr., Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty as the inaugural inductees. He remained involved with the NASCAR Hall for years afterward and contributed an operational moonshine still as an exhibit for the museum’s Heritage Speedway section. He was presented for induction by his son, Robert.

As of press time, no funeral arrangements have been announced.

Reintjes Named Vice President of Broadcasting

Steve Reintjes, who has served as NHRA’s coordinating producer for the past two years, has been promoted to the role of vice president of broadcasting. In his new role, Reintjes will continue to oversee NHRA’s production of all NHRA on Fox television broadcasts, as well as content created at the NHRA Wally Parks Studio, displayed at NHRA events and streamed online via NHRA.TV. Reintjes has an extensive background in live broadcasting with more than 19 years of experience in network television. He has produced more than 500 live events covering 11 sports, including major college football bowl games, multiple FCS college football national championship games and NCAA national championship games in men’s and women’s soccer. He has produced the last two years of all NHRA on Fox television broadcasts. Reintjes will begin his new role January 1, 2020.