Volkswagen T2 Microbus Production to Cease in 2013

To refer to this as the end of an era, would be putting it too lightly. It has been confirmed by Volkswagen of Brazil CEO Thomas Schmall that production on the Volkswagen T2 will cease at the end of 2013.

Now some of you may be thinking to yourselves, "They still make those?"

It is unfortunately not-very-common knowledge that the T2 (AKA Microbus, AKA Camper, AKA Bus, AKA Kombi, AKA Transporter, AKA Pick-up, AKA - aw screw it, you get the point) is still currently on sale in Brazil, where it been a strong seller for many years. During that time, the T2 only had minor modern upgrades - and it wasn't until 2005 that its iconic 80-horsepower air-cooled engine was swapped out for a 1.4-liter water-cooled straight-four.

The reason for the T2's demise is reportedly stricter upcoming safety laws, which, when you think about it, makes it all the more surprising this is just happening now. Nonetheless, I'm sure classic VW enthusiasts everywhere are saddened by this news.

2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Unveiled

I've always had a soft spot (read: hard-on) for performance SUV's, especially the Porsche Cayenne, since its introduction to Porsche's vehicle line-up in 2003. Now in its second generation, we've seen some impressive statistics from the Cayenne over the past decade, including a 0-60mph acceleration of 4.7 seconds from the 2008 Turbo S model.

Porsche has been kind enough to give the world a sneak peak at its 2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, which is will be meeting the public at the Los Angeles Motor Show next month. They've made some modest performance improvements, outlined below.

Utilizing the same twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 as under the hood of the Turbo, the Turbo S has a re-designed intake manifold, increased boost, and a re-mapped ECU, which produce 550 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Reportedly, these modifications have resulted in a 0-60mph acceleration in 4.5 seconds, and thanks to the 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission, the Turbo S can achieve a top speed of 175 mph.

As expected, buyers will also find all of Porsche's latest equipment, including Dynamic Chassis Control and Porsche's Active Suspension Management.

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will be available for sale in the spring, with a base price of $146,975 USD.