Latest news with #PorschePanamera
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hikers Discover Porsche Panamera Mysteriously Blocking Trail in the Middle of the Woods
The 21st Century's addition of sedans, station wagons and SUVs to the Porsche lineup have made the cars from Zuffenhausen far more omnipresent than they were back in the days when the company only made two-door speed machines. Still, there are some places where it remains surprising to see one — like, for example, abandoned in the middle of the woods, blocking a hiking trail. Last Monday, a Facebook user named Kayley Clare posted on the Roxborough Rants & Raves Facebook page a picture of a blue Porsche Panamera in the middle of a woody trail in Philadelphia's Wissahickon Valley Park. With that post, the questions — and theories — began to pour in. Was someone trying to hide the car from the repo man? Was it stolen? Was it used in a crime and dumped there? The Philadelphia Inquirer began to investigate, and discovered that despite the bizarre scene, nothing nefarious was going on. According to their reporting, the Panamera's 84-year-old driver made a series of wrong turns on Sunday night and wound up driving roughly a mile deep into the park, ending up on the Orange Trail before stopping and calling for help. Obviously, the man made a big mistake. However, we can't help but be a little bit impressed. According to the Friends of the Wissahickon website, the Orange Trail has an average width of just three feet and a maximum obstacle height of 24 inches. The trail has an 11% grade and is made up of dirt and rock. The car, meanwhile, appears to be a 971-generation Panamera — a capable car for sure, but not the sort of vehicle you'd usually associate with off-roading of any sort, let alone the kind where many Land Rover drivers would hesitate to car was pulled off the trail on Tuesday, and a video of the rescue was shared on The Philadelphia Inquirer's social media channels In the clip, an ATV uses a winch to help pull the car along the trail, giving a sense of just how narrow the path is. The driver is extremely embarrassed over the whole situation, according to the Inquirer. But thankfully, no injuries were reported, and no crime was committed. Now if you'll excuse us, this incident has us daydreaming about a 911 Dakar-style Panamera build... You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
GWM previews pre-production version of the Ora 07 Touring
GWM has unveiled the pre-production version of its new Ora 07 Touring at the Auto Shanghai 2025 motor show, offering a glimpse at the brand's future direction for its electric vehicle (EV) range. While still in development, the Touring variant hints at a more practical evolution of the sleek Ora 07 sedan. Stylistically, the vehicle remains largely consistent with the standard Ora 07, a model often likened to the Porsche Panamera due to its silhouette. In keeping with that comparison, GWM's Touring variant draws parallels with the Panamera Sport Turismo, featuring a more estate-like profile. The most notable design update is found at the rear, where the conventional sloping roofline has been replaced by an extended D-pillar to form a shooting brake-style silhouette. Another significant exterior addition is the LiDAR sensor positioned above the front windscreen, suggesting the possibility of enhanced driver assistance systems in future production models. The Touring sits on blacked-out 19-inch alloy wheels, matched with red brake callipers and fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres, further underlining its sporty character. Though the display unit at the event remained locked, a closer inspection through the windows revealed several interior updates. The digital instrument cluster now adopts a sleeker layout, doing away with the hooded binnacles seen in the existing model. In the centre, a larger infotainment display – likely the same 14.6-inch screen featured in the facelifted Tank 300 – dominates the dashboard. A redesigned floating centre console replaces physical air-conditioning controls with a broader Qi wireless charging pad and twin cupholders, a notable improvement from the current single cupholder setup. The new estate body style is also expected to deliver greater boot capacity and improved rear headroom, addressing two of the standard model's limitations. GWM has yet to confirm technical specifications for the Touring, but it is expected to mirror the drivetrain options offered in the current Ora 07 sedan. This would include a single-motor variant producing 204PS and 340Nm of torque, as well as a dual-motor performance model delivering a combined output of 408PS and 680Nm of torque. While a launch timeline has not been announced, the Ora 07 Touring is poised to strengthen GWM's EV line-up by combining practicality with modern styling and advanced technology.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Female cop recalls confronting moment she found the corpse of a woman concealed in a toolbox on a balcony
A detective immediately smelled a dead body when she opened a large tool box belonging to an international student accused of a woman's murder, a jury has heard. Yang Zhao, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Qiong Yan, 29, in September 2020 at their apartment in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Hamilton. He has instead pleaded guilty to interfering with Ms Yan's corpse, which was found concealed in a large tool box on their riverside unit's balcony almost 10 months after her alleged murder. Queensland Detective acting Sergeant Tammy Storey on Tuesday told a Supreme Court jury she was the lead investigator on the case when she entered the Brisbane apartment on July 19, 2021. '(The black toolbox) drew my attention because I thought at the time there were little incense bags on the locks ... it later turned out to be prayer notes,' she said. The detective and a crime scene officer opened the tool box. 'I immediately smelled the very strong smell of what I know to be a dead body,' Det Sgt Storey said. 'I looked in the box and saw a human foot.' She immediately contacted Kurt Zambesi, then a NSW Police senior constable, who was speaking to Zhao about Ms Yan's disappearance. Zhao, a Chinese national on student visa, was subsequently arrested. Ms Yan was also a Chinese national living on a bridging visa and working as a migration agency director. Zhao initiated conversation with Mr Zambesi and Detective Sergeant Michael Bugg during a 20-minute car ride to the police station, the court was told. Mr Zambesi said the accused killer was told he could tell his side of the story, to which he replied: 'There is no story. I don't regret it.' Zhao allegedly admitted he had 'killed someone' by accident before asking 'do you think I will get the death penalty'? 'Det Sgt Bugg said we don't have the death penalty. (Zhao) said 'what if I want it'?' Mr Zambesi told the court. Crown prosecutor Chris Cook previously told the jury Zhao used Ms Yan's phone to send 2000 text messages to her friends and family. 'The crown case is simple. (Zhao) needed money,' Mr Cook said. Ms Yan's mother transferred $411,000 in the months after the young woman's disappearance in response to requests that appeared to come from her daughter. Zhao also re-registered Ms Yan's $300,000 Porsche Panamera SUV to his name and later sold the luxury vehicle, Mr Cook said. Mr Zambesi said Zhao queried detectives about his impersonation of Ms Yan, asking 'how convincing was I? Was I good? Did you know'? 'Det Sgt Bugg replied 'you were pretty good. We thought you were protecting her as she did not want to speak to police',' he added. Zhao's alleged comments were not digitally recorded and the officer's recollection was based on notes taken by him and Det Sgt Bugg, the court was told. The trial continues.
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Perth Now
Murder accused's tool box had 'smell of death': police
A detective immediately smelled a dead body when she opened a large tool box belonging to an international student accused of a woman's murder, a jury has heard. Yang Zhao, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Qiong Yan, 29, in September 2020 at their apartment in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Hamilton. He has instead pleaded guilty to interfering with Ms Yan's corpse, which was found concealed in a large tool box on their riverside unit's balcony almost 10 months after her alleged murder. Queensland Detective acting Sergeant Tammy Storey on Tuesday told a Supreme Court jury she was the lead investigator on the case when she entered the Brisbane apartment on July 19, 2021. "(The black toolbox) drew my attention because I thought at the time there were little incense bags on the locks ... it later turned out to be prayer notes," she said. The detective and a crime scene officer opened the tool box. "I immediately smelled the very strong smell of what I know to be a dead body," Det Sgt Storey said. "I looked in the box and saw a human foot." She immediately contacted Kurt Zambesi, then a NSW Police senior constable, who was speaking to Zhao about Ms Yan's disappearance. Zhao, a Chinese national on student visa, was subsequently arrested. Ms Yan was also a Chinese national living on a bridging visa and working as a migration agency director. Zhao initiated conversation with Mr Zambesi and Detective Sergeant Michael Bugg during a 20-minute car ride to the police station, the court was told. Mr Zambesi said the accused killer was told he could tell his side of the story, to which he replied: "There is no story. I don't regret it." Zhao allegedly admitted he had "killed someone" by accident before asking "do you think I will get the death penalty"? "Det Sgt Bugg said we don't have the death penalty. (Zhao) said 'what if I want it'?" Mr Zambesi told the court. Crown prosecutor Chris Cook previously told the jury Zhao used Ms Yan's phone to send 2000 text messages to her friends and family. "The crown case is simple. (Zhao) needed money," Mr Cook said. Ms Yan's mother transferred $411,000 in the months after the young woman's disappearance in response to requests that appeared to come from her daughter. Zhao also re-registered Ms Yan's $300,000 Porsche Panamera SUV to his name and later sold the luxury vehicle, Mr Cook said. Mr Zambesi said Zhao queried detectives about his impersonation of Ms Yan, asking "how convincing was I? Was I good? Did you know"? "Det Sgt Bugg replied 'you were pretty good. We thought you were protecting her as she did not want to speak to police'," he added. Zhao's alleged comments were not digitally recorded and the officer's recollection was based on notes taken by him and Det Sgt Bugg, the court was told. The trial continues.
7NEWS
29-04-2025
- 7NEWS
'Why won't you die': International student Yang Zhao's claim to cops as he faces court accused of killing flatmate in Brisbane
An international student accused of murdering his flatmate to steal money told police he asked her 'why won't you die' before choking her for up to an hour. Yang Zhao, 30, on Monday pleaded not guilty to the murder of Qiong Yan, 29, in September 2020 at their apartment in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Hamilton. But he pleaded guilty to interfering with Yan's corpse, which was found concealed in a 'body box' on their riverside unit's balcony almost 10 months after her alleged murder. Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told a Supreme Court jury Zhao went on to use Yan's phone to send 2000 text messages to friends and family. Cook said Zhao allegedly impersonated Yan to steal more than $700,000 after her death. The jury was shown part of the videos from Zhao's two police interviews after Yan's body was found when officers entered the apartment on July 19, 2021. 'I sat in front of her and hit her on her head three times,' Zhao told police in a video-recorded interview on July 22. 'I think I go crazy. I ask her why she wouldn't die.' The jury was told they would see videos of Zhao telling police Yan wanted him to kill her as part of a suicide pact. Cook said Zhao made those claims without evidence after 'months of lying' to police about Yan's whereabouts. Zhao told police Yan asked him to choke her. 'I choked her for about half an hour or an hour. I can't remember,' Zhao said. The jury heard evidence Zhao drove to a nearby hardware store and bought a 240-litre toolbox, duct tape and work gloves with cash. Cook said police found Yan in the 'body box' after entering the apartment on a missing persons warrant. 'The term 'body box' is Mr Zhao's own words,' Cook said. The jury was shown a photo of Yan as she was discovered, curled up in the toolbox underneath a black sheet with one foot exposed. Cook said Zhao loved the high life and before the alleged murder had unsuccessfully gambled on the stock market and on poker, losing up to $100,000 at a time. '(Zhao) needed money. He lost money. He killed (Yan). He posed as her for a while. He took her money,' Cook said. Cook said Zhao took control of Yan's phone, placing black tape over its cameras. The jurors were told they would see Yan's mother had sent a total of $411,000, while $200,000 in cash withdrawals were made from Yan's bank accounts after she had died. Cook said Zhao transferred Yan's $300,000 Porsche Panamera SUV to his own name and later sold it. 'Zhao never had a job, he never lodged a tax return. He was in arrears for rent,' Cook said. Zhao at the time of the alleged murder was a Chinese national living in Australia on a student visa. Yan was also a Chinese national living on a bridging visa and was a migration agency director. Yan's friend in Sydney filed a missing persons report to NSW Police after months of receiving strange messages. The jury heard Zhao was at the time of Yan's death inhaling nitrous oxide gas to get high and consuming alcohol. Zhao's barrister, Andrew Hoare, told the jury they would need to listen carefully to how his client described Yan's death in the police interviews. 'You may think that event is unique to Mr Zhao to such an extent that those facts out to be etched indelibly in Mr Zhao's memory,' Hoare said. 'Some parts of the interview got to the point that Mr Zhao's memory was not as indelible as you would expect from a person who was recounting true events.' The trial continues. Lifeline 13 11 14
