Addendum:

> "AltiVec SIMD has long been recognized for its performance in the
> PowerQUICC processor line"
> http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/homepage.jsp?code=QORIQ_HOME
>
> AltiVec in PowerQUICC? Huh? While it's true that they present QorIQ P1 to P3
> as PowerQUICC replacements and QorIQ P4 and P5 as MPC86xx replacements
> that surely doesn't make MPC86xx a PowerQUICC, does it? Are they now trying
> to retroactively subsume MPC86xx (or even MPC74xx) as PowerQUICC?

Just discovered that Freescale indeed lists the MPC8610 as PowerQUICC III (while MPC864x is listed as "Host Processor") there:

http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/overview.jsp?code=PRDCT_LONGEVITY_HM

Furthermore, MPC74xx and MPC86xx are listed in Freescale's 'PowerQUICC and QorIQ Processor Selector Guide':

http://www.freescale.com/files/32bit/doc/brochure/PWRARCHQIQSG.pdf

Explanation that adds up, anybody?