2024 - page 12

The Chevy Corvette and Ford GT are not necessarily models that go up against each other. However, the folks over at the CarWow YouTube channel had a genuine case for why they decided to pit these two against each other. The ’Vette is America’s definitive sports car, whereas the Ford GT is the holy grail of American supercars. While most American performance cars use a front-engine rear-wheel drive layout, GM’s controversial move to ditch this setup for the first time on the Corvette with the C8 generation. It now has a mid-engine layout, just like you get on the Ford GT.

Porsches are special, whether the rear-engined 911, the mid-engined 718, or the front-engined big and bulky Cayenne. However, neither sports car is the best seller in Porsche’s lineup. Why? Well, not everyone is a hardcore motoring enthusiast who intends to tear up the drag strip or aspires to be a GT3 driver in their new purchase, and that’s where the Cayenne wins the popularity vote.

In 2002, Porsche took a huge gamble by launching the Cayenne, an SUV based on the Volkswagen Touareg, which left many purists sneering. Despite the criticisms, Porsche’s gamble paid off as the years progressed - big time. Much to the surprise of many, the Cayenne became a runaway success, bringing in more money for Porsche than ever.

Introduced in 2014, the first generation Mercedes-AMG GT aimed to fill the void left by the iconic SLS AMG, a more expensive, ferocious beast. While the GT carved its own niche with its sleek design and incredible performance, that, too, went on to bid farewell in 2021, leaving a passionate fan base yearning for its return.

In 1996, Porsche made a bold move, transitioning from its iconic rear-engine layout to a mid-engine design with the Boxster. This sleek roadster, named after the combination of "boxer" engine and "roadster" body, introduced a new era of open-air thrills for the brand. Two decades later, in 2016, the 718 Boxster was born, inheriting the spirit of its predecessor but injecting a dose of modern performance and technology.

Remember 2002? Britney Spears dominated the airwaves, flip phones were all the rage, and Porsche took a bold leap into uncharted territory - the SUV market. The Cayenne became an instant success with its sculpted curves and undeniable Porsche spirit. It proved that luxury and practicality could coexist while redefining the SUV landscape and injecting much-needed cash into the iconic German brand, securing its future for generations to come.

Acura’s Integra Type S is the high-performance version of the traditional Integra, a compact sports car that Acura recently revived after a long hiatus. The first-ever Integra debuted in 1986 as one of the first models of the newly launched Acura brand.

Porsche is giving the Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe lineup a mid-cycle refresh for 2024, strengthening its position in the midsize premium sport SUV category. Both variants now feature a refined, sleek design, including a redesigned front with arched wings, an updated hood, and larger air intakes. The Cayenne Coupe goes further with a wider and sloping rear end.

The Chevy Corvette’s history in the American muscle car world is significant, and the eighth-generation model is just a serious step up from what the car used to be. Debuted in 2019, the C8 Corvette transitioned to a rear-mid engine layout, reminiscent of those pesky Italians, giving Chevy the ticket to enter the supercar realm.

Gone are the days when Porsche purists criticized the idea of a Porsche SUV. If there’s still a skeptic out there, a spin in the 2024 Porsche Cayenne should change their tune. Two decades in, the Cayenne has morphed from a bold experiment into a jewel in Porsche’s crown - the vehicle that made Porsche dive into a pool of money.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Rally breaks new ground as the first-ever rally-inspired electric vehicle, as well as the first off-road Mustang. Joining the Mustang Mach-E family, the Rally variant steers Ford’s EV range into a unique direction, trekking dirt roads, kicking up gravel, and mixing milkshakes while doing so with zero tailpipe emissions. With its rally-tuned suspension, dual-motor electric powertrain, and distinctive styling, the Mach-E Rally stands apart from its GT Performance siblings.

The Audi SQ8 debuted as the performance variant of Audi’s flagship SUV, the Q8, which Audi released in 2018 as a rival to the BMW X6. The X6 was introduced in 2008 and was the first coupe SUV. Though its styling elicited some controversy due to the reduction in rear passenger and cargo space when compared to the comparably-equipped BMW X5, it made a success as BMW sold 4,548 units in the U.S. alone in 2008. As a result, Mercedes-Benz followed suit in 2015 with the GLE-Class Coupe seven years after the release of the X6. Audi took a long time to enter the segment by introducing the Q8 in 2018, 10 years after the X6, and one year after the Lamborghini Urus, which came out in 2017.