2025 - page 48

Back in 2020 RUF Automobiles introduced us to the Rodeo concept, an off-road project that looked like a beefed-up old-school 911. At the time it was just an idea that the company wanted to test the waters with. We finally got the real deal - a Signal Orange Rodeo that debuted at this year’s Monterey Car Week. We have already seen Singer’s off-road-centric Porsche restomod they named the ACS (All-Terrain Competition Study), and this is RUF’s take on the same idea.

Porsche prides itself on making some of the best-engineered road cars in the world. That said, electrification is becoming more wide-spread in the automotive industry and has even spread to the sports car segment. Many new high-performance models are hybrids and there are plenty of companies out there, already offering fully-electric performance cars. While Porsche is looking to prolong the life of the internal-combustion engine for as long as possible, the Geman brand’s strategy also involves electrifying 80 percent of its lineup by 2030. While this may not necessarily happen anytime soon, Porsche is about to give us its first EV sports car, in 2025.

The Porsche 993 Speedster is often described as a unicorn in the automotive world. While the German automaker has produced over 30 different iterations of the iconic 911 over the decades, the Speedster remains one of the most unique and desirable variants to date. Unfortunately, not all 911 generations exist in Speedster form, and the Type 993 is one such example. Officially, the last air-cooled 911 was never sold as a Speedster due to Porsche facing financial difficulties in the 1990s. Now, a passionate designer and Speedster collector, Luca Trazzi turned to Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program (Special Request) to bring his vision of a Type 993 911 Speedster to life.

Lamborghini has unveiled the all-new 2025 Temerario, a cutting-edge hybrid supercar that succeeds the iconic Huracan, which reigned supreme from 2014 to 2024. For the first time, this all-new baby Lambo combines a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors, delivering a staggering 907 horsepower to catapult from 0-62 mph in a mere 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 213 mph. While the hybrid powertrain offers improved efficiency and uses a small-sized battery to offer electric driving up to short distances, not all Lambo lovers will appreciate the advancements, considering naturally aspirated engines are slowly dying, and the 5.2-liter V10 was just sublime.

Porsche’s turbocharged models have evolved significantly since the introduction of the first 911 Turbo in 1974. Now, five decades later, Porsche is commemorating the 50th anniversary of its iconic model with the unveiling of the limited-edition "911 Turbo 50 Years" at Monterey Car Week. This special model pays homage to the original 930 Turbo, a model that revolutionized the sports car market by integrating turbocharging technology from race cars into a road-legal vehicle. This new anniversary model pays homage to this legacy while incorporating modern styling and performance enhancements.

With 1,019 horsepower, the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is the most powerful road-legal Porsche ever. The Turbo GT trim packs a bunch of performance upgrades to make it more agile than the rest of the Taycan line-up. The competition in the shape of the 2024 Model S Plaid continues to hold its position as one of the quickest-production EVs in the world. While the Cyber Truck is grabbing all of the headlines currently, the Model S continues to be a comfortable and luxurious choice with the bonus of its supercar-like acceleration. Both of these EVs represent the pinnacle of EV technology offered by these respective brands, but the question remains, which one is faster in a straight line?

When it comes to 911, there’s honestly so much choice. You can choose from a variety of trims, body styles, and powerplants and the possibilities are endless. But beyond the hype of GT this and Targa that, what about the entry-level Carrera? The 992.2 generation of the 911 is here and everyone’s buzzing about the 2025 911 Carrera GTS and its fancy T-Hybrid system. Sure, it’s got more power and all that jazz, but let’s not forget about the unsung hero of the 992.1 911 lineup: the base model Carrera. This is the one that most of us dream about, and despite prices on the upward trajectory over the past few years, the Carrera is the most attainable 911 and this latest model delivers the iconic sports car experience without breaking the bank (well, not too much).

Porsche cars are some of the most well-engineered performance vehicles in the business. Each new model packs an extensive array of hi-tech features, aiming to make the Porsche driving experience more effortless. Those looking for the thrill of a high-revving Porsche 718 or 911 are all about the visceral driving experience, there are others looking for a more relaxed experience while still enjoying the performance that comes with a Porsche car. The company’s rear-axle steering is optional on all 911 and Panamera models, with some of the higher-end variants getting it as a standard feature. The first Porsche to feature rear-axle steering was the 2013 Porsche 718.

Porsche sports cars are some of the most replicated and reimagined on the planet. The German carmaker’s road-going models have always benefitted from the brand’s racing know-how, especially when it comes to the German brand’s most iconic model - the Porsche 911. That said, the 911 wasn’t always the most favored model by the company. At one point in time, Porsche wasn’t convinced an air-cooled, rear-engine sports car was the way forward. This train of thought spawned the Porsche 928. Instead of the 911’s rear-engine layout, the 928 featured a water-cooled V-8 engine in the front. The 928 was also bigger and more of a grand tourer than an all-out sports car.

The Porsche 911 is a perfect representation of the classic sports car. The rear-engine model has been continuously evolving since its inception in 1964, and its lineage is easily traceable through its classic design. That said, under the pressure of increased safety and more modern tech, each new generation has become bigger and heavier. The 911 is no exception as the 992 generation is a far cry from the original models, barely touching 2,300 pounds. This is a follow-up to a recent interview with Porsche design boss, Michael Mauer where he talked about the possibility of a more compact 911 and a potential 911 E.V. We decided to envision a hypothetical, smaller variant of the Porsche 911 and take a look at how possible it is, and whether this will open the door for a fully-electric 911. Can the Porsche 911 as we know it co-exist with a smaller, but fully-electric version of itself?

Porsche may be known for its iconic sports cars, but in time and with help from its parent company, Volkswagen, the small German carmaker was given the chance to develop a more versatile lineup of vehicles, by utilizing the full arsenal of VAG resources. Porsche sports cars like the 911 and Boxster still remain "true” Porsches while all other models of the brand rely heavily on tech, borrowed from Volkswagen and Audi models.

An engineer from Porsche claims that its new hybrid powertrain in the new 911 cannot be tuned. It is not a challenge from the brand for aftermarket tuners to try their luck or anything of the sort. They believe their new electric turbo system is too complicated to be tinkered with. They are however open to ingenuity and have left the E.C.U. unlocked for you to try. Tuners are a mad bunch of people and are no doubt looking forward to the challenge.