Khris Bharath

Look, Porsche knows people still love the sweet, sweet sound of a roaring engine, especially with its second most popular model in the United States, the Macan. So, they’re doing the whole "we woke, also we want your money" thing by offering both electric and gas-powered Macans at the same time. While, Porsche does plan to eventually ditch gas for good in the Macan by 2026, what if you’re on a budget and want that luxury-ish, sporty-ish SUV vibe without the Porsche tax? Well, Audi’s latest Q5 and SQ5 are clinging to dino juice for the 2025 model year and could serve up as a compelling alternative to the gas-powered Macan.

Spy shots of the upcoming all-electric 718 Porsche Boxster EV (983) are nothing around, and we’ve seen test mules doing the rounds around the Nordschleife and down in the Alps for a while now. However, with the launch date closing in, I felt now would be a good time to take a closer look and do a run-down about everything that we can see on the car, with the help of some close-up shots from Instagrammar and spy shot photographer: Stéphan Barral.

For the 2009 model year, Porsche refreshed the iconic 911, ushering in the 997.2 generation. The Targa 4S, a unique model combining the classic Targa top with all-wheel drive performance, received notable updates, both inside and out. A more powerful 3.8-liter flat-six engine replaced the previous 3.6-liter unit, while subtle exterior changes modernized the timeless 911 silhouette.

So, remember when we at Motorheads were all abuzz about Porsche possibly adding a simulated shifter to their electric cars? I’d said earlier that if there’s one thing missing in EVs, it’s driver engagement, and while Dodge has had a go with it on its fake sounds in its latest Charger, it is Hyundai that got execution right on the Ioniq 5 N, where the fake engine sound does not only sound good, but it also perfectly sync’s in with the gear shifts that simulate an eight-speed transmission. But it’s not just me though, top auto journalists from renowned publications, and even influencers like Doug DeMuro and MKBHD a.k.a, Marques Brownlee have praised Hyundai for it. I personally feel that this could become a trend that automakers will start to cash in on. However, seeing such a thing on Porsche is unlikely to happen, as the German automaker has officially put those rumors to bed.

Look, let’s be honest. Every other Porsche 911 on the road these days looks like it escaped from a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon’s office. All bloated and overdone. But this 2022 GT3 Touring? This, my friends, is a Porsche with a purpose. First off, the paint. Forget boring ol’ black or white. This example is dipped in a paint-to-sample Superior Red metallic (W10), a rare PTS color. Yeah, that’s right. Now, I haven’t seen it in person, but from the pictures, it sure does pop. It’s more burgundy wine than red. While most GT cars are adorned in a loud shade with the RS models even getting graphics, this wingless 911 appears to be a track weapon or canyon carver for the discerning gentleman.

Hold the phone on the Dubai supercar tours (been there done that already). Instead of some track-action, Porsche Experience has cooked up something way more my speed – Camp 911 Namibia. Forget pavement princesses and garage queens; this is about conquering Namibia’s lunar landscapes in a rough-and-tumble 911 Dakar. But let’s get one thing straight: Namibia ain’t exactly the Dakar Rally. The real Dakar throws down in West Africa, Senegal to be precise. But Namibia, further down south? It’s equally epic in its own right.

Look, I’m not gonna lie. My heart aches a little when I think about the Porsche 911 these days. That sleek, timeless silhouette, the soundtrack from a flat-six (okay maybe just the naturally aspirated ones), the quality, and the ballistic speed, – it’s the full package, that some might call automotive nirvana. Remember back in the day? You could (almost) walk into a Porsche dealership with a wad of cash and snag yourself a brand-new 911. Sure, it was never cheap, but it at least felt attainable. Now? Forget it. Those days are long gone. Forget about showing up with a briefcase full of benjamins – they’re playing a whole different game at Porsche dealerships these days. Recent trends indicate a shift towards scarcity and acquiring a new 911, is more challenging than ever. But in 2024, prospective buyers face extensive waitlists for not only high-performance models like the 911 GT3 but also entry-level trims like the Carrera and GTS.

Richard Hammond, a.k.a TopGear’s old resident Hamster is back on DriveTribe with a juicy dilemma: Did he choose wisely? In his garage sit two shiny 992-generation Porsche 911s, but a nagging question gnaws at him – did he grab the wrong one? Specifically, should he have snagged the more versatile 911 Dakar instead of his most recent acquisition, the luxurious, but equally ballistic 911 Turbo S Cabriolet?

Remember that whole "fully electric by 2030" strategy that Porsche implied a few years back? Yeah, they’ve already backtracked on that, with the slowdown in the EV market. It turns out that convincing everyone to ditch gasoline is harder than Porsche had anticipated. Shocking, right? In yet another development, Michael Steiner, Porsche’s R&D head honcho, told Autocar that the Panamera isn’t ditching gas and fancy gasoline-electric combos anytime soon. An electric Panamera is still coming, but those hoping for an all-electric future for the four-door Sportback might need to adjust their expectations. Frankly, I saw this one coming, given the growing popularity of hybrids off-late and how they’re now considered cool.

From Bentley and Bugatti to Aston Martin, we have several luxury exotic carmakers entering the realm of real estate where automotive design and architecture merge in stunning examples of glass and steel. But Porsche was one of the first brands to do so with a Porsche Design Tower back in 2017. Now, they’re back. This time, Porsche Design has teamed up with Thai developer Ananda Development to unveil the Porsche Design Tower Bangkok, the first of its kind in Asia and the third globally, following Miami and Stuttgart. The Bangkok tower boasts just 22 exclusive "Sky Villas" – think sprawling duplexes and quadplexes – ranging from a spacious 525 to a gut-busting 1,135 square meters. With a price range between $15 million and $40 million, these aren’t for the faint of wallet. But for those who can afford it, the promise is a living experience unlike any other, come 2028.

Slotting in below the more potent Cayman S, launched in 2006, Porsche introduced a detuned entry-level base Cayman in 2007. This sleek, mid-engined coupe shared its platform and many components with the Boxster Roadster but featured a fixed roof and hatchback body style. It was powered by a 2.7-liter boxer-six engine producing 245 horsepower and 201 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.8 seconds with the manual transmission.

Some digital artists are content with basic flame paint jobs and slammed Civics. Then there’s Kyza, a.k.a Khyzl Saleem who has once again cooked up something that’ll have Porsche fanatics frothing at the mouth: a bonkers fusion of the legendary Porsche 935 Slantnose and the innovative and over-engineered Porsche 959 supercar.