Khris Bharath

My Instagram feed rarely disappoints, and today, it seriously delivered. Jonny Lieberman from MotorTrend.com dropped a bombshell on Instagram from what appears to be a private event: The twin mad scientists and automotive designers, Iliya & Nikita Bridan behind California-based Oil Stain Lab are going to build 25 limited-edition examples of an ultra-lightweight mid-engined hypercar and they’re calling it the HF-11.

From your average Joe on Pimp My Ride to Celebrity builds, I’ve seen a fair share of some truly outrageous creations from West Coast Customs over the past two decades. But this one is special. Why? Because it involves a Billionaire, yes, with a capital ’B’. But this is not just any Billionaire, but Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, yes the same dude who runs the likes of some of the biggest tech / social media companies on the planet in the form of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg along with his wife Pricilla Chan, posted some pictures of a stretched Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and a Porsche 911 GT3, on the very platforms that Mark runs, indicating that he may be a Porsche guy.

Alright, folks, let’s get real for a second. Porsche. Without a doubt, the name conjures up images of sleek lines, precision engineering, and a price tag that could make your wallet weep. We all know the stereotype, right? A brand for doctors, lawyers, and trust fund babies. Safe. Maybe a little, dare I say...boring? But here’s the thing: after spending the last six months neck-deep in Porsche news, reviews, and some seriously heated forum debates, I’ve gotta say there’s so much more to the brand. So strap yourselves in, because I’m about to break down some cold facts about Porsche in 2024.

With the all-electric Porsche Macan now officially on sale and starting to hit U.S. dealerships, I wanted to take the opportunity to spec out the most expensive Macan EV possible. So I fired up the configurator and selected the top variant of the four available models (Base, S, 4S, Turbo), which is the Macan Electric Turbo, and went to town. Now before you judge me for the bold PTS color choice, (Speed Yellow - 0UB in case you were wondering), I want to clarify that this was just an exercise. I’m personally far more conservative and would choose something more understated and go with something like silver or navy blue at best. But with this one, I’ve tried my best to select the priciest options available in my quest to get a ballpark figure of the most expensive Macan electric on sale today, and here’s what I found.

When you think Porsche, off-roaders are perhaps the last thing that comes to mind. But the German brand does have a rally-bred pedigree if we look back to the 911 and 959 Dakars from the 1980s. While purists may still scoff at their SUVs, models like the Cayenne and Macan which are household names today, were vital to Porsche’s survival. In fact, it is these very cash cows that have made cars like the iconic Carrera GT and 918 Spyder possible.

The weather may not be cooperating at Porsche West Palm Beach, but that doesn’t dampen the excitement surrounding a very special arrival: they say pre-owned but this is a practically brand new Porsche 718 Spyder RS and it comes with the much desired optional Weissach Package. Now this is far from your average Porsche convertible because what you’re looking at folks is the most powerful open-top mid-engine Porsche.

The Speedster is one of the purest forms of the 911 and the nameplate actually dates back to the early ‘50s when Porsche sold the likes of the 550 and 356 Speedsters. While the Speedster body style is all about open-top motoring, it does have a few stand-out elements that set it apart from Cabriolets and Targa models. The Speedster is known for its stripped-down design and lightweight body, often featuring a smaller windshield, no rear seats, a distinctive double-hump on the rear deck lid, and a tonneau cover instead of a full roof.

When you hear the word Porsche, a truck is probably the last thing that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what we have here. A custom Targa pickup based on a 1987 Porsche 944 coupe. Currently based in Germany, this strange creation is now up for sale on Elfersport, and here’s what you need to know about it. 


Now, as a Porsche enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to the German brand’s blend of sophisticated design, luxury, performance, and cutting-edge technology. So, when I first heard about the SU7 from Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi about their knock-off Taycan; I was not only intrigued but also a bit skeptical. Yes, yes...I know how legacy automakers everywhere, including the United States are paranoid about the looming threat from Chinese EVs (can’t believe this is political now), but could a company known primarily for its consumer electronics truly compete with established automotive giants? They may not be a household name in America, but after spending some time on the SU7’s configurator, I can say that Xiaomi, despite being a newcomer in the automotive space at least, doesn’t disappoint.

Ah!! Porsche and online racing, while I may not be much of a gamer these days, this is an experience that goes back decades for me. My PC gaming journey began with the legendary NFS: Porsche Unleashed back in 2000. That game got me hooked, even leading me to compete professionally! So, when Ubisoft unveiled the Porsche 919 Street tearing up the tarmac in The Crew Motorfest’s latest trailer, I was undoubtedly curious to learn more. (Mark your calendars: Crew Motorfest Year 2 update kicks off November 6th, 2024!)

Remember the early 2000s? Back when flip phones were peak tech and Britney was rocking a shaved head? That’s also when Porsche dropped a bomb called the Cayenne. Sure, some folks scoffed – a Porsche SUV? But here’s the thing: the Cayenne, along with the Boxster, saved Porsche’s bacon. They were the volume sellers that funded glorious things like the Carrera GT. Plus, they practically invented the whole "sporty SUV" thing. (Yes, yes, I know the Lamborghini LM002 came first, but the Cayenne brought it mainstream.)

As a gearhead who loves a good special edition, I was excited to see what Porsche came up with to celebrate 50 years of the iconic 911 Turbo. Their 911 Turbo 50 Years based on the 992.1 with 1,974 units and historical nods looks like a tempting option. But for those seeking something even more exclusive and outrageous, there’s the Techart GTstreet R Monochrome. This limited edition (only 20 units!) takes the already impressive GTstreet R, based on the 911 Turbo S, and cranks everything up to eleven. Where the 911 Turbo 50 Years from Porsche is more of a cosmetic makeover, Techart has made some significant upgrades with this ultra-low-run model.