Khris Bharath

Be it road cars or motorsports, Porsche is a brand that is steeped in tradition and there are certain things about models like the 911, that the German marque should be very careful about changing or altering, or it could leave the Porsche faithful reaching for the pitchforks. Think stuff like the five-gauge instrument cluster with the big analog tachometer in the center, or the twist-and-turn Le Mans-style starter that sits to the left of the steering wheel.

With Automobili Rimac taking over Bugatti in 2021, the world expected the Chiron’s successor to be a rebadged Nevera. However, the French automaker just defied expectations and has instead stuck with internal combustion. Forget, turbocharged hybrids; Bugatti has ditched the W16 and in its place has worked with Cosworth to develop an all-new, naturally-aspirated V16 engine that revs to 9,000 rpm. It produces 1,000 horsepower. Additionally, there’s a tri-motor setup with 800 horsepower and a 37-mile all-electric range. Combined, this is an analog hybrid supercar with 1,800 horsepower on tap. For the first time, we actually have a modern-Bugatti that actually sounds good. This move begs the question: with Porsche holding a fat 45% stake in the recently formed Bugatti-Rimac, could we see a similar surprise approach from the upcoming flagship Porsche, i.e. the 918’s successor?

Remember YouTuber Danny Z’s budget Porsche that we featured recently? Danny and his crew bought a beat-up 996 911 from Copart Auctions for $10,000. They completely transformed the looks of the stock car by throwing on a GT3 body kit. But the driving experience left something to be desired. It was time to make the car handle better, on a budget, of course. While this isn’t a full-blown tune to unlock more performance from the flat-6, the Copart Porsche did receive a few vital upgrades to improve its handling and more crucially, the way it sounds.

Porsche took a calculated risk with the Macan, launching it for the 2015 model year to answer the booming trend of compact luxury SUVs. Following the success of the larger Cayenne, this smaller sibling quickly became the brand’s bestseller. For 2017, a new base trim with a 2.0-liter turbo-four from the Audi Q5 joined the lineup, offering 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This entry-level variant sprinted to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, providing brisk performance for daily driving duties.

The 2024 Le Mans served up quite a spectacle in the brand new LM GT3 class, with Porsche’ #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R taking the win. Piloted by Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring, and Yasser Shahin, the race-spec 911 GT3 R took the checkered flag, etching Porsche’s and the Nürburing-based tuner’s name into the history books as the first manufacturer to win Le Mans with a GT3 car.

The Porsche 718 Boxster, alongside its hardtop sibling, the Cayman, has evolved into a performance powerhouse in the Porsche lineup over the past two decades. Even with the base 2.0-liter 300-horsepower turbo Boxer-four engine (which sounds similar to a Subaru Boxer four, in my opinion), the 718 not only offers performance that’s useable on a day-to-day basis but also has enough potential to carve corners with precision.

The history of the Carrera nameplate is a wild ride through the heart of Porsche’s motorsport lineage. It all began in the early 1950s with the legendary Carrera Panamericana, a treacherous open-road race that ran border to border (north to south or vice-versa) for over 2,000 miles through the heart of Mexico. Thanks to its challenging terrain, it was a white-knuckle test of endurance, speed, and raw driving skill.

The Porsche 996 generation, produced between 1998 and 2005, remains a controversial model in the 911 history. While it’s celebrated for being one of the most affordable ways to enter the 911 family, often priced below $30,000, it’s also garnered a reputation for its divisive design and reliability concerns. Many purists criticize the "fried egg" headlights, a radical departure from the classic round lights of previous generations, and early examples were plagued by engine issues related to the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing.

The Porsche 911, one of the most revered sports cars in the world, isn’t considered a practical vehicle; no sports car is. Having said that it is one of the most usable sports cars that you can buy, given its ergonomics, excellent visibility, and available space for luggage upfront. But what if you wanted to push that narrative for even more space and take things up a notch with something like a 911 pickup? Well, an ambitious Swiss concept car builder, Rinspeed, had that very idea back in the early 2000s with the Bedouin concept, which was based on a 996 Porsche 911. Bedouin was a fitting name, considering it refers to nomadic tribes who brave the elements of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The name Porsche evokes images of the iconic 356, the legendary 911, and the agile Boxster. In recent years, this image has expanded to include the luxurious and impressively potent Cayenne and Macan SUVs, solidifying Porsche’s position as a versatile and desirable automaker.

The Porsche 911: a sports car so ubiquitous, it’s as common as the Toyota Camry in some cities. For over six decades, this iconic model has held a steadfast position as the most recognizable sports car, captivating enthusiasts and status seekers alike. The 911 is a paradox, both a driver’s car revered by purists and a symbol of affluence coveted by many. Among Porsche 911’s model palette, the Carrera S serves as the perfect middle ground between the base Carrera and the bonkers Carrera GTS. But what if you crave the unbridled power of a Turbo S without having to spend a ridiculous amount of money? Well, the owner of this 2022 992.1 Carrera S had aspirations along similar lines, and with a tune, his 911 now produces almost 600 horsepower!

Porsche recently debuted the 2025 992.2 Carrera and the Carrera GTS models, with the latter sporting motorsport-derived hybrid technology. However, both forego the seven-speed manual gearbox option, at least for now. Even if you configure a pre-facelifted 992.1 GT3 and GT3 RS on Porsche’s website, you’d have no option but to choose the seven-speed PDK automatic gearbox. The only manual-equipped 911 Porsche currently available is the limited-edition 911 S/T, which debuted back in August 2023.