Future cars - page 36

The Porsche 911 GT3 will change drastically with its next generation and we have the ever-stringent, Euro 7 emissions to thank for that. Porsche GT boss, Andreas Preuninger, was recently interviewed by Autocar where he shared with a tone of sadness that the beloved, naturally-aspirated, 4.0-liter boxer engine lives on borrowed time. The man in charge of the program that gives us the most track-focused 911 variants shares that they are not sure if they can meet the latest European emissions requirements without making some radical changes to the high-rev engine.

Like several other automakers, Porsche devised a strategy for electrification. Originally, the plan was for Porsche to electrify 80 percent of its model lineup by 2030. That said, the automotive industry is a dynamic place and things often change at a rapid pace. Demand for EVs has slowed down, forcing many automakers, Porsche included, to rethink their long-term strategies. The Porsche Taycan marked great success in its early years, but global sales of the EV model have dropped by 50 percent, during the first three quarters of 2024.

Porsche has made it clear: we won’t see a fully electric 911 before the end of the decade. Honestly, I’m not surprised, given an overall slower market adoption of EVs and Porsche itself backtracking on its previous goals, which were previously set to achieve 80 percent electrification by the end of the decade. In the meantime, they’re pivoting towards hybrids across its model lineup, including on its 911, with the hybrid Carrera GTS already hitting the market. The T-Hybrid system on the 911 Carrera GTS of course is a system that focuses on performance, rather than Porsche’s plug-in E-Hybrid system that is all about efficiency. Next year, we can expect the 992.2 Turbo models to join the hybrid fray.

There’s a special kind of anticipation that comes with a new Porsche 911 Turbo S. While the modern-day Turbo models may not have the visceral soundtrack of a naturally aspirated mill; combining luxury, and performance with everyday usability, is a formula that Porsche has refined since the 1974 original, and the German automaker celebrated 50 years of the Turbo this year.

Let’s face it, the standard Porsche 992 GT3 RS is already a track monster. It’s a car that thrives on pushing limits, begging to be unleashed on the world’s most demanding circuits and race tracks. But for some drivers, "enough" is never enough. Enter the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 RS MR, an extreme machine set to be unleashed by the combined might of Porsche and their long-time racing partner, Manthey Racing. I’ve been following the development of this car closely for a while now, and am absolutely blown away by the sheer amount of engineering that’s gone into it. Not too long ago, an un-camouflaged white prototype was spotted at the Nordschleife, giving us an up-close look at the possible performance upgrades that Manthey is cooking up. Based on what I’ve seen in the spy shots from CarSpyMedia, I wanted to highlight some of the features of this performance racing kit.

The Panamera is the Porsche brand’s first production four-door sedan. It came out back in April 2009 and frankly, its design was more controversial at the time, than the fact it was a four-door Porsche sedan. The looks were purely function over form since the back-then CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking’s priority above all else, was for the car to seat four tall adults comfortably. Fast-forward to 2024 and the Panamera is now in its third generation and thankfully, I can say that it’s a lot better looking than before. However, with the introduction of the all-electric four-door Porsche Taycan – the brand’s first EV, along with subsequent decline in the sale of sedans in favor of SUVs – the Panamera seemingly doesn’t make sense. But, despite those plummeting sales numbers, Porsche has decided to, not just keep the Panamera around, but also give it cutting-edge tech like the new, high-end, Active Ride suspension and other innovative technologies. Now my argument is that Porsche doesn’t do things for no reason, so here’s what this could mean for the Panamera’s future.

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.

Porsche is a brand that doesn’t shy away from resorting to unconventional methods and innovative ways to improve performance. The company’s recent patent filings prove the German automaker’s dedication to keeping the internal combustion engine alive for as long as possible. Most conventional powerplants that rely on internal combustion have four strokes – intake, compression, power, and exhaust. However, according to Porsche engineers, the combustion engine can do with two extra strokes. This development is, as stated in the U.S. patent filings, a result of "continuously increasing requirements to increase energy efficiency and other operational aspects of modern combustion machines". The patents do not clarify whether this technology is for boxer engines or for conventional inline or V-engines, but it is safe to say Porsche’s newly developed combustion method is applicable to all existing configurations of the piston engine. But what does all this added complexity amount to? Here’s how this engine technology works and what it means for the company’s future models.

Despite Porsche making one of the most iconic sports cars of all time – the 911 – the German automaker was in financial trouble for much of its existence. It was only after the 986 Boxster and the Cayenne SUV in 2003, that Porsche managed to stave off the threat of bankruptcy. Of course, the acquisition by Volkswagen helped, and because Porsche’s lineup is a lot more diverse, for better or worse. Four-door models like the Taycan and Panamera are selling well, despite the Panamera’s recent sales drop by 25 percent.

Despite its work on e-fuels, Porsche is firmly stepping into the electrification game. The German carmaker is best known for its 911 sports car, which for 2025 became a hybrid. Porsche is adamant that the iconic, rear-engine model will be the last to go fully electric. Meanwhile, models like the Macan and Cayenne are getting a full range of fully electric variants, with the 718 joining the EV bandwagon, in 2025. There is an obvious trend in the automotive industry, where with each new generation, the cars become bigger, heavier, and more burdened with tech.

Like several other automakers, Porsche has a notable hierarchy in its model lineup. Sadly, this means that some platforms will never achieve their full potential unless independent specialists work their magic on them. Such is the case with Porsche’s entry-level performance model – the Cayman/Boxster. The fixed-head, coupe version of the Porsche Boxster is sometimes regarded as the brand’s best sports car. This is due to the mid-engine layout, which is considered superior to the 911’s rear-engine setup. That said, tradition dictates that the 911 remains the top dog in the Porsche lineup. While even the more mainstream Porsche models like the Cayenne and Panamera, feature a Turbo variant, the 718 range tops out with the GT4 RS, and the Spyder RS. So, why is it that Porsche in all its wisdom and rich motorsport heritage, decided to forgo an opportunity to create a Turbo 718? Let’s find out.

Remember that Top Gear test from 2008 where Jeremy Clarkson compared a Lotus Elise to the OG Tesla Roadster? Yes, the same one that led Elon Musk to sue Clarkson. Well, it appears to be coming full circle for the Elise, because we’ve got our first hint of the mysterious Lotus Theory 1, the rumored all-electric Elise, how ironic. This is a car that could shape up to be a formidable rival to the upcoming Porsche 718 EV. Lotus’ marketing chief, Qiao Xinyu, dropped a shadowy image of the Theory 1’s rear end. Sure, while the image doesn’t really reveal much, that prominent wing hovering over a sculpted rear-end, the sleek taillights flanking the classic Lotus badge, and the aggressive diffuser all but shout "sports car." But this electric silhouette throws a bit of a curveball. While the Eletre and Emeya have their sporty bits, that rear end wouldn’t be caught dead lumbering on an SUV or a four-door.