Opinion - page 36

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.

Some might scoff at the idea of a Porsche with four doors and an engine up front. But drive the 2025 Panamera, and you’ll quickly realize it shares more than a few genes with its legendary 911 cousin. First unveiled at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show, the original Panamera raised eyebrows with its distinctive sloping roofline and – dare I say it – bulbous rear end. Yet, it was undeniably a Porsche, with a luxurious interior and a bunch of powerful engine options that made it a proper driver’s car.

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.

It’s sad that Porsche’s best-selling model isn’t its halo sports car, the 911, but a couple of jacked-up SUVs. Both the Macan and the Cayenne are Porsche’s biggest cash cows, the sort of models that make cars like the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder possible. The compact Macan is available in two flavors; Gasoline: starting at $62,000, and Electric: starting at $75,300. The bigger facelifted Cayenne starts at $84,700.

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.

The Porsche Panamera, on sale since 2009 is now in its third generation, and is one of two four-door sedans, that Porsche currently sells (the other being the Taycan EV). Now, Despite a slowdown in the sale of sedans, Porsche it seems will not back off from this format, anytime soon. The fact, that the German automaker announced the third generation Panamera as recently as 2023 with some much-needed updates and a lot more power throughout the range, shows that it is committed to this body style. 771 horsepower from the V8 hybrid Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid sounds wild, isn’t it?

Every car owner projects a certain image or lifestyle, and owning a certain model or brand comes with certain preconceived notions or stereotypes. We’ve all heard of the more popular ones like how BMW owners are unaware of turn signals or how Subaru owners are outdoorsy. Some stereotypes are weirder than others, like how every Mini Cooper owner must be a vegan, who knows where that got started?

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.

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.

What is the definition of a true sports car? Well, to me at least, it means a car that looks sharp, offers decent performance, handles right, and, most importantly, is lightweight. The 911 S/T, introduced in the third quarter of 2023, fits that narrative perfectly and takes inspiration from the classic 911 S/T lightweight competition package sold between 1969 and 1972. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the iconic German sports car, the S/T sits at the top of the current 911 lineup and only 1963 examples will be built, a nod to the year that the original 911 launched. But sitting at the higher end of the price spectrum, Porsche has done something unique here. Beyond the cosmetic elements, the S/T combines some truly desirable bits from various 911s. Porsche has, in my opinion inadvertently created the ultimate 911 of the decade with the S/T. A bold claim I know, especially when you have some truly astonishing models come out over the past 10 years, like the 911 R from the 991 generation and more recently, other limited-run models like the 911 Sport Classic and the 911 Dakar from the 992 generation. Priced at $290,000, the S/T also costs supercar money. So how do I justify this bold claim? Let’s find out.

Porsche’s best-selling model, the Cayenne SUV, recently got a facelift for the 2024 model year, bringing a much sharper and modern look, inspired by the Taycan electric sedan. The update also brings significant changes to the interior, thanks to a fully digital instrument console and an optional 10.9-inch passenger-side display.

Porsche’s entry-level SUV, the Macan has gone electric, marking the end of the road for its gas-powered predecessor. Meanwhile, Audi is expanding its EV lineup with the Q6 e-tron, a stylish SUV that fits snugly between the Q4 e-tron and the flagship Q8 e-tron. Both German automakers joined forces to create the PPE platform, a versatile foundation for building high-performance electric vehicles. Also featured on the 2025 Porsche Macan Electric and the 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron, this platform boasts an 800-volt architecture, and its flexible design allows for various battery sizes and motor configurations, catering to a range of performance needs.