News - page 132

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.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Luftgekühlt 10 is a must-attend event for any self-respecting Porsche enthusiast. This year, with Luftgekühlt 10 marking the 50th anniversary of the 911 Turbo, you just can’t miss out on this one. Mark your calendars – October 5th at the Universal Studios Backlot in L.A. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this.

We have all seen renderings of what a Porsche Cayenne pickup truck would look like, thanks to A.I. and imaginative graphic designers. While an official model might never be a reality, we no longer have to rely on our imagination. French YouTuber Elyascars decided to use his trusty angle grinder and pickaxe to make the Cayenne pickup truck a reality. A mere seven days ago he acquired an ’03 Porsche Cayenne (955) for just 2,300 euros ($2,500), one he calls the cheapest Cayenne in France.

I’m a fan of the Type 997, and outside of the current 992, it remains one of the best generations of the Porsche 911. Where the tech-laden 992 is ridiculously fast and a bit too clinical, the 997 hits the sweet spot between modern and analog. The 997, in general, is widely regarded by Porsche people as a comeback, as it fixed several drawbacks like poor reliability and a better interior of the infamous fried-egg 996.

Porsche celebrated the 60th birthday of the 911 in 2023, and the 911 S/T was the cherry on top. This throwback pays tribute to the fire-breathing S/T models of the late 1960s but with a modern twist. This lightweight model prioritizes driver engagement. Under the hood? That glorious, naturally aspirated 518-horsepower 4.0-liter boxer six from the GT3 RS, mated to a six-speed manual. Tipping the scales at just 3,056 pounds making it the lightest 992, the S/T sheds weight with carbon fiber everywhere from the hood to the doors. It sprints from 0-60 mph in a scorching 3.5 seconds and tops out at 186 mph. Only 1,963 are destined for production, and the price tag is a cool $290,000. 


The Porsche 718 EV will soon join the Porsche Macan electric and four-door Taycan as the third model in Porsche’s lineup. This shows that regardless of a slowdown in sales, Porsche is going to continue models that it already had in the pipeline. So besides the 718 EV, the Cayenne and even a rumoured Taycan will be here before the end of the decade. However, the flagship model of the Porsche brand, i.e. the iconic 911 won’t be going electric until well into the early 2030s. So until then, it begs the question, why doesn’t Porsche use something that’s already here to cater to the discerning luxury car buyer, who’s looking for a sleek coupe in the form of a Taycan Two-door? Okay, this may sound preposterous and unrealistic in the real world, considering something like this will involve a considerable amount of retooling on the production line, but let’s just try and make the case for such a model, hypothetically.