Rumors

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.

So, remember when we at Motorheads were all abuzz about Porsche possibly adding a simulated shifter to their electric cars? I’d said earlier that if there’s one thing missing in EVs, it’s driver engagement, and while Dodge has had a go with it on its fake sounds in its latest Charger, it is Hyundai that got execution right on the Ioniq 5 N, where the fake engine sound does not only sound good, but it also perfectly sync’s in with the gear shifts that simulate an eight-speed transmission. But it’s not just me though, top auto journalists from renowned publications, and even influencers like Doug DeMuro and MKBHD a.k.a, Marques Brownlee have praised Hyundai for it. I personally feel that this could become a trend that automakers will start to cash in on. However, seeing such a thing on Porsche is unlikely to happen, as the German automaker has officially put those rumors to bed.

The automotive world is buzzing with anticipation as two titans prepare to clash in the ultimate battle for supercar supremacy. In one corner, we have the all-new, rear mid-engined C8 Corvette ZR1, the most potent ’Vette ever to exist. With its twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 roaring with over 1,000 horsepower, this American-made monster is already causing a stir in Europe, proving that you don’t need a hybrid powertrain to deliver 1,000+ horsepower.

The Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic and recognizable and iconic sports cars of all time, and within this decade it will be an EV. However, Porsche has also claimed it will be the last of their models to be electrified. After the Macan EV, the next models to embrace electrification in the next two years will be the Boxster and the Cayman. The German brand is doubling down on its commitment to the electrified future, as evident with the discontinuation of several ICE models in Europe, including the Macan, Boxster, and Cayman. According to Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, the brand already has received 10,000 orders for the Macan EV which will be released in the second half of 2024.

The Porsche 911, an icon of automotive excellence, is on the cusp of a revolutionary transformation. The 2025 911 Carrera GTS emerges as a trailblazer, the first-ever production hybrid 911 to grace the asphalt. This electrifying marvel heralds a new era, whispering secrets of the rest of the forthcoming 992.2 generation of cars, including the highly anticipated Turbo S.

Toyota is hard at work reviving iconic nameplates, and luckily for enthusiasts, this also extends to the brand’s sports cars. We have been hearing about Toyota MR-2’s return since 2019, but until a few months ago, we didn’t have any concise information. Reports from Japanese outlets were gradually revealing details about Toyota’s soon-to-be-revived, mid-engine sports car. In stark contrast to what we initially believed, the new MR-2 will not be a budget-friendly model, co-developed with Daihatsu and Suzuki. This turned out to be Toyota’s S-FR, which will also be sold as the new Suzuki Cappuccino and Daihatsu Copen and would compete with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata. This puts the MR-2 in a whole other league, and judging by the performance figures revealed, it would also likely be able to keep pace with most variants of the Porsche 718. Maybe even outperform it?

Yes, car obesity is a thing and it seems to be getting worse with each year. With more and more performance cars featuring various degrees of electrification, they become more complex and heavier. The latest offender is the 2024 BMW M5, which tips the scales at an SUV-like 5,390 pounds (2,445 kg). To add insult to injury, the new M5 is slower to 60 mph than the outgoing one, although it picks up the pace after. It seems Porsche is the only carmaker that properly electrified its iconic sports car - the 911 – without compromising its character, but another model of the brand might not be so lucky.

The Porsche 918 Spyder was an absolute beast, a hypercar that debuted the plug-in hybrid system and set the bar high for both performance and efficiency. Now, as the world awaits with bated breath for its successor, an unexpected muse emerges from the world of Bugatti: the Tourbillon. While the Tourbillon’s mind-blowing naturally aspirated V16 will remain its exclusive powertrain, could its more potent hybrid system hold the secrets to Porsche’s next hypercar adventure?

Tesla pioneered the mainstream EV segment and currently offers some of the quickest fully electric vehicles you can buy. However, legacy carmakers like Mercedes and Porsche have caught up, and now EVs are being churned out left and right. Porsche is big on heritage, but that didn’t spare the brand from getting on the EV bandwagon. On the plus side, Porsche’s Taycan is one of the most popular EV performance cars. Since its introduction in 2020, Porsche has sold over 136,000 units of the all-electric Taycan, and counting, making it one of the more popular high-performance EVs. That said, when it comes to the performance-per-dollar ratio, Tesla’s offerings are still unrivaled, but Porsche might be working on a solution.

The newly formed Bugatti-Rimac has already proved that it doesn’t lack the boldness to make some radical changes to the revered and historic French marque. The all-new Bugatti Tourbillon features a newly designed, naturally-aspirated V-16 engine that revs to 9,500 RPM and works with three electric motors to produce 1,800 metric horsepower. In July 2021, the Croatian carmaker, Rimac Automobili, acquired Bugatti. Technically, Volkswagen still partially owns Bugatti through Porsche, which has a 45-percent share in the French hypercar manufacturer. The Porsche connection might prove to be instrumental in making the first-ever, production Bugatti sedan, rumored to already be in the works. For better or worse, a Bugatti sedan is more plausible than you may think. Here’s why.

In a recent video, Porsche aficionado and YouTuber ARC Driver dove headfirst into a potential mystery courtesy of Porsche themselves. While configuring a 911 on the Porsche website, ARC stumbled upon an image that piqued his interest. Initially appearing as a standard 911 silhouette, a closer look revealed some intriguing details. Wider rear fenders, a prominent turbo intake, and a unique ducktail spoiler whispered "New car alert." Unlike the rest of the blacked-out silhouette, the entire spoiler was rendered in grey, fuelling speculation of a deliberate hint from Porsche.

After long-standing speculations and teasers, the Chiron replacement is finally here! The Bugatti Tourbillon ditches the EV trend and sticks to its internal combustion heritage with a twist. Yes, it’s a plug-in hybrid and the first Bugatti under Mate Rimac’s leadership. Beneath its elegant silhouette lies a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, holding a Cosworth-developed 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 coupled with three electric motors. Combined, the hybrid powertrain cranks out 1,775 horsepower. With a 0-60 mph time of two seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 276 mph, the Tourbillon is not only more potent than the outgoing Chiron but also faster.

Mate Rimac, the Croatian innovator and entrepreneur, is now the CEO of Bugatti Rimac. He also founded Rimac Automobili, the EV hypercar manufacturing company that unveiled the 1877-horsepower electric Nevera in August 2021. In November of that same year, Rimac Automobili merged with the iconic French automaker Bugatti, to form Bugatti Rimac. The merger saw Rimac Group, the parent company of Rimac Automobili, become the majority shareholder with a 55 percent stake. Porsche, under the Volkswagen Group, holds the remaining 45 percent stake. This partnership brought together two powerhouses in the automotive world, merging Rimac’s EV technology expertise with Bugatti’s luxury and performance heritage.