Porsche News - page 468

One by one, the 992.2 lineup is being rolled out. This generation marks huge changes for Porsche’s iconic sports car as it brought us the first 911 powered by a hybrid powertrain. While the 911 won’t go fully electric anytime soon (if ever), some of the more high-performance 911 variants will not live on without experiencing big changes. When it comes to normally aspirated Porsche 911s, the GT3 RS sits at the top of the food chain as the most track-focused model of the bunch.

Every modern Porsche 911 model, since the 996, i.e. the water-cooled era has gone through two iterations within its lifespan. These updates, signified by a decimal point and a subsequent number often address previous shortcomings or introduce new features, which are more often than not based on customer feedback. For Porsche enthusiasts in particular, .1 versus .2 can be a game-changer, impacting everything from performance to reliability, ultimately affecting the car’s value. Dot 2 models in general tend to hold their value better. This model is of particular importance because it is the first production 911 to embrace electrification. The rollout of the dot 2 models for the (latest 992) eight-generation 911 began in May this year. Apart from the updates that we’ve seen on the models unveiled so far, I’ve also listed a tentative launch timeline for upcoming models in the 992.2 series.

Be it the sleek design or the evocative howl from its F1-derived mid-engined 5.7-liter V10, the Porsche Carrera GT needs little effort to seduce any enthusiast, Porsche-phile or otherwise. Even two decades on, the 600-horsepower rear-wheel drive manual is hailed by many as the last analog supercar to ever exist. However, when it comes to gaining a reputation as being a modern-day widow maker owing to some pretty high-profile crashes, Porsche had some housekeeping to do and hopefully stave off future lawsuits. At one point, there was even a no-drive request that Porsche sent out to owners, which folks like Doug DeMuro happily ignored.

The 1980s was a truly crazy time. On the one hand, we’d just experienced the oil crisis, which had led to some horrendous cars and ruined previously great ones. On the other – it was a time of innovation, futuristic styling, and some very radical design decisions. Pronounced fender flares, side gills, and pop-up headlights were the norm in those crazy days. When it comes to the Porsche 911, one design stands out as the definitive 1980s styling element – the Flachbau which translates to Slant Nose or flat nose in German.

As a best-selling Porsche model in the United States, the Macan nameplate needs no introduction. In the decade that it has been around, the Macan has won a lot of praise for being one of the most dynamically capable models, in the luxury compact SUV class. For 2024 though, the Macan receives a total reboot as it goes fully electric! If you’re still not ready to embrace electrification, Porsche will thankfully continue to offer the gas-powered model until 2026. The old four-cylinder/V6-equipped Macans are great for many reasons. First, they are affordable. Secondly, they are more practical than the similarly priced 718 Cayman, thanks to the crossover boy style and third, they drive like a Porsche.

Ever since the 992.2 update began rolling out in May this year, and gave us the first hybrid Porsche 911, we wondered what this would mean for the other variants of the rear-engine sports car. The Porsche 911 prides itself on a few things: "revolution, not evolution", being one of the most usable high-performance vehicles, and being one of the most mass-produced sports cars. That said, the 911 is still not a mass-produced vehicle compared to, let’s say the Macan.

With its hair-raising corners, elevation changes, and blistering speeds, the 13-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany also known as the "Green Hell," has been the ultimate test track for any performance car. For decades, European automakers like Porsche, Mercedes, and Ferrari have dominated at what is considered the world’s most demanding race track. Cracking a sub-seven-minute lap time here is truly a badge of honor. For nearly 100 years, no American manufacturer has achieved this feat. However, all this changes with the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD’s, official Nürburgring lap time of 6:57, putting this pony car in the league of elite-performance cars. Now while MotorHeads.com is all about Porsche, Ford’s record is of significance, as it was attempted in Porsche’s own backyard.

It’s hard to believe that the Porsche 718 Cayman is now almost a decade old. With the upcoming all-electric Cayman/Boxster combo set to kickstart a new chapter for Porsche’s entry-level sportscar, 2025 will be the final gas-powered Cayman. To me, it’s the end of an era for lightweight and relatively cheaper Porsche sports cars. Sure, the all-electric Caymans and Boxsters should be quicker, but can they match the enthusiasm of the intake sound you’d get with the gas-powered Cayman? Well, I don’t want to answer that. But if you prefer a well-sorted chassis, a more analog feel in both drivability and features, with good old gasoline power, now is the time to act and snag a brand-new one while you still can. So what exactly does the latest Porsche 718 have to offer? From everything that’s new for this year and the specs and features across various trims, here’s a detailed overview of the 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman.

The 992.2-generation Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring were officially unveiled a month ago. Both models are available on the Porsche configurator to spec as you see fit. If you are a track enthusiast then the 911 GT3 would be the logical choice, with its aggressive aero kit, providing plenty of downforce. But if you want the GT3’s legendary, normally-aspirated flat-six that revs to 9,000 RPM, without the crazy aero, the more civil GT3 Touring would be more your cup of tea.

With 2025 around the corner, Porsche finds itself in a bit of a pickle. Their lofty plan of 80% of sales to come from EVs by 2030 seemed a tad bit too ambitious. The lukewarm reception to electric vehicles, particularly in key markets like the U.S. and parts of Asia has forced a re-evaluation of strategy at Stuttgart. I mean just look at sales of the all-electric Taycan sedan for example, which still isn’t seeing much demand even after the recent 2024 facelift. Also, things like range anxiety, charging infrastructure woes, and the lack of soul in many EVs have conspired to dampen the enthusiasm amongst the wider public. While I applaud Porsche’s initial goals, it’s clear that the EV market isn’t quite ready to fully embrace the electric future.

Just after a month of taking the wraps of the 992.2 GT3 and GT3 Touring, the online configurator for both models is now live. While there is frankly an exhaustive amount of permutations and combinations possible, I wanted to take a look at some of the most expensive options available. The optional Weissach Package in particular, which is all about shaving off precious pounds and hopefully milliseconds on the race track is of interest to me, as it is the first time that Porsche is offering it for the GT3. Strangely enough, it is not the most expensive option that I could find.

Coupe SUVs went mainstream since the X6 kickstarted this trend in 2008. Since then, many automakers have joined the Coupe-SUV bandwagon such as Audi with the RSQ8, Lamborghini with the Urus, and even Porsche with the Cayenne Coupe. In the ballpark of 100 grand, I wanted to see how the latest BMW X6 M60i, (which by the way is the mid-spec model) stacks up against the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupe for the 2025 model year. (second base)