Porsche 911 Turbo

Like other automakers, Porsche is up for experimenting with new things. While the German car company is most praised for its legendary sports cars, mainly the 911 and 718, Porsche is no stranger to deviating from its usual ways. This has resulted in some pretty interesting concepts over the years. What pushed the strife to explore new ways was, to an extent, Porsche’s financial trouble between the 1980s and 2000s. Interestingly enough, those were the years in which some of the most bizarre Porsche creations came to life. Even now, Porsche is churning epic new concepts, but sadly none of them transitioned to production models. While there are plenty of examples, I took it upon myself to find and research the five most obscure Porsche concept cars that time forgot. Some of them are more recent than you think, and this raises the question of why Porsche didn’t go through with them.

So here we are again with yet another leak of the 992.2 Turbo. This time, it’s a schematic from an instruction booklet. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know we’ve already uncovered a few juicy details from Porsche’s own configurator a while back, but this latest discovery sheds a bit more light on what Porsche has been quietly cooking up for the 992.2 Turbo, that is soon set to take the hybrid route. Now, I’ll admit, that the hybridization of the Turbo is a rather divisive turn of events. It’s not the sort of thing that will get everyone clapping politely. But regardless, let’s delve into what we actually know.

Ah, the 964 Turbo 3.6. There’s something about the 964 that appeals to enthusiasts of the older, more "raw" Porsche 911s. It’s not as outlandishly beloved as the 930 Turbo, nor is it as “driver-focused” as the later 993, but it strikes a very interesting balance. And if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that its price has been climbing at an uncomfortable pace. For those who didn’t, or for those who tried to argue that these cars weren’t worth much, the hammer came down at $375,000 for a 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 sold on Bringatrailer.

Let me preface by saying that I’m no expert when it comes to Porsche’s motorsport legacy. Having said that, I am aware that the German brand is quite literally built upon the foundations of their glory days in racing, as this tech eventually finds its way into Porsche’s road cars. Where do you think the names like Panamera and Carrera actually come from? Last month, at the Icons of Porsche event in Dubai, I had the privilege of coming face-to-face with a select few Porsche race cars that have dominated at Le Mans: the 911 GT1, the alien-looking 963, the brutal 956, and the legendary 962.

Porsche makes some of the best sports cars in the world. Over the years, the brand has given us some capable machines, many of which are also suitable for daily use on public roads. That said, throughout Porsche’s history, many models have required drivers to be at the top of their game. Getting even near the car’s full potential demands the absolute best of the driver. While you might be quick to think of the original Porsche 911 Turbo (930), it is by far, not the only Porsche sports car to ask a lot from its drivers. Below, I have listed Porsche models, some more known than others, which wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you if you are not awake behind the wheel. There are classic race cars, supercars, and a few 911s, some of which are more recent. Without further ado, here are the seven most dangerous Porsche models that can be labeled as Widowmakers.

There is no shortage of companies that reimagine Porsche 911s and the automotive scene today, seems to be saturated but in a good way, with car companies that focus on tastefully resto-modding classic Porsches and giving them a unique twist. Names like Singer, Theon, Gunther Werks, REEN, and Gembala are a handful, that come to mind. But how to stand out amidst so many? Dutch company, Kalmar Automotive may have the answer. In the summer of 2024, the company unveiled its most groundbreaking project yet – the Kalmar 9x9.

Porsche has gifted the automotive world with numerous legendary models, and among them, the 911 Turbo S and the Carrera GT stand out. The Carrera GT with its F1 derived V10 engine sounds phenomenal, and is a hero car for most Porsche people, particularly those who grew up in the 2000s, like myself. Given that it is widely considered the last analog supercar ever made, not just by Porsche, but in the wider auto industry, valuations are on the rise.

Porsche as a brand has existed since April 1931. After a successful stint with Daimler and the consulting business that included the design and engineering of models like the VW Beetle and the 16-cylinder Auto Union Type 52, things finally started to fall into place, with Ferdinand Porsche’s dream of making the perfect sports car which came out in 1939. That said, the first mass-produced Porsche performance car – the 356 – did not arrive until well after WWII ended, debuting in 1948. Since then, the German marque has developed a stalwart image as one of the most prominent performance car manufacturers in the world. With a history spanning 93 years and counting, there are many iconic models, many of which were significant to Porsche’s development as a brand. Given Porsche’s storied history and rich motorsport heritage, the list of truly noteworthy Porsche models is impressively long. However, I managed to narrow it down to seven Porsche models, with each one being historically significant through the decades, and paving the way for future Porsches.

Porsche has been churning out facelifted 911s this year faster than you can say “mid-life crisis.” This year, we’ve already seen the base 992.2 Carrera, the mental GTS, the stripped-down T, and even the track-focused GT3. But the real storm’s brewing on the horizon and the one that I’m most excited about is the Turbo lineup. Now, thanks to a leak on Porsche’s own configurator from its German site (talk about a spy’s paradise!), we’ve got a glimpse of the upcoming Turbo for the first time. It’s not much, just a rear-end shot from a video showcasing the cruise control system, but it is enough to get the rumor mill churning once again.

Although Porsche has given us a staggering number of all-time great sports cars going back several decades, the German automaker has diversified its lineup over the past 20 years, by adding SUVs and sedans to its model lineup. This leaves the 911 and 718 as the only two Porsche sports car offerings, presenting Porsche with the opportunity to bring back iconic nameplates from its glorious past.

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.

Not a lot of automakers have as many iconic engines as Porsche does. The German company is responsible for one of the most iconic sports cars ever made – the 911. The boxer engine is a staple across several Porsche models, but this is far from the only engine configuration Porsche knows. What makes an engine iconic? Is it the sheer power or is it the groundbreaking engineering? Perhaps the reliability or soundtrack? As it turns out, it is all of the above, and Porsche has more than a few engines that fit the bill.

There aren’t many sports cars that can match the heritage of the Porsche 911. The car first saw the light of day back in September 1963, at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. Since then, the 911 has been following the “evolution, not revolution” formula, which is why it is the only rear-engine sports car to this day. Each generation of the Porsche 911 has a version for everyone, which is why deciding on the perfect one is a difficult task.

I had been a bit puzzled by teasers and spy shots of what looked like a mid-engined Porsche for months, and now the wait is over. The teaser turned out to be the RML P39, and it isn’t mid-engined. The spy shots of the mid-engined exotic turned out to be the Tutthill GT1, unveiled at Monterey Car Week earlier this year. Now if you haven’t heard of RML (Ray Mallock Limited), they’re a big deal in British motorsport and they’re now celebrating four decades of their racing prowess with this bold street-legal Porsche racer. This British-built Le-Mans-inspired hypercar takes the already phenomenal Porsche 992.1 Turbo S and injects it with a massive dose of motorsport madness. RML’s aim for the P39 from the onset was to create a versatile hypercar with everyday usability. The result? A track-focused monster that promises to not just demolish lap times and redefine the boundaries of performance, but also offer refined performance for the road. So how exactly have they achieved this? Let’s find out.

The history of turbocharging at Porsche is a fascinating journey that intertwines innovation, performance, and subsequently luxury, and comfort. Given that Porsche is celebrating 50 years of the 911 Turbo, I thought now would be the right time to do a quick recap of every model since the 1974 original. We’re talking tire-shredding power, and some questionable design choices (because let’s face it, the 996 wasn’t exactly a looker was it?).