Porsche - page 408

The 992.2 update for the Porsche 911 is an interesting case. On the one hand, we got the first-ever production hybrid 911 with the GTS earlier this year, but on the other, for the first time, we didn’t get a power bump on the track-focused GT3 model. The 992.2 lineup is slowly being updated as new 911 variants are coming out, and with the GT3 and GT3 Touring models being introduced on 18 October, we know the 992.2 GT3 RS should be around the corner. The most track-focused, normally-aspirated 911 will undoubtedly feature slightly more power out of its signature 4.0-liter flax-six. But what if you don’t want to wait? If you already have a 992.1 GT3 RS (or if you are considering one), Porsche Super Cup racing veteran and tuner, Manthey Racing based at the Nürburging has a solution for you. The company’s kit will take your 992.1 GT3 RS and infuse it with much-needed chassis and aerodynamic enhancements, which could make the 992.2 GT3 RS look like an unnecessary upgrade.

When it comes to performance cars, Porsche has always been one marque where the brand tax was apparent. Aside from a few exceptions, like the rather undesirable 924, no Porsche can truly be called affordable in my opinion. Moreover, the vast majority of the German brand’s sports cars tend to appreciate over time, making virtually any Porsche that doesn’t share hardware with Volkswagen Group cars (VAG), a great investment. So if you’re looking to spend as little money as possible on a Porsche sports car, but still want something that packs decent performance, there are a few interesting options out there. Among those are, not one, but two generations of the 911 as well as a V8 model grand tourer to name a few. While some of these cars are only now beginning to be truly appreciated, you can still find great examples of each at reasonable prices with the possibility of even snagging some of the more desirable trims. After looking at market trends of some underappreciated Porsches, I think these are the models with the highest chance of going up in value. The cars in the following list have been arranged from most expensive to most affordable.

Beyond Cars & Coffee at your local auto club, if you are an ardent Porsche fan, I believe that there are a couple of key global venues, shows, and events that you must attend at least once in your lifetime. Think Luftgekühlt, and Rennsport Reunion; the kind of shows that are all about pure air-cooled bliss, historic racing heaven, and a deep dive into Porsche’s DNA. While not exclusive to Porsche, events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and 24 Hours of Le Mans allow you to witness some of the German brand’s most noteworthy cars up close in all their glory.

Between trying to stick to the 2030 electrification plans and keeping the internal combustion engine alive, Porsche has made some weird decisions of late. EV demand has decreased, prompting a few strategy changes from the German automaker. The all-electric Taycan in particular was affected by this market shift, as the performance EV went from being one of the most popular Porsche models to now suffering declining sales. Global Taycan sales have dropped by almost 50 percent during the first nine months of 2024 and this makes me draw parallels with another Porsche model from the 1980s that started out strong but ended up being axed due to slow sales. The 928 suffered a similar fate during the second half of its production cycle. Porsche had big plans for the 928 and its derivatives, which never saw production. All this begs the question: is the writing on the wall for the Porsche Taycan EV? There is more to suggest that this is the case and I am going to share all we know so far.

The Porsche 911 spans eight generations and counting. On paper, the latest 992 is measurably superior to every 911 generation, but just like the controversial water-cooled 996, it also brings a lot of innovation, perhaps too much for the Porsche purists. The 992-generation Porsche 911 is also the largest, heaviest model of the iconic, rear-engine sports car. This is frowned upon by some enthusiasts, especially those fond of the much lighter 997 and 991 that came before it. The 992.2 update brought with it the first hybrid Porsche 911 and it seems impressive, given that the mid-range GTS model is now about as capable as the range-topping 992.1 Turbo/ Turbo S variants thanks to the electric assist from the new T-Hybrid system. But what about the noise? How has this revolutionary bit of tech impacted the sound profile of the Hybridized 911? Does the all-new 3.6-liter mill sound better than the 3.0 unit found in the 992.1 GTS? Well, I did some digging on YouTube and Reddit, and here’s what I found.

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’s rich heritage is a great place to draw inspiration for special-edition models. This is particularly true for the 911, which is the definitive Porsche sports car. The German automaker knows this too well, which is why every generation of the Porsche 911 gets a variety of limited-edition special variants. Back in 2009, Porsche introduced the 997 Sport Classic – a model that combines traditional traits from classic, air-cooled 911s with modern tech. More recently in 2023, the brand introduced a new iteration of the Sport Classic, based on the 992 generation. Conceived by Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur that allows for limitless customization options, both vehicles follow the same philosophy, leaning heavily on the 911’s heritage. That said, the two 911 Sport Classic variants are very different and while the 992 is superior on paper, this doesn’t necessarily translate to a better driver’s car. I took a deep dive into both 911 Sport Classic models to determine, which is more worthy of the two, in finding a spot in a 911 enthusiast’s garage.

While the Porsche name is almost immediately associated with sleek sports cars carving corners up a canyon or a racetrack, did you know that the German brand also has a rich history of off-road dominance? Porsche reignited the Dakar spirit with the 992.1 911 Dakar. This lifted, somewhat all-terrain 911 is a tribute to those iconic Porsche rally cars from the 80s, bringing that off-road capability to a whole new generation of Porsche enthusiasts. While the production of this (2,500) limited-run model has finally come to an end with the Sounderwunsh model, given its popularity, I wonder if it could be the start of something bigger and if Porsche should actually consider expanding the Dakar nameplate and offer more rugged, adventure-ready vehicles. To find out, I looked up some rugged Porsche models and concepts from the past, and current production models to explore the possibilities of a Dakar family of Porsche models.

Porsche’s sports cars are often, considered some of the most usable high-performance models ever made. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and as capable as the 911 and 718 are out of the box, there is room for improvement. These models generally provide a solid base from which to build upon. But sometimes owners want to make their Porsche truly their own by spicing things up a bit with even more power or altering the aesthetics to suit their style. Beyond what Porsche themselves offer, there are plenty of ways to do so with a wide variety of aftermarket performance and visual upgrades being readily available for both the Porsche 911 and 718. While Porsche owners could turn to renowned companies like TECHART, Manhart, and others who can completely transform your car from the ground up, there are more affordable ways to modify your ride, without the need for a comprehensive conversion. As with JDM cars or muscle cars, certain trends are popular in the Porsche community as well, and in this article, I wanted to focus my attention on five, that are common on the Porsche 911 that sometimes also apply to Cayman and Boxster models.

Porsche revived its rally-dominating and iconic Dakar nameplate of the 1980s, as a limited-run model with the (992.1) 911 Dakar back in 2022. Now after 2,500 units, the final example has rolled off the production line as a Sonderwunsh model, which if you are unaware is Porsche’s special wishes program. Now, beyond the highlights of what makes this one-off Dakar so special, I also wanted to touch upon some of the highs and lows as we say goodbye to this modern-day rally-inspired 911.

Porsche pulled off a real surprise move when they showed off the Macan EV in January 2024. While this new all-electric Macan is inevitably the future and is here to stay, for the time being at least, instead of ditching the old gas-guzzler, the German automaker has decided to keep it around (until 2026)! This is a great strategy, given how the EV market has cooled off lately. The Macan after all is consistently one of Porsche’s best-selling models.