Porsche - page 96

Steve McQueen became the embodiment of cool in his lifetime with cult classics like Bullitt, The Great Escape, and Le Mans. Despite a rough upbringing, he defied the odds to become a Hollywood superstar known for his effortless charisma, dedication to his craft, and a rebellious streak that perfectly complemented his lifestyle. This same rebellious spirit and love for adrenaline translated into a lifelong passion for motorsports.

The Porsche crest is one of the most iconic automotive brand symbols ever, even to non-car people. The red and gold badge with the leaping horse has adorned every Porsche model since 1951. Interestingly, one of the rare times the crest was replaced by a painted-on badge was on the 911 GT3 racecar, acting as a weight-saving measure. Initially, only Porsche lettering appeared on the hoods of sports cars from Zuffenhausen as early as 1948, but a formal trademark wasn’t conceived until 1951. That year, Porsche teamed up with a loyal customer, Dr. Ottomar Domnick, to launch a design competition among German art schools. The prize? A cool 1,000 Deutsche marks. Unfortunately, they were unable to come up with a design that appealed to everyone.

You know that saying "built like a brick"? You often associate that saying with old Mercs from the ‘80s and ‘90s. But it appears that Porsche apparently took that literally. J.D. Power just dropped their 38th Initial Quality Study results, and guess who’s leading the chart when it comes to premium and luxury car brands? Well, it’s none other than the Stuttgart-based automaker. The study surveyed 100,000 U.S. new car buyers between July 2023 and May 2024, covering over 20 brands and 200 models. Buyers were asked about 227 possible quality abnormalities across 10 different categories. Porsche came out on top as the leading premium brand with a score of 172 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Now for context, 195 PP100 is the industry average, which is, well, not great (the Lower the score, the better). It ranked seventh overall in the rankings.

At first glance, this looks like a run-of-the-mill 997.2 generation 911, but there is an interesting story behind the existence of this "Acid Green" accented 918 911. Back in 2010, Porsche introduced an exciting hybrid concept sports car known as the 918 Spyder at the Geneva Motor Show. There was a surge of interest in this upcoming hybrid supercar which Porsche capitalized on and collected initial deposits of $200,000, by as early as 2011. However, it would be nearly three years before Porsche would deliver the 918 Spyder in December 2013 for an MSRP of $645,000 In the meantime, Porsche felt that their exclusive clientele shouldn’t have to sit around twiddling their thumbs and offered a companion 918 Edition 911 Turbo S. For each of the 918 examples of the hybrid 918 made, they offered a companion 918 edition 911.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is probably the last car that comes to mind when you think about practicality. But the owner of this particular 992.1 example (as seen in the Reddit post below) based out of Dubai seems to think otherwise, as he or she has clearly tried to improve the usability of this track toy by mounting a Porsche-branded roof box, made by Swedish company, Thule. The GT3 RS does not have a frunk like other 911s, because additional aero elements have taken its place. So adding a roof box should help in maximizing space and the amount of stuff you can carry, however, it comes at a huge cost to the car’s capabilities and intended use. Regardless maybe, (and I’m just assuming here) this owner is stuck with a weird predicament, where this is their only daily driver. Let’s explore some of the pros (yes, there is one) and cons of mounting a roof rack on your GT3 RS.

More than just a wagon, the Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo has a gorgeous design. But the beauty wasn’t just skin deep. This powerhouse packed a punch close to 700 horsepower, rivaling the thrill of a 911 while offering the everyday functionality of a Cayenne. With seven trims to choose from, the GTS hit the sweet spot in the middle, delivering both stunning looks and exhilarating performance. Unfortunately, Porsche has discontinued the Sport Turismo for the latest generation of the Panamera.

After a successful eight-year reign and 500 examples later, the iconic Bugatti Chiron is bowing out, leaving behind an even outrageous successor, the Tourbillon. Taking its name from an intricate mechanism in a watch, this all-new hypercar just debuted on the 20th of June 2024 as a 2026 model year, boasting a unique hybrid powertrain that combines a Cosworth-developed 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 engine with three electric motors, pushing out a total of 1,775 horses! This marks a significant milestone for Bugatti, as the Tourbillon is the French carmaker’s first-ever hybrid vehicle.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S returns after a one-year hiatus, marking the arrival of Stuttgart’s honed 911 Targa series’ 992 generation. As expected from the new generation, it gets a more powerful 3.0-liter twin-turbo boxer-six setup, generating 443 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of twist. A new eight-speed PDK automatic replaces the dated seven-speed PDK, but enthusiasts still get the seven-speed manual transmission.

Action cam company, GoPro recently released some thrilling footage of veteran driver Jeff Zwart taking on the spectacular Pikes Peak. This brutal 12.7-mile course features 156 blind turns and climbs to a staggering 14,115 feet. It’s a place where racing legends like Michelle Mouton and Booby Unser have pushed their limits. Jeff isn’t just another rally driver; he’s also a renowned director and photographer. His work includes several well-known automotive commercials and movies like "The Art of Racing in the Rain." He’s also a true motorsport champion, having secured eight class championships and earning a place in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Hall of Fame. He’s a winner of both the U.S. Pro Rally Championship and the Baja 1000.

The Half 11 is a Le Mans-inspired prototype built from scratch by designer twin brothers Iliya and Nikita Bridan. They are the founders of L.A. Shop: Oil Stain Design Labs and have over a decade of experience working with the largest automobile brands, including Honda and General Motors. The Half-11 is so called because its chassis is from a 911 which had to be cut before being integrated with its body. The brothers jokingly call their project the "Last Bad Idea", but every aspect of the build was done with detailed precision. The idea’s genesis, which eventually became the Half-11, began with a sketch by Iliya, combining the front end of a Porsche 911 with the rear of a Porsche Indy racecar. They immediately met with a team of fabricators, welders, and designers to get this project off the ground. The duo have big plans for their project car and want to make a limited number of models based on this prototype.

The 2021 911 Turbo Cabriolet mixes exhilarating performance with open-top luxury, continuing Porsche’s legacy of high-performance convertibles. This latest iteration gets a more powerful 572-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine and a new eight-speed PDK transmission for the 992 generation. The result is 0-60 mph in a mere 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph, placing it in the supercar territory.

The Porsche Carrera GT is a unicorn in the automotive world. With a mere 1,270 ever produced, it’s a true collector’s dream. Even after 2 decades, the Carrera GT continues to strike a chord in the hearts of automobile enthusiasts everywhere. The Carrera GT wasn’t just another supercar; it was built to shatter expectations. Its sleek design housed a phenomenal 5.7-liter V10 engine, practically unchanged from the Le Mans 2000 race car, tuned down for street use. This translates to blistering acceleration, the Carrera reached 0-60 MPH in a mere 3.5 seconds. With a top speed exceeding 205 MPH, the Carrera GT was a force to be reckoned with.