Convertible

Born from Porsche’s shattered F1 dreams, the Carrera GT is considered one of the last truly analog supercars of the early 2000s and when I say analog, I genuinely do mean it. This thing had traction control and ABS, and that’s it. No fancy stability control to save you from your own stupidity.

Something special caught my eye as I was browsing Bring-A-Trailer the other day, a special 911 Speedster with an interesting ownership story. The 1989 911 Speedster is a pretty rare car by itself, with only 823 examples produced. But the interesting thing that drew my attention was who the ex-owner of the car was - Walter Röhrl. That name is instantly familiar to those of us who are enamored with motorsports and the Porsche brand. The man is a two-time former WRC Champion and Porsche factory driver/brand ambassador.

The Porsche 911 is widely regarded as the ultimate high-performance daily sports car. Porsche people certainly believe this and for a good reason. The German automaker has seemingly perfected the formula of the rear-engine layout, creating one of the most versatile platforms in the business. It’s no wonder, that there is a 911 for every taste, need, and (almost every) budget. Between the different body styles, engines, and drivetrain options, there are over 30 variants of the 992-generation Porsche 911 that you can choose from.

Porsche’s sports cars are rich in heritage and go back in time even beyond the iconic 911. While models like the Porsche 911 have always had a multitude of variants, meaning there is a version of the car for everyone, depending on what power levels, drivetrain options, or body style that you are after. The rear-engine Porsche is not the only high-performance model. In more recent times, the entry-level Boxster and Cayman models have been the go-to Porsche sports car for everyone who isn’t quite ready to part with 911 money. Some would even go as far as saying that the mid-engine Porsche is actually the better sports car and that the mid-engine layout is the superior platform.

The weather may not be cooperating at Porsche West Palm Beach, but that doesn’t dampen the excitement surrounding a very special arrival: they say pre-owned but this is a practically brand new Porsche 718 Spyder RS and it comes with the much desired optional Weissach Package. Now this is far from your average Porsche convertible because what you’re looking at folks is the most powerful open-top mid-engine Porsche.

For many, the 997-generation 911 is the last old-school Porsche. Essentially, an evolution of the controversial 996, the 997 (eventually) fixed all of the 996’s problems while exploiting the chassis to its full potential. It is the 997 generation that spawned some of the most iconic Porsche 911 variants. While the example featured here is one of the more mainstream versions of the rear-engine sports car, it has been tastefully modified. Now I know that adding forced induction to a naturally aspirated Carrera is not that uncommon, and many owners are opting for it, especially with tuners like RUF offering specially developed kits that enhance performance.

Despite its work on e-fuels, Porsche is firmly stepping into the electrification game. The German carmaker is best known for its 911 sports car, which for 2025 became a hybrid. Porsche is adamant that the iconic, rear-engine model will be the last to go fully electric. Meanwhile, models like the Macan and Cayenne are getting a full range of fully electric variants, with the 718 joining the EV bandwagon, in 2025. There is an obvious trend in the automotive industry, where with each new generation, the cars become bigger, heavier, and more burdened with tech.

Porsche’s Boxster/ Cayman models are, often, regarded as the budget-friendly alternative to the 911. It used to be the one you get when you can’t or don’t want to spend 911 money. This isn’t necessarily the case anymore since the Cayman/ Boxster models have their fair share of high-performance versions that borrow tech straight from the 911. The 987-generation of the mid-engine Porsche (2004-2010) is particularly sought-after on the used market, and there are a couple of reasons for that.

The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet marks the beginning of the 992.2 generation and issues subtle yet meaningful updates to the iconic sports car. While this rear-wheel drive convertible is powered by the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo boxer-six mill, Porsche enhanced it with an intercooler from the Turbo model and upgraded turbochargers from the outgoing GTS model. The result is 388 horsepower, nine horsepower more than the outgoing model.

The days of the gas-powered 718 may be numbered, but let’s get this out of the way. It still remains a phenomenal performance machine out of the box. Whether you’re eyeing the Cayman coupe or the Boxster drop-top, you’re looking at a mid-engine sports car available with either manual or the neck-snapping PDK automatic that is practically begging to be unleashed on a winding coastal road. Now, some folks might scoff at the base model’s 2.0-liter turbo-four, but trust me, that little engine punches above its weight. But if you’re a certified horsepower fiend, the S and GTS trims with their 2.5-liter turbo units will have you grinning like a loon.

TECHART is one of those tuning houses that have cemented a reputation for high-quality performance parts. Since 1987, the company has done wonders for mostly (but not only) Porsche sports cars. Eventually, TECHART expanded its work to models like the Cayenne and Panamera, but what the outfit does with the 911 is something else. Back in 2021, the German tuner introduced the GT Street R - a 992 Turbo S with more power and crazy aero. At the same time, TECHART introduced Flyweight - its new performance brand for personalization. Think Porshe’s Sonderwunsch, but from TECHART.

If you’ve been keeping tabs and following the story on the upcoming all-electric Boxster, by this point, you’ve already seen extensive coverage of camouflaged prototypes on tests. They’ve been spotted across a number of locations from the Nürburging in Germany, and winter weather runs up in the Arctic circle to more recently, the streets of San Fransisco. But have you ever wondered what lies under the heavy cladding of the 718 EV? Well, a rendering based on the spy shots we’ve seen so far, could be a great way to decipher these details and that’s exactly what we have here.

Sharing production costs between models is not uncommon in the modern-day automotive industry. It seems even Porsche’s iconic sports cars are no exception and the Porsche 981 and 991 models are a perfect example. The 911 doesn’t need an introduction as it has been Porsche’s flagship sports car since 1964, after succeeding the 356 - Porsche’s first sports car, since the company officially became a brand. That said, Porsche’s financial troubles from the 1990s, prompted the company to give us a budget-friendly model. In came the 986 Boxster, and it immediately became clear it was a cut-price, mid-engine 911, minus the rear seats. This was not the last time Porsche did this. Australian YouTuber and Porsche aficionado, Jeff Richardson took a deep dive into the 981 and 991 Porsche models to examine how much they have in common. He also bought a flooded 981 Boxster solely to dismantle it. One thing became clear to him – the extent of the similarities between the 911 and Boxster/Cayman is a lot more than you initially may have thought, and it doesn’t stop with these two models.

Porsche’s 987 generation of the Boxster arrived for the 2005 model as a successor to the highly criticized 986 generation. Four years after the 987’s launch in 2005, Stuttgart introduced the 987.2 generation in 2009. For its new generation, the roadster gained a new 2.9-liter engine with a horsepower rating of 255 and a seven-speed PDK (dual-clutch) automatic transmission.

The Porsche 911 has finally taken the hybrid route for 2025, setting the tone for future sports cars of the German carmaker. The next-generation Porsche 718 goes even further by becoming fully electric, but the company is adamant that the 911 will feature an internal combustion engine for as long as possible, especially on the 911. While Porsche’s T-Hybrid powertrain, effectively, schooled sports car manufacturers on how to properly hybridize a performance car without making it too heavy, many people frown upon the notion of an electrified sports car. With the 992.2 Carrera GTS being able to match and, in some aspects, even surpass the 992.1 Turbo S (starting MSRP of $230,400), the 992.2 Turbo S will also rely on the same hybrid setup, although with around 710 horsepower, instead of the 532 seen in the GTS. That said, if you are looking for something that has the pedigree and performance but doesn’t come with a complex hybrid powerplant, here are three Porsche 911 Turbo S alternatives that will deliver the thrills.

Spy shots of the upcoming all-electric 718 Porsche Boxster EV (983) are nothing around, and we’ve seen test mules doing the rounds around the Nordschleife and down in the Alps for a while now. However, with the launch date closing in, I felt now would be a good time to take a closer look and do a run-down about everything that we can see on the car, with the help of some close-up shots from Instagrammar and spy shot photographer: Stéphan Barral.

For the 2009 model year, Porsche refreshed the iconic 911, ushering in the 997.2 generation. The Targa 4S, a unique model combining the classic Targa top with all-wheel drive performance, received notable updates, both inside and out. A more powerful 3.8-liter flat-six engine replaced the previous 3.6-liter unit, while subtle exterior changes modernized the timeless 911 silhouette.

Ben Mellors, M.D. of Fifteen Eleven Design, based out of the U.K. decided to do something completely different from the rest of the Porsche restomod world. While most shops are obsessed with building the next crazy iteration of the 911, Ben decided to create a modern redesign of the lesser-loved 914 instead. The result is a compact retro sportscar that looks like it was designed in the modern era, with the performance to match. It might not appeal to everyone, but it ticks all my boxes. The only parts retained from the donor car are the A and B pillars and the floor.

If you’ve been following what’s happening in the world of Porsche sports cars, you probably already know that from 2025, the mid-engine 718 is going fully electric. While Porsche is doing a lot to ensure the internal combustion engine remains in service for as long as possible, the brand also has goals to electrify 60 percent of its lineup, by 2030. While this may not turn out as the company initially anticipated, the next-generation Porsche Cayman/ Boxster will feature a fully electric powertrain. The thought of a fully electric Porsche sports car is detested by many Porsche purists.

When we talk about open-top thrills in a sports car, the Boxster is, often, the first to come to mind. The mid-engine Porsche sports car first appeared in 1996 and was instrumental in pulling the German automaker out of financial trouble. Three generations later, the 718 Boxster remains a solid pick among open-top sports cars. The roadster’s balanced chassis and lightweight nature allow it to punch above its weight while offering one of the most unique driving experiences of any convertible. That said, the Porsche 718 Boxster is not the only great roadster out there. BMW’s latest iteration of the Z4 has been around since 2018, but it somehow isn’t talked about as much. One reason could be the rebirth of the Toyota Supra, which in its fifth generation is, essentially, a re-bodied Z4. After having the chance to experience both cars, we decided to see if the BMW Z4 is truly underrated and how it stacks up to the Porsche 718 Boxster.

The 991.2 Speedster was a limited-run special edition model released on Porsche’s 70th Anniversary. With just 3,585 miles on the ODO, this low-mileage example is one of just 1,948 Speedsters built. Set to cross the auction block at this year’s Chattanooga Motocars Festival, this Speedster comes with the optional $24,510, Heritage Design Package (XWW). The core design concept remains consistent with the 911 R or GT3 Touring: a sleek windshield, removable top, and the iconic double-bubble silhouette.

As a scale model car collector, I continue to yearn to buy a miniature version of some of my favorite rides. So when I saw this go-kart, I knew I had to investigate. It is built by Little Roadsters and designed to resemble a 1970s Porsche 911 cabriolet in the style of a 3.0 Carrera RS. There’s something undeniably charming about driving around in a scaled-down version of a legendary vehicle. It’s like stepping into a time machine but without the time travel.