Coupe - page 228

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 Porsche Cayenne recently got a few nice updates for 2025. While most will be looking towards the range-topping Cayenne Turbo E Hybrid, it is the new GTS trim that is the most pleasant surprise. The GTS is, typically, considered to be the perfect middle ground among all Porsche models as it combines the ideal blend of performance, comfort, and usable power levels. Despite the Cayenne GTS being one of the most athletic SUVs out there, a Sports Utility Vehicle can never offer the same thrills as a proper sports car like, let’s say the 911 Carrera GTS.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is, by no means, an affordable car.... or is it? It all depends on the context and when that includes hypercars from the likes of Bugatti and Koenigsegg, the perception of value can drastically change. While the build process of most exotics typically employs the best and most exotic materials, this doesn’t always guarantee a million-dollar, 1,000-plus-horsepower hypercar’s position at the top of the automotive food chain. Then you have other cars that despite the lack of these sci-fi materials, are still built to be overachievers and the Porsche 992 Turbo S is certainly a great example of that.

The Porsche 912 was the original ’affordable Porsche’, - where customers essentially got a 911 with the economical engine from the Porsche 356 SC. It was one of the first models to open the door to Porsche ownership to a wider range of customers. The 912 quickly garnered a cult following within the Porsche community, proving that you do not need crazy power to have a fun driving experience. Now a restomod firm from Budapest, Hungary KAMManufaktur is reintroducing the 912l in a modern avatar and calling it the 912c, where the ’c’ stands for carbon fiber, a go-to material of choice for shedding weight while not compromising rigidity and this one has a lot, as you’re about to find out.

About 20 years ago, Porsche raised a few eyebrows by introducing its first SUV – the Cayenne. This exercise paid off big time since this high-riding Porsche is widely viewed as the model responsible for saving the German automaker from bankruptcy. Fast-forward to 2024 and the two best-selling Porsche models are still SUVs, i.e. the Cayenne and its smaller sibling, the Macan. The Cayenne was recently updated, but its range-topping Turbo E Hybrid model seems a bit puzzling to me.

What is the definition of a true sports car? Well, to me at least, it means a car that looks sharp, offers decent performance, handles right, and, most importantly, is lightweight. The 911 S/T, introduced in the third quarter of 2023, fits that narrative perfectly and takes inspiration from the classic 911 S/T lightweight competition package sold between 1969 and 1972. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the iconic German sports car, the S/T sits at the top of the current 911 lineup and only 1963 examples will be built, a nod to the year that the original 911 launched. But sitting at the higher end of the price spectrum, Porsche has done something unique here. Beyond the cosmetic elements, the S/T combines some truly desirable bits from various 911s. Porsche has, in my opinion inadvertently created the ultimate 911 of the decade with the S/T. A bold claim I know, especially when you have some truly astonishing models come out over the past 10 years, like the 911 R from the 991 generation and more recently, other limited-run models like the 911 Sport Classic and the 911 Dakar from the 992 generation. Priced at $290,000, the S/T also costs supercar money. So how do I justify this bold claim? Let’s find out.

Ah!! Porsche and online racing, while I may not be much of a gamer these days, this is an experience that goes back decades for me. My PC gaming journey began with the legendary NFS: Porsche Unleashed back in 2000. That game got me hooked, even leading me to compete professionally! So, when Ubisoft unveiled the Porsche 919 Street tearing up the tarmac in The Crew Motorfest’s latest trailer, I was undoubtedly curious to learn more. (Mark your calendars: Crew Motorfest Year 2 update kicks off November 6th, 2024!)

Only one car can give you the feel of a Porsche 911 and that’s a 911. Altering any aspect of this iconic sports car can dramatically change the driving experience, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking out the boxer engine and replacing it with something that at first glance, doesn’t belong there. The rear-engine Porsche sports car is considered one of the most refined and usable high-performance cars, that you can daily-drive. At least, in most of its iterations. Despite much praise, however, the 911 is not a perfect car, and certain generations are known to suffer from a few major issues.

As a gearhead who loves a good special edition, I was excited to see what Porsche came up with to celebrate 50 years of the iconic 911 Turbo. Their 911 Turbo 50 Years based on the 992.1 with 1,974 units and historical nods looks like a tempting option. But for those seeking something even more exclusive and outrageous, there’s the Techart GTstreet R Monochrome. This limited edition (only 20 units!) takes the already impressive GTstreet R, based on the 911 Turbo S, and cranks everything up to eleven. Where the 911 Turbo 50 Years from Porsche is more of a cosmetic makeover, Techart has made some significant upgrades with this ultra-low-run model.

Many consider the Porsche 911 to be the ultimate sports car, fit for daily use. While this may be a bit of a stretch when talking about the track-focused GT3 RS, the rear-engine sports car generally remains an aspirational model. In fact, despite the 991 being the first 911 to feature electric steering instead of a hydraulic unit (a feature many purists despise), it is still considered the last truly compact 911. For this reason, those who have driven a 992 GT3 RS after the previous iteration go back to the older model. One person, however, has done something that no one has ever done. Instead of buying a 991 GT3 RS, a guy over in England, decided to build one himself. Normally, Tesla-swapping a 991 GT3 RS would send purists into a spiraling rage, but there is a good reason why this particular car has received the electric powertrain. What you’re looking at here is actually a replica of a 991 GT3 RS, but more surprising is what the car started out as.

Porsche is a brand that doesn’t shy away from resorting to unconventional methods and innovative ways to improve performance. The company’s recent patent filings prove the German automaker’s dedication to keeping the internal combustion engine alive for as long as possible. Most conventional powerplants that rely on internal combustion have four strokes – intake, compression, power, and exhaust. However, according to Porsche engineers, the combustion engine can do with two extra strokes. This development is, as stated in the U.S. patent filings, a result of "continuously increasing requirements to increase energy efficiency and other operational aspects of modern combustion machines". The patents do not clarify whether this technology is for boxer engines or for conventional inline or V-engines, but it is safe to say Porsche’s newly developed combustion method is applicable to all existing configurations of the piston engine. But what does all this added complexity amount to? Here’s how this engine technology works and what it means for the company’s future models.

Rezvani Motors, traditionally known for its armored vehicle conversions has ventured into the classic sports car market with the launch of its Rezvani RR1. When I first saw the RR1, my inner child went ballistic, because; a modern take on the iconic Porsche 935 race car of the 1970s? Sign me up! Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a modern-day makeover of the 935, a.k.a, the Mobydick. Porsche themselves unveiled their version, based on the 991 chassis, back in 2019, limited to 77 examples.