Coupe - Storyboards - page 252

Porsche has built some truly legendary engines over the past 70 years, with many tracing their origins to motorsports

Today, we're going to go over five Porsche engines that set the bar high for each era

Modest by modern standards, this 2.7-liter Mezger flat-6 is what powered the fastest car in 1973

The Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS was the most successful air-cooled 911 of its day

With 210 hp and 2,116 lbs, the car did 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, on its way to 149 mph

The late Hans Mezger was instrumental in developing these engines through Porsche's motorsports programs

The 3.0-liter (later 3.3-liter) turbocharged flat-6 featured race tech and turned the balanced 911 into a death trap

Despite earning the nickname "Widowmaker", the Porsche 930 Turbo is one of the most iconic 911s ever made

Even with a messed up weight distribution to 38:62 between the front and rear axles, the 930 Turbo could reach speeds of over 170 mph

Hans Mezger was the Chief Engineer of the Porsche 917 Le Mans race car in the late 1960s - early '70s

Dubbed Type 912, this Porsche flat-12 was made of two flat-6 racing engines, thanks to Hans Mezger

Just like the Porsche 917 it powered, the engine had multiple evolutions. Early variants were naturally-aspirated

Early turbocharged variants had problems with turbo lag and the way they delivered power

Eventually, the car was sorted out and a twin-turbocharged setup was adopted

The 5.4-liter twin-turbo variant could make up to 1,580 horsepower

The M80/01 powering the Carrera GT was originally meant to power a Le Mans prototype race car

The V-10 engine features a flat-plane crankshaft and was mated exclusively to a 6-speed manual

Even with old tire technology from the 2000s, the Carrera GT does the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds... if you can launch it right

M97.74 is the last Mezger engine. Despite not having vario-cam and direct fuel injection it held the highest specific output of any flat-6 for years to come

Technology developed by Mezger through racing & motorsports, eventually trickled down to Porsche road cars

The engine was specifically designed for the 997 GT3 RS 4.0 and featured some parts from the RSR race car

Swipe up to learn more about why these are the greatest Porsche engines ever

Porsche 911s come in all shapes and sizes

The 911 GT2 RS is the most radical road-going variant of the 997

Limited to just 500 units, the 997 GT2 RS is a Turbo S with more power, no AWD, and a manual

The 993 is the last air-cooled 911 Turbo, but the first to get AWD

In 1997, Porsche introduced the X50 package, which turned the 993 Turbo into the Turbo S

Porsche 911 GT1 is the only mid-engine 911 ever made

It was built for Le Mans GT1 and FIA GT2 racing in the 1990s, where it showed consistent results due to its reliability

Between 21 and 25 road-going examples were built

The 911 Carrera 2.7 RS solidified the 911 as a capable race car

It was the birth of the Carrera name, the ducktail rear spoiler, and the wide body on 911 models

Thanks to Mezger power, the Carrera 2.7 RS was he fastest car of its day

The 2016 Porsche 991 R is a 911 that doesn't adhere to modern regulations

A modern homage to a legend; The original 911 R was the basis for many 911 race cars and at 1,929 pounds, it was the lightest 911 ever made

The 991 R tips the scales at 3,020 pounds, making it the most lightweight modern-day 911

Single-mass flywheel, close-ratio manual, rear-wheel drive, and 200+ mph capable

Swipe up for more on why these 5 911s should be in any Porsche enthusiast's garage

The 911 GT2 and 911 GT3 may look very similar

Both race-bred models have some key differences, that set them apart

Apart from the fact that both the 911 GT2 and the 911 GT3 belong to different class of endurance racing, both having distinctive driving dynamics

The 911 GT2, since its inception, carries a tuned version of the 911 Turbo's twin-turbo flat-six engine

In contrast, the GT3 is being powered by a naturally aspirated flat-six that's straight from Porsche's racing program

Among the two, the GT2's powertrain is the most capable, thanks to forced induction. Also, the torque this engine produces is much more than that of the GT3

The last 911 GT2, the 991 generation GT2 RS, was rated at 691 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

Side-by-side, the latest 992.2 911 GT3 cranks 510 hp 331 lb-ft

As for aerodynamics, GT3 models generally produce more downforce than GT2s

Despite the powertrain differences, both the GT2 and the GT3 drive the rear wheels only

Porsche unveiled the first 911 GT2 with the 993-gen 911, even before the GT3 came into being

Early GT models were strictly manuals, but Porsche's PDK was offered in more recent generations like the 991

The first GT3 arrived a generation later in the 996 guise, with the "fried egg" headlights in 2004

It also evolved to include RS models across the water-cooled generations of the 911

Swipe up to read more!

The base Porsche Taycan barely fits the budget with its RWD setup

It packs 402 horsepower, and a range of 318 miles

It manages a top speed of 143 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and starts at $99,400

The Macan EV 4S offers surprising bang for the buck, AWD, and 308 miles of EPA range

The $86,895 Macan EV 4S can be propelled to speeds of 149 mph. 0-60 mph happens in 3.9 seconds

The base-model Porsche Cayenne is now a PHEV and at $86,695 costs as much as the mid-range Macan EV

Its V-6 is aided by a single electric motor for a combined 463 horsepower and 479 pound-feet

The Cayenne E-Hybrid can drive upto 46 miles on electricity, making it ideal for city driving

The $90,995 Macan GTS is one of the most lightweight SUVs on sale, as it doesn't feature electrification

Its V-6 engine is good for 434 horsepower and 405 pound-feet, and allow for a top speed of 169 mph

Time is running out. After 2025, the ICE-powered Macan will be no more

The Porsche 718 is also going electric, but you can still get it with a variety of flat-4 and flat-6 engines

The 718 Cayman S is the fastest sub-$100k mid-engine Porsche you can get. It can do 177 mph

0-60 mph takes around 4.2 seconds. You can also get it with one of the best manual transmissions in the business

Swipe up to learn more about these sub-$100k Porsches

Porsche 911

Porsche 911 (G-Series)

Porsche 911 (Type-964)

Porsche 911 (Type-993)

Porsche 911 (Type-996)

Porsche 911 (Type-997)

Porsche 911 (Type-991)

Porsche 911 (Type-992)

The Ferrari F80 joins the McLaren W1 as the ultimate hypercar ever made by the Italian automaker

The F80 features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 and three e-motors. Combined, the hybrid powertrain cranks 1,184 hp

The F80 is an all-wheel drive hypercar and the V6 comes mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission

Ferrari says the F80 can reach 0-62 mph in 2.15 seconds and can reach a top speed of 217 mph

Do note that the Ferrari F80 isn't a plug-in hybrid hypercar. It's 2.3 kWh battery pack charges using the V6 and regen braking from the traction motors

The McLaren W1's hybrid powertrain includes a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and a single e-motor

Together the powertrain pushes out 1,258 hp and 988 lb-ft of through the rear wheels only. An 8-speed DCT takes care of the gear changes

The W1 is a plug-in hybrid hypercar and its 1.4 kWh battery pack can charge up to 80 percent in 22 minutes using the Level 2 charger

According to McLaren, the W1 can do 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 217 mph

The only contender left to complete the new-age holy trinity is Porsche and its hypercar

There's a strong chance that it will a fully electric hypercar, like the Mission X. However, only time will tell the real story

Swipe up to read more about the W1 and the F80

The 992.2 Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring Bring Some Subtle Tweaks For 2025

The dot 2 models retain the same 4.0 naturally aspirated engine and are available with a 6 speed manual or a 7-speed PDK

Starting upfront, you'll find a revised front bumper, with a bigger air intake and carbon side blades

The four-point LED headlights are similar to what we saw on the 992.2 911 Carrera

The optional Weissach Package adds carbon mirrors, doors, hood and resulting in weight savings

The side-end plates are now made from carbon fiber and feature a design similar to the GT3 RS

The feature the same swan-neck mounts as the 992.1, but Porsche didn't specify exact downforce figures

The outgoing 992.1 GT3 model made around 800 pounds of downforce at top speed

Optional magnesium wheels are available and can save up to 25 pounds

The rear also sees a more aggressive rear diffuser with a revised bumper and reflectors positioned higher than before

interior

Here's a closer look at the panel, which can be configured digitally to display the 9000 rpm redline, with the needle pointing vertcially

The Touring model retains some old-school touches like the analog twist-style starter instead of the push button start as seen on the 992.2 Carrera

Compared to the bucket seats on the 992.1 GT3

Porsche has taken feedback from current GT3 owners

And have now featured removable headrests to accommodate a racing helmet

On the Touring, the foldable carbon-backs also allow you to access

The optional rear seats, which was not available on the outgoing model

The Weissach Package will give you a carbon-fiber roll cage, but a no-cost club-sport option will get you a steel roll cage

You get minor chassis upgrades, with eight percent shorter gear rations, which translates to more front-end grip and power delivery

The 992.1 had a sticker price of just over $160,000, but the average price on the used market hover around $260,000 according to Classic.com

This also brings it very close to the base price of the current 992.1 GT3 RS, which will set you back $241,300

Does the 992.2 GT3 with its minor updates, warrant a $60k price premium over the 992.1 at $222,500? Swipe up to read more.

The Porsche 928 was introduced in 1977 and was believed to be the eventual replacement for the 911

The front-engined 2+2 GT sportscar was Porsche's answer to Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar

Ferry Porsche, son of founder Ferdinand Porsche played a pivotal role in marketing the 928,

It is one of four models, from Porsche's transaxle model which also includes the 924, 944 and 968

In times when Porsche was struggling to sort out the rear-engine 911, the 928 made for a more manageable sports car

The 930 Turbo had a vile reputation

As a result, Porsche decided to play it safe with a more luxurious, front-engined 2+2 GT car with the 928

The Porsche 928 was more mildly-mannered despite being exclusively powered by V-8 engines

Roughly 15 percent of all Porsche 928s made had a manual, making them the most sought-after

The pop-out headlights were one of many design quirks the 928 was known for

Despite the 928's initial success, Porsche never stopped making the 911

The 911 was always the brand's poster child when it came to motorsports

Meanwhile, the 928 was the only Porsche sports car to not have a racing program

The 964 came out in the perfect time and fixed much of what was wrong with the 930

The 964 arrival was accompanied by a decline in 928 sales

In 1995, the Porsche 928's 18-year production would come to an end...

solidifying the 911's position as Porsche's true flagship sports car

Nowadays, the legacy of the 928 is cared for by Nardone Automotive, which makes exquisite resomods

Swipe up to learn more about Porsche's true plans for the 928 and why it was never meant to be a true replacement for the 911

Porsche just took the wraps off the 911 GT3 992.2 for the 2025 model year

For the first time in 25 years, they've also introduced the GT3 Touring model alongside the standard GT3

Both models retain the same naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six with 510 hp and are available with a the 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK

Viewed from the side, it may seem that not much has changed from the 992.1 model seen here

The re-contoured front diffuser, the refined shape of the spoiler lip and modified fins on the underbody increase downforce and optimise the airflow

Upfront you get an edgier redesigned front bumper and Matrix LED headlights similar to the 992.2 Carrera

Also available on the 911 GT3 is an optional white accent ring

This eliminates the need for additional lights in the front apron like you got on the 992.1 GT3

In the rear, the diffuser, air inlets, and rear lid have been redesigned. The rear wing of the 911 GT3 has new angled side plates

In contrast, the outgoing model had a rear-end that was a lot busier

But the big change on the GT3 line for 2025 is the availability of the Weissach package for the first time

Previously reserved for the track-focused GT3 RS, the Weissach package focuses on shedding weight, with carbon fiber on the roof, exterior mirror top shell, mirror triangle

You'll even find it on the side plates of the rear wing, mounted on the swan-neck struts from the outgoing model

Additional leather and Race-Tex upholstery enhance the look of the interior. For the first time, the upper side of the dashboard on the 911 GT3 is accordingly covered in anti-glare Racetex.

Unfortunately, the analog tachometer on the 992.1 GT3 is now gone and you not get an all-digital instrument cluster instead

Thankfully, the Touring model retains some old-school touches in form a twister-style starter instead of a push-button start

Owing to customer demand, Porsche is now offering optional rear seats on the GT3 Touring

Another customer request was for seats that could accommodate a helmet, and these new foldable seats feature removal headrests

Lightweight magnesium wheels are available on both the Weissach and Leichbau Package

The Clubsport package for track use is available at no extra charge. It includes a bolted steel roll cage in the rear, a 6-point harness for the driver, and a hand-held fire extinguisher.

In terms of their positioning within Porsche's current lineup, the 992.2 is leaning more towards the track-focused GT3 RS

The Touring model is geared towards the road, and has some more creature comforts and is in fact 85% of what the 911 S/T is

Compared to the outgoing model, the 992.2 is nearly $60k more expensive with a starting MSRP of $222,500, and will be available to order by the end of the year.

This is the RML P39, an upcoming 911-based hypercar, that was conceived to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the RML Group

The RML Group is a third-generation design, engineering and consutling firm based in the U.K.

They are a big name in the motorsport scene with multiple world and British Touring Car Championships, a World Sportscar Championship, European Le Mans, and class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

They are also responsible for building the Nio EP9, which is one of the fastest EVs around the ring with a time of 6:45.9 seconds

They also build super limited, continuation models like the RML Short wheelbase based on the Ferrari 250 GTO

Coming back to the RML P39, it is based on the current 992.1 Porsche 911 Turbo S

The styling is heavily inspired by Le Mans racers like the 911 GT1 and features a widebody kit, roof scoop, and aggressive aero package

Available in two flavors, the standard P39 (seen here) and the P39 SE, RML's main aim was to create a track-bred daily usable hypercar with switchable drive modes

The P39 40 SE (Special Edition) will be available exclusively in the ruby red color and only 10 examples will be produced

The P39 is available with optional Track and Performance packs, which come as standard on the P39 40 SE

The P39 has a wider track and sits lower to the ground than the standard 911 Turbo S

While the wheelbase is also longer, it isn't as long as the 911 GT1 which is the only ever mid-engined 911

The side air intake is considerably bigger. You'll also notice a that the endplates on the wing are as big as the ones you find on the GT2

The rear-end draws a lot from the 911 GT1

Here's how it compares to the standard 911 Turbo S at the rear

The P39 delivers exceptional performance, with an estimated Nordschleife lap time of 6:45, surpassing the 992.1 GT3 RS

The RML P39 boasts a lightweight carbon fiber construction and an F1-style DRS system capable of more downforce (2,034 pounds) than a GT3 RS (1,896 pounds at 177 mph)

For reference, here are the current lap times of the current fastest production cars

The P39 offers a switchable driving mode system for both track-focused and everyday driving

The RML P39 costs $645,000 before taxes, not including the cost of the donor Porsche 992.1 Turbo S. Only 10 units of the P39 40SE will be built

The P39 joins a growing trend of resto-mod Porsche hypercars, including the Tutthill GT1, Kalmar 9x9, and Oilstainlab HF-11

The all-electric Mission X could potentially become Porsche's flagship supercar or hypercar, but it remains to be seen if it can capture the same level of excitement as previous legendary models

Months of speculation surrounding the new 992.2 Porsche 911 GT3 have finally come to an end, with the official unveiling scheduled for October 18, 2024

Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche’s GT lineup, will be joined by racing legends Walter Röhrl and Jörg Bergmeister for the reveal

Porsche will announce not one, but two models. They didn't specify which ones. Will it be the GT3 and GT3 Touring or the GT3 and GT3 RS?

The teaser images suggest a more pronounced rear wing, a full-width lightbar, and Porsche’s signature four-point LED headlights, hinting at design updates

Although technical specifications remain undisclosed, Porsche promises enhanced performance and innovative details, while maintaining a naturally aspirated engine setup without hybrid options

The previous model, the 992.1 GT3, was launched in 2021, featuring significant aerodynamic improvements and a manual transmission option alongside PDK

Anticipated features for the 992.2 GT3 include a sharper front splitter and a substantial rear spoiler for improved aero and more downforce and grip

Based on historical trends, also expect a bump in power, more than the 502 and 518 horsepower on the 992.1 GT3 and GT3 RS models

The live premiere will be streamed on multiple platforms, including the Porsche Newsroom, YouTube, and LinkedIn, at 18:30 CEST on October 18

Porsche 986 Boxster is 2/3 Porsche 911 for less than half the price

Aside from a few issues with the M96 engines, which should be taken care of by now, the original Boxster is a blast

Porsche 944 is, often, referred to as the "German Miata" for its impeccable balance

What the 944 lacks in power, it makes up with lightness and 50:50 weight distribution thanks to a rear-mounted, manual transmission

The 944 Turbo is expensive as those are already eyed by collectors

The US-spec Porsche 944 is down on power compared to EU models due to smog regulations, resulting in just 143 horsepower for the base model

Porsche 987 Cayman improves upon the 986, but it will cost a bit more

The 987's 9X7 platform is an evolution of the 9x6 modular platform, underpinning the Porsche 996 and 986

More reliable M97 engines are introduced on the Porsche 987

The 987 can also be had as a Boxster if you want open-top thrills

Manual examples of the 987 are preferable since 987.1 models still have the 5-speed Mercedes automatic

Surprisingly, you can still get a Porsche 928 for relatively cheap

Porsche's more luxurious take on the sports car was produced for 18 years

Even base models came with a V-8, but manual-equipped cars are a rarity

The cheapest Porsche was meant to be a VW. These are dirt-cheap

Only the rare 924 Carrera, Turbo, and even rarer 924 Turbo Targa can be considered true collectibles

Swipe up to learn more about these cheap, driver-focused Porsches