Sports cars - page 288

Porsche makes some of the best sports cars in the world. Over the years, the brand has given us some capable machines, many of which are also suitable for daily use on public roads. That said, throughout Porsche’s history, many models have required drivers to be at the top of their game. Getting even near the car’s full potential demands the absolute best of the driver. While you might be quick to think of the original Porsche 911 Turbo (930), it is by far, not the only Porsche sports car to ask a lot from its drivers. Below, I have listed Porsche models, some more known than others, which wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you if you are not awake behind the wheel. There are classic race cars, supercars, and a few 911s, some of which are more recent. Without further ado, here are the seven most dangerous Porsche models that can be labeled as Widowmakers.

Porsche is slowly completing the 992.2 lineup. Every couple of months, the German sports carmaker unveils at least one new variant of the latest Porsche 911. At the time of writing this, the Porsche 992.2 lineup comprises the Carrera, Carrera T, Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, GT3, and GT3 Touring. We know the GT3 RS is going to make its appearance by 2026, but what about the range-topping 911? For decades, the GT2 RS has been the range-topping swan-song model for every Porsche 911.

Porsche’s dealership network in the U.S. evolved significantly since the brand first entered the market in 1950. The partnership between Max Hoffman and Ferdinand Porsche marked the beginning of Porsche’s American presence. Hoffman, a New York-based salesman, was pivotal in establishing the brand’s reputation, despite Porsche’s smaller engines and higher prices compared to rivals. His marketing efforts, highlighting the 356’s performance and quality, led to early success. By 1954, Hoffman was selling 11 cars per week, contributing to Porsche’s increasing presence in the U.S.

If you are a Porsche fan, you have probably come across the name RWB. It stands for RAUH Welt Begriff, which translates to Rough World Concept in German. "Rough” is exactly the word some would use to describe Nakai San’s work on Porsche 911s, but while divisive, his method of modifying the popular German sports car is what makes his builds truly unique. There are plenty of companies that delve into custom Porsche 911 builds, but RWB’s work stands out as the most outrageous wide-body Porsche 911s, made by the Japanese artisan.

One by one, the 992.2 lineup is being rolled out. This generation marks huge changes for Porsche’s iconic sports car as it brought us the first 911 powered by a hybrid powertrain. While the 911 won’t go fully electric anytime soon (if ever), some of the more high-performance 911 variants will not live on without experiencing big changes. When it comes to normally aspirated Porsche 911s, the GT3 RS sits at the top of the food chain as the most track-focused model of the bunch.

Every modern Porsche 911 model, since the 996, i.e. the water-cooled era has gone through two iterations within its lifespan. These updates, signified by a decimal point and a subsequent number often address previous shortcomings or introduce new features, which are more often than not based on customer feedback. For Porsche enthusiasts in particular, .1 versus .2 can be a game-changer, impacting everything from performance to reliability, ultimately affecting the car’s value. Dot 2 models in general tend to hold their value better. This model is of particular importance because it is the first production 911 to embrace electrification. The rollout of the dot 2 models for the (latest 992) eight-generation 911 began in May this year. Apart from the updates that we’ve seen on the models unveiled so far, I’ve also listed a tentative launch timeline for upcoming models in the 992.2 series.

The 1980s was a truly crazy time. On the one hand, we’d just experienced the oil crisis, which had led to some horrendous cars and ruined previously great ones. On the other – it was a time of innovation, futuristic styling, and some very radical design decisions. Pronounced fender flares, side gills, and pop-up headlights were the norm in those crazy days. When it comes to the Porsche 911, one design stands out as the definitive 1980s styling element – the Flachbau which translates to Slant Nose or flat nose in German.

Ever since the 992.2 update began rolling out in May this year, and gave us the first hybrid Porsche 911, we wondered what this would mean for the other variants of the rear-engine sports car. The Porsche 911 prides itself on a few things: "revolution, not evolution", being one of the most usable high-performance vehicles, and being one of the most mass-produced sports cars. That said, the 911 is still not a mass-produced vehicle compared to, let’s say the Macan.

The 992.2-generation Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring were officially unveiled a month ago. Both models are available on the Porsche configurator to spec as you see fit. If you are a track enthusiast then the 911 GT3 would be the logical choice, with its aggressive aero kit, providing plenty of downforce. But if you want the GT3’s legendary, normally-aspirated flat-six that revs to 9,000 RPM, without the crazy aero, the more civil GT3 Touring would be more your cup of tea.

With 2025 around the corner, Porsche finds itself in a bit of a pickle. Their lofty plan of 80% of sales to come from EVs by 2030 seemed a tad bit too ambitious. The lukewarm reception to electric vehicles, particularly in key markets like the U.S. and parts of Asia has forced a re-evaluation of strategy at Stuttgart. I mean just look at sales of the all-electric Taycan sedan for example, which still isn’t seeing much demand even after the recent 2024 facelift. Also, things like range anxiety, charging infrastructure woes, and the lack of soul in many EVs have conspired to dampen the enthusiasm amongst the wider public. While I applaud Porsche’s initial goals, it’s clear that the EV market isn’t quite ready to fully embrace the electric future.

Just after a month of taking the wraps of the 992.2 GT3 and GT3 Touring, the online configurator for both models is now live. While there is frankly an exhaustive amount of permutations and combinations possible, I wanted to take a look at some of the most expensive options available. The optional Weissach Package in particular, which is all about shaving off precious pounds and hopefully milliseconds on the race track is of interest to me, as it is the first time that Porsche is offering it for the GT3. Strangely enough, it is not the most expensive option that I could find.

Normally, when we think of reimagined or resto-modded classic 911s, the work of Singer is probably the first to come to mind. Of course, there are others like Theon, Gunther Werks, Kalmar Automotive, and so many more. Then, there’s Erbacher – an outfit based out of Dornach, Switzerland, dedicated to making its own epic iteration of the often-reimagined Porsche 964.