Sports cars - page 48

With the introduction of the 992.2 Carrera GTS for the 2025 model year, Porsche’s iconic 911 sports car enters a new era of hybridization, or at least that’s what people are saying. But it’s technically not the first hybrid 911.

YouTuber Danny Z recently bought the cheapest 996 911 in the United States. After an intense bidding battle on Copart auctions where he lost out on some potential gems, he finally got his 1999 996, which was missing most of the front end, including the bumper, the hood, and the headlights. It ended up costing him just $10,000 to acquire. However, the car required a ton of work before it would be back on the road, but it was work that Danny was willing to do gladly.

The 2024 Le Mans served up quite a spectacle in the brand new LM GT3 class, with Porsche’ #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R taking the win. Piloted by Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring, and Yasser Shahin, the race-spec 911 GT3 R took the checkered flag, etching Porsche’s and the Nürburing-based tuner’s name into the history books as the first manufacturer to win Le Mans with a GT3 car.

The Porsche 718 Boxster, alongside its hardtop sibling, the Cayman, has evolved into a performance powerhouse in the Porsche lineup over the past two decades. Even with the base 2.0-liter 300-horsepower turbo Boxer-four engine (which sounds similar to a Subaru Boxer four, in my opinion), the 718 not only offers performance that’s useable on a day-to-day basis but also has enough potential to carve corners with precision.

Forget everything you know about the Ford Mustang. From pony car to supercar, the GTD represents a new milestone for the blue oval brand. The most powerful Mustang ever made is engineered to intimidate supercars. The GTD is a track weapon and consequently comes with a carbon fiber widebody, advanced aerodynamics kit, and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. Its first-of-its-kind suspension developed by Multimatic seamlessly adapts to road or track conditions, dynamically adjusting for peak performance.

Porsche enthusiasts often claim that the 1995 Porsche Carerra RS is one of the finest 911s ever made. With approximately 1,000 examples produced, the lightweight model was the culmination of three decades of innovations in chassis and drivetrain refinement from the brand and was a forbidden fruit in the United States. With a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, it stayed true to the formula that made Porsche such a beloved brand over the years, before the controversial move to water-cooled engines with the 996 generation.

The history of the Carrera nameplate is a wild ride through the heart of Porsche’s motorsport lineage. It all began in the early 1950s with the legendary Carrera Panamericana, a treacherous open-road race that ran border to border (north to south or vice-versa) for over 2,000 miles through the heart of Mexico. Thanks to its challenging terrain, it was a white-knuckle test of endurance, speed, and raw driving skill.

The Porsche 996 generation, produced between 1998 and 2005, remains a controversial model in the 911 history. While it’s celebrated for being one of the most affordable ways to enter the 911 family, often priced below $30,000, it’s also garnered a reputation for its divisive design and reliability concerns. Many purists criticize the "fried egg" headlights, a radical departure from the classic round lights of previous generations, and early examples were plagued by engine issues related to the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing.

The Porsche 911, one of the most revered sports cars in the world, isn’t considered a practical vehicle; no sports car is. Having said that it is one of the most usable sports cars that you can buy, given its ergonomics, excellent visibility, and available space for luggage upfront. But what if you wanted to push that narrative for even more space and take things up a notch with something like a 911 pickup? Well, an ambitious Swiss concept car builder, Rinspeed, had that very idea back in the early 2000s with the Bedouin concept, which was based on a 996 Porsche 911. Bedouin was a fitting name, considering it refers to nomadic tribes who brave the elements of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The name Porsche evokes images of the iconic 356, the legendary 911, and the agile Boxster. In recent years, this image has expanded to include the luxurious and impressively potent Cayenne and Macan SUVs, solidifying Porsche’s position as a versatile and desirable automaker.

The Porsche 911: a sports car so ubiquitous, it’s as common as the Toyota Camry in some cities. For over six decades, this iconic model has held a steadfast position as the most recognizable sports car, captivating enthusiasts and status seekers alike. The 911 is a paradox, both a driver’s car revered by purists and a symbol of affluence coveted by many. Among Porsche 911’s model palette, the Carrera S serves as the perfect middle ground between the base Carrera and the bonkers Carrera GTS. But what if you crave the unbridled power of a Turbo S without having to spend a ridiculous amount of money? Well, the owner of this 2022 992.1 Carrera S had aspirations along similar lines, and with a tune, his 911 now produces almost 600 horsepower!

Porsche recently debuted the 2025 992.2 Carrera and the Carrera GTS models, with the latter sporting motorsport-derived hybrid technology. However, both forego the seven-speed manual gearbox option, at least for now. Even if you configure a pre-facelifted 992.1 GT3 and GT3 RS on Porsche’s website, you’d have no option but to choose the seven-speed PDK automatic gearbox. The only manual-equipped 911 Porsche currently available is the limited-edition 911 S/T, which debuted back in August 2023.