Sports cars - page 72

In a legal battle with potentially industry-wide ramifications, Porsche initiated legal proceedings against Singer Vehicle Design in February 2024. The German automaker sued the Californian restoration firm, accusing Singer of trademark infringement on their DLS and DLS Turbo models. Porsche took issue with Singer’s use of Porsche branding and design elements, even though Singer has become renowned for its high-end, meticulously crafted resto-mods of classic Porsches. Early on, Porsche saw Singer’s potential impact. In 2012, a mere three years after Singer’s founding, Porsche negotiated a binding agreement with the Californian firm. This contract outlined the boundaries of Singer’s modifications to ensure they wouldn’t infringe on Porsche’s trademarks, and all the parts used in Singer models had to be sourced from Porsche.

It’s safe to say there is a Porsche 911 for everyone. Whether you need an Autobahn missile, a high-performance convertible, a track weapon, or even an off-road-suited sports car, the iconic, rear-engine model from Germany has got your back. Back in August 2022, the 992 generation got its most track-oriented, most lightweight, most radically styled variant – the 911 GT3 RS. I think we can agree, that Porsche’s high-revving, naturally-aspirated engines like the GT3 RS’ 4.0-liter unit, are the last Porsche engines that need audio enhancements, but two of the leading exhaust system manufacturers have come up with their own exhaust systems, designed to give Porsche’s 992 GT3 RS an even more appealing soundtrack. YouTuber NM2255 Raw car Sounds recently got the chance to compare how the two systems sound.

The 2025 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, a two-door, 2+2-seater sports car, marks a significant evolution in the iconic 911 lineup. This eighth-generation 911, known as the 992.2, introduces a new 3.6-liter turbocharged flat-six engine paired with an innovative T-Hybrid system, delivering a combined output of 532 horsepower and 449 pound-feet of torque, helping it rocket from 0-60 mph in three seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than before. However, the seven-speed manual is gone, which can be a big drawback for enthusiasts.

Restomods are all the rage these days, i.e. modern reimaginations of legendary classic cars. However, HWA Chief Engineer Gordian von Schöning insists that their Evo II is "not a resto-mod". HWA was founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht in 1998, who was also one of the founders of AMG, now under the ownership of Mercedes-Benz. HWA, who have been in the game for a long time now (since 1998) reimagined the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II from the ground up. The HWA Evo II features a lengthened wheelbase for increased stability and a wider track for superior grip. Crafted from lightweight carbon fiber, its custom bodywork conceals an equally impressive powertrain.

Renowned YouTuber MKBHD, a.k.a Marques Brownlee recently jumped onto the Porsche bandwagon with a stealthy satin black 992.1 911 GT3 RS. As a tech YouTuber, it doesn’t come as a surprise that he has embraced electrification and has been an advocate of the booming EV space, to the extent that he even now reviews electric and hybrid cars on his Autofocus channel.

The late stunt and race car driver, Ken Block inspired millions of racing enthusiasts, none more so than his daughter Lia. His family and brand Hoonigan are working hard to carry on his legacy exactly how he would have wanted. Back in May 2022, Ken unveiled yet another ridiculously powerful project car, which he intended to take to the 100th running of Pikes Peak. Built in collaboration with BBI Autosport (who have been immensely successful at Pikes Peak), the Hoonipigasus is a classic mid-engine Porsche 911-based track car that produces1,400 horsepower and features a custom driveshaft and AWD. The team’s first time taking the car to Pikes Peak was plagued by mechanical issues which forced them to pull out of the event, However, they did not give up and wanted to come back with Ken the next year.

The 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera marks the introduction of the 997.2 generation, bringing subtle yet significant updates to this iconic sports car’s sixth generation or 997 generation. This rear-engine and rear-wheel-drive coupe is the base trim in the 911 lineup, available in both hardtop and convertible configurations. It gains a new MA1/02 3.6-liter naturally aspirated boxer-six engine with direct fuel injection, boosting output to 345 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque and improved fuel economy. Porsche offers two transmissions for this trim, including a standard six-speed manual and a new seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission, replacing the Tiptronic S from the 997.1 generation.

In a recent video, Porsche aficionado and YouTuber ARC Driver dove headfirst into a potential mystery courtesy of Porsche themselves. While configuring a 911 on the Porsche website, ARC stumbled upon an image that piqued his interest. Initially appearing as a standard 911 silhouette, a closer look revealed some intriguing details. Wider rear fenders, a prominent turbo intake, and a unique ducktail spoiler whispered "New car alert." Unlike the rest of the blacked-out silhouette, the entire spoiler was rendered in grey, fuelling speculation of a deliberate hint from Porsche.

At first glance, this looks like a run-of-the-mill 997.2 generation 911, but there is an interesting story behind the existence of this "Acid Green" accented 918 911. Back in 2010, Porsche introduced an exciting hybrid concept sports car known as the 918 Spyder at the Geneva Motor Show. There was a surge of interest in this upcoming hybrid supercar which Porsche capitalized on and collected initial deposits of $200,000, by as early as 2011. However, it would be nearly three years before Porsche would deliver the 918 Spyder in December 2013 for an MSRP of $645,000 In the meantime, Porsche felt that their exclusive clientele shouldn’t have to sit around twiddling their thumbs and offered a companion 918 Edition 911 Turbo S. For each of the 918 examples of the hybrid 918 made, they offered a companion 918 edition 911.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is probably the last car that comes to mind when you think about practicality. But the owner of this particular 992.1 example (as seen in the Reddit post below) based out of Dubai seems to think otherwise, as he or she has clearly tried to improve the usability of this track toy by mounting a Porsche-branded roof box, made by Swedish company, Thule. The GT3 RS does not have a frunk like other 911s, because additional aero elements have taken its place. So adding a roof box should help in maximizing space and the amount of stuff you can carry, however, it comes at a huge cost to the car’s capabilities and intended use. Regardless maybe, (and I’m just assuming here) this owner is stuck with a weird predicament, where this is their only daily driver. Let’s explore some of the pros (yes, there is one) and cons of mounting a roof rack on your GT3 RS.

More than just a wagon, the Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo has a gorgeous design. But the beauty wasn’t just skin deep. This powerhouse packed a punch close to 700 horsepower, rivaling the thrill of a 911 while offering the everyday functionality of a Cayenne. With seven trims to choose from, the GTS hit the sweet spot in the middle, delivering both stunning looks and exhilarating performance. Unfortunately, Porsche has discontinued the Sport Turismo for the latest generation of the Panamera.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S returns after a one-year hiatus, marking the arrival of Stuttgart’s honed 911 Targa series’ 992 generation. As expected from the new generation, it gets a more powerful 3.0-liter twin-turbo boxer-six setup, generating 443 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of twist. A new eight-speed PDK automatic replaces the dated seven-speed PDK, but enthusiasts still get the seven-speed manual transmission.