Sports cars - page 84

The Porsche 911, an icon of automotive excellence, is on the cusp of a revolutionary transformation. The 2025 911 Carrera GTS emerges as a trailblazer, the first-ever production hybrid 911 to grace the asphalt. This electrifying marvel heralds a new era, whispering secrets of the rest of the forthcoming 992.2 generation of cars, including the highly anticipated Turbo S.

Toyota is hard at work reviving iconic nameplates, and luckily for enthusiasts, this also extends to the brand’s sports cars. We have been hearing about Toyota MR-2’s return since 2019, but until a few months ago, we didn’t have any concise information. Reports from Japanese outlets were gradually revealing details about Toyota’s soon-to-be-revived, mid-engine sports car. In stark contrast to what we initially believed, the new MR-2 will not be a budget-friendly model, co-developed with Daihatsu and Suzuki. This turned out to be Toyota’s S-FR, which will also be sold as the new Suzuki Cappuccino and Daihatsu Copen and would compete with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata. This puts the MR-2 in a whole other league, and judging by the performance figures revealed, it would also likely be able to keep pace with most variants of the Porsche 718. Maybe even outperform it?

Auto Union, which eventually became Audi was formed in 1932 by the conglomeration of four companies - Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. This is how the logo of 4 intertwined rings came to be, each representing a founding member company. Auto Union wanted to build race cars, to quickly establish its credentials as a reputable brand. As luck would have it one of the directors of the company had previously worked with Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, who had helped him develop a prototype racing car known as the P-Wagen (the P stood for Porsche).

Porsche sports cars have always punched above their weight, and most people who have driven one will testify that nothing handles and launches from a standstill quite like a 911 does. The 992-generation Porsche 911 finally gets a refresh. Despite the first production hybrid 911 being introduced for the 2025 model year, the 992.2 facelift will not be bringing radical changes to Porsche’s rear-engine sports car. It will be business as usual, meaning more power for each of the 911 versions, along with a few special-edition models.

Believe it or not, the all-electric Taycan Turbo GT holds the prodigious title of the "most powerful road-going Porsche ever". This 4-door road missile combines a 1019 horsepower powertrain with sharp handling, giving it an edge over its EV competition. When optioned with the Weissach package, the Taycan Turbo GT can hit 0-60 MPH in 2.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 190 MPH. All that power from the Taycan’s dual motors is channeled through a 2-speed direct-drive transmission to all four wheels. The GT4 RS is a track fiend with the same engine that powers the 911 GT3, albeit detuned a little to make 493 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of Torque. Interestingly the same engine produces 502 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of Torque in the 911 GT3. This flat-six engine sits in the middle of the car and directs all its power through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the rear wheels.

In a recent interview with YouTuber Jack from Savagegeese, the lead product manager for the Porsche 992.2 911 Carrera GTS and base models - Clen, took the opportunity to discuss the car’s T-Hybrid system. Diving into the technical aspects, Clen identified the T-hybrid turbo setup as the most complex feature of the car. Their goal with this system was to create something that captured the essence of hybrid performance without the traditional weight burden of a typical hybrid. Achieving consistent performance was obviously paramount, and Porsche collaborated closely with their Motorsports division, drawing inspiration from successful cars like the 919 Le Mans racer. This collaborative effort yielded a new breed of hybrid if you will, one that balances performance with efficiency,

We can all agree that amidst all variants of the Porsche 911, there are those that truly stand out. One person who is largely responsible for shaping Porsche’s identity as a builder of epic sports cars is Hans Mezger. The German engineer started working for Porsche as soon as he graduated from the Stuttgart Technical University and would stay there until his retirement in 1994. Now, that’s what I call a dream resume. Porsche has since moved away from the Mezger design, making all cars featuring these powerplants desirable collectibles. We are taking a look at what many Porsche fans consider to be peak 911. The last Porsche 911 to feature the iconic Mezger engine - the 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0.

Unleashed and unfiltered, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is a swan-song for the revered gas-only mid-engined sports car. A renegade freed from corporate shackles, it embodies the Cayman’s ultimate evolution. With the GT3’s glorious naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six pumping out a healthy 493 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, it’s a symphony of pure, unadulterated power.

For five generations, the Prelude was one of Honda’s most technologically advanced models, known for its agile handling and performance features from the 1970s through to the ’90s. Now, after more than two decades, the iconic nameplate is making a comeback, in a brand new avatar with a new hybrid heart. However, the web is abuzz owing to some of the design choices that Honda has made with its upcoming sports car. The front end appears to have borrowed cues from the new Toyota Prius and Crown. Looking at the rear, things once again look oddly familiar. The tail-end of the sixth-gen Prelude features a narrow light bar and strategically placed model and brand name, that appears to come straight from Porsche’s design studio. But why did Honda make these design choices when they had the opportunity to start from a clean slate?

Yes, car obesity is a thing and it seems to be getting worse with each year. With more and more performance cars featuring various degrees of electrification, they become more complex and heavier. The latest offender is the 2024 BMW M5, which tips the scales at an SUV-like 5,390 pounds (2,445 kg). To add insult to injury, the new M5 is slower to 60 mph than the outgoing one, although it picks up the pace after. It seems Porsche is the only carmaker that properly electrified its iconic sports car - the 911 – without compromising its character, but another model of the brand might not be so lucky.

We can all agree that the 996 was the most controversial Porsche 911 generation. Yet, the 996 ushered Porsche into the modern age by being the first water-cooled Porsche 911 and the first (and last) to do away with the iconic, round headlamps. Like all 911 generations, the Porsche 996 had its fair share of hardcore variants. The most track-focused, naturally-aspirated Porsche 996 was the 911 GT3 RS, which was as close to a racing car as it could be. Sadly, the 996 GT3 RS was never offered in the US, and there is a good reason why.

The Porsche 935 is a track-only racecar unveiled to commemorate the brand’s 70th anniversary at the Rennsport Reunion VI in 2018. It is based on the 911 GT2 RS and is finished in matte carbon over black to give it a raw carbon fiber appearance. It is a modern homage to the legendary 935 K endurance race car and is one of only 77 units made. When it came out, Porsche offered its customers a choice of eight exterior wraps with a selection of classic racing liveries. Now the cost of these cars varied depending on the livery and other options chosen, however, they did go upwards of a million dollars if you wanted to own one new. The 935, and the racecar to which it pays homage, has a famed aerodynamic body that earned it the nickname ’Moby Dick’, thanks to its sweeping ’Whale Tail’ rear end.