The 992 GT3 represents something different to every person. For some, it may be a new lust worthy postercar, others it may be a potential opportunity to make a quick $20K by getting an early allocation and selling to someone who needs the best and newest thing now (we know this still happens). For others still, it simply is a signal for future Porsche developments to come.
The new 718 GTS 4.0 models have been given the proper Porsche treatment. Blessed with a naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine from the GT4 and Boxster Syper models, it is looking like the pick of the litter.
The new 2020 Corvette isn’t simply ugly, it represents an incredible missed opportunity. Let’s look beyond the rear-end that looks like a generic automobile chimera from your local carwash’s business card and dig into why Chevrolet missed the mark on their plan for the Corvette.
Modern Porsche knows that they can take a bog standard 911 then remove sound insulation, air-conditioning (which can be optioned back in), a few other creature comforts, stiff up the suspension and proceed to sell it for more than the normal car. They can do this because that only thickens the special sauce that makes a Carrera a driving joy. Less is more. There once was a time when Porsche didn’t know that they could charge more for cars with fewer features.
The release of the 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder proves that the only thing sacred at Porsche is keeping the soul in their sportscars. Drained and paved over is the performance moat that once separated the precious 911 from its mid-engined younger sibling. The range topping 718 now has things that even the Neunelfer doesn’t receive.
McLaren knows the sweet taste of success with recent dominance of the 720S in the supercar market. They have humbled their closest animal-badged competitors by building cars that dispatch road and tracks like they have cheat codes. With Ferrari’s prancing horse in the rear-view, McLaren must have felt confident that they could bring new life into a segment that has gotten a bit comfortable in age. Enter the new McLaren GT, poised to shake up the Grand Tourer segment.
Porsche loves parting with generations with limited edition specials. In this case, they are saying goodbye to the 991 911 with the new 911 Speedster. The Speedster traces its name back to the early 356s, but returned with a number of iterations that came at the end of the 3.2 Carreras, the 964, a very limited 993, and most recently the 997. Generally, the Speedsters have differentiated themselves with a low-cut windshield, lightweight components, and a manual convertible top that is less effective than Facebook at keeping you isolated from the outside world. With the end of the 991 generation, Porsche has turned to its Motorsport department to create a very special 911 will surely attract the attention of Porsche speculators.
Designing and manufacturing a supercar is one of the most challenging tasks. Why then does Audi spend its time and energy designing non-functional styling elements on its flagship R8 V10 Performance model?
Acura knows how to build a supercar, but It has a few things to learn when it comes to selling them. In the current state, the NSX is a car that gets every engineer’s fizzy root tingling, but that doesn’t exactly translate into sales. Taking a look at their past and their European competition may give some clues on how to turn their sales slump around.
An opinion piece detailing the most unloved 911. Offering a chance to understand the 996 generation.
The special edition supercar thing is getting entirely out of hand. As of this writing, there are 66 new GT2RS examples for sale on my preferred car searching website, cars.com. In contrast, only 57 Targas (4, 4S, and 4GTS) are currently for sale. The sellers appear to be more confused on how to price their cars than Christopher Columbus thinking he found India.
Much to the delight of financial lenders, the selection of new cars over $100,000 is larger than ever. You can buy a Mercedes GLC crossover that will push you over the 100 large figure. Is that a car that many people would describe as nice? Sure. But many people have also had bowel movements more life-changing than an overpriced crossover like that.
With some thought, it is still possible to get a car that you will never forget. Let’s dive into the list to see what’s on the menu.
Design and aerodynamics are closely linked. The cars that capture the ethos of “homologatedSHIFT” are cars use them together in a concert of purpose and beauty, unlike some of the unpleasant things on the new R8. Function creates form and racing intentions requires concentrated attention to function. For any vehicle, homologation requirements dictate a set of requirements, but Koenigsegg doesn’t let those requirements set the boundaries for their vehicles. While there are many reasons for utilitarian solutions to technical challenges, imagine a world where every car was designed like a Koenigsegg. More manufacturers would be trying to solve challenges with no visible hard boundaries on design or budget.
The Winners may not be who you expect.
The New York International Auto Show is one of the best automotive events in North America. Manufacturers big and small take great effort to capture the essence of their vehicles and put it on display for the world. The unique combination of practical hatchbacks, exotic supercars, prototypes guaranteed for failure, and all-natural shammy sales demonstrations capture the charming variety of the automotive world. There are few places where you could perform an interior quality test across every major new subcompact release in a single day while also adding to your collection of stolen Toyota Camry volume knobs. What fun!
