Porsche 911 Speedster Looks Production Ready On Nurburgring

We knew Porsche would put it into production.

Earlier this month, Porsche showed off the 911 Speedster Concept: a topless version of the beloved GT3. Though it was only a concept, a new Speedster has been rumored for quite some time, and Porsche revealed a lot about the car's performance. The Speedster has been spotted testing at various points in the development cycle, and now the car has been seen lapping the Nurburgring looking pretty darn close to production specification. So what can we expect from the swan song of the 991.2 generation?

For starters, this is the first time that we've seen what will likely be the production roof without any camouflage. The concept version didn't show any images of the roof, and earlier test mules sported a more conventional convertible top. This roof looks like the real deal, and reminds us a lot of the roof on the Boxster Spyder. Like the Boxster Spyder, the 911 Speedster's roof will probably be manually operated to save weight. This test mule also shows off a large rear spoiler, which appears to be power adjustable. The spoiler will likely rest flat on the deck lid when not in use, then deploy when the car reaches a certain speed or the driver pushes a button.

We expect to see a full reveal of the Speedster next month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. For now, these spy shots give us a pretty good idea of what the the car will look like, and we already know that it will be powered by a 4.0-liter 500 horsepower flat-six from the GT3.

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11 Convertibles For Every Budget To Get You Ready For Summer

A selection of open-topped sports cars for every occasion.

It is just about time to start enjoying some warm weather again and a convertible is just the thing to make the most of the sunshine. We have picked 11 of our favorite models on the market today, from affordable little roadsters to some of the fastest and most powerful convertibles on the planet. Some offer comfort and luxury for four while others are capable of blow-drying your hair at 200 mph. The choice is yours.

Mazda Miata

The Miata is a roadster that eschews any superfluous distractions that detracts from the joy of driving. Rear-wheel-drive, a revvy naturally aspirated engine and a featherweight body shell combine to make this $25,295 roadster the perfect weekend companion. You can also have an RF hardtop convertible for $31,910, but whichever you take please stick to the manual transmission versions.

Fiat 124 Spider

The 124 Spider is heavily based on the Miata but it comes with its own 160-hp turbocharged motor and styling that emulates drop-top Fiats of the past. Prices are similar to the Miata too and if you are more into boulevard cruising than apex chasing then a well-equipped automatic 124 could be the ideal fit.

Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro is all about aggressive performance and big horsepower. You can scare yourself silly in the 650-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8 if you like but even the 335-hp 3.6-liter V6 is plenty of fun and you won’t want or need more performance on the streets. At $34,395 it is conspicuously good value and worth the extra $1,500 over the base 2.0-liter turbo engine.

Ford Mustang

The Mustang is about as American as motoring gets. In convertible form the experience is even more enjoyable and as with the Corvette, there is a lot of performance to be had for the money. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost motor is not short on power although you will miss the V8 soundtrack with the top down and that is why the $44,690, 460-hp 5.0-liter Mustang GT Premium Convertible is our choice. Perfect for cruising the beaches and blasting up a mountain pass.

BMW 4-Series Convertible

It may not be able to compete on pricing with the Camaro and Mustang but once you get behind the wheel and explore the luxurious interior you will see where the extra money has been spent. The 4-Series is also one of the few hardtop convertibles around and the rear seats are more useable than in the Mustang too. While the 320-hp 6-cylinder 440i is the pick of the bunch, even the base 248-hp 430i has plenty of power on offer if not much aural excitement to go with it. It is however a tad more affordable at $51,650 before options.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

The recently released E-Class convertible is a beautiful grand tourer that sits in the middle of Mercedes’ convertible offerings in both price and performance. The E 400 comes with a twin-turbo 329-hp 3.0-liter V6 which is good for a 5.5 second 0-60 mph time. The pricing starts at $66,300 but that can easily rise if you add some desirable extras like adaptive air suspension and a Burmester audio system.

Jaguar F-Type Convertible

British sports cars have long been full of charm and character and with the F-Type they also deliver on the performance front. The 296-hp 2.0-liter turbo motor is strong, if not a tad characterless, but there are plenty more to choose from. For example, a V6 that delivers up to 400-hp depending on the trim and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that makes 575-hp in the top SVR. $63,000 is your starting point for the four-potter but don’t expect much change back from $100,000 if you go for a V6 model with some nice extras.

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

The 911 range has been the benchmark sports car for decades, its combination of everyday usability and stonking performance has never been better in the latest iteration. Even the base Carrera Convertible is a formidable offering, in PDK trim it blasts to 60 mph in 4.2-seconds yet still returns an average 25 mpg. All this ability does come at a price though, $94,310 to be precise. Budget another ￡10,000 for some options as it gets pricey pretty quickly.

Ferrari 488 Spider

661-hp from a 3.9-liter V8 is impressive, so is a 210 mph+ top speed and let’s not forget a price-tag that starts at $255,000 before options. Yes, the Ferrari 488 Spider is all about big numbers but it is also docile enough to trundle around at more sedate speeds when called upon.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

When it comes to the old bang-for-your-buck equation, the Corvette has the competition beat before even turning a wheel. The Z06 comes packed with a 650-hp supercharged V8 which launches it to 60 mph in under 3-seconds. All this for $85,585 in convertible form, it also comes packed with kit and sounds as ferocious as you would expect. Can it get any better? Why yes it can…

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Convertible

The ZR1 is what happens when you take a Z06 and feed it pure adrenaline. It pushes the power levels up to 755 hp and has numerous aero and chassis upgrades to help it stay stable at its 212 mph top speed. The price is a somewhat heftier $123,995 but still well below anything else that could potentially stick with it on the road or track.

Gone are the days when owning a convertible meant you had to accept a noisy and leaky cabin as part of the package. From the $25,000 Miata to the $250,000 488 Spider, the modern convertible is as practical as its hardtop counterpart (if it has one) and at the press of a button you get to enjoy open-topped motoring.

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Get Your Checkbooks Ready For The New Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

Camouflaged only by snowflakes.

What you’re looking at is a practically undisguised Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 caught winter testing by our spy photographers just ahead of its expected unveiling next month at Geneva. Porsche clearly made little to no effort to disguise the final production car, hence our reasoning that it’s debut is imminent. But let’s talk specs, shall we. As previously reported, the new 718 Cayman GT4 is expected to be powered by the same 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six found in the 911 GT3.

It will be slightly detuned so it doesn’t infringe upon the GT3’s territory. Figure an output of around 450 hp instead of 500 hp. All of that power will be directed straight to the rear wheels through either a manual or PDK gearbox. And because of the lack of camouflage, we can get a good look at the side air intakes. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Porsche opted to lightly disguise the rear diffuser, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the real deal and a few other small details. Also notice that the exhaust pipes have moved out a few inches on each side. The 718 Cayman GT4 will essentially be the coupe version of the also upcoming 718 Boxster Spyder. However, we can’t confirm whether or not it’ll also be making a Geneva appearance.

It’s possible, but Porsche may prefer to unveil it at New York later that month. In any case, unlike the rest of the 718 Cayman lineup, the GT4 is unique in that it’ll be naturally aspirated. Question is whether this trend will continue in a few years’ time when a completely redesigned generation arrives. For now, the new 718 Cayman GT4 will be reason enough to celebrate and we’ll be on hand at Geneva next month to bring you all of the details and plenty of live photos.

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New Porsche 911 GT3 R Racer Ready To Tear Up The Track

Thought the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was hardcore? Meet its new racecar sibling.

Porsche recently lifted the wraps off the new 911 GT3 RS, packing the most powerful naturally aspirated engine of any 911. It’s the most track-capable 911 road car yet, having lapped the Nurburgring faster than the 918 Spyder. But now there’s an even more hardcore version: meet the new track-only Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche’s new customer racer for the 2019 GT3 series. Based on the road-going 911 GT3 RS production car, the thoroughbred racer uses a mostly identical 4.0-liter flat-six engine paired with a sequential six-speed gearbox.

In the 911 GT3 R, the unit has been tuned to deliver 550 horsepower and also has a wider rev range than its predecessor. Compared to the previous 911 GT3 R, the racecar's aerodynamics have been optimized with new front wheel arch vents and a massive rear wing providing significantly more downforce than the street car. Other modifications include an increased tire circumference at the front wheels from 25.5 to 26.7 inches, while Porsche’s new double wishbone suspension ensures superior braking performance and consistency over the duration of a race. Engineers have also increased the stiffness of the braking system and enabled more precise control of the ABS.

At the front axle are six-piston monobloc racing callipers made from aluminium combined with ventilated and grooved 390-mm discs. At the back, Porsche has installed four-piston calipers with 14.5-mm discs. Porsche has also improved the safety features of the 911 GT3 R by fitting a new bucket seat bolted at six points to to provide better protection for the driver in the event of an accident. Combined with an adjustable pedal box, Porsche says the driver’s center of gravity has been improved to increase safety in the event of an impact. The driver is also further protected by a side impact element added to the driver’s door made of carbon fiber Kevlar aluminum with energy-absorbing plastic.

To make it easier to fill up the 120-liter fuel tank and reduce the time spent in the pits, the 2019 911 GT3 R can be refilled from the left or right, depending on the track’s configuration. All windows are made from polycarbonate while a carbon-fiber composite material was used for the front hood, roof, doors, wheel arches, rear lid, and the interior trim to make the new racer as light as possible. Inside, the cabin has been redesigned and “all controls have been perfectly aligned to suit the needs of the driver.” There’s also now an air conditioning system for the first time in the 911 GT3 R linked directly to the driver’s helmet and seat.

Porsche is currently accepting orders for the 2019 911 GT3 R for €459,000 (around $548,000), plus country-specific value added tax. Customer deliveries will start in December.

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