Porsche Explains Every 911 Variant In Less Than Five Minutes

Does the 911 lineup confuse you? Well, let Porsche explain.

A little while ago, we decided to tackle one of the most difficult tasks that automotive enthusiasts can take on - explaining the Porsche 911 lineup. Porsche currently sells 24 variations of the 911, so keeping them all in order can be a bit tricky. Even Porsche itself admits there may be some people who simply don't know which 911 is which.

That's why the company has decided to post a clever explanation video, which details each of the 24 variations of the 911 in less than five minutes. If you've always been confused by the 911 lineup, this is the video for you.

The video is filmed like a story, detailing all of the 911 models from the base Carrera model up to the bonkers GT2 RS. All of the variants act as their own page in a book and we are introduced to a new 911 variant on each page, along with a short backstory.

The explanation begins with the base Carrera model, which was named after the famous Carrera Panamerican race in Mexico. It then goes into detail about the various 911 body styles and drivetrain options, including the convertible and all-wheel-drive models.

After delving through the more "pedestrian" 911 model, the video moves on to the hardcore, race-inspired GT models. The GT3 was designed for race and road use, while the more hardcore GT3 RS is more track-focused. Finally, the GT2 RS acts as the most powerful and fastest 911 model, pushing the 911 platform to its absolute limit.

We thoroughly enjoyed Porsche's explanation of the 911 lineup. It may not be as detailed as ours but it does give viewers a quick and straightforward explanation of an otherwise complicated model lineup.

View the original article here

Porsche Explains Every 911 Variant In Less Than Five Minutes

Does the 911 lineup confuse you? Well, let Porsche explain.

A little while ago, we decided to tackle one of the most difficult tasks that automotive enthusiasts can take on - explaining the Porsche 911 lineup. Porsche currently sells 24 variations of the 911, so keeping them all in order can be a bit tricky. Even Porsche itself admits there may be some people who simply don't know which 911 is which.

That's why the company has decided to post a clever explanation video, which details each of the 24 variations of the 911 in less than five minutes. If you've always been confused by the 911 lineup, this is the video for you.

The video is filmed like a story, detailing all of the 911 models from the base Carrera model up to the bonkers GT2 RS. All of the variants act as their own page in a book and we are introduced to a new 911 variant on each page, along with a short backstory.

The explanation begins with the base Carrera model, which was named after the famous Carrera Panamerican race in Mexico. It then goes into detail about the various 911 body styles and drivetrain options, including the convertible and all-wheel-drive models.

After delving through the more "pedestrian" 911 model, the video moves on to the hardcore, race-inspired GT models. The GT3 was designed for race and road use, while the more hardcore GT3 RS is more track-focused. Finally, the GT2 RS acts as the most powerful and fastest 911 model, pushing the 911 platform to its absolute limit.

We thoroughly enjoyed Porsche's explanation of the 911 lineup. It may not be as detailed as ours but it does give viewers a quick and straightforward explanation of an otherwise complicated model lineup.

View the original article here

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.

View the original article here

Say Goodbye To The Guy Behind Every Porsche 911 For The Past Two Decades

August Achleitner was “Mr. 911” at Porsche for eighteen years.

If it takes a village, as they say, to raise a child, it surely takes an entire company to build a car – sporty or otherwise. But at Porsche, that's come down to one man more than any other. And now he's retiring.

That man is August Achleitner, who has, for the past 18 years, been the one individual responsible for developing every new version of the 911. He's also handled the 718 Boxster/Cayman program since 2016. But with the development of the new 911 now complete, Achleitner is hanging up his driving gloves for good.

August Achleitner first joined Porsche in 1983, woking on chassis development as a as a mechanical engineer. He held a variety of roles until 2001 when he took over responsibility for the pivotal 911 line, ushering three generations of the iconic sports car into production and onto the market, and added responsibility for the 718 a couple of years ago.

Now that he's retiring, Achleitner will hand over responsibilities to Frank-Steffen Walliser, the head of Porsche Motorsport and the GT line that's given us such notable variants as the GT3 and GT2, and previously the father of the 918 Spyder.

That puts him in prime position to take over the 911 program. Walliser will assume Achleitner's mantle at the beginning of the new year, by which time we can expect Porsche to have named his successor as the head of Porsche Motorsport and head of GT development.

“We thank Gustl Achleitner for his extraordinary commitment to our company,” commented Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, to whom Achleitner reported directly, on the changing of the guard. “Over the course of 18 years, he shaped the Porsche 911 more than anyone else. He understood just how to continually refine the 911, while always retaining its character.”

View the original article here

Porsche Explains Every 911 Variant In Less Than Five Minutes

Does the 911 lineup confuse you? Well, let Porsche explain.

A little while ago, we decided to tackle one of the most difficult tasks that automotive enthusiasts can take on - explaining the Porsche 911 lineup. Porsche currently sells 24 variations of the 911, so keeping them all in order can be a bit tricky. Even Porsche itself admits there may be some people who simply don't know which 911 is which.

That's why the company has decided to post a clever explanation video, which details each of the 24 variations of the 911 in less than five minutes. If you've always been confused by the 911 lineup, this is the video for you.

The video is filmed like a story, detailing all of the 911 models from the base Carrera model up to the bonkers GT2 RS. All of the variants act as their own page in a book and we are introduced to a new 911 variant on each page, along with a short backstory.

The explanation begins with the base Carrera model, which was named after the famous Carrera Panamerican race in Mexico. It then goes into detail about the various 911 body styles and drivetrain options, including the convertible and all-wheel-drive models.

After delving through the more "pedestrian" 911 model, the video moves on to the hardcore, race-inspired GT models. The GT3 was designed for race and road use, while the more hardcore GT3 RS is more track-focused. Finally, the GT2 RS acts as the most powerful and fastest 911 model, pushing the 911 platform to its absolute limit.

We thoroughly enjoyed Porsche's explanation of the 911 lineup. It may not be as detailed as ours but it does give viewers a quick and straightforward explanation of an otherwise complicated model lineup.

View the original article here

Imagine If Every Automaker In the World Had Its Own Supercar

This UK company just showed us what that would look like.

Creating a supercar isn't exactly cheap, and there isn't a huge market for impractical six-figure two-seaters. That is why most automakers do not offer a supercar in their lineup. But what if they did? Besides the occasional concept car, rendering artists have become the best way to envision what a supercar would look like from just about any car company. A UK company called Jennings Motor Group, which specializes in car parts and accessories, just took a crack at rendering 10 everyday cars as supercars and the results are very interesting.

We thought we'd go through each of the 10 supercar renderings that Jennings did and offer our opinions on how good (or bad) it could be in real life. We wanted to start off with the Volkswagen, which could in theory build such a car. The VW group does own Lamborghini and Bugatti, and has even taken a small step into the supercar game with the W12 Concept. We'd love to see a mid-engined VW with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and the Arteon's stunning grill, but we doubt that the company would want to steal sales away from its other brands. The next car that caught our eye was the Mini supercar. Mini gave a two-seat car a chance with the Coupe, but it was an unsuccessful model.

The Renault supercar seems very nice, but ultimately looks a lot like the mid-engine Alpine. We appreciated the way the Kia supercar took the front design of the Stinger, and turned it into an even sportier look. The Fiat rendering looked intriguing with the headlights from a 124 Spider, but we doubt that the company could ever cannibalize Ferrari or Alfa Romeo sales. We spent a lot of time looking at the Honda supercar, because it looked almost exactly like the new NSX, only a littler better to our eyes. The Toyota looked cool, while the Smart looked a bit awkward and the Lada model made us giggle at the sheer thought of such a car.

The Tesla may be the most interesting car, because there is a lot of speculation on what the new Tesla Roadster will look like. We'd be really happy with this design and a killer electric motor.

View the original article here