2007 Porsche Boxster S Very Low Miles, Babied - Dallas on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Are you the next Porsche 911 GT3 RS or GT2?

Porsche typically keeps to a suitably fast schedule when it comes to rolling out increasingly hard-core performance versions of the 911. After the 997 Carrera debuted in 2004, the GT3 version followed in 2006, and by the end of the 2007, Porsche had rolled out both the GT3 RS and GT2 versions. Then the facelifted 997.5 came out in 2008 and it was back to the start: the GT3 came in 2009, the GT3 RS and GT2 RS in 2010, and the GT3 RS 4.0 in 2011. But things have slowed down some with the latest 991 generation.
The new Carrera came in 2011 and the GT3 followed in 2012. By recent history's example, we should have at least two more hardcore models by now, but we don't. Maybe the engineers in Zuffenhausen have had their hands full fixing the spontaneous-combustion issues with the existing GT3, or maybe their attentions have been focused elsewhere altogether. But if these spy shots are anything to go by, it seems like they're back on the job.
Now we don't know if this prototype foreshadows a new GT3 RS or a GT2, but it sure looks more hard-core than the existing GT3 that many purists have derided as too soft, what with its automatic transmission and four-wheel steering.

Malaise Era All-Stars

A few weeks ago, we bid a fond happy 40th anniversary to the automotive dark ages of 1973-84 that have come to be known as "The Malaise Era" - the performance ice-age when 160 horsepower was a lot and a 0-60 time of under 10 seconds was remarkable. Like music in the 1980s, everything in automobiledom didn't suck, however. There were a few bright spots. Here are five of our favorites:
1976-79 Porsche 930, aka 911 Turbo Carrera (above)
Photo Credit: Dorotheum

Porsche Mission E Concept puts Tesla Model S in its sights [w/video] [UPDATE]

UPDATE: The Mission E might not top the Tesla in driving distance after all. The Porsche's nearly 311-mile range is on the European testing cycle, but the original story compares it to Teslas on the US evaluation. According to Tesla, a Model S 85D is rated at the equivalent of 328 miles in Europe, and the P85D is at 305 miles. The new 90 kWh battery can add an additional six percent to those figures. Porsche might not be saying it directly, but anyone taking even a quick glance can see the Germans are taking aim at Tesla with the freshly unveiled Mission E concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. With over 590 horsepower, this electric sedan doesn't have quite as much electric grunt as a Model S, but the claimed 310.7 miles of range would outdo even the latest take on Elon Musk's four-door with a 90 kWh battery. For those keeping track, a Ludicrous Speed-equipped Tesla might still be the ultimate victor in a drag race because the E's sprint to 62 takes "under 3.5 seconds." To power the Mission E, Porsche's engineers use two permanent magnet synchronous motors, and they are similar to what's found on the company's 919 Hybrid LMP1 racecar. In a single unit, the devices can both accelerate and recover braking energy. All-wheel drive with torque vectoring and four-wheel steering help the electric sedan lap the Nordschleife in less than eight minutes, the company claims. Capable of hitting 124 mph in less than 12 seconds, the Mission E is undoubtedly quick, but its speed in charging is especially impressive too. The concept utilizes an 800-volt system that Porsche claims can charge the sedan to 80 percent in just 15 minutes, assuming you can find a source for that much energy. That would be enough to offer about 249 miles of range in less time than getting a cup of coffee at a busy Starbucks. The E could also use a traditional 400-volt charger or power up inductively. The Mission E's design looks like a futuristic Panamera as filtered through the style of the 918 and a next-gen Star Wars Stormtrooper helmet. In an especially cool touch, the charging port is hidden in a movable panel ahead of the driver's door on the front fender. Also, like like lots of four-door concepts in recent memory, the design sports suicide doors with no B-pillars. To keep weight to a minimum, the body mixes aluminum, steel, and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer. Also present are carbon-fiber wheels.