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Porsche confirms four-cylinder Boxster, Cayman replacement for US

Those who've been anxiously awaiting the return of the four-cylinder Porsche will be glad to know that the wait is almost over. What's more, the quad-pot Porsches won't be kept away from US showrooms but will form an integral part of the company's North American strategy. Confirmation comes courtesy of Automotive News, which spoke to the company's chief executive Matthias Muller about its return to four-cylinder power. "First of all, we will have it in the Boxster and Cayman successor," Muller told AN. "And then we will see how it works and how successful it is and how the customers will react on that, and then we will take the next decisions." The model to which Muller refers is expected to be the 718 – a new line taking the place of the Boxster and Cayman, ostensibly allowing Zuffenhausen to start from scratch rather than "downsizing" the engine on existing models. The new range is anticipated to launch sometime in the middle of next year. Porsche is currently offering a 2.0-liter inline-four with 234 horsepower in the Macan (which we get with V6s) for certain markets overseas, but the 718 is expected to get a new flat-four 2.0- and 2.5-liter displacements with output edging up to 395 horsepower. The last time Porsche offered a four-pot in the US was with the front-engined 968 that wrapped up production two decades ago, but it hasn't offered a boxer four since 1976.

A beastly 1979 Porsche 930 is unleashed by Petrolicious

The 911 Turbo held a special place in Porsche's lineup for decades. Much of the mystique came from its performance potential, but that huge capability also required a deft hand and foot to keep things in check. These days even the most basic 911 packs turbos, but Grant Karnes and his 1979 Porsche 930 demonstrate why the early models remain classics in the latest video from Petrolicious. Karnes says he gets attention from everyone he passes in his 930, and it's easy to understand why. Even before the coupe comes into view, the upgraded, turbocharged engine pops and crackles with a wonderfully raw sound. People then see the Porsche's classic combination of wide fenders and a big rear spoiler. Karnes also adds a vintage racing vibe with Martini decals on the hood and doors, and his license plate tells folks exactly what kind of machine this is. Plus, if you happen to spot this car at night, the exhaust can shoot bursts of flames. Porsches are a fairly common subject in Petrolicious' videos, and they run the gamut from well-worn classics to heavily modded canyon carvers. Karnes' 930 leans more in the latter direction but still maintains a vintage look. He promises the coupe is always exciting to drive, and this clip does a fantastic job of showing why. Related Video:

Charles Morgan drives a wicked air-cooled Porsche 911 GT2

Porsche has made a fantastic array of driver's cars over the years, but few can still drum up the kind of excitement as the first 911 GT2. It launched in 1993, based (appropriately enough) on the 993-generation model to serve as a homologation special, and remains a cult classic over two decades later. So to review one, the blokes at Carfection brought in Charles Morgan, former managing director of his family's sportscar manufacturer. The 993-gen GT2 was the first of its breed, packing a 3.6-liter twin-turbo flat-six cooled by air and good for 430 horsepower, all driven to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. It had a full roll cage, plastic fenders riveted over the wider track, and... little else. It was raw, engaging, and extremely rare. Only 57 road-going examples were made, and these days they're trading hands for stupid money that only investors could afford – but could not afford to drive lest it crash into a write-off. Little wonder that Harry Metcalfe opted for a non-original example that had been brought up to GT2 spec in the aftermarket, and that's what Mr. Morgan is driving here as well. That may make it less authentic, but it still looks like a blast to drive along twisting country roads. See for yourself in the eight-minute clip above, brought to you by the same chaps who used to make the Xcar videos. Related Video: