'98 Porsche Boxter Convertible on 2040-cars

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Proof the Porsche 911 GT3 may get a manual transmission again

Porsche left fans of the manual shifter out in the cold when it launched the previous 911 GT3 solely with the PDK dual-clutch transmission. Porsche continued the trend with the GT3 RS. Now, it looks like past rumors were true, and Porsche may be looking to make amends with its neglected fans. Our spy photographers caught what appears to be the updated GT3 in the wild. The exterior is exposed and shows the typical track-oriented 911 fare: low chin spoiler, large rear wing, wide rear wheels and tires. Inside, it seems engineers have taken great care to hide the shifter. Somewhere under that big cone of foam lies the gear selector. Our spy photographers also note that the steering wheel lacks any sort of shift paddles and the gauge cluster doesn't have a shift indicator. If we could see how many pedals this 911 was packing, we could pretty much close the book on what transmission this car has, but we can't see them from the photos. This still seems like promising evidence that future GT3 owners will have the option to shift for themselves. Also, if our spy photographers are right, those owners will also be enjoying the same 500-horsepower flat-six of the 911 R and current GT3 RS. Related Video:

2015 Porsche Macan Turbo

The misinformation first started back in May of 2007 - more than six years ago - when word came that Porsche was developing a compact utility vehicle to fill out its product line. Rumors swirled that the German automaker's future "Roxster" would be based on the then-upcoming Audi Q5. By September of 2010, the name had changed to "Cajun," but the vehicle was still expected to be "based heavily on the Audi Q5," said reports in the months that followed. One year later, the first test mules were spotted, the mechanics hidden beneath barely disguised Audi sheetmetal, which did nothing to give the upcoming model its own identity. And even after Porsche announced "Macan" as the vehicle's production name in early 2012, articles stated that it would "arrive on the same chassis as the Audi Q5, though with suspension, brake and engine tweaks suitable to the Porsche range."
It's no wonder that most still consider the all-new Porsche Macan nothing more than a heavily massaged Q5.
To help lift some of the mystery surrounding its latest release, Porsche hosted us in Germany for an in-depth look at its new crossover (while Europeans call it a "sport utility," its car platform allows us to call it a proper CUV). The technology workshop offered us insight to the design and mechanical execution, and it concluded with a short test ride. The trip was both enlightening and educational - and it left us with a whole new perspective on the Macan.

Petrolicious explores long-term living with Porsche's 914/6

After its last video starred none other than the spectacular Ferrari 250 GTO, where was there for the video team at Petrolicious to go? Certainly, in the realm of classics, there are only a few other vehicles that can match the badge and pedigree of the ultra-rare Ferrari. Maybe a Jaguar D-Type or an Aston Martin DBR1? No, this latest video doesn't star either of those British icons. It stars an oft-misunderstood, occasionally derided entry from Germany's most sporting manufacturer - Porsche.
Yes, we've gone from a Ferrari 250 GTO to a Porsche 914/6. As is often the case with Petrolicious, though, the story told about the car by its owner are often more important than the make or model of car being highlighted. That's exactly the case here, as Jack Griffin talks about the 38 years he's spent with this particular Porsche.
Having been born into the Volkswagen fold and introduced to Porsche in the best way possible - behind the wheel of a 356 - Griffin has some interesting stories (including his attempt at running the 12 Hours of Sebring), and he knows a fair bit about some of the 914's attributes.