2017 Porsche Boxster on 2040-cars

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Ferrari 458 Speciale vs Porsche 911 GT3 shows what Chris Harris does best

After a brief trip behind a pay wall, British auto journalist Chris Harris is back posting videos for free online, and shorts like this one are the perfect example of why his return is so welcome. Showing up at the damp Anglesey Circuit on the Welsh coast with the Ferrari 458 Speciale and Porsche 911 GT3, Harris ostensibly aims to find the better model. However, the final result really succeeds in showcasing the fun to be had behind the wheels of both supercars, particularly when initiating huge slides around the track. As Harris presents it, the vehicles get through the circuit in somewhat different ways The Ferrari is brash and "feels alive," as he puts it as it screams around the track. Alternatively, the Porsche is a bit more restrained, while still being able to show some emotion. In the end, it comes down to trying to get a controlled lap around Anglesey from this duo, but it's pretty clear that the times don't tell the whole story. If you're in the mood to watch two of the world's premiere supercars wag their tails in the wet, then this video cannot be missed.

Porsche turns up boost on 911 range with new Turbo and Turbo S

You didn't honestly think Porsche would stop with just a turbocharged Carrera and Carrera S, did you? No, that'd be silly. Of course Stuttgart had to follow up those two smash hits with a new Turbo and Turbo S. Naturally, both cars build on the 370-horsepower Carrera and 420-horsepower C2S. The base Turbo offers 540 horsepower and starts at $160,195, while the Turbo S packs 580 horsepower and demands an extra $28,900. Adding a folding fabric top to either model will drive the cost of entry up by $12,300, regardless of output. For those keeping track at home, that's a 20-horsepower bump for both vehicles over the previous models, while the Turbo's price jumps by $8,100 and the Turbo S will cost an extra $5,400. In terms of actual performance, the Turbo hits 60 in just 2.9 seconds and will carry on to 198 miles per hour, a one-tenth and three-mph improvement over the current car. Going for the Turbo S will only shave a tenth of second off the 60-mph sprint, although you'll pick up an extra seven mph on the top end. That compares favorably to the current car, which takes 2.9 seconds to get to the magic six-oh and stops accelerating at just 197. The stopwatch improvements are only part of the story. Porsche claims the new dynamic boost function will maintain turbo pressure during sudden throttle load changes, like you might experience when pushing the 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six hard. That means snappier throttle response. As with the current 911 Turbo and Turbo S, Porsche's excellent dual-clutch transmission is the only way to fly. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Both cars also get Porsche's Sport Chrono Package and Porsche Active Suspension Management as standard, while upgrading to the Turbo S will add Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control and carbon-ceramic brakes. While there's lots of free hardware, we're betting Porsche's options catalog will remain just as robust. As for the design, you can expect the same look shown on the new, turbocharged 911 Carrera, albeit with some Turbo and Turbo S exclusives. 20-inch wheels are standard, with super-wide rubber in the back – Porsche doesn't list tire specs, but the rear hoops are 11.5-inches wide. Both the 911 Turbo and Turbo S will get their big debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Naturally, we'll have much more then, including live photos from the show. In the meantime, read on for the official press release from Porsche.

Porsche 918 Spyder roars electric through London

The Porsche 918 Spyder can be an object of lust for anyone who appreciates the finer things in the automotive world, but for us greenies with penchant for speed, the car is an icon. This gorgeous, all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid offers 887 horsepower and 940 pound-feet of torque, can do 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds and is capable of 214 miles per hour. It lapped the Nurburgring in a record 6:57. Still, it is capable of near-silent, relaxed cruising through one of Europe's busiest cities. In a new video from Porsche, chief driving instructor Gordon Robertson takes the 918 to London and does just that. While driving in E-Power mode, he describes some of the things that make the car special, as well as how the technology has developed through the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and the 919 LMP1 car to eventually be passed onto the Panamera S E-Hybrid. If you're interested, you can learn more about the car in our own drive review, here. It's great to see, for the first time, the 918 Spyder driving alongside London's black cabs and double-decker buses. The rubbernecking from pedestrians is noticeable and completely understandable. I'm sure we'd all love to see this car come silently sneaking down our own city streets, but until Porsche makes that happen, you'll just have to enjoy the video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.