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MotorWeek proves '90s were awesome with Supra, Stealth, RX-7, Corvette, 968, 300ZX comparo

Oh, the heady days of 1993, back when the Clinton Presidency was just getting underway, and it seemed like every hot new rock band was coming out of Seattle. Sports cars in the US had finally shaken off the shackles that slowed them during the '70s and '80s, and you could buy any number of legitimately quick vehicles again. MotorWeek recently went digging into its archives to find this six-model test from 1993 showing off some of the best semi-affordable performance coupes that money could buy at the time, and it's priceless.
Featuring the 1994 model year Toyota Supra in twin-turbo guise and MY 1993 versions of the Porsche 968, Nissan 300ZX TT, Mazda RX-7, Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette LT-1, MotorWeek definitely covered all of the bases. One thing that might surprise younger readers is these cars' performance. The video only provides 0-60 acceleration times, but several of these vehicles would still be considered pretty potent today - over 20 years since going on sale. The Supra is especially impressive, hitting 60 miles per hour in just 5 seconds. Even today, that's nothing to sneeze at.
Given their performance potential and still-attractive looks, it's amazing that some of these coupes are old enough to drink now. The progress of interior design and safety equipment in the intervening years is pretty shocking, though. In most of these models, having two airbags is touted as a big deal. Scroll down to watch a Throwback Thursday blast from the past about some of the '90s best sports cars.

Porsche 911 GT3 wows the crowds in Geneva

Porsche has a long and storied history of taking its range-topping 911 sportscar racing, with an enviable record of achievements in tow. The latest machine with which the automaker will take to the track can be seen above: the fifth-generation 2014 911 GT3.
With 475 horsepower strumming through the 3.8-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, this is the pinnacle of naturally aspirated performance from Porsche. It can go from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds, hit a top speed of 195 miles per hour and has lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in less than seven and a half minutes.
A dual-clutch PDK transmission (no standard manual gearbox will be offered) with shorter gearing than lesser 911 models sends power to the rear wheels. Providing forward motion isn't the only thing those rear wheels will be doing - Porsche says the 2014 911 GT3 is fitted with the manufacturer's first active rear-wheel steering.

Porsche says it found 'irregular' software as Germany recalls diesel Cayenne

BERLIN - German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Thursday announced a recall of Porsche Cayenne models equipped with 3-liter diesel engines after finding potentially illegal emissions controlling software in the vehicles. Dobrindt told reporters he was withdrawing certification for the vehicles, which will need to undergo a software update to regain legal status. Sports car maker Porsche AG is owned by Volkswagen, which in 2015 admitted to systematic manipulation of engine management software to cheat emissions tests. Porsche on Thursday said it had discovered "irregular" engine management software during an internal probe into emissions. Porsche also said it had agreed to recall the vehicles to fix the problem. "The producer will of course bear 100 percent of the costs," Dobrindt said. "There is no explanation why this software was in this vehicle." The minister said: "We have examined Porsche Cayenne vehicles of the 3 liter TDI Euro 6 Mark - during tests these vehicles deploy a so-called defense strategy, which isn't activated in real traffic." "In our view that is a kind of test recognition, which we regard as an impermissible deactivation strategy." "Even if there is a modern exhaust gas cleaning system in these vehicles, if this software is nonetheless there it is illegal, does not meet the legal requirements and needs to be removed," Dobrindt said. He also said that Porsche would quickly be in a position to bring the software into conformity with the law. Dobrindt also said there were some 7,500 vehicles of this type certified in Germany and some 22,000 certified in Europe. "We don't know how many are with dealers. These are the cars that fall under the certification ban." The Porsche Cayenne model shares components with a sister model, the Volkswagen Touareg. Asked about Volkswagen's Touareg model, Dobrindt said: "On the technical question, it is assumed that this vehicle has a similar parameter set but identical construction does not mean that the same software was used in it but it is assumed that the same software was used." He said the Transport Ministry was, however, checking that and a hearing with Volkswagen would show whether that was the case or not, adding: "The probability is high." Volkswagen CFO Frank Witter had no immediate comment about the Porsche recall on a VW earnings call also held on Thursday.