Porsche 911 GT3 S/C Is a Breakup Note to Purists

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By: Alex Oagana

Not too long ago, a Porsche 911 with a GT3 badge would be synonymous with a track scalpel. While it was formally introduced in 1999, on the 996 generation of the 911 as an homologation special, the GT3 nameplate has roots that go as far as the 1970s, with the Carrera RS.

Over the past 27 years, Porsche’s GT department has developed no less than 17 versions of the model, in either GT3, GT3 RS or GT3 Touring iterations. Believe it or not, each and every single one of these versions has had the same attributes, no matter the generation.

Unlike other Porsche models, every GT3-badged 911 was created not by a marketing department, but by racing engineers somewhere between Weissach’s wind tunnel and the apex of a Nurburgring corner. Each one has been exclusively all about low weight and quick lap times on the world’s most technical circuits, not lifestyle slogans or nostalgic design (with a few exceptions).

Fast forward to April 2026, and Porsche’s GT department announced what everyone was expecting to be the GT3 nameplate’s last battle cry before Euro 7 regulations lay that 9,000 rpm naturally aspirated flat-six to rest. Meet the 911 GT3 S/C, which is the… convertible version of the 992.2 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, I guess.

On paper, most of the technical details sound like the GT3’s greatest hits album played at full chat. Under the tiny hood on that wide rear end sits the same 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six that sounds like the cry of a Valkyrie, paired exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission with short gearing. Every measurable component has been lightened, using either carbon fiber or magnesium, and it even comes with standard ceramic brakes and magnesium wheels, like a built-in “Weissach package.”

Any GT3-lover should jump in those skinny and extremely body-hugging carbon-fiber seats and feel right at home. Until he or she notices the sky, that is. For the first time ever, Porsche has taken what is arguably its most purist, motorsport-oriented nameplate for the 911, and made it a regular convertible. Not, its fixed roof didn’t go the way of the dodo like on the previous, limited-edition Speedsters, where it was replaced by what could only be described as a stubborn car umbrella. The 911 GT3 S/C is the exact type of convertible as 911 Cabriolet, which can open or close its roof at the press of a button.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Cristian Agatie

Americans haven't been fans of electric vehicles, with EV adoption trailing Europe and especially China. The Biden administration aimed to change that with the Inflation Reduction Act, which prioritized local EV and battery production. However, the current administration strongly opposes EVs, batteries, and renewables. 

Scrapping the EV tax credit in September 2025 was a major blow to EV adoption in the US, leading to a drop in EV sales across the board. Unsurprisingly, legacy carmakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis saw this as a sign for a return to "business as usual," that is, selling more combustion vehicles. This suited them better because they were never very good at producing EVs in the first place, and they all lost a lot of money on every EV they sold.

Among the Detroit Three, Ford appeared to have the most solid plans, not least because Jim Farley brought in a few ex-Tesla engineers to help the carmaker transition into the software-defined vehicle (SDV) era. Although the Lightning and Mustang Mach-E weren't selling well, the Blue Oval was busy working on a revolutionary EV platform similar to Tesla's Unboxed Vehicle. 

However, Jim Farley decided that a new strategy was in order, less than six months after Ford made the Universal EV platform the centerpiece of its strategy. Doug Field is no longer part of the organization, effective almost immediately. At the same time, the skunkworks team has been integrated into the new "Production Creation and Industrialization" team as the Advanced Development Projects team. 

Ford, like GM and Stellantis, appears to have already placed its bets, and certainly not on EVs becoming widespread in the coming years. While the world outside the US is moving toward software-defined vehicles powered by batteries and renewable energy, the US carmakers don't want to be a part of it.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Sergiu Tudose

It’s ok to be excited about the Corvette ZR1X. It offers hypercar-like performance for supercar-money, and we’ve seen it smoke everything from a Model S Plaid to the Demon 170. It will do the same to your Revuelto or SF90, rest assured. But a Nevera? Fat chance.

I’m not accusing those folks over at the Hamilton Collection of staging anything. They put together a cool video and it’s always a treat seeing such cars go against each other. That being said, everything about how the Nevera performed in that video was... off, and not just by a little.

They did say that it was quite windy out there, but that still shouldn’t explain the discrepancy – and even if it did, it only means that we can’t trust any of those results. I guess what bothered me was watching people get excited about the ZR1X keeping up with the Rimac knowing full well the conditions were less than ideal, to say the least.

Let’s get them both out to a prepped surface, and then we can get as excited as humanly possible about a Chevy that can hang with hypercars. How’s that for a plan?

I’d also like to point out that the Nevera features multiple modes, and there’s no way of knowing whether somebody messed up the configuration just before the launch. I believe that unless you put it in Track mode, you won’t be able to unleash the full 1,914 horsepower, and that could theoretically explain the result. But again, I’m not making any assumptions or accusations.

Let’s look at the numbers, starting with the flagship Corvette, which is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter LT7 V8 unit, working alongside an electric motor and a 1.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The electric motor is driving the front wheels, while the V8 is animating the rears. All in all, it’s putting down 1,250 horsepower and 973 lb-ft (1,320 Nm) of torque.

Here’s what we know. Officially, and only under perfect conditions, the ZR1X can hit 60 mph in 1.68 seconds, before covering a quarter mile in 8.67 seconds. You literally need to have a perfect launch in order to keep up with the Nevera, which is also an 8.6-second car over the quarter mile.

According to the dragy stats in the video, this Nevera needed a full 3 seconds to hit 60 mph, before devouring the quarter mile in 9.75 seconds. That is in no way representative of a car that features a quad-motor setup that combines for 1,914 hp and 1,741 lb-ft (2,360 Nm) of torque.

To make things even more confusing, the Nevera needed 7.19 seconds to hit 130 mph (209 kph), before covering the quarter mile in 9.75 seconds at 155 mph (250 kph). A full 2 seconds slower to 130 mph than the norm, and a full second slower over the quarter mile. This is why you need to do multiple runs, especially when the numbers show you how much performance you’re leaving on the table.

In all fairness, the Nevera did win the quarter mile drag race, but I wouldn’t put too much stock into how close the ZR1X came to stunning the Rimac, especially after the latter massacred the Corvette from a roll – that type of discrepancy should be expected from a dig, as well, when dealing with an unprepped surface. Yes, the ZR1X is amazing, but it’s still not Rimac-amazing.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Aurel Niculescu

Stellantis is really trying hard to make amends following a ton of errors caused by previous leadership, and they just revealed their first-quarter global sales performance report: 1.361 million worldwide shipments, up 12% year-over-year.

The company has been recovering after betting – and missing – the EV expectations in places like North America. Now they have a new CEO (Antonio Filosa) and a new American boss (Tim Kuniskis), and things are starting to look up for them. The massive multinational group announced the Old Continent as their largest region with 637k shipments, up 12% compared to Q1 of 2025.

The North American region was their second-largest, with 379k units (306k of them in the United States) and significant growth of 17%. It appears that all the latest moves have had a positive impact, as Stellantis has launched in rapid succession a lot of novelties. If you need examples, April alone brought us new stuff at Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram.

The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle debuted as the first and only 3/4-ton truck with pursuit‑capable performance, designed to meet the operational needs of law enforcement, fire, rescue, and emergency response agencies while still rocking the same towing and hauling capability expected of a Ram heavy-duty truck.

Jeep launched the retro-inspired 2026 Wrangler and Gladiator Rewind special editions, throwing a vibrant look back at the crazy era of the 1980s and 1990s – for better or worse. At least the package is pretty cheap – just $1,900 over a comparably equipped model. They also teased the new Grand Cherokee Trailhawk set to arrive later this year.

Early during the month, at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, Dodge and Chrysler also brought in front of the audience their novelties: the fresh 2026 Dodge Durango GT America250 special edition celebrating the country’s upcoming anniversary, as well as the 2027 Chrysler Pacifica, last year’s best-selling minivan in America.

Well, this time around, we’ve gathered here to discuss the latter – as well as its relationship with the ardent rivals. The Chrysler Pacifica minivan has been around since 2017 as the replacement of the iconic Chrysler Town & Country, serving as the sixth generation of Chrysler minivans. It’s almost a decade old now, but Stellantis aims to keep things interesting with a second facelift for the 2027 model year after the initial mid-cycle refresh procedure done for the 2021 model year.

It’s no wonder that Stellantis is giving the Pacifica a second nip and tuck, because even though it finished 2025 as America’s favorite MPV, the Chrysler model was dethroned by the Toyota Sienna, a hybrid-only minivan, during the first quarter of the year. The Japanese automaker had 24,652 deliveries while the Pacifica moved 21,804 units and the lower-specked Voyager another 3,612 units.

For the full article, please continue reading on our site.

By: Mircea Panait

The Raging Bull of Sant'Agata Bolognese has finally started testing its open-top version of the Huracan-replacing Temerario. Believed to drop before year's end for the 2027 model year, the V8-powered supercar has been spotted testing fully camouflaged at and near the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

Similar to the Huracan Spyder it replaces in the lineup, the Temerario Spyder utilizes an electro-hydraulic mechanism characterized by a dual-fin design. The rear window is flatter and shorter, and Lamborghini has also reworked the upper side vents, presumably to accommodate said open-top mechanism.

From the standpoint of performance, additional weight is certain to hinder the newcomer in a straight line and in the corners. Be that as it may, the Temerario Spyder will mirror the maximum output figures of the hard-topped sibling. At full chatter, the coupe generates a massive 907 horsepower and 538 pound-feet (730 Newton-meters) of twist from its plug-in hybrid FPC twin-turbocharged V8 setup.

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Aston Martin, which saw global sales drop 10 percent for the 2025 model year, isn't sitting idly either. The carparazzi have caught a rather interesting Vantage test vehicle at the Green Hell, a matte-black prototype with a grand total of eight outlets instead of the regular quad exhaust system.

To be called either Vantage RS or Vantage AMR, the most extreme iteration of the rear-drive sports tourer also looks more serious than preceding models in terms of aero. Beyond the massive rear wing, this example of the breed also dons a more prominent lip spoiler at the bottom of its front bumper.

Presumably equipped with lightweight carbon seats, the most hardcore Vantage from this generation is equipped with a twin-turbo V8 of German origin. Whether it retains the cross-plane AMG engine of the Vantage S or adopts the newly introduced flat-plane M177 Evo, we don't know for sure yet.

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Speaking of German engineering, Porsche is hard at work developing a GT4-spec 911. Presumably christened 911 GT4 Challenge, the mysterious factory-built racecar is designed to replace the highly successful Cayman GT4 Clubsport and GT4 RS Clubsport.

As implied by its name, this Neunelfer targets the one-make Challenge series and GT4 regional championships. A pure customer racing platform rather than a road-going production model, the Porsche 911 GT4 Challenge should be viewed as the GT3 Cup with GT4-regulated output and downforce levels.

There is also talk about the 3.0-liter twin-turbo H6 from the Carrera, though a naturally aspirated engine is preferred for endurance racing due to fewer components that can fail and simpler cooling requirements. Also worth noting, the Balance of Performance regulatory equalizer often neutralizes the inherently superior fuel efficiency of a turbocharged engine.

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Audi Sport has taken fuel efficiency in a different direction for the next generation of the RS 6. To be offered in both four- and five-door flavors, the heaviest Audi RS 6 yet is a plug-in hybrid that follows in the footsteps of the six-cylinder RS 5 sedan and wagon.

The most recently spied test car is a camo-clad sedan with the charging port on the left rear quarter panel. In stark contrast to the Audi RS 5 twins, the engine compartment is full of twin-turbo V8 muscle instead of the far more compact 2.9-liter TFSI twin-turbo V6.

Benefitting from aggressive front-end styling and two gaping oval-shaped exhaust finishers, the mid-size model should be good for more than 700 total system horsepower. Given the BMW M5's declared 717 horsepower, Audi Sport is certainly targeting the segment's most powerful sedan and station wagon.

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Luca Serafini is the pixel master who penned a very interesting take on the next-gen Miata, which is presumed to be referred to as NE by its maker. Loosely based on the outgoing ND, but gifted with pop-up headlights that will never happen on the real thing, Luca's roadster has also been imagined with flush-mounted headlights.

Aside from evolutionary design cues inspired by the latest CX-5 and Mazda's rear-biased sport utility vehicles, the MX-5 Miata NE is a lot more interesting under the skin. The Skyactiv-Z 2.5 is the primary candidate for the Japanese model, which is expected to hit dealer showrooms in either 2027 or 2028.

48-volt electrification is also considered the least intrusive option to assist with emissions while keeping the car as light as technically possible. Mazda officially targets a curb weight of under 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds), though it's not presently clear whether this target implies the rollout of a smaller engine option.

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Another design study that captured our attention this past week is the seventh-generation Chevrolet Camaro from Andrei Avarvarii. Heavily influenced by the previous generation and Bumblebee from the Transformers franchise, the 2028 model is allegedly based on the Alpha 2 platform of its forerunner.

An updated platform, that is, because General Motors could treat us to a naturally aspirated 6.7-liter small block similar to the LS6 that debuted in the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Grand Sport, and Grand Sport X. The primary upgrade from the outgoing LT2 and LT1 is the adoption of dual injection, though many other small changes help the LS6 stand out in the small-block crowd.

To be joined by a redesigned Cadillac CT5 and the first Buick sedan for the US market in a long time, the Camaro should enter series production in the latter part of 2027 as a 2028 model. As before, the Lansing Grand River assembly plant will be tasked with Camaro production.

By: Bogdan Popa

AI stands for artificial intelligence, but in Google Gemini's case, it's more artificial than intelligent. Gemini seemingly tells drivers that they're driving in the ocean when it's being asked about their current location. Before you ask, no, this has nothing to do with GPS, as Google Maps shows the location correctly. 

Meanwhile, CarPlay is betting big on AI chatbots. Perplexity has just launched a CarPlay app, and while voice interaction is locked behind a subscription, it's a great update for users who don't mind paying. No, wake-up phrases still aren't supported, so you'll have to launch the app manually from the home screen. 

Google has released a new Android Auto update this week. Version 16.7 is here, and considering Google's I/O developer conference is just around the corner, this update might be paving the way for big things, such as widgets, deeper vehicle integration, and new Gemini capabilities. 

Impressed with all these capabilities, but not being able to run Android Auto and CarPlay in your car because it's lacking the support? That's not a problem, as Pioneer launched Sphera, a 1-DIN receiver with a floating screen and Dolby Atmos support.

Congratulations for reaching the finish line!

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