Porsche Needs Audi and Combustion Engines More Than Ever To Survive

Welcome to autoevolution weekly, thank you for being a subscriber! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, here’s a handy link if you’d like to subscribe yourself.

Also, if you like our content and want to see autoevolution more often in your Google results/newsfeed, please follow us or add us to your preferred sources.

Don’t forget to pay a visit to “Great on Any Friday”, a section where you can find a list of excellent products for you and your car. Things that we ourselves would buy again and recommend, not because there's a “deal”, but because they're always a great choice.

Now let’s get into this issue of the newsletter!

Hair dye works. That's not the debate. The debate is what it costs you: the box every few weeks, the smell, the roots that give it away, the hairline that starts looking painted instead of real. You fixed the gray and created new problems.

Particle Anti-Gray Serum works differently. It targets the root cause of graying — restoring pigment gradually, naturally, without dye. Hair and beard. Results that look like yours, not like a product. Five seconds a day. Thirty-day money-back guarantee if you don't see a difference.

Over a million men trust Particle. This is the product that earns that number. Get 20% off and free shipping now with the exclusive promo code BH20.

Start Reversing Gray Risk-Free

By: Alex Oagana

I don’t know about you, but to me, Porsche has always cultivated an image of engineering masterclass, all while always focusing on the driving experience no matter what type of cars they’ve been making.

From the 911’s rear-engine layout that has transcended from compromise to world-beater, while remaining unique among its rivals, to legendary hypercars like the 959, Carrera GT or the 918 Spyder, Porsche has always been about delivering the latest and greatest in technology and driving pleasure while also keeping its traditional features alive.

That said, sports cars and supercars might be exclusively synonymous with Porsche, especially with the “there is no substitute” and all, but Porsche hasn’t been exclusively synonymous with sports cars and supercars for over two decades. Ever since the first-generation Cayenne arrived, the Stuttgart carmaker has been on a rather successful mission of extensively expanding its lineup, and therefore its annual sales.

Despite getting the short end of the deal after attempting to buy the entire Volkswagen Group, Porsche managed to not only survive but downright thrive under the VW umbrella. Having access to architectures that it then used to develop more mainstream models to complement the Cayenne, the Stuttgart carmaker’s sales grew year after year.

To give you an idea of how much Porsche grew in the 21st century, its sales in the early 2000s had stabilized to around 50,000 units. Following the expansion of its lineup to include the Cayenne, the Panamera and the Macan, those numbers steadily grew to a record of 320,221 cars sold in 2023. In short, it was going great, until former CEO Oliver Blume decided to spearhead the carmaker’s transition toward electric vehicles soon after his arrival at the company’s helm in 2015.

I could write an entire novel about why this forced switch to EVs pretty much destroyed all of that hard-earned success, but I don’t think that was the only major mistake Blume did at Porsche. Severely underestimating the importance of the carmaker’s best-selling model, that was the killer blow and the reason why Porsche is now in serious doodoo.

Let’s start with the original Macan, which was Porsche’s most successful model and at one point its biggest cash cow. Launched in 2014, the combustion-engined Macan was developed using the first-generation Audi Q5’s platform. Stuttgart’s brilliant engineers extensively reworked the suspension, steering and powertrains, while soon-to-depart head of design Michael Mauer penned its gorgeous design. The model was so well-received that there were waiting lists spanning up to two years for it at some point.

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

By: Sergiu Tudose

It’s not April Fool’s, and you can’t make this stuff up. The new Dodge Charger Fragrance for men is real, and it’ll cost you $24.95 per bottle. To be clear, I’m about to make fun of the premise, not the product itself, which I’m sure smells... fine? I don’t even know. We’ll touch on that too.

Dodge isn’t the first carmaker to launch a fragrance. We’ve seen similar endeavors from Bentley and Mercedes-Benz, and I think we all know a bunch of similar Porsche Design products. These are just to name a few. To be fair, I’ve never tried any of them, so I couldn’t tell you whether they’re good or they’re absolute garbage, but I do enjoy a good fragrance and I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur.

For the past two decades or so, I’ve gone through everything related to Dolce & Gabbana, especially their Light Blue series. I’ve also had brief stints with Hugo Boss, Bvlgari and Paco Rabanne, and more recently (as in post-COVID), I’ve been getting into Hermes and Versace. Just visiting though.

For this summer, I’m using something completely new, which I absolutely adore, but I’m not going to tell you what it is because I don’t want anyone else to use it. That’s right! I’m pulling a Jake Jarmel. Remember that Seinfeld episode where Elaine’s ex-boyfriend didn’t want anyone else to know where he got his glasses? Well, there you go! Exclamation point.

Speaking of Seinfeld, there was that one episode where Kramer came up with the idea for a cologne that made you smell like you just came from the beach. The K-man even pitched the idea to an executive from Calvin Klein, only to get rejected and later find out they stole his idea, calling it 'Ocean'.

“I could have been a millionaire! I could have been a fragrance millionaire, Jerry!” That delivery was perfect.

As for how the story played out, Kramer went on to confront Calvin Klein himself, which resulted in a very controversial men’s underwear ad. Perhaps a little more revealing than anyone intended.

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

By: Alex Oagana

Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was not exactly an understated racing driver, even by 1930s standards, with his incredibly efficient driving style earning him the nickname the “Flying Mantuan,” also on account of being born in the town of Mantua, Italy.

After starting his racing career on two wheels, winning the 350 cc European Motorcycling Championship, he then concentrated on sports cars and Grand Prix racing, pretty much obliterating almost every championship he competed in. In total, Tazio won 150 races, including 24 Grand Prix, two Mille Miglias, two Targa Florios, a Le Mans 24-hour race, the European Grand Prix Championship, and two RAC Tourist Trophies, driving for Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Scuderia Ferrari and Auto Union, the predecessors of today’s Audi.

Nuvolari’s driving talent and racing victories CV was so impressive that he even caught the eye of Ferdinand Porsche, who called him “the greatest driver of the past, the present, and the future.” While he achieved more victories for Alfa Romeo, it was his stint with Auto Union in Grand Prix racing that included Tazio in Audi’s hall of fame. It is also why the four-ringed carmaker has recently unveiled a limited-edition supercar wearing the weight of his name.

The Lamborghini-powered hybrid Audi Nuvolari unveiling caught everyone by surprise, and it was not only because of its controversial design language or the fact that it wears a real person’s name instead of pursuing Ingolstadt’s traditional alphanumeric naming strategy. Most headlines revolved around the Nuvolari’s performance figures and its angular design language, but what they failed to mention was that it isn’t the first Audi to wear this name and completely change the status quo of the carmaker.

I’m old enough to remember when Audi first reached into its archive of racing heroes and attached Tazio Nuvolari’s name to a brand-changing and arguably even more important concept car at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, 23 years before the limited-edition supercar from 2026. The 2003 Audi Nuvolari quattro concept was significant because it previewed a complete change of design language for the carmaker and introduced a design motif that would be carried on every single production Audi for over two decades.

I’m talking about the “Singleframe” engine grille, whose evolution can be even seen on the Nuvolari limited-edition supercar, where it is no longer trapezoidal. On top of it, Audi is not only re-using a name, but an entire philosophy. The 2003 Nuvolari concept was a 2+2 grand tourer powered by a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V10 developed with Lamborghini, essentially similar to the naturally aspirated engine that would debut in production form on the Gallardo on the same 2003 Geneva Motor Show, and would later be used on its twin, the first-generation Audi R8 V10.

Keeping the Lamborghini connection alive, the 2026 Audi Nuvolari is based on the Lamborghini Temerario platform and is even partly built in Sant’Agata Bolognese, which gives the entire story an unexpectedly interesting circularity.

Technically speaking, the two Nuvolaris couldn’t be more different, but they also feature enough similarities that a comparison is simply inevitable. One is a front-engined concept car with classic GT proportions and a Lamborghini V10, while the other one is a mid-engined, hybrid supercar that delivers up to 1001 PS (987 HP), making it the most powerful production Audi ever built. 

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

By: Daniel Patrascu

As I am writing this, we are living through the final days leading up to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. We expect it to be a memorable edition, with a couple of exciting on-track debuts from South Korean carmaker Genesis and a special Toyota vehicle, the TR LH2 Racing Prototype.

What brings us here now is, however, a vehicle that will not participate in the Le Mans activities this year, but uses the popularity and media coverage of the event to introduce itself to the world: the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse.

As the second concept the Bavarians have presented this year so far (the first one was the Vision BMW Alpina), this Concept Neue Klasse is meant to give us a taste of what’s to come from the performance brand’s all-electric future. I guess it depends on individual preference whether that’s a bitter or a sweet taste...

A potential competitor to the recently unveiled Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door EV that’s still fresh in our minds, the successor of the concept BMW revealed this week better stay as close as possible to the design shown here, and not stray into uncharted territory like Mercedes (and later Ferrari) did.

I say that because, to these eyes, the BMW concept still looks like a proper BMW car and doesn’t go overboard trying to advertise the fact that it’s electric. Sure, the signs are there, but they come naturally and are not forced upon us.

On top of that, it is still instantly recognizable as a high-performance car, blending shoulder sections and wide wheel arches that resemble those on the Dodge Charger with aerodynamic elements and design lines inspired by the world of high-speed sailing boats.

The front end of the concept continues to carry the distinctive BMW kidney grille, but it is now reinterpreted and extends outward to incorporate the car’s yellow headlights, building themselves into something akin to a shark nose.

A key takeaway from this is that BMW says the yellow light icons will become the new signature feature of future BMW M models, used as a means to reference both GT racing cars and the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Below the grille and lights, BMW’s designers installed a trimaran-style bumper in three parts, which not only makes the face of the concept even more unique, but also forms the structural support for the front splitter. On the outer section of the front apron, the German installed a set of track lights that make it look even more special.

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

By: Mircea Panait

Easily the most assertive design that Audi has given us after the demise of the R8, the Nuvolari isn't a replacement for the V10-powered supercar. While it may be twinned with the Temerario in a similar fashion to how the Huracan was to the second-generation R8, the newcomer is a limited-run model that also happens to be Audi's most powerful and fastest car to date.

Production car, that is, and like every other self-respecting production model, the 2027 Audi Nuvolari is undergoing rigorous dynamic testing at the Nurburgring before receiving the green light for production. While it's not clear why the Ingolstadt-based automaker camouflaged this fellow, its design and the finest of stylistic traits carry over from the pre-production vehicle.

Named after racing legend Tazio Nuvolari, who won Grands Prix in Auto Union racing cars, the German thriller is more powerful than the Lamborghini on which it's based. Another notable difference from the Temerario is carbon-fiber reinforced polymer for nearly all body panels. At full chatter, the customer-spec vehicle promises to max out at more than 350 kph (217 mph).

—

A wilder machine from the standpoint of aero, the next iteration of the 911 GT3 RS might also upset internal combustion loyalists. Be it turbocharged, hybridized, or both, there is no denying that Porsche will surprise us with a new powertrain for its track-focused weapon of mass distraction. Both the front bumper and front hood appear to be new, though camouflage wrap does a great job of hiding the finest of updates.

The Zuffenhausen-based manufacturer also worked its magic on the rear bumper, valance panel, aerodynamic diffuser, exhaust system, and rear wing. On closer inspection, the Manthey-like dive planes on the front bumper are joined by a chunkier front splitter and a slightly nicer daytime running light signature for the LED headlights.

In a similar fashion to the 992.2-phase 911 GT3, the RennSport might also come with double the catalytic converter count of the 992.1 model. Considering that Porsche decided on eight percent shorter gearing to preserve acceleration performance in the less powerful 911 GT3, the dual-clutch box of the RennSport may undergo physical changes as well.

—

Pixel meister Nikita Chuicko is the man behind our favorite rendering of the week, namely an SLS revival that stays true to at least three designs. Up front, you will find a modernized first-generation GT Coupe fascia with star-motif headlights for good measure. From the side profile, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG rises again in the form of gullwing doors.

From the front fender vents back, Chuicko reinterpreted both the GT Coupe and the SLS with a more aggressive roofline and wider haunches, resulting in a rear three-quarters perspective that screams Ferrari grand tourer. Be that as it may, the Italian grand turismo illusion goes away once you set eyes on the C590-inspired circular LED taillights.

C590 is the codename used for the second-generation GT 4-Door Coupe, namely the electric fastback with AMG.EA underpinnings and three axial-flux motors. The circular taillights are nearly integrated into a gloss-black decorative panel that reads AMG bang in the center. As for the finishing touch, that would be a dual center exhaust with rounded rectangular tailpipes.

—

Luca Serafini also decided on internal combustion for its take on the Ferrari Luce Breadvan. Thoroughly obvious, the unofficial design blends the highly controversial electric model with stylistic qualities from the one-off racecar that started life as a GT Berlinetta SWB in 1961. The iconic racing car was born as a collaborative effort born out of a rebellion against Enzo Ferrari.

Engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini and bodied by Piero Drogo in his Modena workshop, the Breadvan scored two class victories and multiple overall podium finishes in its brief racing career. Described by its creator as a "masterclass in contradiction," this interpretation of the Breadvan also has a fair bit of GTC4Lusso in its DNA, especially from the B-pillars back.

The Instagram comment with the highest number of likes on the rendering artist's Instagram post reads "one million times better" than Ferrari's highly controversial electric vehicle, and I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, such a design would only be feasible as a one-off commission through the automaker's Special Projects program. Had it been real, would you opt for a screaming V12 or a more raucous V8 in the Luce Breadvan?

By: Bogdan Popa

There’s so much happening in the GTA 6 space that it’s becoming almost impossible to distinguish the real information from fake reports. On the one hand, someone estimated that the game could launch in November with over 2 million bugs. That’s a rough estimate, so the final number could be even bigger.

On the other hand, one diehard GTA fan discovered that Trailer 2 might be holding evidence that cruise control is coming. Already live in games like Mafia, cruise control would allow GTA 6 players to behave when they are on public roads. It’d completely change the way we drive in the game, finally making it possible to cruise and listen to the fantastic tunes on the radio.

A GTA 6 case was spotted in a Chinese shop, and an unconfirmed date for the PC version also made the headlines this week.

Meanwhile, Waze started rolling out traffic lights on the map, while General Motors announced a massive update for its mobile companion apps, integrating support for most charging networks in the United States. 

Congratulations for reaching the finish line!

🏁 🏁 🏁 🏁 🏁

From all of us at autoevolution, a sincere thank you for reading! Feel free to reply with suggestions. Replies to these emails are monitored!

Oh, and one more thing: if you like our articles, please click the button below to add autoevolution to your preferred sources!