Porsche Roadster Cars

There is no dearth of electric cars in the market now. We aren’t just talking about the urban commuters, but also fast electric cars. There are many new automakers that start their electric car journey with fast cars or electric supercars. Companies like Estrema, Aspark, and even Tesla, for that matter, came up with fast electric sports cars or electric supercars. While some have faded into oblivion after showing us promising concepts, some have weathered the storm and are either into production or will enter production.

Here’s a list of the eight fastest electric cars in the world today that are in the production stage or about to enter production. Some of these fast cars are from mainstream automakers, some from established EVmakers, and some from new start-ups.

Very few cars have the enigmatic presence of a Porsche Carrera GT. The mid-engine supercar debuted in 2003 and in its four-year production cycle only 1,270 were made. Despite the car appreciating in value, there are still people out there, who have the b”lls to use the car like it was meant to. With that said, the YouTube channel AutoTopNL is giving us a short, but epic video of the Porsche Carrera GT hitting over 186 mph (300 km/h).

Fashion label L’Art De L’Automobile along with Porsche has created a one-off roadster based on the 968. This neo-retro prototype, which is a re-bodied Porsche 968 is wrapped in a chic and urban style.

It’s been three years since Porsche redesigned the Boxster and we’re finally witnessing the return of the iconic Spyder model. First introduced in 2009 and relaunched in 2015, the Boxster returns wearing the iconic "718" badge, which makes it the first car to wear the full name of its spiritual predecessor, the 718 Spyder of the 1960s. Just like the previous Boxster Spyder, the new sports car features a flat-six engine, as surprising choice given that the current 718 Boxster is a turbo, flat-four-only vehicle.

Teased in one way or another for the last two years, the Porsche 911 Speedster finally showcased its gorgeous body at the 2019 New York Auto Show. Revealed in red, the glorious 911 celebrates the 70th anniversary of the production of rear-engine sports cars, and it is the most extreme representation of philosophy once started with the fantastic 356. With such an important job to do and an incredible heritage to justify, the new Porsche 911 Speedster - the ninth Speedster overall - is the best the 991.2 generation can possibly offer.

For that matter, Porsche garnished it with the latest technology and epic throwback easter eggs that elevate the 911 Speedster unique qualities. This is the list of the most unusual Porsche 911 Speedster’s quirks and features.

Porsche finally unveiled the new 911 Speedster to the world, reinstating a name that echoes the halls with history and reminds us of great models past. Based on the 991.2 generation of 911, it represents the absolute best the past generation can offer (remember, Porsche just introduced the 992, 2019 Porsche 911 this year). Featuring that unique double bubble rear deck, the new speedster celebrates the 70th anniversary of rear-engined sports cars and harkens back to the original Porsche 356 Speedster. This lady in red really got our engines running, so we figured we’d make it our wallpaper of the day. We don’t have too many wallpaper choices, but we’ve picked out our favorite and added a small gallery to the bottom of this page. Also, if you want to know everything there is to know about the new 911 Speedster, check out our recent 2020 Porsche 911 Speedster Quirks and Features article – we promise that you’ll be happy you did!

Porsche just announced new GTS iterations for the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, offering more power, more standard equipment, and blacked-out exterior trim. The star of the show is the mid-mounted, turbocharged, 2.5-liter flat-four engine, which gets a power boost thanks to a new intake plenum and turbo optimization. Peak output now comes 365 horsepower, a 15-horse increase compared to the existing 718 S. Making the cog swaps is a standard six-speed manual, although a seven-speed PDK automatic is also available. Torque is rated at 317 pound-feet if you get the PDK and 309 pound-feet for the manual. Acceleration to 60 mph takes 3.9 seconds with the PDK, while top speed is rated at 180 mph.

Helping it corner is a standard mechanical rear-differential lock and Porsche Torque Vectoring. The Sport Chrono Package, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and a sport exhaust are also standard.

Aesthetically, the new GTS models get black 20-inch wheels, as well as a tweaked front fascia, tinted lights, black badges and trim, and black tips for the exhaust. Inside, you get a standard chronometer on the dash, as well as standard sport seating with the GTS logo embroidered into the headrests. Alcantara is the material of choice for the upholstery, and can also be found on the steering wheel, center console, and armrests.

Pricing starts at $79,900 for the Cayman and $81,900 for the Boxster, which is about $26,000 more than the standard models. Order books are open now, with deliveries expected for March of next year.

When Porsche unveiled the 918 Spyder concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show we were all in amazement. Within that amazement was a sense of a sense of pessimism, as we were unsure exactly how this future successor to the Carrera GT would look and run in the real world. We all know that manufacturers have a habit of “overestimating” its cars at these shows, to put it nicely.

After more than three years, the 918 Spyder ended its testing phase and is ready for its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 918 has made many passes around the “Green Hell,” thrashing its predecessor’s time in the process. All of these laps around the famed Nürburgring and at Porsche’s test facilities have given the automaker enough details to allow it to piece together all of its specs.

So, is the 918 Spyder everything it has been hyped up to be?

Updated 07/07/2016: Porsche dropped a new video of the 918 Spyder showing the hybrid supercar in action at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Hit "play" to watch it!

Click past the jump to read our review and find out.

It’s been two decades since Porsche first gave us the Boxster, and now Stuttgart is revitalizing the old standby mid-engine roadster with a new generation. It’s called the Porsche 718, and it takes inspiration from the winning flat-four-engined cars of the ‘50s and ‘60s. More importantly, it’s sharper, more powerful, and of course, even faster than the outgoing Boxster.

Let’s start with the powerplant. Customers will have two new engines to choose from, starting with a turbo 2.0-liter in the base 718 Boxster. Output is rated at 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque between 1,950 and 4,500 rpm. Next up is the 718 Boxster S, which gets a turbo 2.5-liter with 350 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque between 1,900 rpm and 4,500 rpm.

Those are significant gains over the outgoing model, which makes the 718 faster, too. Equip the base model with the optional PDK transmission and Sport Chrono Package, and you’re looking at a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, a 0.7-second improvement. Top speed is 170 mph, an 8-mph gain. Put the PDK and Sport Chrono Package on the S, and 0-to-60 mph is dispatched in 4.0 seconds (half a second quicker), while top speed is 177 mph (5 mph faster). Interestingly, Porsche claims both engines are also more efficient, and will provide exact EPA figures at a later date.

A six-speed manual comes standard. To complement the new engines, Porsche retuned the suspension and upgraded the brakes. The electric steering is now 10 percent quicker. Lateral acceleration enthusiasts are encouraged to opt for the Porsche Active Suspension Management system, which lowers ride height by 10 mm on the base model and 20 mm on the S.

Aesthetically, Porsche says it changed every body panel except the luggage compartment lids, windshield, and convertible top. There are larger intakes up front, as well as new headlights with a bi-xenon lighting element and LED DRLs. Full LED headlights with four-point DRLs are optional. The S gains standard 19-inch wheels with the option for 20-inchers. The rear is equipped with LED taillights.

Inside, the cabin gains a new dash. A touchscreen, 110-watt stereo, and Porsche Communication Management are standard, while navigation with voice control is optional.

The 718 and 718 S will arrive in U.S. dealerships late this June. Pricing starts at $56,000 for the base model, and $68,400 for the S. Expect a public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Porsche has spent years working on the 911, but while that might be its ultimate sports car, the Boxster is one of its best sellers. When the Boxster debuted in 1997, enthusiasts first saw it as a disgrace to the Porsche name, as it was smaller and not as powerful as the iconic 911. The second-gen Boxster hit the market for the 2015 model year with a light nip-and-tuck job on the exterior and a huge overhaul on the inside. In 2013, the third-gen Boxster arrived with another evolutionary change to the body and a revised cabin. This look carries into the 2015 model year with only minor changes.

The Boxster and its hardtop sibling, the Cayman, are now an accepted part of the Porsche family. In fact, some enthusiasts consider them better driving than the 911, thanks to their mid-mounted engine, as opposed to the 911’s rear-mounted unit.

This belief that the Boxster may be a better driver was only compounded with the release of the GTS model for 2014. This model gained 20-inch wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management and the Sport Chrono package. Oh, and I almost forgot that the GTS gained an extra 35 horses and 7 pound-feet of twist to go with its better handling.

Updated 07/03/2014: Porsche announced a series of upgrades for the 2015 Boxster which is now on sale. Changes include new exterior colors, new two-tone leather and a series of new options.

Hit the jump to read more on the Porsche Boxster.

One of the most notable and memorable of the early Porsche cars is the Speedster. This car actually came into existence at the insistence of U.S. distributor Max Hoffman. He was able to convince Ferdinand Porsche that there was a market for a “stripper” car. A stripper is essentially a barebones Roadster that could be easily converted into a racing specification car without too much trouble. The low level of standard equipment also kept prices low, leaving you more budget for race gear and modifications.

This particular Black Speedster here carries a particularly special heritage. It was owned by none other than James Dean, twice. Dean bought the car to race in SCCA competition, but after a few years he sold it to a car collector named Bruce Meyers. Later in 1974 Dean bought the car back from Bruce. This particular model does not wear a Speedster badge as Dean had it removed from the car during his first ownership.

Porsche dropped the Speedster model from the 356 lineup in 1959 in favor of building the newer Convertible D cars. Only 3,122 of Speedsters were ever constructed.

When the cars first entered production there were powered by a 1.5-liter flat-four engine that produced 64 horsepower. Before the production ended, you could order a race-ready Carrera spec model with 128 horsepower. With the proper gearing in the transmission, a Speedster could reach speeds of over 125 mph, making it one of the fastest cars of the era.

Dean’s car here was a mid-range “Super” model that managed 88 horsepower from its 1.6-liter engine. The car is still in Dean’s family under the ownership of his son, Chad.

Few companies cater to the petrol-head quite like Porsche. Sure Ferrari provides excitement, and Lamborghini is the maestro of theater, but Porsche has cornered the market on feel and precision.

Beyond that, Porsche also seems to demonstrate a peculiar, un-German ability to create cars that are very pretty. Not the sensual beauty the Italians have mastered, but still pretty.

Late last year the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh decided that Porsche had done so much in the field of design, that it deserved to be recognized. They then began the laborious task of collecting an eclectic assortment of metal from the brand’s storied history; from the Type 64 of 1938 up to the 911 GTS R Hybrid race car.

As a man with a slight fetish for German autos, the exhibit intrigued me. The NCMA is only a six-hour drive from my house, through some of the most beautiful roads and scenery in the U.S., and I had just been granted the keys to a 2014 Porsche Cayman S.

It was a recipe that sounded like a Porsche enthusiast’s perfect weekend.

Read on to find out more about my journey, the Cayman S and the NCMA exhibit.

To say that the Porsche 918 Spyder is just another supercar is pretty inaccurate. For one, it’s the most powerful vehicle Porsche has ever built. And another thing: it’s combination of power, speed, fuel economy and low emissions is nearly unrivaled, so much so that even with 918 models priced at over $800,000 a piece, it’s already nearly sold out.

Speaking of sold out, a lot of the customers that paid for the 918 Spyder appear to reside here in the U.S. That’s why Porsche has said that America will receive the biggest allotment of 918 Spyders than any other country with up to 190 models headed our way.

That probably explains why Porsche has taken to great lengths to promote the 918 Spyder in the U.S. Numerous promotional events held in the United States over the past two years, and soon enough, a lot of these actual supercars will be calling the Land of the Free their home.

Click past the jump to read about the Porsche 918 Spyder

Now this is a ride we have been waiting to see for a very long time!

Chris Harris - our favorite presenters when it comes to reviewing performance cars - was invited by Porsche to test a pre-production version of the 918 Spyder. Of course, when you receive an invitation like this, you forget the fact that you are not testing the finished car, that there is no time to prepare and that you only get three laps in the driver’s seat; you just take the first plane and go for the quick spin.

So, what do you think, was Harris impressed by the upcoming 918 Spyder? We bet he was, after all the 918 Spyder is powered by a V-8 engine combined with a pair of electric engines, one powering the front axle and one on the rear.

This system delivers a total of 887 horsepower and 920 pound-feet of torque and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and up to a top speed of 202 mph.

One of our favorite parts was watching the Porsche rep in the passenger’s seat as Harris whipped the crap out of the Automaker’s £20 million project. It looked like he was on the verge of tears at certain points.