IT'S 2009 AND THERE IS A NEW PORSCHE 911 doing the rounds. It's based on the gen-two 997 but is wider of hip and dripping with aerodynamic appendages. Its 3.8 litres of flat-six are a harmonic ode to all Weissach has to give, revving to 9000rpm. Fire-retardant seats hug you tight, Alcantara covers the touch points, a half-cage fills the rear-view mirror. Vinyl graphics have been thrown at the bodywork, plastic replaces many of the glass windows, aircon and radio are left on the shelf. The greatest car evo will drive during its first 200 issues is born, the GT3 RS entering the history books unhindered. Sideways, too, most likely.
Also in 2009 Porsche launched two further special 911s - variants that were even rarer and more bespoke than the unbeatable RS. Neither drew much attention except from those attracted to the work of Porsche's special projects department, but both are noteworthy 911s in their own right. However, I'll offer that one is more appealing than the other. The open-top, PDK-only Speedster was handsome-ish, but it played second fiddle to the Sport Classic.
This story is from the September 2022 edition of Evo UK.
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This story is from the September 2022 edition of Evo UK.
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THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
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