A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
Light at the end of the turbo tunnel: the puristfriendly Porsche 911R
Want to buy a 911 turbo? Good news then, as pretty much every new 911 is turning to forced induction for the 2017 model year. The base Carrera? That's a turbo. The all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S? That's a turbo. The slick Targa model? You better believe that's a turbo.
Turbocharging, for the most part, is a rather lovely thing. You take a small engine, boost up the power for when acceleration is needed, and improve economy when you're just cruising around. While the 911's supposed to be a sports car first, it's still also meant to be a do-everything car for those who can afford one.
The new 3.0-litre turbocharged flat six makes more peak power and torque than the old naturally aspirated engine, and when paired with the dual-clutch PDK gearbox and all-wheel drive, is essentially a yearround, all-weather companion good for back roads or traffic jams. For some people, however, that's too much emphasis on practicality and not enough focus on the feel of the thing. Enter the 911R, a hardcore version of the 911 that's rumoured to be getting the non-turbo engine out of the track-special GT3, except fitted with a (proper) manual transmission. Also unlike the GT3, the 911R won't have some giant wing to give the game away.
It sounds, frankly, like the best current-generation 911 yet. Turbos for most people is great, but thank goodness Porsche still has room in its portfolio for something for the driver.
Seinfeld selling off rare Porsches
When it comes to Porsche enthusiasts, perhaps nobody is as much of an air-cooled fan-boy as Jerry Seinfeld. He's got such a huge collection there are full-time employees working at keeping them all in running trim.
But even Jerry needs to whittle things down from time to time, and with the current bullish prices on classic Porsches these days, now's a pretty good time to cash in. Up for sale is a 1955 550 Spyder, estimated to be worth something like $6 million, a 1958 356 Carrera worth $2.5M, and a 1974 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR worth a paltry million or so.
Care to cause yourself some serious heart palpitations? Try converting those United States dollar prices into Canadian money. With the loonie in the tank, importing any classic across the border is suddenly costprohibitive, and as a result, special cars are starting to funnel south.
Even if you can't afford one of Jerry's cars, it may still be possible to pick up a classic car that's a little less fancy. I hear Jon Voight's Chrysler LeBaron convertible is still out there somewhere.
Morgan to build hybrid, EV cars
British carmaker Morgan may be seen as the most hidebound of manufacturers. Never let it be said that Morgan doesn't make 'em like they used to. Because they do. Up to and including wooden frames.
However, even Morgan, bastion of classic building methods and quintessentially British motoring experience, needs to move with the times. That's why they've partnered with two U.K. firms, Delta Motorsport and Potenza Technologies. The trio has just gained a subsidy from the U.K. government - to build electric and hybrid cars.
Planned for a 2019 rollout, the electric Morgans will marry futuristic powertrains with a steampunk look. But then again, those frames are made of wood after all; perhaps a greener-running Morgan just makes sense.
Pope's 500L headed to auction
Pope Francis is a humble man. He spurns the traditional golden throne, he tries to dress simply, he's even been known to drive a normal Ford hatchback around.
It was still a surprise to most people, however, that he chose the humble, homely Fiat 500L as the official car for his visit to the United States last year. There were two cars used, at least one of which is now being auctioned off at the end of this month.
As is fitting, the bulk of the proceeds will be going to charity. No word on whether the vehicle comes with a special hat.
Jaguar planning range-topping SVR model
Like the V8-powered F-Type, but itching for just a little more fury? Here, kitty, kitty.
A recent leaked brochure seems to have - ahem - let this latest cat out of the bag. While nothing official is out yet, the SVR version of the F-Type gets that same supercharged 5.0-litre V-8 and adds 25 horsepower and 14 footpounds of torque for a total of 567 h.p. and 516 foot-pounds of torque. Strong stuff indeed.
Optional carbon-ceramic brakes for better stopping, a titanium exhaust, and a more aggressive aero treatment make for one fierce Jaguar. Why pay millions for an old Porsche?
Watch this space for all the best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own auto oddities to mcaleer.nsnews@gmail.com.
