Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT

 

The Turbo GT is the most potent Porsche Cayenne model and Porsche SUV ever built. It is also the closest vehicle Porsche offers to the mechanically-similar Lamborghini Urus. The Cayenne Turbo GT was introduced for the 2022 model year and is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 631 horsepower and 626 lb-ft of torque paired to an 8-speed automatic. It makes the sprint from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and tops out at 186 mph. Unlike other versions of the Porsche Cayenne, the Turbo GT is only offered in coupe form to optimize its performance and aerodynamics while still maintaining SUV capabilities. Other features making the Turbo GT unique compared to other Cayenne models consist of a tad more aggressive front end, rear-axle steering, Porsche's Lightweight Sports package, a titanium center exhaust, a carbon fiber roof, a retractable rear wing with an additional gurney flap, a black roof spoiler with carbon fiber winglets, and gold-trimmed wheels, interior stitching, seat belts, and other touches. In other words, all of Porsche's performance features usually found on its high-end sports cars are standard on the Cayenne Turbo GT. The Turbo GT also has a slightly lower ride height than other Cayenne models for a lower center of gravity and better handling.

Pricing for the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT starts at $182,150. Although the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid has 40 more horsepower, the Cayenne Turbo GT is about 400 pounds lighter due to the latter's lack of hybrid components, leading to better performance. In all, the Turbo GT is the coolest, craziest, and best-performing Cayenne and Porsche SUV ever made. The Lamborghini Urus may be cooler, but the Cayenne Turbo GT is still an impressive performance SUV.

Included below are additional photos I took of the current Porsche Cayenne GTS, Turbo, and Turbo S E-Hybrid models.

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McLaren 720S (2019-)

 

The 720S is McLaren's current iteration of its Super Series, slotting in between the entry-level Sport Series and flagship Ultimate Series. It debuted for the 2019 model year to replace the 650S and is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch. The 720S launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 212 mph. Its underpinnings consist of a carbon fiber body and an advanced suspension, and its interior is driver-focused, laden with premium materials, and not as flashy as those of Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Pricing for the McLaren 720S starts at $301,500. Like with its predecessor, McLaren also offers a limited-edition Long Tail version of the 720S known as the 765LT, which I have yet to see in person. Overall, the McLaren 720S is an incredibly cool and excellent supercar. I have seen a handful of 720S's so far, including a full-scale example made out of Lego bricks, and would say that it is the best "mainstream" McLaren model to date. In addition, I would have a difficult time choosing between the 720S and any version of the Lamborghini Huracan when it comes to which of the two I would rather have and which one I think is better.

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Porsche 911 GT3 (992)

 

The GT3 is one of the most recent Porsche 911 models redesigned to stay up-to-date with the rest of the current 992 range. It was released for the 2022 model year and is powered by a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six producing 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque paired to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch. The 992 GT3 launches from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds with the manual and 2.7 seconds with the PDK. Both transmissions are capable of a top speed of nearly 200 mph. The new GT3 is the first Porsche 911 road car to have a control-arm front suspension. Unlike previous 911 GT3s, the 992-gen model has an unconventionally-mounted rear wing, specifically from the top. It is also the only current Porsche 911 model to not be turbocharged. Other aspects distinguishing the new GT3 from other current Porsche 911 models are two front hood vents, new front and rear splitters, a central analog tachometer surrounded by digital displays, a specific GT mode that displays only important information in the digital gauge clusters beside the central tachometer, and a lack of rear seats.

Pricing for the new Porsche 911 GT3 starts at $162,450. Like with the previous 911 GT3, a Touring package is also available, with the GT3 Touring's primary distinction being the deletion of the rear wing for a more subtle appearance. It may not be my favorite version of the Porsche 911, but the GT3 is an amazing and excellent sports car. It was just a matter of time before I would see a new 911 GT3 up close, and it finally occurred at my local Cars & Coffee almost three months ago. I am in awe every time I see any Porsche 911 GT model in person, and this was no different, especially since 911 GT models are less common than the standard 911 and 911 Turbo models.

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Ferrari 812 GTS

 

The 812 GTS is the first Ferrari front-engine V12 GT roadster since the 599 SA Aperta in 2010. Unlike nearly every Ferrari front-engine V12 GT roadster that came before it, the 812 GTS isn't a limited edition of its fixed-roof counterpart. It debuted a few years after its fixed-roof counterpart for the 2021 model year and is powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 producing 789 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 211 mph. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The 812 GTS is 265 pounds heavier than the Superfast mainly due to the removable roof and its folding mechanisms. Like with many convertibles and roadsters, the removable top steals some cargo space from the 812 GTS compared to those of its fixed-roof variants. The interior is well-crafted like in every Ferrari model and includes digital gauge clusters, a passenger-side control screen, and push-button controls for the windshield wipers and turn signals on the steering wheel spokes. 

Pricing for the Ferrari 812 GTS starts at $405,450. As for other 812 models, the Superfast is dropped and the extreme Competizione model is introduced for the 2022 model year. In addition, the 812 will be the last of its kind, as every Ferrari V12 model after the 812 is expected to be hybridized going forward. Overall, the 812 GTS is a marvelous supercar with a great formula and a crazy level of performance. Like a few supercars on display at my local Cars & Coffee a few months ago, I was thrilled to see the 812 GTS up close for the first time. However, the more rare and valuable supercars on display beside it in the first floor of the showroom stole some of the spotlight away from the 812 GTS for me, which you can see more of in some of the previous posts on this site. Despite not being a limited-edition model, the 812 GTS is still a super cool vehicle that most people don't see every day.

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2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition

 

Although this is the current Ford GT and I have featured it on this site a few times before, the one I saw up close most recently at my local Cars & Coffee about two months ago was the Heritage Edition from 2019, which makes this version the primary focus of this post. This specific special edition of the Ford GT was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 and 1969 Le Mans-winning GT40, which had the famous light blue and orange Gulf Oil livery. Powering the newest Ford GT is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque, propelling the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in around three seconds and a top speed of 216 mph. It also contains No. 9 graphics on the front and sides of the vehicle and alcantara with contrasting blue and orange stitching lining most of the interior. Other touches that set the 2019 Heritage Edition apart from other Ford GT models include exposed carbon fiber A-pillars, silver mirror caps, orange brake calipers, and a set of unique 20-inch aluminum wheels with a dark stainless-steel finish and black lug nuts. 

Out of the 250 examples of the Ford GT built for the 2019 model year, roughly 50 of them are Heritage Editions. However, this wasn't the most recent Heritage Edition produced for the newest Ford GT, as there was a different one released for the 2022 model year that paid homage to the 1964 Ford GT40 Prototype and a few others released after 2019. Heritage Edition Ford GTs tend to command a premium over other Ford GT models, with the 2019 model currently being valued at around $1.5-2 million. In all, the latest Ford GT is an incredibly cool and amazing supercar, and the 2019 Heritage Edition is one of the coolest of them all. I had also seen a 2019 Heritage Edition Ford GT at a car show three years ago, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it was the exact same example as the one shown here that I saw much more recently. I could never drive a new Ford GT on a daily basis due to its significant lack of cargo space, but Fords and American vehicles in general don't get much cooler than this.

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McLaren P1 (2013-15)

 

The P1 is McLaren's theoretical successor to the legendary F1 and McLaren's second-ever ultimate supercar. It was produced from 2013 to 2015 as one of the first few hybrid supercars to pave the way for the many hybrid supercars to follow. The P1 specifically featured a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 paired to a single electric motor producing a combined 903 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 217 mph. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch. Other notable features include a hydro-pneumatic suspension, electro-hydraulically assisted steering, a rear wing that extends up to 12 inches, an instant power assist system (IPAS), and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), the last two being derived from Formula 1. The P1's interior is constructed of mostly alcantara, carbon fiber, and aluminum trim and contains a smartphone-sized center infotainment display and digital gauge clusters.

Only 375 P1s were ever produced, with each example carrying a starting price of $1.15 million when new. Lanzante, an aftermarket tuning firm, recently converted five of those P1s into roadsters and showcased one publicly for the first time at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. I have had the privilege to see three P1s up close so far, with the most recent one shown in this post and at my local Cars & Coffee about two months ago. Overall, the McLaren P1 is an all-time favorite vehicle of mine and has demonstrated extraordinarily well that hybrid cars don't have to be slow and boring. It is absolutely stunning and incredibly cool, and as for McLaren vehicles, the P1 is in my top three favorites along with the F1 and Speedtail in no particular order.

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