It is a handsome machine isn’t it? There is something proportionally correct about the Macan that makes it pleasing to the eye. An athletic stance characterised by short overhangs and a sloping roofline shows this SUV to be primed for action. Large alloy wheels fill the arches whilst black detailing contrasts our white test car. Intricate light clusters build the premium perception. This being the Turbo model, those deep intakes are not just for display.

The Porsche Macan Turbo interior is more spacious than its compact SUV proportions would have you believe. The rear bench accommodates two adults, although the middle occupant does have to deal with the transmission hump. A sporty three pronged steering wheel is offered to you whilst you are sat in the well bolstered drivers seat. You are placed lower in the chassis than most SUVs and this immediately makes the Macan feel like more of a performance machine than competitors. Our test car has the optional carbon fibre pack which added intricate carbon trim. Boot space is a respectable 500 litres but can expand to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Whilst the 2016 Porsche Macan Turbo does have 394 BHP and will do 0-62 MPH in just 4.6 seconds, setting off is actually a rather civilised affair. The motion is smooth, the cabin refined, and an overall sense of effortless tranquility sets in. It is clear that despite this Macan’s high performance nature, Porsche wanted to retain that everyday usability. Obviously this isn’t the softest riding Macan in the range but overall comfort is good. The 7 speed PDK gearbox is an excellent piece of engineering and is very capable of choosing an appropriate ratio without faffing around. On the motorway the cars 550Nm of torque means that overtaking is as effortless as breathing. A bit of road noise enters the otherwise quiet cabin whilst this car gets through these types of journeys without breaking a sweat. So, general day to day life is accommodated for rather well, but what happens when you turn the Macan Turbo up to 11 and show it some interesting roads? Step on the right pedal and it leaps into action with the ferocity of a cheetah on an unsuspecting gazelle. All wheel drive delivers all of that performance potential to the ground ensuring that none of it is wasted. After a sedate drive this intoxicating turn of pace reveals a broad range of abilities. Upon corner turn-in the Macan provides plenty of grip, but also a nose that is keen to kiss apexes. There is very little in the way of body roll and the whole experience feels athletic and unlike a traditional SUV. You feel plugged-in to what is happening beneath you, it is a sensation more akin to a sports car. Once it has disposed of the corner it once again uses the 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged engine to slingshot you down the road to the soundtrack of six cylinders in a V formation. Manually taking control of cog swapping via the steering wheel mounted paddles further highlights just how good this gearbox is, relinquishing instantaneous responses to inputs. It is a joy to drive vigorously, as ever car wearing a Porsche badge should be.

The 2016 Porsche Macan Turbo is not only synapse singeing when it comes to outright performance, it is also presents an everyday proposition. Some rivals offer more practicality, get better fuel economy, or are maybe cheaper. But none offer the thrills of this Macan Turbo when driven in anger. Starting at £62,540 it isn’t cheap, but neither was a flight on Concorde.

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Any performance brand has the core objective of chasing progress. Lighter, faster, stronger, more advanced with every incarnation. An endless game of chase to find perfection. However, perfection is different dependant upon your perspective. Whilst on a spread sheet one solution may yield a “better” result yet out here in the real world that might not compute. You see, us humans are strange creatures… Influenced by emotion and unquantifiable desire, the most efficient solution isn’t always the one that sets our senses alight. With the Porsche 911 GT3 RS only available with PDK and the latest Boxster loosing two cylinders, I began to worry that Porsche had been looking at graphs for a bit too long. But then this arrived! The Porsche Cayman GT4.

Looking lean and mean in this intense yellow, the Porsche Cayman GT4 is the latest edition to the GT family. Lower and wider than the standard model, this coupe has the stance of a racing car. Enlarged intakes enable it to breath in more freely whilst a central dual exhausts allows this little menace to exhale. A huge rear wing, boot lip, and diffuser all work together to increase downforce and provide quite the spectacle for onlookers. Proportionally its is a great looking machine full of purpose and aggression.

Our test car was endowed with a pair of optional carbon fibre racing seats of which provide exceptional levels of support for track driving. You sit low in the chassis becoming that organic component in this recipe. That said, they are not the most dignifying things to climb in and out of. The rest of the cabin is a blend of Cayman architecture and GT character. Alcantara lines the simple three pronged steering wheel as the Chronograph clock ticks away in the dashboard. A large roll bar sits behind occupants hinting that the race breeding goes well beyond the visuals. Despite clearly being a performance tool, the GT4 is still practical with some rears storage space and a good size boot situated in its nose.

Turn the key and you are in for a treat. The Porsche Cayman GT4 erupts into life with a bark from its naturally aspirated flat six engine. No turbos, just combustion at its purest. As you set off you immediately note the control weighting. It’s not too heavy, but it has meaningful resistance enabling you to make precise inputs. The revs build and the car feels alive with anticipation for what comes next. Line the car up with an empty stretch of tarmac and pull the trigger! You are sucked back into your seat as a symphony of 380 BHP from that 3.8 litre unit fill the eardrums of every living thing within a mile. The GT4 howls as you grab second from its delightful short throw manual transmission. 0-62 MPH is done in 4.4 seconds and its top speed is 183 mph. As your velocity builds you can feel the car hunker down and become very confident in its placement on the tarmac.  Approaching a technical section you can lean on the the communicative brakes. Downshifts are met with an auto-blip of the throttle. Upon turn in this cars body control is masterful and the accurate steering that works with the driver is an utter joy. Some suspension components are even borrowed from the GT3. Its neutral handling characteristics makes for a really exploitable package that will bring a smile to the face of anyone who loves driving. On track you can firm those dampers up for an even more focused setup. Whilst at low speeds the ride can get a bit bumpy, especially on our battered British roads, but it isn’t what you would call backbreaking.

For a while now the Cayman has been creeping up on its bigger 911 brother. As the elder has matured, its sibling is filling the slight gap that it leaves behind. The Porsche Cayman GT4 is one of the most involving, dynamic, and satisfying cars I have ever driven. Porsche listened to its fans and the end result is a machine built for enthusiasts. At £64,451 I wouldn’t just say that its worth its money, I bet people would happily pay more.

By Tyler Heatley

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It might look similar to its predecessor, but almost every body panel on this Boxster is brand new. Nips and tucks have created a slightly taught body as the metals now appear to stretch over an athletic frame. The large rounded headlights and side-mounted air intakes are pure Boxster DNA and very much like this model to the family. Black details and alloy wheels contrast the blazing Lava Orange paintwork. The 718 is handsome car with the roof up or down, and new details such as its black plaque that now sports the model name pushes it further upmarket.

Inside you sit low and snug but the cockpit feels far from claustrophobic. Well bolstered sports seats hug your ribs and the manual gear leaver falls to hand nicely. A Porsche 918 inspired three spoke steering wheel offers itself to you. A 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system provides you with all of the media you desire whilst occupants are bathed in high quality materials. It feels well built, ergonomic, and suitably upmarket. Visibility for this type of car is also very good. The convertible fabric roof is electrically stowed at speeds of up to 30mph. Being mid-engined the Porsche 718 Boxster has two luggage storage compartments providing a total capacity of 375 litres which makes it really rather practical.

Now, the big talking point of this generation Boxster is its engine. Gone is the flat-six and in its place is a turbocharged flat-four. Why? A bid for better economy primarily but the “downsize and turbocharge” method is now common practice within the industry. Before the people start kicking off about it only having four cylinders, check your history book as the company has got plenty of previous. This Boxster S produces 345bhp, and thanks to said turbos, 420Nm of torque. 0-62mph takes 4.6 seconds and its top speed is 177mph. On the move this new car firmly shrugs off the title of “poor mans Porsche” and proves itself still to be the purest car the company makes. Sharp intuitive steering allows for accurate placement and a rapid change of direction. Sublime composure around corners with  hardly a hint of body roll highlights how well engineered this chassis is. It has a real confidence to the way it goes about its business making it an exploitable machine. A six speed manual transmission is the drivers choice and it suits the character of the little 718. Row through the short throws and witness your smile growing. Put the car in its sportiest setting and everything sharpens up providing a truly involving car to play with. The surge of torque lower in the rev range is notable and makes the Porsche 718 Boxster much more flexible. In terms of how that turbocharged 2.5 litre engine sounds, well, engage that sports exhaust and listen to the newfound growl emanate from its boxer. It sounds angry and it is a good noise, however, I think purists would rather silky naturally aspirated tones. Don’t get me wrong… It pops and bangs and will have you shifting down for no reason other than to make it cause a ruckus. The ride is a bit firm, but that primarily comes down to the larger 20 inch alloy wheels of our test car.

An entry level Porsche 718 Boxster costs from £41,739 and this Turbo S from £50,695. It is still every bit as capable as its predecessor but now claims 34.9 MPG combined. In every measurable way it is better than the old car, but which you prefer will come down to a matter of taste.

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A smaller turbocharged engine is a direction that many manufacturers have taken of late, in the pursuit of both greater fuel economy and more power. This is certainly the case for the new 911, the 3.0-litre Carrera S we drove packs 414bhp and 369lb ft of torque thanks to two very responsive turbos, whilst returning a combined consumption of 32.5mpg in it’s manual guise. This makes for a 20bhp and a 45lb ft improvement over the previous 3.8-litre unit. The torque is accessed much lower in the rev range than before, down from 5600rpm to just 1700rpm, meaning an instant wave of acceleration as soon as you tease the accelerator.

A collection of subtle exterior changes differentiate the new Carrera S from it’s predecessor. A redesigned front bumper features active air ducts which remain closed at speeds between 10 and 106mph. There are also new internal headlight lenses and Xenon projectors for a brighter a more distinctive daytime running light. The rear spoiler for this model has been redesigned, whilst the rear bumper features cooling ducts to extract hot air. Even smaller details such as the doorhandles have been revised.

Moving inside, you are greeted by a opulent yet focused interior. All the controls are clear and where you would expect them to be. The new Carrera and Carrera S also benefit from the new Communication Management system with a 7-inch touchscreen display. It features Google Earth, WLAN connection and Apple CarPlay, as well as all of the usual media functions. The seats are very comfortable and offer plenty of bolstered support ideal for when tackling the corners. The standard steering wheel measures up at 375mm in diameter, although an optional 360mm size is available, each of which are very similar to what is found in the 918 Spyder.

Obviously the main question mark surrounding the new 911 is whether this new turbocharged version is as good as it’s naturally aspirated relatives – and the simple answer to that is: yes, and so much more. Predictably, when working through the rev range there are moments when it slightly lacks the aural harshness and distinctiveness of it’s predecessors. But what is lost in the slight absence of a more maniacal exhaust note from a naturally aspirated power plant, is more than made up for with what is a beautifully linear and intoxicating power delivery. The previous engine was also slightly more lively in the way that it gained and lost revs in a moments notice, but with the torque in this new model being available right at the bottom of the rev range, performance is much more accessible. This benefits both on and off the track, with the added torque making it easier to pull away in higher gears making for a more relaxed experience when driving around town. This is not at all to say the new 911 isn’t exciting, far from it. The rapid response from the engine almost renders turbo lag a myth and the manor in which it fires you towards the horizon is nothing short of inspiring.

The extra power and torque is a formula for breathtaking levels of acceleration. 0-62mph is over in 4.3 seconds with the 7-speed manual transmission or 3.9 seconds if you opt for the PDK seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The manual car will then peak at a top speed of 191mph, with the automatic version’s top speed falling slightly short at 190mph. The 7-speed manual transmission is beautifully focused and well weighted. Short throws and a nice mechanical feel aid in assertive and fast gear changes.

When challenged with a more technical stretch of road, the 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera S tackles corners with precision and poise. The steering is brilliantly weighted and laser point precise. Any body movement is gradual and the feedback to the driver through the wheel and pedals really gives you the confidence to test the parameters of its capability. Driver confidence is furthered through the application of the immense brakes, which deliver excellent pedal feel and feedback.

These improvements absolutely become evident when tackling the twisty stuff. Porsche claim a lap time of 7 min 30 seconds around the Nürburgring, a ten second improvement over the prior model.

The 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera S has once again set the benchmark of what sports cars should be like to drive. The new car starts from £85,857. And whilst purists may resent the fact the 911 is now turbocharged, it is all the name of progress, and that is exactly what this new 911 is.

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The Porsche 911 is one of the most developed cars in history. By adopting the same evolutionary philosophy as Mother Nature, each incarnation has edged closer to perfection. With over 50 years of history, a crammed racing trophy cabinet, and a diehard following of fans, 911 is arguably the definitive sports car. However, the Porsche 911 comes in many flavours and the topflight Turbo models nudges it firmly into supercar territory. This is the 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S and it sits at the top of the food chain.

Looking sinister in a bloody shade a of red, our 911 Turbo S lurked awaiting its opportune moment. The wide turbo body featuring large intakes on its hunched shoulders looked purposeful. Black 20 inch forged alloys with a central locking nut filled the arches and contrasted the paintwork. As your eye follows that historic teardrop roofline you are met by a neat spoiler sat beneath an array of grills and intakes. Whilst the rounded headlights and general proportions are very familiar in todays automotive landscape, this car makes a serious statement of intent.

The interior is a sea of high quality black leather. The centre console divides the driver and passenger whilst a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment display sits ahead of the drive selector. A steering wheel that is very much inspired by that of the 918 Spyder sits at the drivers chest. A pair of beautifully supportive sports seats proved to be fit for purpose. The 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S does seat four although the rear posts are only really suitable for small children. A sense of quality is the overriding impression as premium materials as well as a solid fit and finish ticks many boxes. In the cars nose  you will find a 115 litre luggage compartment. Considering this cars caliber, all around visibility is excellent.

A twist of the 911 shaped key has this cars 3.8 litre twin-turbocharged flat-six bark into life. There is a real air of tension in the cabin before you set off. The car is ready, but are you? At low speeds the 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S makes good use of its rear wheel steering allowing the car to turn tighter with less input from the steering wheel. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to minimise the turning radius. It’s ride at these speeds is firm, primarily due to the large alloy wheels, but it is certainly more compliant than some rivals. Fitted with the near faultless Porsche PDK gearbox, the seamless act of cog swapping goes unnoticed. Ok, so we have established that this car appears to work well whilst dawdling along, but that isn’t why you are reading this article is it? On the steering wheel there is a dial activating various modes. Sport sharpens everything up and prepares the car for some, let’s say, exuberant driving. The steering weights up, the throttle becomes more responsive, and the car is very much awake. But this is a Turbo S… So you are going to want to know what it is like in S+ mode, or as I like to call it “kidney punch mode”. From a standing start this car will get from 0-62 MPH in just 2.9 seconds which is seriously impressive on paper, but nothing prepares you for the physical assault of doing it in reality. Sucked tight into your seat, the all wheel drive makes the most of the 572 BHP at its disposal. Your internal organs are pinned with the most awesome surge of acceleration narrated by a rather angry exhaust note. Before you know it you are doing unquotable speeds and the whole world becomes a blur. It doesn’t stop at 62 MPH either as 0-99 MPH is done in 6.5 seconds and 0-124 MPH in just 9.9 seconds. To say this thing is fast would be the understatement of the century! It keeps pulling too with no sign of relenting even when in the triple digit region. A gargantuan 750Nm of torque means that acceleration from any speed is totally effortless. Take over manual control of gear changes and lightning fast responses follow. When the going gets twisty the 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S is just as impressive with its rear wheel steering, now turning in the same direction as the front wheels, and torque vectoring it is agile. Accurate steering and the reassuring grip levels of all wheel drive makes this 911 exploitable in the real world. Ceramic brakes are easy to modulate and afford powerful stopping capabilities. A neat touch found back on the steering wheel is a button that when pushed enables S+ mode from any setting for 20 seconds providing maximum attack for an overtaking manoeuvre.

The 205 MPH 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S unleashed is a breathtaking experience and one I will not be forgetting in a hurry. It really is a very complete car and in that respect its £145,773 asking price is a relative bargain. Porsche even claim it will return 31 MPG.

It has taken Porsche over 50 years to get to this point with the 911 and this example very much proves it was worth the wait.

By Tyler Heatley

The post First Drive: 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S appeared first on Inside Lane.

Porsche have been building the Cayenne SUV since 2002 with it winning many spaces on various driveways. Whilst the first generation was, let us say, visually challenging the car has always been impressive in motion. However, the Cayenne divides opinion amongst purists with some claiming that its isn’t a product Porsche should be building as SUVs aren’t traditionally sporting. The truth is that the Porsche Cayenne makes a lot of money for the German brand and without it would be much harder to bankroll development of things like the 911 GT3 RS. That isn’t the only reason for the Cayenne, but even to its critics that has to make sense… Squaring up to the naysayers is the 2015 Porsche Cayenne GTS. A machine that proves on every level that an SUV has a place in the Porsche portfolio.

Whilst this generation Cayenne is easier on the eye than previous incarnations, our test cars Peridot metallic paint might not be to everyones liking. That said, it does add to the slightly menacing aesthetic of this 2015 Porsche Cayenne GTS. Contrasting black gaping intakes, roof rails and 20 inch RS Spyder Design alloy wheel suggests there is nothing “mum on the school run” about this SUV. Around the back you will find quad exhaust pipes that look like they have come directly from a World War 2 dreadnought. A wide purposeful stance promotes athleticism, not usually a trait found within the full-size SUV class.

The interior is bathed in alcantara and leather of the highest quality with a large infotainment display surrounded by two banks of aluminium vents. Sculpted sports seats and a three pronged steering wheel hints that this is no ordinary SUV. Whilst it is clearly a performance machine, the GTS doesn’t sacrifice qualities that makes this a family car. The cabin feels roomy with plenty of head and leg space for passengers in the rear. A highly usable boot means that even the dog can come along for this 163MPH ride! It is a genuinely pleasant environment and one in which the whole family can relax. My only complaint of the interior is that the centre console has too many buttons for my liking. They are all logically located, but from a far it does begin to look like something found in the engineers position of a 747.

Under the green bonnet of this 2015 Porsche Cayenne GTS is an engine that is greener than the previous incarnation. A 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged V6 replaces the old V8, but don’t go thinking that the party is over as a result. Producing 434BHP and a colossal 600Nm of torque, this Cayenne with the optional spot Chrono pack fitted will get from 0-62MPH in just 5.1 seconds. That is enough to shame some serious sports cars! Start the engine and an aggressive V6 bark marks the beginning of your journey.  Our car was fitted with the optional air suspension which sits the Cayenne 20mm closer to the ground whilst offering rather good ride quality in comfort. Considering this models size, body control is sublime with hardly a hint of roll in the corners. The steering possesses pinpoint precision and in tandem with torque vectoring makes for a very agile package. In motion this Porsche actually feels like a much smaller car thanks to just how light on its feet it is. Don’t be shy to kiss those apexes because the engineering beneath you is more than capable. Gripping the alcantara steering wheel a little tighter and applying more pressure with my right foot brings to light the wonderfully linear power delivery and almost nonexistent turbo-lag. The surging torque of this 3.6 litre unit is one of the cars defining characteristics. Whilst the base note of the V8 is missed, this engine is a marvel when it comes to transforming figures on paper into real life performance. The 8 speed Tiptronic S gearbox knows exactly what to do when in automatic, but also provides rapid shifts when you take control. That said, Porsche’s own PDK is my preferred gearbox from the company as its responsiveness is lightning quick. This car can sit at autobahn speeds all day long and not break a sweat. There is some wind noise at higher speeds but overall the cabin remains tranquil even when the driving becomes spirited. Whilst the ceramic composite brakes are a costly £5,924 option, their ability to stop the car is simply staggering. They have plenty of feel and so can be easily modulated, but when the anchors are needed you can rest safe in the knowledge that 2,110KG of Porsche will come to a halt pretty sharpish.

Whilst this mile munching speed machine delivers a powerful counterargument to the anti-Cayenne brigade, it retains those values that an SUV should always have. Our test car was loaded with options taking the base price of £72,523 up to a dizzying £94,196. As fast 4x4s continue to grow in popularity there is little doubt that Porsche sits at the top of the pile. The 2015 Porsche Cayenne GTS is for the family man who likes to make sure he gets to work on time!

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Whilst todays convertibles are plenty strong enough to deal with the event of a rollover, the Targa’s unique design is captivating and is the modern-day incarnation of the original. Featuring a unusual roof mechanism, which at the push of a button raises the glass wraparound window and stows the fabric panel in 19 seconds, the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS looks great covered or topless. Sporting proportions that could only belong to a 911, this car being the GTS possesses external changes including restyled sports grills, bumpers, 20 inch centre locking alloy wheels, and the obligatory GTS badging. Our test car finished in Carmine Red looked the business with its contrasting black details and prominent silver hoop. In our eyes it is one of the best looking 911’s in the showroom and certainly differentiates itself from key competitors.

Slip into this 911’s cockpit and you will find yourself sat in body hugging sports seats. The interior is bathed in leather and alcantara creating a highly premium feel. Its Sport Chrono pack adds an eye-catching stopwatch to the dashboard which heads a centre stack that houses infotainment, climate control and logically placed buttons for heated seats. The console extends and divides the two occupants creating a snug environment. Controls for various performance settings fall to hand easily on this unit. The driving position is fantastic as you sit low with the steering wheel at your chest. Being driver focused is what the 911 has always been about.

Turn the key and the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS rear mounted 3.8 litre engine fires into life. At idle it has a purposeful engine note as the flat-six awaits commands from the driver. Pottering along the open top experience was very pleasant in the sunshine. The wind doesn’t consume the cabin like it does in traditional convertibles, thanks to the rear glasshouse remaining in place, whilst the noises and smells of the car at work are more vibrant than within the confides of a coupe. For a car of this calibre visibility is good and at low speeds this Porsche is comfortable enough to be your daily driver. The gearbox is very happy to be left in automatic and its shifts are smooth. Pick up the pace and the 50+ years of engineering that has gone into this car reveals itself. Body control is exceptional and Porsche has produced, in my eyes, the best electro mechanical steering yet. It is well weighted and precise integrating itself within this communicative package. You can feel what the car is doing beneath you and as the twists and turns become more interesting things become exciting when you work through the sports setting. Putting your foot down with the exhaust at its loudest and throttle response at its most aggressive will put the biggest grin on your face. The Targa howls as 430HP and 440Nm of torque fires you off into the distance. With a 0-62MPH time of just 4.3 seconds and a top speed quoted at 187MPH, this topless model is far from “all show and no go.” All wheel drive ensures the power is distributed in all of the right places giving the driver a real sense of security. Torque vectoring pulls the car even closer to the apex of corners boosting the agility of a car that is already light on its feet. Take control of cog swapping and Porsche’s PDK double clutch transmission responds immediately and without hesitation. The exhaust pops and crackles on downshifts encouraging you to push this orchestra harder, at which point the car will simply thank you and ask for more. Braking performance was impressive, even on standard discs, and allowed for good modulation through the pedal. Settle back down and this 911 becomes a that daily commuter with a good sized boot once more.

The 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS is a car with very few flaws. Whilst it is more costly than its convertible counterpart, our test car came to £116,457 with options, it is a niche product that many will find attractive. Combined this 911 will officially do 30.7MPG furthering the argument of the 911 potentially being the supercar that offers everything you need in the “real world.”

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