Aurelia Butler

Porsche has revealed the latest 911 GT3 R, a race car that will compete in the IMSA endurance series and for the first time will be eligible for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024.The water-cooled flat-six grows from 4.0 to 4.2 liters, putting out 565 ponies and routing that power through a sequential six-speed transmission.Porsche focused on improving drivability with the new GT3 R, redesigning the suspension to lessen tire wear and creating broader power and torque bands.Normally, developing a new race car is all about going faster. But in the two top endurance racing categories—the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship—a system called “balance of performance” limits the cars’ abilities in order to preserve parity and prevent one manufacturer from dominating. Instead of focusing on outright speed, the new Porsche 911 GT3 R was developed with durability and drivability in mind, to give sports car racers an easier time conquering grueling races like the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The 911 GT3 R is, of course, based on the current 992-generation 911 platform, but the wheelbase has been extended by 1.9 inches and the aluminum-steel composite frame is now cloaked almost entirely in carbon-fiber body panels. The naturally aspirated, water-cooled flat-six engine comes from the road car but is enlarged from 4.0 liters to 4.2 liters. Peak output shoots up to 565 horsepower, but more crucially for Porsche’s goal of drivability, the torque and power bands are spread across more of the rev range.The engine is still mounted in the rear but Porsche leaned it forward by 5.5 degrees, allowing for more space for the rear diffuser, and the sequential six-speed gearbox has lifted from the GT3 Cup car—which races in a slower, one-make Porsche Supercup series—and modified for use in the GT3 R.
The 911 GT3 R uses an unequal-length control arm suspension design at the front and a multi-link rear suspension, while the adjustable KW shock absorbers have five settings. Porsche says the suspension has been designed to decrease degradation of the rear tires—allowing racers to drive longer stints while maintaining performance—as well as making it easier to institute setup changes. The extended wheelbase is also said to boost tire longevity and consistency of grip over longer periods on track.

Braking power is provided by six-piston, 15.4-inch front steel discs and four-piston, 14.6-inch rear discs, which clamp onto aluminum monobloc calipers. The traction control and ABS systems have also been revised to reduce brake and tire wear. Aerodynamics play a big role on the GT3 R. The front packaging was rearranged to create an elevated underbody section, working alongside the flat under tray and rear diffuser to produce downforce. The massive rear wing also contributes to creating negative lift and adopts a swan-neck mount just like the roadgoing GT3, which improves aerodynamic efficiency by allowing for cleaner airflow under the wing.
Inside, Porsche shifted the driver’s seat more toward the center of the vehicle, and the six-point harness was redesigned with new clasps to allow for quicker driver changes during pit stops. The new 10.3-inch screen comes from the GT3 Cup car, while the multi-switch steering wheel comes from the 911 RSR that currently competes at Le Mans.The GT3 R will hit the track in 2023 in IMSA and will become eligible to compete in the World Endurance Championship—which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans—starting in 2024 when GT3 cars replace the current GTE sports-car class that the 911 RSR races in. Unsurprisingly, piloting Porsche’s 911 race car won’t come cheap, with the GT3 R costing a cool $567,210.
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• The 2006 Mini Cooper JCW GP was built for one year in a 2000-car run.• The example for sale is one of only 415 sold in the United States, modified for more power and improved handling.• The Mini will be up for auction until Wednesday, August 3.The quickest front-driver we’ve ever tested is a Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP. That’s what Mini owners call the GP3, the third generation of the most powerful and littlest car in production. The Mini here is the original GP1 from 2006. Take our word from spending three days with 700 Minis and their gallivanting owners: Any GP grants you instant respect.On Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is owned by Hearst Autos), there are so many unattainable supercars it’s starting to look like the duPont Registry. So, today, we’re delighted to feature a limited-edition foreign car that’s currently at a $14,500 bid.

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The first-gen R53 Mini was a retro design that outlasted its direct competitors, the Volkswagen New Beetle and the Fiat 500. Evolutionary changes mean this half-German Brit looks just as attractive and relevant as a brand-new Mini. It’s one of 415 GPs sold in the U.S. out of 2000 worldwide. Small cars with big power are back in vogue, but in 2006, it was basically the Mini JCW GP and the Mazdaspeed 3. The Dodge Neon SRT-4, discontinued after 2005, was a Lincoln Town Car when parked next to a Mini.

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The JCW GP was a quicker, lighter version of a quick and featherweight Mini, the John Cooper Works. An ordinary JCW came from Oxfordshire as a stock Cooper S. Mini dealers modified the engine and exhaust with a factory-supplied kit that took the supercharged 1.6-liter inline-four to 200 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque without touching anything else. The JCW GP, despite being labeled a “kit,” was built by Bertone in Italy. The Italian mods included a new Eaton supercharger, a more efficient intercooler, high-volume fuel injectors, a remapped ECU with a higher rev limit, and a sport exhaust. Total output, sent through a limited-slip diff: 218 hp and 184 lb-ft.

Upgraded suspension, unique four-spoke 18-inch wheels, larger brakes, revised bumpers, side sills, and a rear wing distinguished the GP’s exterior. Without a rear seat or air conditioning, the GP shaved an impressive 110 pounds. With cold air blowing at our faces, we measured a 62-pound savings (for 2609 pounds total). Stock, it pulled 0.90 g on the skidpad and hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds—a half-second quicker than a JCW. Every GP came in Thunder Blue with red mirror caps.Mini organizes a rally every two years called Mini Takes the States. This month, despite $5 premium gas, Mini owners trekked from Burlington, Vermont, to BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina. GP cars from every generation stood out among the sea of Coopers—especially in the back woods of Tennessee, where Mini isn’t exactly a household name.

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It’s possible that one or several of this GP’s four owners ran the Mini rally at some point and then decided stock wasn’t good enough. According to the seller, the car’s suspension has Bilstein B12 struts, camber plates, and new front control arm bushings and a rear sway bar. There’s a smaller supercharger pulley and a new air intake for an unspecified increase in output. The brakes are from the second-gen JCW. Even the silver-painted interior trim is swapped out for carbon fiber. The original trim, brakes, and a duplicate set of wheels come included. At $31,150 brand-new, the 2006 GP was priced almost $10,000 more than a JCW. The current GP stickers for $45,570. Even in the crazy used-car market, we’ll bet this GP will go for a comparatively miniature-size price when the auction ends on Wednesday, August 3.

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The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is shaping up to be one of the most exciting vehicles of the coming year. More restrained than its FK8-generation predecessor, this new FL5 Type R ditches the gobbs of fake vents and useless scoops for a more cohesive exterior package. That said, Honda hasn’t left the tuner car crowd behind entirely with this new offering. Honda Access, the company’s in-house accessories division, just unveiled a host of new accessories for the Civic Type R that bring back a bit of that overtly aggressive look.

Unveiled specifically for the JDM-market Type R, the accessory list begins with an upgraded rear spoiler. Constructed from carbon fiber, the new wing promises to shave 2.2 pounds off the car compared to the factory unit. If the wing alone isn’t enough of a visual tweak, Honda has also unveiled a new set of red mirror caps, which match the unique Type R badging. Other available exterior tweaks include items like Type R-branded door projectors, as well as a Euro-spec horn option.

Honda

This new batch of accessories also includes a few interior adjustments. The most notable of these options is the new leather-wrapped shift knob, which again comes finished in that famous Type R red. A set of new red carpets is also available, should you want to color-match them to the factory bucket seats. A carbon-fiber shifter surround is also available, complete with some red accents woven in. A few other interior trim pieces can also be had in this accented carbon finish, including the doorsills and uppers.

Honda

While this particular list of Honda Access parts is slated for the JDM market, we wouldn’t be surprised to see most of these hit U.S. shores at some point. That’s particularly true of the rear spoiler, which I think has the potential to be a rather popular option. Of course we shouldn’t have to wait too much longer before some proper aftermarket solutions start to arrive on the scene. Those folks will have no problem making the new Type R look a bit more wild, I guarantee it.

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Mercedes has announced pricing for the 2022 AMG SL-class.It starts at $138,850 for the SL55 model and $179,150 for the SL63 model.Both are powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine.Mercedes is not being shy about the latest generation of its venerable SL roadster. Not only does it sport an all-AMG lineup, its pricing is ambitiously high, starting at $138,850 for the lesser SL55 and $179,150 for the more powerful SL63. That’s a good bit more expensive than the previous Mercedes-AMG GT coupe and roadster, which were phased out after the 2021 model year and started at $119,650 for the hardtop and $131,750 for the droptop.Both versions of the SL have a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine, with the SL55’s configuration producing 469 horsepower and the SL63’s producing 577 horsepower. 4Matic all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission are standard across the board.

Mercedes will offer the SL in two equipment levels, regardless of whether you choose the 55 or the 63. The Touring comes standard with equipment including massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Burmester sound system. The Performance trim adds a front-axle lift system and, for the SL55, Mercedes’ Active Ride Control system and an AMG Dynamic Plus package with a limited-slip differential, yellow brake calipers, and different drive modes (these features are standard on the SL63).The AMG SL’s pricing puts it right in line with the Porsche 911, as the SL55 matches up with the 443-hp 911 Carrera 4S cabriolet ($138,550 base price) and the SL63 is relatively close to the 572-hp 911 Turbo cabriolet ($188,450 base price). We look forward to getting our hands on an SL to test so that we can see how it measures up to the Porsche in terms of performance.
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