Car Reviews

From the December 2022 issue of Car and Driver.Wide, wedgy, and outrageous, the Countach wasn’t the first Lamborghini, but Marcello Gandini’s jaw-dropping design created the archetype the company has followed ever since. No new Countach could ever match the original in terms of the awestruck reaction that greeted the vehicle, named for a Piedmontese expletive uttered at the concept car. Which is why Lamborghini’s decision to produce a new Countach, the LPI 800-4, seemed dangerously close to heresy. The question is: Can the LPI 800-4 compare as an experience?To answer it, we drove the LPI 800-4 alongside a historic Countach from Lamborghini’s own collection. This 1990 25th Anniversary Edition is the final original Countach built, and it’s normally exhibited in the factory museum. With just 6000 miles, it’s practically box-fresh. As the last version of the first Countach, it’s the most appropriate example to match with the new car. Park them next to each other, and the differences are at least as obvious as the similarities. The LPI 800-4 Countach sits on the Aventador’s platform and shares its carbon-fiber tub. Years of evolution make it bigger in every plane. Yet there is also a visual kinship across the decades, with the LPI 800-4 clearly an homage rather than an attempted replica.More on the CountachMitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s design director, was able to riff on themes from throughout the Countach’s long life. There’s an LP5000S-like front end (despite the absence of pop-up headlights), hexagonal wheel arches, and raised air intakes reminiscent of the mid-’80s Quattrovalvole. According to the principles of modern car design, the new Countach features better proportions and more harmonious details than the clad-and-straked 25th Anniversary. But the older car is the one you can’t stop looking at.LamborghiniIn performance, it isn’t even close to being close. The LPI 800-4 gets the brawniest version of the Aventador’s magnificent 6.5-liter V-12, along with the supercapacitor hybrid system used in the Sián hypercar. The car drives like a turned-up Aventador, as the all-wheel-drive system delivers massive thrust with assurance. The closer the engine gets to its 8700-rpm limit, the angrier and more savage it becomes. While the electric motor’s modest 34-hp contribution is indiscernible from the V-12’s 769 horsepower, its torque does smooth the single-clutch automated manual’s gear changes, which are far less brutal than in the Aventador. Like every other modern Lambo, the LPI 800-4 has selectable drive modes, with the punchiest Corsa setting making it feel impressively wieldy on the small, tight 1.3-mile Autodromo di Modena we used for photography.By comparison, the original Countach is woeful. The cramped cockpit is uncomfortable, and all but the shortest pilots will find their head grazing the roof, even with the seat in its lowest and most reclined position. It hails from a period before ergonomic considerations in supercars, and the driving position is heavily offset toward the center of the car due to the intrusion of the front wheel well. The footwell is so packed with its three pedals that there’s nowhere to put a resting clutch foot. The dogleg gearshift features a foldable tab to prevent a first-to-reverse flubbed shift; in a good indication of the cabin designers’ priorities, it sits ahead of a huge ashtray. Rated at 449 horsepower, the old car’s V-12 is quieter at startup than the LPI 800-4’s and idles with a carbureted wuffle. U.S. Countaches as early as ’83 models got Bosch fuel injection to meet emission regs, but European models stuck with six Webers until the end. The throttle pedal is light, and response is immediate and keen. The engine pulls cleanly from low down and with impressive vigor as revs rise. It sounds great too—much softer than the newer car, with valvetrain clatter audible over the exhaust.Yet everything else is just so much hard work. The clutch is a leg-press machine set to Lou Ferrigno. The unassisted steering is so heavy at maneuvering speeds that turning the wheel is painful. Even once the car is moving, tight corners bring it back to full Hulk weighting, and in Autodromo’s tight corners, few of the apexes are even grazed, let alone clipped. Between-corner speeds are limited by stopping rather than going, and the brake pedal’s mushy responses impart none of the confidence you’d want when pushing a valuable supercar on a tight track. Does it have ABS? Our chaperone, Mario Fasanetto, who started at Lamborghini in 1985 building Countach engines and today is the company’s chief test driver, just laughs.LamborghiniThe team in Sant’Agata never designed the Countach for the track, and it shows. The car is vastly better on roads, especially fast highways from the days when European limits were either nonexistent or largely discretionary for supercar owners. The 25th Anniversary’s claimed 183-mph top speed was likely just Ferrari baiting—the top speed we observed in a 1983 Countach 5000S was 160 mph. But even traveling at the lower velocities of the tamer 21st century, the Countach has the solid, planted feel you want for serious cruising pace.Reaching a mountain road gives the modern car another chance to prove its dynamic superiority. The Strada Provinciale 26 near the Modenese village of Samone is a quiet road that combines hairpins and scenic views. It’s a backdrop that draws all the local supercar makers (we’ve previously been here with Ferrari and Pagani, as well as Lamborghini). But the Countaches have it to themselves today. After the vein-popping workout of the 25th Anniversary model, the new car feels lighter and more agile than a V-12 Lamborghini has any right to. The original Countach is one of those cars that is awesome both despite and because of its flaws. Justifying its divinity requires the sort of tortuous logic that corrupt medieval priests would employ to render the unholy holy, and even one of the less loved versions of this unarguable icon still offers an unforgettable experience. By contrast, the LPI 800-4 feels too good—too well-engineered and slick to be a true successor to such a flawed gem, regardless of the new car’s handsome design. It’s a Countach, but it will never be the Countach.Car and DriverThis content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

From the December 2022 issue of Car and Driver.Once it was established that high-performance SUVs were not an oxymoron, there was only one direction to go: up. More speed, quicker acceleration, greater grip, more tenacious braking, and—most of all—higher prices. At Porsche, the progression of high-test versions with more horsepower and compound badge extensions has led to the 2022 Cayenne Turbo GT, a veritable sport-utility weapon capable of amazing things on the track, up to and including the vaunted Nürburgring.Other high-end carmakers have joined in—even Ferrari with its upcoming Purosangue. Aston Martin entered the fray a couple of years ago with its DBX. We’d surmise, however, that the beastly 2023 DBX 707 was in the model plan from the outset.These Cayenne and DBX models make an excellent pairing, and not just because our samples were painted focus-group white to prevent color bias from creeping in. Ferocious twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engines vigorously propel both, with the Porsche’s 3996-cubic-centimeter powerplant generating 631 horsepower and the Aston wringing 697 horsepower from a mere 3982 cubic centimeters. Beyond that, both vehicles have all-wheel drive and ride on air springs augmented with electronically controlled dampers and active anti-roll bars. Both feature high-stance terrain modes of dubious relevance, and they also command sky-high prices. The lightly optioned Porsche in our test goes for $189,090, while the glitzier Aston Martin commands $290,086.2nd Place: Aston Martin DBXIf we determined a champion based on onlookers’ attention, the Aston would take this win, hands down. People stopped us at gas stations, wanting to know what it was and snapping photos. When you view the vehicles side-by-side, this makes sense. The 707 has presence. Its fresh, modern styling is festooned with intriguing details, although the diffuser’s fiddly spoiler is one we could do without.HIGHS: Undeniably fast, rorty soundtrack, stunning design. LOWS: Insufferable infotainment, eye-watering price. VERDICT: If money were no object, we wouldn’t object.The same is true inside, where the DBX comes across as interesting and layered. The seats and dashboard look as if some design capital was spent on them, and the carbon-fiber center console is far more intricate and deliberate than the perfunctory stuff tacked onto the Porsche’s door panels. But, as on the outside, the design would come off better if it were reeled in about 5 percent. Underway, the Aston delivers the crushing performance its aggressive looks imply. It rushes to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, reaches 100 mph in 7.6 seconds, and runs an 11.4-second quarter-mile at 121 mph. Its willing nine-speed automatic helps it rip 30-to-50-mph passing maneuvers in 2.6 seconds and 50-to-70 ones in three seconds flat.The Aston is an adept hustler in the twisties too. Precise steering response and strong brakes allow you to push as hard as you dare, with the V-8’s kick, glorious wail, and upshift crackle available when you boot it upon corner exit.The Aston is an adept hustler in the twisties too. Precise steering response and strong brakes allow you to push as hard as you dare, with the V-8’s kick, glorious wail, and upshift crackle available when you boot it upon corner exit. Despite some 5138 pounds of British engineering, the chassis feels lithe and balanced, and the active anti-roll control ensures that body lean is held to a minimum as you flow into the next corner. The brake engagement point is a bit lower than the Porsche’s, and slightly more turn-in lock is necessary because the Aston’s steering ratio feels a tad slower, but you’d never pick those nits without aggressively driving these two back-to-back. At the track, massive 23-inch Pirelli P Zero PZ4s help the Aston record 70-mph stops of 155 feet and a healthy 0.97 g of orbital stick.The Aston is a steady and calm interstate cruiser, with a smooth ride and a steering system that imparts a clairvoyant sense of straight ahead through its nicely contoured wheel. But we did miss a head-up display in this driving scenario, and over time the attractive seats proved to be less comfortable than they appear, with obtuse side-bolster and lumbar controls we never came to grips with. But the biggest gaffe has to be the infuriating infotainment system, which is controlled only by a touchpad or a half-hidden knob that is utterly inaccessible if you actually use the cupholders. Perhaps Aston should move them ahead of the controller and add a bona fide touchscreen to give the driver choices. What’s more, phone mirroring requires a cable, even though the center console’s handy open basement contains a wireless charging pad.More on the DBXMeanwhile, those seated in the rear will be happy as clams back there. Space is abundant, and climate-control vents are mounted in the center console as well as attractively set into the door pillars. At the end of the day, the biggest thing holding the Aston back is its near-$300,000 price tag. If you’re able to scoff at that sentence, well, don’t let us stop you from making a purchase.1st Place: Porsche CayenneCompared with the Aston, our white Porsche’s rounded-off styling suggests a used bar of soap, with a grille opening that looks like a hockey player’s wide grin with dentures out. Tellingly, an influencer snapping pictures of our DBX framed the Cayenne out of his shots.But the Turbo GT has got it where it counts, making it a superior sleeper. Despite having 66 horsepower less, the Porsche bolts out of the gate harder, reaching 60 mph in a mere 2.9 seconds and maintaining that 0.2-second advantage through 100 mph and across the line at the quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds at 120 mph. The more powerful Aston starts to outrun it after that, but it’s a close-run thing in a speed realm that has zero daily relevance. Back on earth, the still delivers heady passing performance and benefits from a smooth-shifting gearbox. HIGHS: Immediate control response, grip for days, lower price leaves room for options. LOWS: Forgettable styling, flintier ride, seats only four. VERDICT: The Porsche of haul-ass SUVs.The Porsche’s 30-to-50- and 50-to-70-mph passing times trail the Aston by a tenth and two-tenths, respectively. That’s probably due to the fewer ratios of its eight-speed automatic, but the GT still delivers heady passing performance and benefits from a smooth-shifting gearbox.In the mountains, the Turbo GT’s standard rear-wheel steering and active roll control team up to make quick work of tight hairpins, flowing esses, and long sweepers alike. The steering response is laser sharp, and the brake pedal feels immediate and intuitive. You just think about doing things and they get done. It’s a oneness the Aston can’t match. There’s also grip for days, and that’s not just in our head; a monster 1.03 g’s around the skidpad proved it.More on the Cayenne SUVBut there’s a catch—one that likely accounts for the launch advantage, the immediate turn-in response, and certainly the lateral grip, but curiously no significant stopping-distance superiority. The Turbo GT’s Pirelli P Zero Corsa PZC4 tires have a scant 80 treadwear rating (the Aston’s are 280). That’s so extreme, they wouldn’t be legal at an SCCA autocross. Tire Rack classifies them as Streetable Track & Competition tires, and we doubt they’ll last 10,000 miles. Still, perhaps from the perspective of the happy side of a $100,000 price gap, chucking a lot of them at the Porsche feels affordable. That “yes, but” theme continues on the open road, where the Turbo GT’s standard Alcantara steering wheel feels like, as senior editor Elana Scherr put it, “an elderly cat, all bones and fur.” Rest assured, there’s a more comfortable (and heated) wheel on the typically extensive Porsche options list. The same can be said of the dual-zone climate control, which can be upgraded to four zones with a comparatively modest spend (the DBX has a standard three-zone setup), and our Porsche’s lack of adaptive cruise control. The standard eight-way sport seats are comfortable over the long haul, though, and they do much to take the edge off rougher roads. That said, you could also upgrade to 18-way chairs.What you can’t option away is the slightly less compliant ride, the four-place seating, and the 1-mpg-worse EPA combined fuel-economy rating, which relates back to the gummy tires and the cog-deficient eight-speed automatic. But there are 100,000 reasons why this doesn’t matter, and there’s no denying that the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is the more potent and rewarding sport-utility weapon. Plus, if that interested influencer is any indication, the local constabulary will likely direct their attention to the Aston instead. SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Aston Martin DBX 707Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $239,086/$290,086Options: Satin Lunar White paint, $8900; dark grille, $800; rear privacy acoustic glass, $1900, smoked tailights, $1200; gloss 2×2 twill carbon fiber upper package, $9200; 23-inch forged satin black, diamond-turned wheels, $5100; Inspire Sport Duotone interior, $7600; Blue Haze Metallic leather, $2800; 2×2 twill carbon fiber with dark chrome jewelry, $3400; gloss 2×2 twill carbon fiber trim inlay, $4500; Dark Knight 720gsm carpet, $1900; lime green contrast stitching, $2100; black chrome badges and script, $1600.
ENGINETwin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 243 in3, 3982 cm3Power: 697 hp @ 6000 rpmTorque: 663 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm 
TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink, air springs, active anti-roll car/multilink, air springs, active anti-roll barBrakes, F/R: 16.5-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc/15.4-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic discTires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4F: 285/35ZR-23 (107Y) A8A, R: 325/30ZR-23 (109Y) A8A
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 120.5 inLength: 198.4 inWidth: 78.7 inHeight: 66.1 inPassenger Volume: 110 ft3Cargo Volume, behind front/rear seats: 54/23 ft3Curb Weight: 5138 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS30 mph: 1.1 sec60 mph: 3.1 sec100 mph: 7.6 sec150 mph: 19.7 sec1/4-Mile: 11.4 sec @ 121 mphResults above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.5 secTop Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 secTop Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 secTop Speed (mfr’s claim): 193 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 155 ftBraking, 100–0 mph: 315 ftRoadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.97 g 
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 14 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 17/15/20 mpg
— 
2022 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GTVehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $182,150/$189,090Options: PCCB with high-gloss black calipers, $900; comfort access, $940; 22-inch GT Design wheels in Satin Deep Sea Blue, $600; lane change assist, $950; LED Matrix Design headlights in black with PDLS+, $580; smartphone compartment with wireless charging, $690; head up display, $1720; Porsche logo on side, $560.
ENGINETwin-turbocharged DOHC 32-valve V-8 aluminum block and head, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 244 in3, 3996 cm3Power: 631 hp @ 6000 rpmTorque: 626 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm 
TRANSMISSION8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink, air springs, active anti-roll bar/multilink, air springs, active anti-roll barBrakes, F/R: 17.3-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic disc/16.1-in vented, cross-drilled ceramic discTires: Pirelli P Zero Corsa PZC4F: 285/35ZR-22 (106Y) N0R: 315/30ZR-22 (107Y) N0
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 113.9 inLength: 194.6 inWidth: 78.6 inHeight: 64.4 inPassenger Volume: XX ft3Cargo Trunk Volume, behind front/rear seats: 52/19 ft3Curb Weight: 4972 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS30 mph: 1.0 sec60 mph: 2.9 sec100 mph: 7.4 sec150 mph: 19.8 sec1/4-Mile: 11.2 sec @ 120 mphResults above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.5 secTop Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.7 secTop Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.2 secTop Speed (mfr’s claim): 186 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 154 ftBraking, 100–0 mph: 312 ftRoadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.03 g 
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 14 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 16/14/19 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINEDThis content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Porsche loves to pay homage to its past. When your halo model has been in production since the 1960s, there’s a rich history to tap into. The 2023 911 Carrera T is the latest to get the retro treatment, although it’s certainly no old-school sports car. Intended to evoke the feeling of the original 1968 Carrera T, the new one adds performance-enhancing goodies from elsewhere in the 911 lineup while reducing weight and trimming luxuries to create a purist’s sports car.This isn’t Porsche’s first contemporary T model for the 911, as it relaunched the trim during the 991-generation car’s tenure. More recently, Porsche has introduced a Macan T SUV, as well as 718 Boxster T and 718 Cayman T models, all using a similar lightweight, performance-enhanced formula. The 911 Carrera T feels focused and provides just enough modern-day amenities to avoid being under-equipped. Base Carrera Meets Carrera SThe entry-level 911 Carrera has a 379-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine but comes only with an eight-speed PDK automatic transmission, whereas the more expensive Carrera S ups output to 443 horsepower and can be had with Porsche’s excellent seven-speed manual. The Carrera T essentially splits the difference, sticking with the 379-hp version of the flat-six but opening up the availability of the seven-speed manual. Porsche will build you a Carrera T with the PDK, but doing so negates some of the T’s weight savings. For what it’s worth, the automatic car is said to be quicker, with Porsche claiming a zero-to-60 time of 3.8 seconds for the PDK and 4.3 for the manual. In addition to the standard stick shift, the Carrera T adds a mechanical limited-slip differential, Porsche’s PASM active suspension system with sport-tuned dampers, and staggered-fitment wheels and tires. The 20-inch front wheels wear 245-section-width rubber, while the 21-inch rears wear wider 305s. A rear-axle-steering system is optional, although our Gulf Blue example didn’t have it. All Carrera Ts come standard with the popular Sport Chrono package and feature Agate Gray exterior trim and a sport exhaust system with gloss-black tailpipes. PorschePorsche says the Carrera T weighs 100 pounds less than the base model despite the extra equipment. Weight-saving measures include deleting the rear seat, reduced sound deadening, a smaller battery, and thinner window glass. More sound permeates the cabin as a result, which is both a good and a bad thing. When hustling, you hear more of the engine’s melody, including the turbos spooling, but when cruising at steady highway speeds the engine note booms inside the cabin and can be a bit fatiguing. The Carrera T is surprisingly approachable, and even novice drivers will find it easy to wind through corners with surgical precision. At the same time, its ride is surprisingly compliant, and the suspension does a good job managing rough stretches of pavement, rounding off the sharp edges of most bumps.Twisty canyon roads—like the one where we drove the Carrera T near Los Angeles—are where the car feels most at home. Its steering is crisp and communicative, and so is the manual transmission, which has an unambiguous clutch takeup point. Although these controls feel entirely natural, the brakes take some getting used to. Early in the pedal travel, the brakes bite aggressively, and smooth modulation is a learned behavior. Stripped to BasicsThe all-black cabin of our test car appeared a little drab. While it’s nicely put together, it’s not quite flashy enough for the Carrera T’s $118,050 starting price. Besides removing the rear seats, Porsche has also stripped down features to save weight. That helps with the Carrera T’s purist-focused feel, but we’d have appreciated full-power-seat adjustments rather than power recline combined with manual fore-aft movement. Related StoriesThe seats themselves are comfortable and supportive, with bolstering suitable for hard driving but not uncomfortable for daily use. The optional Interior package adds some color inside by way of stripes on the seats, seatbelt coloring, and embroidered logos on the headrests and floor mats in your choice of Slate Gray or Lizard Green. Leather upholstery for the doors and dashboard is also available, as are 18-way power-adjustable seats. Porsche’s extra-aggressive carbon-fiber racing-style seats are also available.As with other 911 models, there are few places to stash small items throughout the cabin, but the upside is that there’s a generous parcel shelf where the rear seats would normally be, offering space for a suitcase or a pair of duffle bags. Rear seats can be added back at no additional cost if you want them, but we’d guess most drivers would welcome the additional cargo room instead.PorscheOverall, the Carrera T captures the spirit of the stripped-down ’60s original despite being a thoroughly modern car. The 911’s lineup is broad already, and it seems as though yet another variant would have trouble finding a niche. But Porsche’s aim with the Carrera T is to blend performance, simplicity, and relative affordability. For true enthusiasts, it’s a niche worth filling.SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera TVehicle Type: rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE
Base: $118,050
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 182 in3, 2981 cm3Power: 379 hp @ 6500 rpmTorque: 331 lb-ft @ 1900 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS
7-speed manual, 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 96.5 inLength: 178.3 inWidth: 72.9 inHeight: 50.8 inPassenger Volume: 72 ft3Cargo Volume, F/R: 5/9 ft3Curb Weight (C/D est): 3250-3350 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 3.5-4.0 sec100 mph: 8.0-8.3 sec1/4-Mile: 11.6-11.8 secTop Speed: 181 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 20-21/18/24-25 mpgThis content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Well, this is finally the end. Both for Audi’s 5.2-liter V-10 screamer—and V-10s in general—as well as its mid-engine R8 supercar. It seems 2023 is the last model year, and this limited-edition R8 GT, which lives among the rest of the R8 coupe and spyder lineup, the last variant.While that previous cluster of words is enough to sour the mood, the R8 GT will do just the opposite. It’s easy to drive, controllable on the throttle. Sweeping through a corner, we could quickly place it right at the limit of the rear end’s traction, where adding a touch more power caused the back end to step out. Playfully, never frightfully. We still miss the gated manual from the first-generation R8, but the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic in the GT nevertheless shifts even faster than before. In its most aggressive modes, the ferocious energy of a wide-open-throttle upshift at the 8700-rpm redline reverberates through the carbon-fiber and aluminum monocoque structure. Audi is selling just 333 GTs worldwide, with 150 coming to the U.S. There will be 50 each in red, gray, and black, which amounts to one for only every other Audi dealer. Each car is labeled with its build number, the sequence sunk beneath the surface of the carbon-fiber center-console trim. We spent a day in southern Spain at Circuito Monteblanco, where Audi had cars 62 through 64 on hand for lapping, plus a few more pre-production units that aren’t part of the official count. That’s right—the more desirable early-number cars get built later in the production cycle.Getting the 602-hp state of tune that was previously only available in all-wheel-drive R8s, the GT is 40 horses stronger than the regular rear-drive R8 and the most powerful rear-drive car ever from Audi. Maybe that’s why the Quattro brand is really leaning into drifting talk. In fact, the R8 GT is the only R8 to get a new feature called Torque Rear—Audi officials say labeling it drift mode is too iffy from a regulatory perspective—with seven settings of escalating allowability of rear-wheel slip. It’s more of a fun mode than a track tool, programmed to allow a goodly amount of wheelspin while making it a bit more difficult for an under-skilled driver to go all Mustang exiting Cars & Coffee. Click the new checkered flag button that’s sprouted on the steering wheel and then turn a knob to adjust. Level 1 doesn’t allow enough slip for a recognizable drift while Level 7 provides only the lightest touches of power reduction. Unlike Ferrari’s Side Slip Angle Control, however, Torque Rear isn’t a spin preventer. Ask us how we know.Audi|Car and DriverThe GT isn’t entirely a parts-bin car, but it does borrow more than a few bits from the existing lineup. The carbon-fiber front anti-roll bar, for instance, is an $1100 option on other R8s. It has exactly the same stiffness as the bar it replaces and saves 4.4 pounds. The GT also gets the shorter gearing from the all-wheel-drive variants, with the third through seventh ratios shorter by 4 to 29 percent, and standard carbon-ceramic brakes and bucket seats, which are part of the $12,900 Dynamic package on other R8s. Forged 20-inch wheels are new for the GT and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber in the same sizes as the rest of the lineup. European R8 GTs get an optional coil-over suspension that’s adjustable for height and damping, but it’s not available on U.S. cars. Ours stick to a fixed setup, skipping even the adaptive dampers from the all-wheel-drive variants.The End of an EraIf the GT’s $253,290 price seems dear, it’s probably because it’s $91,895 more than a regular 2023 rear-drive R8 coupe. But after checking all the option boxes that are included on the GT, the premium drops to $53,900. GTs also wear a comprehensive carbon-fiber aero package, including a large, fixed rear wing, front diffuser and canards, and an element behind the rear wheels. U.S. cars come fairly loaded, which is why they’re slightly heavier than their Euro counterparts. Standard equipment includes laser headlights, sport exhaust, dynamic steering, a B&O stereo, and carbon-fiber mirror caps, door sills, and side blades. Still, the GT is a claimed 55 pounds lighter than the regular rear-drive R8 and roughly 120 pounds lighter than the all-wheel-drive coupe. Part of the weight loss is a reduction in sound deadening that makes the R8 louder, and U.S. cars are louder still, thanks to the removal of the particulate filters required in the European market. It was hard to get a good read from the Euro-spec cars we drove, as the V-10’s sweet escalating melodies were always muffled by a helmet.Acceleration won’t be able to match that of the all-wheel-drive R8; plan on a 60-mph time in the very low threes and a quarter-mile right around 11 flat. The GT’s fixed-back bucket seats are relaxed fit for their genre; they’re neither narrow nor have steep bolsters on their periphery. They retain a power height adjustment and manual fore-aft. But this seems to fit with the R8’s more daily-drivable vibe—including a luggage shelf behind the front seats—compared with its relentlessly manic corporate cousin, the Lamborghini Huracán. Speaking of which, the GT is similar in concept to the rear-drive Huracán Tecnica.If you’re wondering how this last, best R8 might stack up to the Corvette Z06, Audi says you’re not one of its customers and claims there’s next to zero overlap with Corvette buyers. Nevertheless, you won’t be surprised that the R8 struggles to justify a price that’s more than twice as expensive as the Z06. The Z06 makes more power (although it’s more than a hundred pounds heavier) and revs nearly as high. The R8’s grip levels sure didn’t feel as lofty as the Z06’s, although a slightly damp track during our drive certainly had something to do with it. But we feel confident saying it would be hard to find a track where the Z06 wouldn’t win. Audi|Car and DriverThe R8 GT will arrive in early 2023, and the entire R8 line will depart by the end of the year. It’s been a good run.SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Audi R8 GTVehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE
Base: $253,290
ENGINE
DOHC 40-valve V-10, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 318 in3, 5204 cm3Power: 602 hp @ 8000 rpmTorque: 413 lb-ft @ 6400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 104.3 inLength: 177.0 inWidth: 77.3 inHeight: 48.2 inPassenger Volume: 50 ft3Cargo Volume F/R: 4/8 ft3Curb Weight (C/D est): 3550 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 3.1 sec100 mph: 6.6 sec1/4-Mile: 11.0 secTop Speed: 199 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 17/14/21 mpgThis content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Rejoice, influencers who live in a van down by the river! Your hashtag van life just got a little bit easier, because the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 is all-wheel drive, rather than four-wheel drive. Which means that, when you’re heading to that Insta-friendly camping spot atop a glacier, on the rim of a volcano, or in the middle of a gurgling trout-filled river, you no longer have to push a button to engage the front axle. Nope, the Sprinter’s full-time transfer case will do the job for you, shuffling torque to the front axle as needed. This leaves more time for you to try on different hats, dry your bamboo underwear next to your idyllic campfire, or proposition a camp toilet company about sponsoring you so you can stop digging dang holes in the woods every day. Van life is busy. So it’s also nice that the 2023 Sprinter diesel is probably faster than the outgoing model. We say probably because we haven’t yet done any instrumented testing, but it looks good on paper. The outgoing V-6 diesel offered 188 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, while the new Sprinter diesel brings 211 horsepower at 3600 rpm and 332 pound-feet from 1600 to 2400 rpm. What’s more, that increased output comes from a much-downsized engine, which is now a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rather than a 3.0-liter six. The buff four-banger is hooked to a nine-speed automatic in place of the 2022 model’s seven-speed. Thanks to the nine-speed’s wider ratio spread, Benz says that first gear is the same as in older Sprinter 4x4s that had a five-speed when their transfer case was in low range. That’s good since the 2023 Sprinter doesn’t have a low range. Even so, the new system actually is more capable. For instance, with four-wheel drive engaged, the prior Sprinter 4×4 only sent 35 percent of its torque to the front axle. The new one can send 100 percent to the front, or 100 percent to the rear, or divvy it up anywhere in between, as needed. From launch, it’ll aim for 50-50 front-to-rear, but during highway cruising, it can dismiss the front axle and run in rear-drive mode until conditions call for some front-end assistance. It’s all completely transparent, and there are real-world advantages, especially on pavement. Say the road is wet or intermittently dry with icy patches—you don’t have to monitor the surface and engage four-wheel drive when things look slippery. The traction is always there.And that’s helpful now that there’s a little bit more power. It’s not like the Sprinter will give you whiplash off the line, but the 2.0-liter feels admirably feisty, even with about 1200 pounds of ballast strapped into the cargo bay. Really, it feels quite a bit like the outgoing V-6 but presumably delivers better fuel economy. (The Sprinter, like heavy-duty pickups, is large enough to escape EPA fuel-economy ratings.) Four-cylinder compression-ignition rattle and vibration are mostly absent, with little noise making its way into the cabin. The max tow rating of 7500 pounds matches the outgoing model, so there really doesn’t seem to be any downside to the Sprinter’s cylinder-ectomy under the hood.As for the off-road chops, Benz had grand plans for us to evaluate the new all-wheel-drive system on trails at a dirt-bike track near Stuttgart, but heavy rain turned the terrain into a soupy mess, such that the route was much abbreviated. But we can say that the all-wheel-drive Sprinter handled a bit of mud with aplomb, despite wearing winter tires that quickly packed their tread blocks with sticky Swabian clay. As before, this vehicle’s off-road abilities are defined by its size more than its ground clearance or traction—you need a big trail to accommodate a machine that can be more than 24 feet long and nine feet tall, depending on configuration.Related StoriesDespite the Mercedes star on the grille, the Sprinter remains a workhorse, with a spartan interior—manual seats, manual handbrake, lots of hard plastics. There’s still a value-leader gasoline model that uses a 188-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and costs $46,795 in cargo-van form. The entry-level diesel is tuned for 170 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and costs $49,295 as a cargo van or $54,905 as a passenger van. All-wheel drive is a $6400 option. That’s a significant discount from the outgoing four-wheel-drive system, which was $8500. Evidently, ditching that low range really saves a few bucks. The minimum price for a high-roof all-wheel-drive cargo van with the high-output engine and a 170-inch wheelbase is $64,635.When we initially heard that the top-of-the-range diesel Sprinter was losing two cylinders and a liter of displacement, that sounded like folly. But in practice, most people won’t notice the difference one way or the other, even though the 2023 model is modestly more powerful and has a nine-speed transmission. So if you bought a diesel V-6 2022 Sprinter, you needn’t indulge in any buyer’s remorse. And if you end up with a diesel 2023 Sprinter 4×4—which is at dealers already—you shouldn’t feel like you missed out on the last great Sprinter engine. The biggest difference, really, is having all-wheel drive instead of part-time four-wheel drive, but that’s an evolution rather than a revolution. For the latter, we’ll have to wait for the electric Sprinter coming next year. In the meantime, we wish we could convince Mercedes to bring the super-funky Sprinter crew-cab 4×4 pickup truck to the U.S. market. Influencers, get working.SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo VanVehicle Type: front-engine, rear- or all-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 5-door van
PRICE
2500 standard-roof, 144-inch-wheelbase, rear-drive gasoline, $46,795; 2500 high-roof, 170-inch-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive high-output diesel, $64,635
ENGINES
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter diesel inline-4, 170 hp, 295 lb-ft; DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 188 hp, 258 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter diesel inline-4, 211 hp, 332 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION9-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 144.0 or 170.0 inLength: 234.0, 274.0, or 290.0 inWidth: 80.0 inHeight: 96.0-111.0 inCargo Volume: 533 ft3 maxCurb Weight (C/D est): 5500-6000 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 12.0-13.5 sec1/4-Mile: 18.0-20.0 secTop Speed: 90 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Exempt from EPA testing and labelingThis content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

To show us what the new Honda Civic Type R could do on the track, Honda invited us to Sonoma Raceway for an afternoon of lead-follow. To protect the precious population of automotive journalists, YouTubers, bloggers, and website word artists, Honda’s factory driver Ryan Eversley took it easy. While Eversley explained some basic track etiquette to us influencers, heavy rain turned portions of the track into an above-ground pool.Small Package, Big PowerSonoma Raceway, formerly Sears Point, is a playground of peaks and valleys with a drag strip down the middle. A 2.5-mile road course with 160 feet of elevation change, Sonoma has waved checkered flags for 52 years. From Dan Gurney’s 1970 IndyCar to Kasey Kahne’s NASCAR Dodge Charger, Sonoma has hosted them all and is a beacon of automotive enthusiasm among the valley’s 14,000 acres of wine vineyards. The Championship White Type R we lapped wore the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. While these max-performance summer tires are a great wet-weather tire, we were nevertheless way down on grip compared to the tires’ tenacious dry traction and prepared to tip-toe our way up to speed. Embrace the DramaWet laps teach an important lesson on smooth throttle application. As you get more comfortable, you realize driving in the rain is just a dramatized version of what works when it’s dry. Breathe onto the throttle instead of stomping, and the CTR will reward you with a faster corner exit. Climbing up and out of Turn 2 meant taking a lot of curbing. Exiting that area requires serious throttle discipline in the rain to prevent traction loss when applying the Civic’s robust 310-pound-feet of torque.The Type R’s magic became more evident as corner exits began to dry. Get the entry right for the wide downhill through Turn 6, and the lateral g’s experienced when exiting the legendary Carousel in the CTR at full blast will make your eyebrows tighten. On the drier laps, the Type R’s limited-slip differential shined with putting down way more power than we thought possible. Worry of oh-no, this might be too fast is replaced by damn, I guess we’ll try that faster next time.Unlike the far-tamer 200-hp Civic Si, the 315-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter in the Type R buzzes louder when revved. That makes it much easier—even while wearing a helmet—to sense when it’s time to shift. The shift lights atop the gauge cluster also are a clear indication, but this car is loud enough to not need them. Honda updated its shifter base for the new CTR, and it delivers crisp changes. Rather than stirring Legos with a plastic fork, the Type R’s throw into the next gear feels snappy. Honda’s reworked automatic rev-matching works well on slower laps and is a helpful aid when learning braking and turn-in points. With it off, the additional footwork required to blip the revs yourself feels more natural, though not as consistent. Even when the apexes have filled with rain water, racetracks are tough to leave. While our time at Sonoma with the CTR was as short as it was sweet, it won’t be our last chance to kiss the curbing with one. And we’ll hope for kinder weather at Virginia International Raceway for this year’s Lightning Lap.This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The demise of the Fiesta and Focus in the U.S. marked the end of Ford’s long-held but never realized ambition to create a “world car” that could succeed in all global markets. Maybe Ford should have concentrated on a “world truck” instead, a niche that the Ranger seems to have achieved. The Ranger is sold in no fewer than 180 countries. The outgoing version was the most popular pickup in Europe, which is where we had our first experience with the hotly anticipated new Ranger Raptor.The Euro version has much in common with the upcoming U.S. Ranger Raptor, which we expect to see next year, with the same styling and gravity-defying suspension featuring internal-bypass dampers made by Fox Racing. Beyond the fact that Rangers sold in Europe are produced in Thailand while our version will be built in the good ol’ USA, the major difference is that the U.S. Raptor is set to get a brawnier engine.Related StoriesThat’s because Europe is entering its own Malaise Era. There, the Ranger Raptor is getting a detuned version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 from the Bronco Raptor, the pickup’s engine strangled by the need to meet stringent new emissions standards. In Australia, where the Ranger Raptor was launched first, its V-6 makes 392 horsepower and 430 pound-feet, but in Europe, it will produce 288 horsepower and 362 pound-feet. We will have to wait for U.S. specs, but it seems certain our Raptor will have at least as much power as the Australian version—and possibly the full 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of the Bronco Raptor. A 10-speed automatic gearbox with a two-speed transfer case, plus locking front and rear differentials, will be standard in all markets. The new Ranger’s fresh metalwork sits on the same T6 platform as the outgoing truck, and the Raptor uses a reinforced version of that ladder chassis. From the front, it really does look like a baby F-150, with LED headlights pushed to the edge of the bodywork and a similarly shouty all-caps FORD grille motif. Like the F-150, it also has plastic wheel-arch extensions and a broader track. Although huge by European standards, the Ranger Raptor’s 211.0-inch overall length and 79.8-inch width make it 21.6 inches shorter than the F-150 version and 7.0 inches narrower. A crew cab is the standard configuration in Europe and has a 61.6-inch cargo bed.The addition of some microfiber panels and colored accents elevate the Raptor’s cabin over the regular Ranger’s, but the plastics remain hard and utilitarian. The 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.0-inch portrait-orientated central touchscreen both looked good. Ford’s SYNC 4A infotainment system works cleanly and intuitively, although we welcomed the continued presence of physical controls for heating and ventilation. The Raptor’s center console features a stubby shifter with a button on the side that engages manual mode—manual shifting is via the steering-wheel paddles. A rotary dial selects the drive modes and controls the transfer case, which has 2H, 4H, 4L, and 4A settings—the last automatically sending power to the front axle when required.On-road refinement felt very impressive considering the Continental General Grabber A/T tires our truck was wearing. The Fox Racing shock absorbers vary damping force according to both wheel travel and an adaptive valve, meaning the ride at everyday speeds is plush and compliant. Noise insulation proved equally good at highway speeds, the Raptor’s cabin staying quiet at a 75-mph cruise in Normal mode—an unexpected virtue.Steering weight feels heavier than in the F-150 Raptor, even in its lightest setting, but delivers little feedback. There isn’t much for it to talk about given the front tires’ limited ability to deliver lateral grip on asphalt. The Ranger tracks straight and doesn’t wander, but although it feels stable at speed it has little appetite for tighter corners. It doesn’t take much enthusiasm to get the front pushing wide and the rear axle struggling for traction.FordAlthough much quicker than the last-generation Ranger Raptor sold in Europe—which used a four-cylinder diesel engine and required more than 10 seconds to reach 60 mph—the new one still feels some way short of being fast. Ford of Europe quotes a 7.9-second zero-to-62-mph sprint. The transmission’s blunt reactions in Drive didn’t help to raise confidence for passing moves, either. Selecting Sport mode improved responses but also added artificial weight to the electric power steering and introduced a droning exhaust note. The Raptor’s exhaust has four different modes, including Normal, Sport, and a new Quiet setting for low-key departures. There’s also a Baja mode that’s so noisy it comes with a dashboard admonition that it is only for off-road use. Driving the Ranger Raptor on a demanding off-road course quickly proved where its heart truly lies. It feels like a smaller version of the F-150 Raptor, slower but more wieldy and yet equally adept at tackling serious bumps at speed. The Ranger has 10 inches of wheel travel at the front and 11.4 inches at the back, which is less than the F-150 Raptor, but the engineering team says that the smaller truck’s dampers work harder. Sensors monitor wheel travel at each corner, so the Raptor’s brain knows when its tires have left terra firma, at which point it stiffens the dampers to their firmest setting to brace for impact. Hitting a big bump at speed proved the truck can fly and—more importantly—land without undue drama.Yet it was on more technically challenging terrain that the Ranger Raptor impressed most. Ford’s claim of 10.4 inches of ground clearance and a 32-degree approach angle might not get close to the Bronco Raptor’s 13.1 inches and 47 degrees, but the pickup’s figures are better than those for a coil-sprung Land Rover Defender 90. The Raptor also has a Rock Crawl mode that automatically maintains a creeping speed and took it up a steeply graded dry stream bed without any throttle input. The electronically locking front and rear differentials can be engaged and disengaged quickly too—although the icons controlling them on the touchscreen are small and hard to locate when the truck is bouncing over rugged terrain.FordThe Ranger Raptor is smaller than its F-150 sibling, and the European version is considerably slower, but it doesn’t feel like any less of an experience when driven hard over demanding terrain. We await the arrival of our own turned-up version with great enthusiasm. SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor (Europe)Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear/four-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base: $72,000 (U.K. $ equivalent, including VAT) 
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, iron block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 180 in3, 2956 cm3Power: 288 hp @ 5500 rpmTorque: 362 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 128.7 inLength: 211.0 inWidth: 79.8 inHeight: 75.8 inPassenger Volume: 99 ft3Bed Length: 61.6 inCurb Weight (C/D est): 5300 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 7.5 sec1/4-Mile: 15.4 secTop Speed: 111 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/city/highway: 17/17/18 (but won’t be EPA-rated)This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

We must wait for the day when automotive artisans reimagine third-gen Camaros or Fox-bodied Mustangs into immaculate carbon-fiber-bodied restomods that command six-figure prices. Until then, we’ll have to keep slumming with the 964-generation of the Porsche 911.Of course, there are plenty of reasons why the penultimate air-cooled 911 is the frequent muse for high-end tuning outfits. There is no shortage of cars to start with, Porsche having sold more than 60,000 of all variants globally between 1989 and 1994. Interest (and values) are also high enough to find a market for expensive transformations.The most famous re-creator of the 964 is undoubtedly Singer in California, which has been producing versions that cross the boundary from car to automotive art for more than a decade. But an increasing number of other shops are now getting into the same space. Last year, we told you about an EV version produced by Everrati in the U.K., although we struggled to see what the electric powertrain added to the experience. Now here’s another British firm, but this one sticks with internal combustion. The small shop is called Theon Design, and it gave C/D the chance to experience a partially carbon-fiber-bodied 964 just before it was shipped to a buyer in Chile, hence the car’s CHI001 name. Oh, and that customer is a successful blueberry farmer, if you’re wondering about the reason for its violently violet color scheme.As with many similar businesses, Theon Design was born from a personal passion, in this case, the quest of a man named Adam Hawley to build his own perfect 964 while working 9-to-5 as a car designer for big auto companies including Jaguar Land Rover. The car was eventually finished to a standard that had friends and acquaintances asking him to create something similar for them, leading to the establishment of Theon Design with business partner Lucinda Argy, who is also his wife.While the Theon CHI001 shares its basic form with the 964, its detailing is clearly inspired by that of earlier 911s. It has lost the full-width rear light bar it was built with and gained both 930 Turbo-style bumper overriders and headlamp bezels. The original car underneath the conversion was a Carrera 4 sold in Japan, but it has been stripped to component parts and completely rebuilt. Structural changes include a carbon-fiber roof, trunklid, engine cover, and spoiler. The fenders and bumpers are made from a sturdier carbon-kevlar blend. Weight saving over a regular 964 is around 220 pounds, according to Hawley, with the part-composite bodywork also making the car stronger. Up close, the attention to detail is close to obsessive, including touches such as the symmetric mounting of the twin ignition coils on the engine firewall and the invisible integration of a center, high-mounted brake light into the rear-window surround.Theon’s customers have a choice of powertrains, including the intriguing option of a supercharger conversion the company has developed for the air-cooled flat-six. The CHI001 is running a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter engine; individual throttle bodies and careful internal balancing take peak output to 400 horsepower at 7100 rpm. It has also lost its original all-wheel-drive system, and power is now sent exclusively to the rear axle through a six-speed 993-generation gearbox and a limited-slip differential.Not every part of the experience has been updated. Getting in, we find the familiar, slightly offset driving position, and although beautifully retrimmed in a vibrant hue to match the exterior paint, the cabin’s basic architecture is unchanged. But starting the engine reveals an immediately different character to a regular Carrera of this generation: first, the bark of the exhaust, which switchable acoustic flaps vary from loud to very loud; second is the immediacy of the engine’s responses to even slight accelerator-pedal pressure, thanks to an ultralight flywheel. Theon DesignComparing Theon’s car with a regular 964 is made complicated by the increasingly distant memories of what the original car was like when new, but this one drives with a level of poise and precision it seems hard to imagine that any stock 964 possessed even when factory fresh (with the possible exception of the famous RS variant). The CHI001’s steering feels direct and slack-free for an air-cooled 911. It retains hydraulic assistance, but this is now powered by an electric pump. Revised suspension geometry, stiffer bushings, and active dampers increase the precision with which the front end can be placed, although they also mean there is less sense of the 964’s fundamental rear-biased weight distribution in corners. Easing the accelerator with the chassis loaded up tightens the line progressively but not snappily. The biggest dynamic difference is probably down to the modern Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s mounted on the period Fuchs-style rims, which give an abundance of grip. The ride is firm even with the adaptive dampers in their softest setting, but not uncomfortably so. Yet the engine is the CHI001’s starring feature—impressively muscular low down but with what feels like an inexhaustible appetite for revs that the scalpel-sharp accelerator encourages a driver to exploit. The tachometer only goes to 8000 rpm, but the limiter is actually another 500 rpm beyond that. Working against just 2570 pounds, it feels 21st-century fast, too. The gearshift is perfectly weighted, and despite the switch to carbon-ceramic brakes, the middle pedal feels similarly natural in its responses.This love story may have you question our critical faculties, but the car does have some downsides. The first is the price. While considerably short of the seven-figure expenditure required for one of Singer’s pixel-perfect offerings, a buyer will still need to pay Theon around $500,000 (at current exchange rates) to get something similar to this car—plus the cost of the donor 911. The second is the wait: The company already has a substantial order bank it needs to work its way through and can build at no more than five cars a year.Theon DesignBeyond that, while “perfect” is a strong adjective to apply to any car, the Theon gets dangerously close to earning it. This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More