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Magic happens once again between Porsche and Audi

16 May, 2016

Now, if you’re into German automobiles like I am, you’ll know that it’s nothing new for two automakers to collaborate to create greatness. If you think back to the early ’90s you’ll remember when Audi and Porsche combined their intensely well-engineered forces and produced Audi’s first-ever high-performance estate vehicle, the Audi RS2 Avant. The Audi RS2 was a game changer for Audi, and truly put them on the high-end luxury performance wagon map, which, to this day, is a vehicle range that continues to gain momentum with the likes of the drool-worthy $250,000-new Audi RS6 Avant. 

Porsche released a twin-turbo V8 engine at the 37th International Vienna Motor Symposium, held April 28–29, 2016 in Austria. It is said that it will make its way into the Volkswagen motor group, and power the likes of Audi. The twin-turbo V8 is to be no slouch either, producing a yet again groundbreaking 409kW (549hp) and 744Nm (567lb·ft) of torque. Porsche has said that they will be the one to first make use of the engine in the Porsche Panamera, but after that it will not just make its way into Audi vehicles, but also Lamborghinis and some Bentley models. To make use of the broad powerband that the engine is likely to have, it’ll be backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission or a dual-clutch eight-speed. 

As more information comes to light about which specific Audi models will be blessed with this mighty engine, we’ll let you know. 

Motorman: Blame it on Rio!

22 May, 2025

Following the third polite advisory, I figured there had to be a fair degree of substance to the warning. “If this is your first visit to Rio de Janeiro, please be careful,” came the personal hushed dialogue from the pleasant hostesses on a far from crowded Varig flight from Los Angeles to the famous Brazilian seaside city.
The previous evening I had flown into LA from Auckland en route to the 1985 international launch of the Fiat Uno Turbo. I was prepared for another long haul of just under 12 hours across Mexico, central America, Colombia, and central Brazil to that nation’s third largest city. Surprisingly the 10,500km run from Los Angeles to Rio is actually longer than the 8800km LA-London air route.
With the journey including a brief stopover in Honolulu I expected to travel just under 44,000km for the return journey to sample what was to be a low-volume version of a popular Italian car that would sell in even lower numbers in New Zealand. I like to think this shows nothing more than my deep commitment to my craft. In fact, even though I became lost on the homeward journey my total air miles would be little different.

Pinnacle Porsche

15 May, 2025

We were stopped at the side of the road, setting up the next photograph, when a faded Toyota slowed alongside and stopped. The window was already down to give the driver a good look.
“That’s my dream car,” he said, speaking for more than a few of us.
He drank in the gleaming red paint, shining in the sun, and the car’s purposeful swoops and curves. He exhaled half a lungful of cigarette smoke, gave a hang 10–style thumbs up and drove off.
On the side of the road, against a clear blue background, the Porsche stood out in all its stark red glory. It’s the classic 911 shape on steroids. It has the fat, even pouty, front lip of the G series 911s, added to comply with 5mph bumper restrictions in the US. It also has the oversized haunches to accommodate the wider rear wheels and tyres – a first for Porsche, which also confirmed its supercar credentials – and, most noticeably of all, that enormous whale-tail spoiler. They made it look as if Porsche had abandoned its restraint.