Tested: Is the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo a Recipe for Disaster?
Leave it to Porsche. Going into our 2022 SUV of the Year competition, no vehicle had more pre-shade thrown its way than the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo. We've enjoyed a mixed, ambiguous relationship with the Taycan sedan since we first drove it. On the one hand, kudos to Porsche for making a great-handling electric vehicle that emphasizes performance and feel over everything else. On the other, where's the range, bro?
Yes, we like performance, but institutionally we just can't fully get behind the industry's least efficient EV. As for the "SUV" version, well, it's just a barely lifted station wagon, right? No different than the crass, "we're not that gullible" efforts from Audi (the A6 Allroad) and Mercedes-Benz (E450 All-Terrain) to pitch station wagons as some sort of off-roaders. But then we made the terrible mistake of actually taking the Cross Turismo in the dirt, and yeah, Porsche strikes again.
Before we get to how it drives, let's talk about what the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo is. First off, it's a station wagon by all definitions of the term. Yes, the legal definition of an SUV has something to do with ride height, but as I'm so fond of saying, "Just look at it." Talk about obvious. The Cross Turismo is an incredibly handsome wagon, especially on the tough-looking five-spoke wheels Porsche bolted to our test subject. Tangentially speaking, Taycan wheel design is all over the map, ranging from goofy to horrible to "yeah, baby." These are the latter. Since we drove the Cross Turismo, Porsche went and confusingly launched an uncladded wagon version of the Taycan, the 2022 GTS Sport Turismo, which looks approximately 10 percent better. That's mostly due to the 0.8-inch drop in ride height, meaning the Sport Turismo is technically a car. More on that in a bit.
Under the lovely, Chalk-colored metal you'll find two motors: one driving the wheels at the front axle, and the other driving those at the rear. Unlike all other EVs on the market save for its Audi twin, the E-Tron GT, the Taycan has a two-speed transmission that's only connected to the rear motor. As for power, this gets a bit confusing. Combined output from the two motors is 375 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. However, activate launch control, and the two motors go into overboost and the output increases to 469 horsepower, a more than 20 percent increase. Hey, it's a brave, new EV world. The battery pack is large at 93.4 kWh, and the range is EPA-rated at 215 miles. That's down 10 from the mechanically identical Taycan sedan, due a little to the increased weight of the wagon body but more so the increased ride height that also decreases aerodynamic efficiency and forces the halfshafts to sprout from the motor at an angle. Did I mention it weighs 5,134 pounds?
The odd part about driving the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo only occurs when you realize there are three more powerful versions available: the 4S, the Turbo, and the Turbo S. There is a non-4, RWD sedan that makes less power (321 hp, 402 in overboost), but this particular version—$92,250 base, $109, 980 as tested—is pretty far down the Taycan lineup, which also includes the GTS sedan and Sport Turismo. Let me also point out that as far as the Taycan—cough—SUVs go, this is the entry-level Cross Turismo. The entry version that can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, of course.
The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo can also run the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at 115.9 mph. That quarter mile is pretty quick, especially for an off-road-capable station wagon. But it's not that quick for an EV, as the Porsche barely edges out the 470-hp Jeep Wrangler 392 that does the quarter in 12.9. Hey we're talking SUVs, right? And remember, that using launch control this Taycan makes precisely 1 fewer horsepower than the double live-axle, brick-shaped Jeep.
The Porsche's braking performance is good. Not so much as to stand out, but not bad, and there's nothing wrong with how the pedal feels. It takes 109 feet for the Cross Turismo to stop from 60 mph, 5 feet longer than the much more powerful, capable, expensive Taycan Turbo S with its 17.3-inch front rotors and super-sticky tires. Likewise, the Taycan 4's figure-eight time is good, at 25 seconds flat. I always say any car in the 24-second range is a sports car, and this slightly jacked-up wagon is oh, so close. To give you an idea of how well the Porsche did, remember the Mercedes E450 All-Terrain we discussed earlier? Another gussied-up station wagon pretending to be an SUV? It took 26.2 seconds to get around our figure-eight course. The Audi A6 Allroad? 26.5. Oh, and the Jeep 392? A frankly pathetic 29.3 run, which our test team chalked up to "aggressive ESC."
Based on time spent with other Taycans we knew going in that this Porsche would be more fun to drive than the competition on the street. We wrongly assumed that since it's obviously only pretending to be an SUV, it would be weak sauce in dirt. We were totally wrong. Did we attempt any rock crawling? No, and you'd be insane to try. But we did try dirt, sand, and gravel, and, man, was the Cross Turismo not only competent and capable, it was a blast, as well. Especially in sand, where the EV loved kicking up giant rooster tails while simultaneously not even kinda getting stuck. Whatever off-road advantage there is from a 0.8-inch lift, Porsche fully exploited it.
Unlike the aforementioned Audi and Mercedes "SUVs," I'd actually recommend the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo as both a driver's car and a light-duty off-roader. It's a genuine double-threat. At this stage in the game do we have the right to be surprised that a Porsche is fun to drive? Naw, probably not. Now, if the fine folks at Zuffenhausen could just do something about the meager driving range.
Looks good! More details?2021 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo BASE PRICE $92,250 PRICE AS TESTED $109,980 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front and rear-motor, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door wagon MOTOR TYPE Permanent-magnet electric POWER (SAE NET) 469 hp TORQUE (SAE NET) 368 lb-ft TRANSMISSION 2-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 5,134 lb (49/51%) WHEELBASE 114.3 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 195.8 x 77.4 x 55.5 in 0-60 MPH 4.5 sec QUARTER MILE 12.7 sec @ 115.9 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 109 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.89 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 25.0 sec @ 0.76 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 75/81/77 mpg-e ON SALE Now Show AllYou may also like
lincoln navigator Full OverviewThe Lincoln Navigator is well established among ginormous three-row luxury SUVs, having initiated the full-size segment some 25 years ago. The latest iteration of the Navigator made its debut for the 2018 model year and has been refreshed for 2022 with updated styling and some new technology. We usually welcome changes like these, but in the case of the 2022 Navigator at least one addition isn't, er, particularly great.ActiveGuide Is New but Has FlawsLet's dive right into the trouble: The headline technology for the updated Navigator is Lincoln's ActiveGlide semi-autonomous driving technology, effectively an adaptive cruise control and lane centering system that allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on certain pre-mapped roads, the ever-expanding database of which will be beamed to Lincolns through over-the-air updates. (ActiveGlide is effectively a rebadged version of the BlueCruise system used in the parent company's Ford-branded vehicles. Lincoln offers it free for the first three years before owners need to subscribe.)Like all hands-free systems, in order to let you take your hands off the wheel, ActiveGlide needs to be able to detect that you are watching the road. To do this, the Navigator employs cameras atop the steering column that detect head and eye movements. If the system senses that the driver's eyes are off the road, it sounds repeated aural warnings before canceling lane guidance.We are intimately familiar with this sequence of events because we experienced it repeatedly—not because we weren't watching where we were going, but because we forgot to bring sunglasses to the press preview. Turns out that if you squint, ActiveGlide loses track of your eyes and thinks you aren't looking at the road. It also turns out that if a short driver doesn't position the steering column low enough, the steering wheel hub partially blocks the camera, generating more false alarms."Watch the Road"? We Are Watching the Road!We experienced ActiveGlide's full automation on Phoenix's 202 loop freeway and found it worked beautifully—right up until the road curved west into the afternoon sun, when it started shouting warnings to our squinting selves. (Interestingly enough, when the Navigator came to a section where it couldn't steer itself and needed the driver to put hands back on the wheel, the warnings were silent.)Now, we'd normally dismiss this as not such a big deal if it only affected hands-free driving, but there is a major caveat here: The face-recognition camera is also required for the normal lane centering function. So even when we weren't letting the Lincoln do the driving—so, when we were on non-ActiveGlide-mapped roads and turned on cruise control and lane guidance, with our hands firmly on the wheel—the Navigator continued to yell at us to watch the road, even though we were.This annoyance is piled on top of another one: Like most vehicles, when lane centering is engaged, the Navigator sounds a warning if it believes you've taken your hands off the wheel. Instead of a capacitive touch sensor, Lincoln uses the cheaper torque sensor, which detects inputs on the steering wheel. The problem—which we've experienced on other vehicles as well—is that on long straightaways, which require no steering, the Navigator yells at you to put your hands on the wheel even when they are already there. This is the reason why the Cadillac Escalade, equipped with GM's competing Super Cruise system, invested in the pricier touch sensors. Lincoln could do better for its top-of-the-line vehicle—after all, it's not like it's selling these full-sizers at razor-thin profit margins.Were these isolated incidents or due to a malfunctioning vehicle? We don't think so. We drove two different Navigators, and both exhibited the same behavior. Furthermore, other staffers have experienced these issues with the BlueCruise-branded version of the system in Ford vehicles. However, aside from the bedeviled lane-centering system, we found lots to like in the face-lifted Navigator.The Actual Improvements to the 2022 Lincoln NavigatorThere are other changes to the '22 Navigator, and some are genuine improvements, like the styling. The 2022 model has thinner headlights, a bolder grille, and better taillights, i.e., ones that no longer look like they've been installed upside down. There's a new Central Park Edition available with a dark green interior that looks in person better than it sounds on paper, as well as the blue-upholstered Yacht Club version. (Is this a return to the 1970s, when you could get your car's interior done up in colors other than black and beige? Gosh, we hope so.)The newly expanded 13.2-inch center screen, which runs Ford's Sync 4 system, is intuitive and easy to use, and the optional premium sound system is nothing short of spectacular. We also remain fascinated by Lincoln's 30-way power front seats, though we're not convinced they're a great idea. Automakers pay ergonomic experts to craft seats that are supportive and comfortable, with a few simple adjustments so we can tweak them to our needs. Lincoln's 30-way seats make, well, the occupants into the experts. Except most people aren't orthopedic spine physicians, and they will have the same trouble we do molding the seats into a perfect position. Perhaps there is such a thing as too many choices. Lincoln, how about a few ergonomically optimized presets that we can then fine-tune?The Best Seats Are the Rear SeatsWe had a much better time in the back seat (stop giggling, you children). Before our drive, we were chauffeured around in a Navigator equipped with Lincoln's new-for-'22 rear-seat entertainment system, which now incorporates Amazon Fire TV. Two of us streamed two separate programs from Amazon Prime (the system also does Netflix and Disney Plus), all while enjoying the class-exclusive massaging rear seats. (OK, so maybe there isn't such a thing as too many choices.) It was a far more enjoyable experience than being yelled at by the lane-centering system.The 2022 Lincoln Navigator also gets the latest version of Ford's Pro Trailer Assist system, which lets you steer a trailer in reverse via a knob on the dash. Programming is now easier than ever: No separate transponder is needed (as on the Ford F-150), just a checkerboard sticker on the trailer that Ford devotees will recognize from the system's first generation. In addition, no measuring is required to set up the system as with the original sticker-based system. Drive a calibration pattern, and the cameras do all the measuring for you. We're pleased to see this in the Navigator; its ability to tow up to 8,700 pounds—more than half a ton better than the Escalade—is a compelling reason to buy it.Likable, But Still Needs to Be BetterIn all other respects, the 2022 Navigator is basically the gentle giant we've come to know and love enough to make it our top-ranked full-size luxury SUV. It has authoritative power from the 440-hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, a smooth-shifting 10-speed transmission, and a somewhat noisier, choppier ride than you might expect from Lincoln's flagship. And, of course, the Navigator is woefully inefficient—count on fuel economy numbers in the mid-teens. Lincoln tells us it has no plans to add a hybrid powertrain because gas mileage is not high on the priority list of the Navigator's target buyer.Hopefully said buyer is willing to deal with the driver-assistance foibles, too. Lincoln could dramatically mitigate the Navigator's problem by disabling the face cameras for hands-on lane centering, but it would be better still if the brand invested more in the engineering of the system. ActiveGlide's current functionality is enough to give us major pause, and that's really a shame—among big SUVs, the Lincoln has a lot to offer. Let's hope Lincoln sees the wisdom in investing in a rapid update to this update.Looks good! More details?2022 Lincoln Navigator Specifications BASE PRICE $78,405-$107,720 LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD/4WD, 7-8-pass, 4-door SUV ENGINE 3.5L/440-hp/510-lb-ft twin-turbo direct-injected DOHC 24-valve V-6 TRANSMISSION 10-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 5,700-6,050 lb (mfr) WHEELBASE 122.5-131.6 in L x W x H 210.0-221.9 x 79.9 x 76.1-76.4 in 0-60 MPH 5.9 sec (MT est) EPA FUEL ECON, CITY/HWY/COMB 16-17/22-23/18-19 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 414-513 miles ON SALE Now Show All
hyundai palisade Full OverviewHyundai's push into the SUV market is strong today—it's easy to forget the Korean automaker had a lousy SUV lineup just five years ago. Now it has six models covering virtually every segment of the SUV market. And when the Hyundai Palisade hit the streets three years ago, it quickly became a sales hit popular with families who wanted style, value, and room for eight. With the new 2023 Hyundai Palisade, a midcycle update brings some fresh styling elements and more technology, plus additional comfort features. We traveled to the beautiful roads outside Asheville, North Carolina, to sample the updated Palisade and try the refreshed SUV firsthand.So, What's New?Along with a new grille and some exterior details, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade is now 0.6 inch longer than before thanks to an upsized front overhang. The rear overhang is shorter, and the wheelbase remains the same, but overall length is now 196.7 inches. Although the interior dimensions didn't change, designers made these moves to give the Palisade a better stance in profile view—and it paid off.Inside, Hyundai added comfort features across all three rows to please a wide variety of passengers. Taking a page from sister brand Genesis' Ergo motion seats, the Palisade adds a massaging feature to the driver's seat, and the second row now boasts headrests that bend to provide lateral head support. Heated seats are now offered in all three rows, and the first and second row continue to offer ventilated seats.Hyundai's remote smart parking assist is available for the first time in the Palisade, which means drivers may get out of their vehicle and move the SUV forward and backward using the key. A new rear passenger-side airbag and parking collision avoidance assist are also present.Tech SavvyFamilies who missed having a Wi-Fi hotspot in the Hyundai Palisade will be happy, as Hyundai partnered with Verizon to allow drivers to now connect up to five devices at once. A three-month trial is included, but owners thereafter will need to pay $20 per month to use this feature. In-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspots are nothing new, but the 2023 Hyundai Palisade is the first of the company's models to offer the technology.A new digital key allows Apple and Samsung users to lock, unlock, and start the Palisade with their phones. Working with NFC technology, simply place your phone on the door handle to unlock the Palisade. To start the car, you must place the phone on the wireless charger (where there's another NFC sensor).The task is easy, and there are five digital keys in total that can be shared with friends via text message. Owners can change the settings of each of those keys to only lock and unlock the Palisade, and owners can remove key access easily. Best of all, the NFC sensors work even when your phone is dead, and the tech works with the Apple Watch, as well.People familiar with the old Bluelink app know there were a few limitations of what you could do in the Palisade. The 2023 model expands the list of features; it now turns the heated and ventilated seats on and off and sets the temperature when the owner starts the Palisade remotely. Owners will also be able to see and receive notifications about doors and windows left open, as well as fuel levels.The hardware updates also allow two driver profiles in the Bluelink app and the digital key, so if you share a car with your significant other, the radio presets, seat and mirror positions, and temperature will automatically change depending on who opens and starts the car.On the RoadNew for 2023 is the XRT trim, which adds rugged styling and darker treatments outside, but there are no hardware enhancements such as all-terrain tires or better approach and departure angles. We spent half a day driving the XRT on city roads near Asheville and on trails around the Biltmore Estate, and we were generally pleased with the way the SUV handled.There are no mechanical changes to the 2023 model; every Palisade continues to be powered by Hyundai's 291-hp, 262-lb-ft 3.8-liter V-6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic. The XRT we drove was equipped with all-wheel drive, which was useful during the off-road section. On muddy parts of the trail, the Palisade demonstrated good traction and linear power delivery, making it easy to conquer obstacles. Although the trail was mostly a dirt road with a few ruts and puddles, it was a good representation of what families will encounter when heading on a camping trip.On the road, the ride was generally comfortable and quiet, with the steering tuned on the lighter side and the engine delivering enough punch to go over Asheville's hilly downtown streets without protest. In the past, we've complained about the Palisade's stiffer ride compared to the Kia Telluride, but because of our limited time behind the wheel for now, we'll wait to render our full judgment once we can get a 2023 model in our hands for testing.Should I Buy a Palisade?The 2023 Hyundai Palisade is available in five different trim levels—SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Prices start at $36,245 for the SE and rise to $50,195 for the Calligraphy. The all-wheel-drive option adds $1,900.The midcycle update for the 2023 Hyundai Palisade might look mild on the outside, but it's significant when you look at all the new technology that's come aboard. With remote parking, a digital key for Apple and Samsung, and more features for the Bluelink app, the Palisade feels updated and modern. And Hyundai managed to add all those features while keeping prices competitive.Looks good! More details?2023 Hyundai Palisade Specifications BASE PRICE $36,245-$52,695 LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD/AWD, 8-pass, 4-door SUV ENGINE 3.8L/291-hp/262-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6 TRANSMISSION 8-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 4,500 lb (MT est) WHEELBASE 114.2 in L x W x H 196.7 x 77.8 x 68.9 in 0-60 MPH 7.0 sec (MT est) EPA FUEL ECON 19/25-27/21-22 mpg EPA RANGE (COMB) 395-414 miles ON SALE Currently Show All
To the surprise of the few and the horror of those trying to purchase one for sticker price, the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 is MotorTrend's 2022 Performance Vehicle of the Year. The competition was fierce for this year's inaugural award, but in the end most of the judges voted for the GT3. The two who didn't score it first had Porsche's latest and greatest in second place—quite a close second place, at that. And yes, the word "greatest" is apropos here. That is, until the next GT3 iteration drops—which should be any time now. Why so dominant, why so loved, why so great? Several reasons, but first let's go backward.We considered ourselves fortunate to attend the launch of the old 991.2 911 GT3 in Spain back in 2017. Fortunate not only because that GT3 generation (the new GT3 is the 992.1) was magnificent but also because attendees got to chase rally legend Walter Röhrl around a racetrack for five laps. Life was good. On a personal note, I mention this because I distinctly remember writing this next part before I drove the 991.2 version: "[The 991.1] GT3 marked the first time in my career I had nothing negative to say about a vehicle." Followed by, "I don't have the foggiest idea how the wizards of [Weissach] can make the GT3 any better than it already is. Although I suspect Porsche will tell me once I get to Spain."In other words, it was impossible to conceive how Porsche could even kind of improve upon the already spectacular 991.1 GT3. But it sure did. Fast-forward to hours before the 2022 PVOTY competition began, and our judging panel collectively thought the same thing. Guess what? The unfathomable has been achieved. Again.A sampling of initial comments from meine Kollegen once they spun a turn behind the Porsche's wheel: "This is pure driving pleasure," features editor Scott Evans said. "Honestly, it's the only car that made me lose my breath." Features editor Christian Seabaugh added, "My gosh, this is such a good car." Deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa recounted, "I took this on two laps of the winding road circuit at the Hyundai Proving Ground, and by the time I exited, I was sweaty and feeling absolutely jacked, wanting more." Good thing for him we then went to the racetrack, no? Director of editorial operations Mike Floyd said, "Holy hell, this thing is amazing. Wow."Head of editorial Ed Loh went a bit cerebral trying to explain what's so great about the GT3: "It makes you feel sharper and more in tune with everything—from the soles of your feet to the pads of your fingertips, all the way to the base of your skull and the lizard part of your brain that ensures you don't die in your sleep." Executive editor Mac Morrison was more succinct, simply offering, "Sheeeeeezus H. Porsche. Maaaaannnnnnn."Yeah, friends, this car is absurdly great. It serves up unbelievable levels of performance paired with unbelievable levels of grip, head-ringing aural thrills thanks to a 502-hp humdinger of a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six that revs all the way to 9,000 rpm, and perhaps most important, the best manual transmission in automotive history. Hashtag fight us. Did we mention the gobs and bushels and duffel bags full of both horsepower and revs? Perhaps the 992 GT3 is not as laser-guided or quick as the other two big wingers present (the Lamborghini Huracán STO and the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series), a whole host of McLarens, or even Porsche's own upcoming GT3 RS. However, this car boasts a solidity, an everyday ease of use, and the resulting desire to just drive it more and more that separates the GT3 from the rest of the frontrunners for this year's PVOTY trophy. The 2022 911 GT3 is a deeply satisfying sports car that just so happens to have supercar reflexes.But what about the criteria? Oh yes, we are fully aware that transitioning away from our old Best Driver's Car competition to one of our signature Of The Year formats means any winner is subjected to our six key criteria. In case this is your first time, they are: Advancement in Design, Engineering Excellence, Performance of Intended Function, Safety, Value, and Efficiency. Even when keeping every one of these in mind when picking our winner, the Porsche excels. Hell, forget excels; the GT3 dominates.Advancement in DesignThis one is as simple as … just look at it. At first glance and across but two dimensions, you may not "get" the nostrils on the GT3's hood. We assure you the two speed holes (they're actually part of the car's aerodynamics, similar to openings on the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ) grow on you after repeated viewings. Back to the launch of the old 991.2 GT3, I'll never forget something Porsche GT-division boss Andy Preuninger said during the press conference: "The GT3 has to be the most attractive 911." Targa fans might disagree, but the newest GT3 looks fabulous, even in muted orange sherbet (actual color name: Lava Orange). And that wing! A piece of functional sculpture. Anyone opting for the wingless GT3 Touring version is nuts. Ahem.We also loved the interior's design, specifically the well-executed sparseness. Countless gallons of ink have been spilled, both actual and virtual, rightly chastising Tesla for that brand's signature near lack of an interior, but the GT3 isn't that. No, this car's guts represent minimalism done right. "I love how simple it is inside—just get in and go," Stoklosa said. "There's a button for ESC, one for the shocks, and that's pretty much it. No fiddling, all fun." Yes, you get right down to business inside the GT3, the business of woohoo!Loh was particularly impressed. "The control layout is awesome," he said. "It's not as spaceship-weirdo-wild-looking as the Huracán STO. It's also not as plasticky as the AMG GT. I'm Goldilocks, and this supercar is juuuust riiiiight. Love the seats, love this vehicle. Awesome."Not only is the layout awesome, but the controls themselves also inspire awe. We've only partially told you about the fabulous gear lever. One reason it's so spot on is that the transmission's synchros are made from brass, not plastic; when you shift gears, you're actually pushing metal through metal. So cool. But just holding the stick feels wicked. The clutch is perfectly weighted, too. Porsche truly nailed the small stuff. "It's a little thing, but I love the steering wheel," Seabaugh said. "It's a dinky little 7/8ths-sized thing that just feels perfect in your hands." Amen.Engineering ExcellenceThe criteria's lines are easy to blur. For instance, the stick shift bleeds over from Advancement of Design into Engineering Excellence. So be it. As associate road test editor Erick Ayapana asked, "Why can't all shifters be like this?" It's no shock to say the latest from Porsche's freaking racing division—after all, that's what the GT crew does—is excellently engineered. But, brothers, sisters, this is one of those hard-to-overstate situations.As an example, let's look at the car's grip. We were impressed. "The amount of mechanical grip, aided at times by the aero, is stupefying," Morrison said. "Like, it's just criminal, and I use that word as a positive. You should not be able to drive the front end into corners as hard as you can, and you should not be able to go back to power so hard and early and easily as the new GT3 allows you to."Want to talk brakes? Evans does. "The brake feel is the real accomplishment here, and that's saying something," he said. "You can feel exactly how hard the pads are biting at every moment, intuit exactly how much braking you're using and how much you have left in reserve." Road test editor Chris Walton added, "The brakes are nuclear."Grip and brakes, that's just tires, right? Well, partially, sure, but we promise you that while slapping the GT3's sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N0s on your car will improve its performance, the GT3 is better engineered. It pulled 1.19 g (average) on our skidpad, tying it with the 2019 911 GT2 RS for the highest average number we've ever recorded. Its figure-eight time was just 0.2 second off the 720-hp AMG GT Black Series, a car that makes 218 extra horsepower. And the GT3 beat the incredible 630-hp Lambo STO here by 0.2. If that's not engineering excellence, what is?Performance of Intended FunctionThe 911 GT3 crushes this category. This is the part where we break down both what a GT3 is and what makes a Performance Vehicle of the Year. Starting with the 911, it's the sportier, racier, harder-core, no-compromise version. And the 911 is a hell of a sports car to start with. From that not so humble origin point, the wizards and witches of Flacht work their magic, transforming a superlative sports car into an everyday supercar. Yes, supercar, because the GT3 certainly is.The ride isn't soft, but you can live with this car. "Old dudes like me might have some trouble with ingress and egress," Floyd said, "but once you get yourself snug in the seat, you can easily drive the GT3 all day in slow traffic or on a long highway stretch. The clutch pedal action doesn't punish your left leg, and loping around town is a breeze."You simply can't say the same about either the STO or the Black Series. Everyday? Maybe every track day, and even that's a stretch. For instance, assuming your head isn't too big, you might be able to fit your helmet—just one—into the Lambo's frunk. Emphasis on "might." The Black Series, while deeply impressive, is really just a bridge too far for a street car. The GT3? Let's just say we understand why people are paying $50,000 more than sticker for a street car that can also rip up a racetrack."It's just a joy to drive hard on a circuit, which is what the GT3 is absolutely made to do," Floyd said. "It's so obvious how long Porsche has been developing this car and the 911 in general. There's a next-level feel you just don't get with the Huracán or GT Black." In other words, it's a special 911 doing precisely what its maker intended. Talk about performance of intended function, indeed. That alone makes it a great candidate for Performance Vehicle of the Year.ValueIncome inequality must be causing mass psychosis for us to say a car with a base price of $164,150 and an as-tested kitty of $195,850 is a great value, but humor us for a moment. When you consider the two cars in this test that most closely compete with the Porsche—the $355,595 AMG and the $442,033 Lamborghini—the GT3 looks like a steal. Toss on that $50,000 ADM (adjusted dealer markup), and the Porsche is still a steal.EfficiencyWe cannot, however, with a straight face tell you a car that carries an EPA rating of 16 mpg combined is efficient. But this is Performance Vehicle of the Year; none of the competitors was designed with astounding efficiency in mind. Additionally, the GT3's fuel economy is in line with the other contenders in its performance plane. Hot tip: Opt for the extended-range gas tank, and you'll feel as if you're getting great mileage.SafetyCars like the Porsche 911 never get crash ratings, never mind the GT3. That's just how it is. So we can't tell you about its passive safety worthiness. However, a car that superlatively grips and stops the way the GT3 does is inherently safe in the hands of a skilled driver. Oh, and we seem to remember it has adaptive cruise control, too.Dominant Winner WinsThere's so much more to say. We haven't mentioned the Davante Adams-like way the GT3 changes direction. Or the switch to a double control arm suspension up front. Or how for the first time in Porsche 911 history, you don't need to trail-brake your way into every corner, because (surprise!) the front suddenly has copious grip. The front end is like a race car, or as Seabaugh put it, "It digs hard into corners like a skate into ice." There's also the part about how with only 2 additional hp, the 992.1 GT3 is nearly 18 seconds quicker around the Nürburgring Nordschleife than the 991.2 GT3 it replaces. If only we could show you all the notes from all the judges, including our dedicated test team, just so you could see how consistently overwhelming the superlatives are. It's without end.Anything we don't like? Evans and Loh thought the ride quality was lacking, to the point Evans recommends never putting the dampers into Sport. Not everyone agreed with him. But that's about it for the negatives. Looking over my own notes, one line caught my eye: "If the GT3 isn't second place, it's first." As much as I and the rest of the judges loved the Porsche, the Lamborghini STO was also exceptional. But by a vote of five judges to two, the GT3 claimed the crown.EpilogueAfter the vote, and because I was the judge writing this winner story, I took the new Porsche 911 GT3 home for about a week. A friend of mine owns a 991.2 GT3 Touring; we decided to drive them back to back. I figured this new GT3 would be slightly better, but I quickly learned it's about 70 percent better. The 2022 model made the old one feel like a couch. I'm not kidding. And remember, this was a couch that at one point in time we said was the best-driving car in the world.If that's not enough, I'll leave you with something 20-year veteran auto scribe and motorsports/track-driving aficionado Morrison wrote in his notes. "This might sound nuts," he said, "but I thought hard about it for several days after our PVOTY activities concluded: I'm not sure I've ever driven a better car. In my entire career."Nicely played, Porsche, and congrats on winning the first MotorTrend Performance Vehicle of the Year award. Now comes the hard part: Do it again next year. As I wrote before about the 991.2 GT3, "How do you take something with no apparent flaws, no visible weaknesses, and improve upon it anyway?" None of us knows the answer, but we're sure Preuninger and the gang have some ideas. We can't wait to test them out.POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 SPECIFICATIONS DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Rear-engine, RWD ENGINE TYPE Direct-injected DOHC 24-valve flat-6, alum block/heads DISPLACEMENT 3,996 cc/243.9 cu in COMPRESSION RATIO 13.3:1 POWER (SAE NET) 502 hp @ 8,400 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 346 lb-ft @ 6,100 rpm REDLINE 9,000 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 6.4 lb/hp TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 3.09:1/2.72:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar STEERING RATIO 11.2-14.2:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.4 BRAKES, F; R 16.1-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc; 15.4-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc WHEELS, F;R 9.5 x 20-in; 12.0 x 21-in forged aluminum TIRES, F;R 255/35R20 97Y; 315/30R21 105Y Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N0 DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 96.7 TRACK, F/R 63.0/61.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 180.0 x 72.9 x 50.4 in TURNING CIRCLE 34.1 ft CURB WEIGHT (DIST F/R) 3,188 lb (40/60%) SEATING CAPACITY 2 HEADROOM, F/R 37.9/ — in LEGROOM, F/R 42.2/ — in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 52.6/ — in CARGO VOLUME 4.6 cu ft TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 1.5 sec 0-40 2.0 0-50 2.8 0-60 3.4 0-70 4.2 0-80 5.2 0-90 6.2 0-100 7.3 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 1.5 QUARTER MILE 11.4 sec @ 126.0 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 93 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.19 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 22.1 sec @ 0.95 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 2,500 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $164,150 PRICE AS TESTED $195,850 AIRBAGS 8: Dual front, front side, front curtain, front knee BASIC WARRANTY 4 yrs/50,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 4 yrs/50,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 4 yrs/50,000 miles FUEL CAPACITY 23.7 gal EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 14/18/16 mpg RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium ON SALE Now Show All
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