Latest news with #WeissachPackage
Man of Many
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Man of Many
10 Most Powerful New Cars on Sale in Australia
The most powerful cars in Australia are led by brands like Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. However, we bet you didn't expect to see two Lotus EVs on our list. That's the beauty of the horsepower wars, because these days, anyone can make 1,000HP, the question is whether or not that's a reasonable thing to do in a road-going vehicle. While we understand that your mate's de-stroked R32 Skyline GT-R with a built engine and single turbo conversion produces a megawatt, we're interested in brand new cars you can buy from a showroom today. Yes, some of the vehicles we've included are strictly allocation-only, but if you can buy it with legal tender, we've included it. These are the most powerful new cars on sale right now. Most Powerful New Cars in Australia at a Glance Highlights from our list include the following options: Now you've read the highlights, let's check out the complete list. Porsche Taycan Turbo GT | Image: Supplied / Porsche Australia 1. Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, 815 kW (1,092 HP) Price: from AUD$416,600 plus on-road costs The most powerful new car on sale in Australia is the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. Its dual electric motors can produce up to 815 kW (1,092 HP) of power and 1,240 Nm of torque in Launch Control, which propels this vehicle from 0-100km/h in 2.2 seconds (with the optional Weissach Package). So, not only is it the most powerful, but it's the quickest car on sale. Ownership of this car should come with a neck brace because acceleration of this kind is sickening—and shockingly easy to accomplish. Left foot on the brake, right foot on the accelerator, wait, let go, and 815 kW of power launches you into the stratosphere. What's more impressive, however, is the fact that it also holds the record for the fastest four-door car of any powertrain type at the Nürburgring Nordschleife (7:07.55 min). Bonkers stuff! Yes, it's driving around with 580 kW (789 PS) of power most of the time, but it can technically make the full 815 kW (1,092 HP) at every set of traffic lights if you wanted. Powertrain : Dual electric motors (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors) : Dual electric motors (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors) Maximum power : 815 kW (1,092 HP) : 815 kW (1,092 HP) Maximum torque : 1,240 Nm : 1,240 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.2 seconds (with Weissach Package) : 2.2 seconds (with Weissach Package) Top speed: 305 km/h (with Weissach Package) Lamborghini Revuelto | Image: Supplied / Lamborghini 2. Lamborghini Revuelto, 747 kW (1,001 HP) Price: from AUD$987,000 plus on-road costs The most powerful new car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) is the Lamborghini Revuelto. It combines a 6.5-litre V12 engine and three electric motors to produce 747 kW (1,001 hp) of power and 725 Nm of torque. What's more impressive is that it can do this all the time, as Porsche limits the maximum power output of the Taycan Turbo GT to Launch Control mode. We had a chance to test the Revuelto at a recent track day at Sydney Motorsport Park, and it's officially the fastest car we've ever driven at this track—294km/h down the front straight says so. The 0-100km/h time of 2.5 seconds doesn't sound particularly impressive compared to the EVs on our list, but the in-gear acceleration is on another level. Engine : 6.5-litre V12 plug-in hybrid : 6.5-litre V12 plug-in hybrid Maximum power : 747 kW (1,001 hp) : 747 kW (1,001 hp) Maximum torque : 725 Nm : 725 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.5 seconds : 2.5 seconds Top speed: 350 km/h 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo S | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many 3. Porsche Taycan Turbo S, 700 kW (939 HP) Price: from AUD$345,800 plus on-road costs Where the Turbo GT variant of the Taycan is its balls-to-the-wall track special, the Turbo S is now positioned as the more luxurious option in the lineup. Still, it's a mentally fast EV that can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds when in Launch Control mode thanks to its 700 kW (939 hp) dual-motor powertrain. If you want to see what happened when we launched it with a regular person in the passenger seat, check out this video. We had a chance to spend a week with the new Taycan Turbo S, and while the power surprised us, it was the new battery and range that impressed us the most. Now with a claimed driving range (WLTP) of 600km, you can comfortably drive from Sydney to Canberra in one charge. Not only is it an excellent car to drive, but it's an excellent all-electric GT car because it's so efficient on the highway. You'd never know it's packing 700 kW of power, unless you look at the size of the 10-piston carbon ceramic front brakes. Engine : Dual electric motors : Dual electric motors Maximum power : 700 kW (939 hp) : 700 kW (939 hp) Maximum torque : 1,050 Nm : 1,050 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.4 seconds : 2.4 seconds Top speed: 260 km/h Lamborghini Temerario | Image: Supplied / Lamborghini APAC 4. Lamborghini Temerario, 677 kW (907 HP) Price: from AUD$613,885 plus on-road costs Lamborghini has an itch to scratch, and it's related to power. They didn't get the memo that the smallest car in their range is meant to be the least powerful, as they've stuck a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain into the new Temerario that produces 677 kW (907 hp). We haven't had a chance to drive this one just yet, as the local reveal only happened a few weeks ago, but we expect it to be just as mental as the Revuelto. The stats claim 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds, but we reckon it might be even quicker. Engine : 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid : 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid Maximum power : 677 kW (907 hp) : 677 kW (907 hp) Maximum torque : 730 Nm : 730 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.7 seconds : 2.7 seconds Top speed: 343 km/h 2025 Lotus Emeya | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many 5. Lotus Emeya R, 675 kW (905 HP) Price: from AUD$259,990 plus on-road costs Lotus has changed, but they've brought a gun to a knife fight with the release of the all-electric Lotus Emeya R. Is it a Lotus? Not really. However, it's an outstanding electric vehicle that's very powerful and bonkers fast in a straight line despite its 2550 kg heft. 675 kW (905 HP) is produced from a dual-motor powertrain, and this is good for a 0-100km/h time of just 2.95 seconds. We spent a week with the Emeya S, which only produces 450 kW (603 hp) of maximum power, and found that while it's not going to take anything away from the Porsche Taycan Turbo S or GT in terms of straight-line speed, the ride comfort from the standard air suspension is top-notch. The steering is also very, very good, and the technology in the interior is up there with the best in the industry, thanks to the video game-like integration of Unreal Engine. Watch out, Porsche? Not quite, but it's a peek at the next-level stuff coming out of China. Engine : Dual electric motors : Dual electric motors Maximum power : 675 kW (905 hp) : 675 kW (905 hp) Maximum torque : 985 Nm : 985 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.95 seconds : 2.95 seconds Top speed: 265 km/h 2025 Lotus Eletre R | Image: Supplied / Lotus 6. Lotus Eletre R, 675 kW (905 HP) Price: from AUD$279,990 plus on-road costs The Lotus Eletre R is similar to the Emeya, but in SUV form. Like the GT, it produces 675 kW (905 HP) of power from dual electric motors and features many of the same ingredients on the inside and outside. However, it stands out because it's larger, meaning it can accommodate a family with a mum or dad who wants their daily driver to be as fast as their Lamborghini supercar. 0-100km/h is dispatched in 2.95 seconds, which is very quick for a vehicle that weighs 2,595 kg. Engine : Dual electric motors : Dual electric motors Maximum power : 675 kW (905 hp) : 675 kW (905 hp) Maximum torque : 985 Nm : 985 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.95 seconds : 2.95 seconds Top speed: 265 km/h Lamborghini Revuelto | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many 7. Aston Martin Vanquish, 614 kW (823 HP) Price: from AUD$737,000 plus on-road costs The most powerful new car on sale in Australia without any hybrid assistance, and the most powerful rear-wheel drive only car, is the Aston Martin Vanquish. Limited to 1,000 units a year, this is a special car reserved for the brand's top clients. Millionaires are lining up to get a taste of that 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 goodness, and as our review details, it's worth the price of admission. 614 kW (823 hp) of power, 1,000 Nm of torque, it will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds if you can get power to the ground through the rear wheels only. It's an absolute rocket-ship of a vehicle with the sound to match! Did we mention it's also the best-looking new car on sale?! Engine : 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 : 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 Maximum power : 614 kW (823 hp) : 614 kW (823 hp) Maximum torque : 1,000 Nm : 1,000 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 3.5 seconds : 3.5 seconds Top speed: 322 km/h Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider | Image: Supplied / Ferrari 8. Ferrari 12Cilindri and 12Cilindri Spider, 610 kW (819 HP) Price: from AUD$803,500 plus on-road costs The Ferrari 12Cilindri is the most powerful naturally-aspirated new car on sale in Australia. While it's slightly down on power compared to the Vanquish rival, the 6.5-litre V12 engine revs to 9,500 rpm and produces 610 kW (819 hp) of power and 678 Nm of torque, which is good for a 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds. That's faster to 100km/h than the Vanquish, but it doesn't quite feel as quick as it is down on peak power, but more importantly, torque, which gives you that impressive in-gear acceleration. How do we know? Well, we're one of the few people in the world who've driven the 12Cilindri and Vanquish. Engine : 6.5-litre V12 : 6.5-litre V12 Maximum power : 610 kW (819 hp) : 610 kW (819 hp) Maximum torque : 678 Nm : 678 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.9 seconds : 2.9 seconds Top speed: 340 km/h 9. Ferrari 296 GTB and GTS, 610 kW (819 HP) Price: from AUD$568,300 plus on-road costs The Ferrari 296 GTB and GTS might be the smallest cars in the Ferrari line-up, but they're still amongst the most powerful new cars you can buy. With a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid engine, the 296 produces 610 kW (819 hp) of power and 740 Nm of torque, which is good for a 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds. Internally, the engine is referred to as the 'Piccolo V12' because it sounds like a full-bore 12-cylinder, and after spending some time behind the wheel, we agree! Check out our feature YouTube video review above to hear it for yourself! Engine : 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid : 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid Maximum power : 610 kW (819 hp) : 610 kW (819 hp) Maximum torque : 740 Nm : 740 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 2.9 seconds : 2.9 seconds Top speed: 330 km/h 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed | Image: Supplied / Bentley 10. Bentley Continental GT Speed, 575kW (771 HP) Price: from AUD$581,900 plus on-road costs plus on-road costs The new Bentley Continental GT Speed rounds out our list of the most powerful new cars in Australia with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain that produces a maximum power output of 575kW (771 HP). It's identical to the engine used in the new 2025 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, but we chose to include the Bentley here because of its impressive 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds. While we're yet to get behind the wheel of the new model, we did have a chance to drive a few Bentleys around the track in Adelaide two years ago, including the flagship 12-cylinder Speed variant, before they said goodbye to it and swapped in this PHEV twin-turbo V8. Engine : 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid : 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid Maximum power : 575 kW (771 hp) : 575 kW (771 hp) Maximum torque : 1,000 Nm : 1,000 Nm Acceleration (0-100km/h) : 3.2 seconds : 3.2 seconds Top speed: 335 km/h Alternatives to These High-Horsepower Production Cars Ferrari SF90 XX, 758 kW (1,016HP) : The Ferrari SF90 XX was previously one of Australia's most powerful new cars, but the production run of this plug-in hybrid V12 supercar has finished, and all cars have been allocated to their respective owners. : The Ferrari SF90 XX was previously one of Australia's most powerful new cars, but the production run of this plug-in hybrid V12 supercar has finished, and all cars have been allocated to their respective owners. Ferrari F80, 882 kW (1184 HP): Like the SF90 XX, the Ferrari F80 would sit at the top of our list, but it's unlikely to see right-hand-drive production. The plug-in hybrid hypercar's 499P endurance car engine puts a twin-turbo V6 engine and three electric motors together to produce a combined 882 kW (1184 HP).
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Porsche's Latest 911 GT3 Is Now the Quickest Stick Shift Car Around the 'Ring
Stop me if you've heard this one before: a variant of the Porsche 911 GT3 just set a new record around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The latest honor for Porsche's rear-engined masterpiece is the title of fastest manual transmission-equipped car to ever lap the 'Ring, an honor it won by more than 9.5 seconds. The manual GT3, which was equipped with the Weissach Package, lapped the track in six minutes and 56.294 seconds. Porsche says that this corresponds to a time of 6:51.764 on the shorter layout used in some other lap records, suggesting that the 911 GT3 was nearly 10 seconds ahead of the existing manual record of 7:01.3 set by a Dodge Viper ACR in 2017. The lap was set by Jörg Bergmeister, a former Porsche factory sports car driver who often does record runs for the brand on the 'Ring. Although the manual GT3's lap was slower than the 6:49.328 lap time put down by a PDK-equipped GT3 RS in 2022, it beats a PDK-equipped pre-update 992 GT3 by 3.7 seconds. Porsche did not add any power between the 992.1 and 992.2 sub-generations, so it attributes the quicker performance of the upgraded car to chassis development. In addition, Michelin outfitted the car in Pilot Sport Cup 2 R N1s for the record run. Modern tires are no small contributor to the car's impressive performance, as Michelin illustrated in December: different tires from the Pilot Sport Cup 2 family were recently fitted to a Carrera GT for another 'Ring lap more than 20 years after the car's debut. That experiment ended with a lap 14 seconds quicker than the supercar's original record blast. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
New record: Porsche 911 GT3 masters Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 6:56.294 minutes
Atlanta. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 is the fastest production car with a manual transmission on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Porsche brand ambassador Joerg Bergmeister beat the previous record – set by a competitor with a significantly more powerful engine – by over 9.5 seconds. Due to extensive continued development of all performance-relevant vehicle components, the manual 911 GT3 with optional Weissach Package was 3.633 seconds quicker than the predecessor model (992.1) with PDK. 'More and more customers of the 911 GT3 are opting for the six-speed manual transmission. And more and more often we are asked by these customers how fast a 911 GT3 with manual transmission would be on the Nordschleife', Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Cars said. 'We have now answered this question and – although we know that the variant with PDK is significantly faster – drove our lap time with a manual six-speed gearbox. Even without the automated, super-fast and precise gearshifts of the PDK and with a mechanical instead of electronically controlled limited-slip differential, the new 911 GT3 takes around 3.6 seconds off its predecessor with PDK.' In sunny weather, at 54 degrees Fahrenheit ambient and 80 degrees asphalt temperature, Joerg Bergmeister set out on the 12.94 mile (20.832 kilometer) track in the late afternoon in the 502 hp 911 GT3 with optional Weissach Package. As with the official lap of the previous model, he drove using road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires in the dimensions 255/35 R 20 at the front and 315/30 R 21 at the rear. The goal: fastest lap time of a production vehicle with manual transmission 'When we decided to set the official lap time of the new 911 GT3 with manual transmission, we naturally also looked at who was at the top of the leaderboard' Preuninger said. A competitor needed 7:01,300 minutes for the shorter 12.8 mile (20.6 kilometer) track layout. This corresponds to a time of around 7:05,800 minutes on the full 12.94 mile (20.832 kilometer) lap. Under supervision of an independent notary public, the lap time of the new 911 GT3 was validated at 6:56.294 minutes for the 12.94-mile (20.832-kilometer) lap. With that, Bergmeister improved the previous lap record by more than 9.5 seconds. Better performance with the same engine power 'The new 911 GT3 inspires even more confidence at the limit than the previous model. I was faster in almost every corner,' Bergmeister said, describing the handling of the sports car. 'We learned a lot from the 911 GT3 RS, especially with the chassis. The car is even more stable on bumps and over the curbs. And thanks to the eight percent shorter gear ratio, there is noticeably more power on the rear axle when accelerating with the same engine power. Even if it would have been a few seconds faster with the seven-speed PDK – with the six-speed manual gearbox I definitely had more to do on the fast lap and thus also a bit more fun.' Attachments Porsche Cars North America, Inc. [email protected]
The National
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Touring road test: Fast, fine-tuned fun at your fingertips
No other offering holds a candle to Porsche's visceral 911 GT3. Eschewing turbochargers, hybrid systems and unnecessary computerised complexities, the GT3 has an unfiltered, organic quality that sets it apart from the pack. Porsche started the GT3 dynasty in 1999 with the 996-generation 911 GT3, and it has preserved the undiluted high-performance ethos with each successive iteration of the car. Marking the 25th anniversary of the GT3 is the 992.2 edition of the sports car, with Porsche breaking from tradition by launching the GT3 and GT3 with Touring Package simultaneously. The latter foregoes the regular GT3's enormous protruding rear wing in lieu of an integrated active wing that recedes into the bodywork, creating a more understated look. As before, at the heart of the GT3 is a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six power plant that joyfully sings its way to 9,000rpm. Porsche also stands alone in offering customers a choice of manual and dual-clutch auto transmissions. Although retaining the essence of its 992 predecessor, the 992.2 edition of the GT3 gains a substantially reworked power train, along with revised aero, 8 per cent shorter overall gearing in both manual and PDK versions and fettled steering and suspension that makes for even sharper and more tactile responses. Also new is the optional Weissach Package, which offers even more custom configuration for track use. And, fulfilling a long-standing customer request, rear seats are available as an option for the first time, albeit specifically with the Touring Package. The GT3 and GT3 Touring are now available to order in the UAE, priced from Dh801,800, but I tried out the pair at the international media launch in Valencia, Spain. I first slotted into a white GT3 with the Weissach Package, with the tight and twisty Circuit Ricardo Tormo beckoning. The event programme only allowed for five laps each, but there's a beautiful tactility to the 992.2 GT3 and a level of communicativeness that makes its dynamic envelope very quickly accessible. It's pure joy. The GT3 feels like a living being connected to your fingertips, soles of your feet and torso. There's an aliveness to every element, so much so that pedalling it hard is an almost sacred experience. No one does electrically assisted power steering better than Porsche, and that reaches a new high in the GT3, which serves up the most nuanced feedback to your fingertips imaginable. You feel every surface change and minute undulation in the tarmac below. As the cornering and braking thresholds are approached, I could feel the GT3 begin to subtly dance and squirm under hard braking in the way that only 911s do. There is a lovely adjustability to the car, which means you can use the brakes, throttle and steering to set up your line through corners, even if you might have dived into the bend a little bit hot. The huge carbon-ceramic discs provide powerful stopping power and, in the 992.2 GT3, the front ball joint of the lower trailing arm sits lower on the front axle to create an anti-dive effect that reduces pitching under braking. Back in the pit paddock after my five-lap track quota, it was time to hit the road in the GT3 with Touring Package. I nabbed a six-speed manual to see how that would gel as a real-world proposition. Shift action in the three-pedal car was meaty and satisfying, but one of the manual's limitations soon became apparent. Out on the motorway, even a 100kph cruise in sixth gear had the flat-six engine spinning raucously at almost 3,000rpm. Even though Porsche has attached a Touring suffix to this car, realistically you may not entertain it for any cross-continent touring experiences as the flat-six motor busily working away behind you at middling revs becomes intrusive. I should also point out that the car's low-speed ride is distinctly jiggly and there is some noticeable gear whine in the manual as I pootled slowly through Spanish villages in third or fourth gears. Other than these minor annoyances, the GT3 and GT3 Touring are hugely entertaining on racetracks and winding mountain roads. Nothing else out there matches them for pure driver engagement and raw, unfiltered feedback.
