Porsche 718 Cayman GTS Passes Cars At 180 MPH/290 KPH In Autobahn Run
The Autobahn is one of those places that every aficionado needs to visit, with the German highway network's derestricted sections allowing one to push a vehicle to the maximum velocity. And we can now bring you an example of that, which showcases a Porsche 718 Cayman GTS going flat out. The highlight of the clip, which can be found at the bottom of the page, sees the mid-engined delights going past 180 mph (make that 290 km/h) and passing (there are only two lanes) as if it's nothing. The said shenanigan can be found at the 10:15 point of the video, but the rest of the clip is also worthy of your attention, since it's loaded with sprinting moments delivered by the 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer (365 hp) monster. Of course, with the engine being a four-cylinder, the soundtrack isn't quite as sharp as the rest of the experience. Speaking of which, the GTS is about to lose its status as the 718 Cayman range-topper and that's because Porsche is ready to introduce the 2019 718 Cayman GT4. The newcomer will be animated by a naturally-aspirated flat-six unit, with this expected to come in the form of a downtuned 4.0-liter GT3 motor. While the powerplant delivers 500 hp in the GT3, you should expect its output to sit closer to 400 ponies for the mid-engined special.
Above all, it brings lashings of exclusivity and sheer desirability. It all rides, rather magically, on an air suspension system - shielding the occupants from road imperfections and keeping the whole show wonderfully flat and balanced, even during spirited driving. That, in turn, allows the Range Rover - as has always been the case - to hold its own against just about any comers when the going gets rough, soft or muddy. The Adaptive Terrain Response system enables everything from rock-crawling mode to a Dynamic Sport program. We didn't get to test the SVA off-road - that seemed like a travesty. But Range Rover's credibility in this space is bullet-proof, a go-anywhere reputation earned over almost five decades. Of course, that suspension can be jacked up to deliver the required ground clearance for agrarian work - as well as "kneeling down" to provide easy ingress to ageing royalty. Finishes are stunning - the gloriously-presented interior brings together steel-weave carbon fibre trim, diamond-stitched aniline leather seats (and leather headlining), and a polished stainless steel gear-selector knob, which sits amidst a sea of the finest polished timber.
Outside, while it's a gorgeous thing to look at, there's little to distinguish this beast from an "ordinary" Range Rover - save for a little SVAutobiography badge on the rear tailgate (yes, that opens electrically, too). The 22-inch alloy wheels, pixel-laser headlights, LED running lights and aluminium treadplates, with an illuminated SVA script, are subtle reminders that you're riding in a very special vehicle. But the greatest SUV of all? Well, it does face some pretty stiff competition - from likes of Bentley, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche and even Rolls Royce. But this car might just trump them all. Well, it's the grand-daddy of the SUV class and cuts an imposing figure. That, in turn, means oodles of interior space, even though this model is fundamentally set up as a four-seater. Its ability to thunder to the speed limit in 5.4 seconds is thanks to a wondrous, sonorous supercharged V8, delivering 416 kilowatts and 700Nm of torque - all through a silky eight-speed automatic. Well, let's just say it wasn't designed to be frugal. If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. 346,830 (plus statutory charges).
Meet Aston Martin Red Bull Racing鈥檚 Honda-powered challenger for the 2019 Formula 1 season, dubbed the RB15. This is the car Red Bull hopes will be able to keep up with Mercedes and Ferrari, after ditching Renault power in favor of Japanese muscle. Unfortunately this isn鈥檛 the final race livery, as it鈥檚 just a one-off graphic, which is something we鈥檙e used to seeing from Red Bull on a yearly basis. It鈥檚 no Camo-Bull though. Starting with this upcoming season, Max Verstappen will race alongside a new teammate and former Toro Rosso star Pierre Gasly, who replaces Daniel Ricciardo. Gasly finished last season with a total of 29 points, which may not seem like much, but it was considerably more than his teammate Brendon Hartley鈥檚 4 points. Verstappen meanwhile was fourth in the Drivers Standings, with a total of 249 points, just two points shy of third-place Kimi Raikkonen, and two points clear of Mercedes鈥?Valtteri Bottas.