It’s been the stuff of rumors for what seems like forever, but Porsche on Wednesday finally confirmed plans for a new 718 Cayman GT4 RS to cap its mid-engine sports car line.

Prototypes have been out testing for the past couple of years and the debut will finally happen in November, Porsche has confirmed.

The wait will be worth it. Porsche has already clocked a Nürburgring lap time using a production-spec prototype modified only with a race seat and roll cage for safety. The official time for the German racetrack’s full 12.9-mile layout is a blistering 7:09.3.

The time, which was independently verified, was set using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, which Porsche will offer as an option on the car. And just to put it into some perspective, it’s 3.4 seconds quicker than Porsche’s own time for the 991.2 911 GT3. It’s also more than 20 seconds quicker than the time for the regular 718 Cayman GT4, the car on which this new RS variant is based.

[embedded content]

Porsche is holding back specs for now but said the changes made to the 718 Cayman GT4 include all the usual RS upgrades, such as weight-saving mods, increased downforce (notice the new rear wing?), improved responsiveness and driver feedback, and, of course, more power.

And importantly, the nimble, almost go-kart like handling of the 718 Cayman GT4 has been retained with the car’s transformation into an RS, according to Jörg Bergmeister, Porsche development driver and the man responsible for setting the ‘Ring time.

Power in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is expected to come from an uprated version of the 4.0-liter flat-6 found in the 718 Cayman GT4. We expect an increase from the GT4’s 414-hp rating to something closer to 450 hp in the GT4 RS, thanks in part to elements borrowed from the 992 911 GT3’s 4.0-liter engine. Drive will be to the rear wheels, likely via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission which was made available on the GT4 last year.

Stay tuned for the reveal next month.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chevrolet check out Paradise Chevrolet Ventura TODAY!

Porsche has only just launched the new GT3 based on the 992-generation 911, but the more hardcore GT3 RS variant is already nearing the final stage of testing.

A prototype has been spotted again at the Nürburgring and on some of the German racetrack’s surrounding roads, and it gives us a number of clues about the new track superstar.

Compared to the GT3, the tester for the GT3 RS sports additional vents on the hood and front fenders which look to contain some active elements. There’s also a more aggressive front splitter, new side skirts, and a massive, dual-element rear wing with swan-neck struts. As the spy video shows, the wing also has an active element.

[embedded content]

The GT3 RS prototype also wears Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires measuring 265/35R20 up front and what looks to be 325/30R21 at the rear. Huge carbon-ceramic brake rotors can also be seen housed within the center-lock wheels.

The engineers have also attempted to hide the car’s side intakes which are a typical feature of the GT3 RS, but not the GT3.

Power will likely come from a 4.0-liter flat-6 mated as standard to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Peak output in the previous GT3 RS was 520 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque from the same type of engine, and we can expect a slight uptick for the new generation.

While the GT3 is closely related to Porsche’s 911 GT3 Cup race car, the GT3 RS takes after the more extreme 911 GT3 R racer. Porsche has also been spotted testing the new GT3 R based on the 992-generation 911, with the race car’s development likely closely associated with this new GT3 RS. Recall, Porsche’s GT3 and GT3 RS are built alongside their motorsport siblings.

One element from racing unique to the GT3 and thus also likely on this GT3 RS is a double-wishbone front suspension that’s stiffer and more stable with less body movements under braking compared to the MacPherson strut used in other 911 variants.

We expect the new GT3 RS to debut in 2022 as a 2023 model. The related GT3 R race car is also expected in 2022.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Cadillac check out Carter Cadillac TODAY!

Acura stopped selling the RLX in the United States after 2020 but the flagship sedan is still available in other markets where it’s sold by Honda as the Legend.

Honda on Thursday unveiled an updated Legend for the Japanese market and one of the car’s key features is an electronic driver-assist feature rated at Level 3 on the SAE scale of self-driving capability. Level 3 means a car that can handle itself in certain conditions, enabling the driver to let go of the steering wheel and even look away from the road for moments at a time.

[embedded content]

The Legend’s self-driving system is part of a new Honda Sensing Elite suite of electronic driver-assist features. It can handle traffic jams and highway driving on its own, though with some restrictions. For example, the traffic jam function only works under certain slow speed conditions. When it use, the driver is free to use the infotainment screen for entertainment purposes.

The highway function is a little more complicated. It only works where there is sufficient map data that the system uses together with GPS data and onboard sensors to position the vehicle. At the same time, the system tracks the condition of the driver using a monitoring camera mounted inside the vehicle.

The system is smart enough to handle lane changes on its own, like when there is a slow moving vehicle ahead. The system will first notify the driver and then perform the maneuver. There’s also a lane change assist feature where the driver chooses when to change lanes by activating the indicator, and the system then handles the maneuver.

While the driver doesn’t need to hold the steering wheel when the system is activated, he or she still needs to be ready to take back control at any moment, so monitoring the road ahead is required. Should the driver be unresponsive to prompts to take back control, the system is designed to bring the vehicle to a safe stop on the outermost lane or the shoulder. It will also flash the hazard lights and sound the horn at this point to warn other drivers.

While other automakers have shown vehicles with Level 3 self-driving systems, Honda is the first to offer it for sale, albeit only in Japan at present. This is because Japan is the only country that has approved it.

Why the delay elsewhere? Regulations are lacking because Level 3 self-driving systems fall into a bit of a regulatory gray area. Because drivers need to be ready to take back control at a moment’s notice, many companies and regulatory bodies are looking further out to Level 4 self-driving systems that can handle a car on their own for extended periods without any intervention and can give a driver ample warning should he or she need to take back control. The final goal is a Level 5 self-driving system which is a system that can drive at the same level as a human.