Porsche News

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Sponsored Article – September 29, 2026

Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge: The Area South-Central Winners

Porsche's dealer network has once again shown what its service departments are capable of. The Area South-Central winners of the 2026 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge represent three distinct approaches to keeping classic Porsches on the road, each carried out with the depth of expertise and factory support that define the program. About the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge Through the Challenge, Porsche Cars North America invites Porsche Centers across the U.S. to restore, preserve, or individualize heritage models using Porsche Classic Genuine Parts and their own craftsmanship. Each participating dealer selects a project car, documents the work throughout the year, and presents the finished vehicle at a regional judging event. That parts support is substantial. The Porsche Classic catalogue includes approximately 85,000 genuine parts, and the U.S. is home to the highest number of classic Porsche vehicles in operation anywhere in the world. Entries compete in three categories. Preservation maintains originality while improving functionality, Restoration returns vehicles to near-factory specification, and Individualization allows for bespoke builds influenced by Porsche's Sonderwunsch program. Now in its sixth year, the Challenge continues to grow. The 2025 edition set a record with 73 entries, and the national champions were crowned in Durham, North Carolina alongside Luftgekühlt 11. For 2026, the South-Central round took place at Artomobilia in Carmel, Indiana on August 28 and 29, with the National Championship to follow in October. Porsche Orlando's 1997 911 Carrera 2 Individualization (national finalist) and People's Choice winnerFollow along: https://www.instagram.com/porsche_orlando/ GALLERY-EMBED This build was inspired by Carey, a longtime Porsche Orlando client who, together with her husband Byron, has purchased numerous Paint to Sample and Sonderwunsch cars from the dealership. Shortly after taking delivery of a Pastel Yellow 993 Carrera 2, she challenged the team to create a car that reflected her own personality while remaining unmistakably Porsche. The car was taken down to a bare shell, fitted with genuine 993 RS bodywork and a factory-style steel sunroof delete, and refinished in its original Pastel Yellow on every surface. Under the rear deck, the original 3.6-liter flat-six became a high-compression 4.0-liter with individual throttle bodies and a GT3 plenum, paired with a short-ratio RSR-style gearbox and authentic 993 RS suspension. The interior is the centerpiece, a Sonderwunsch-inspired cabin with full leather retrimming, color-matched painted trim, and a bespoke ombré leather weave inspired by the GT3 S/C Street Style. The team also 3D scanned a factory 993 rear seat delete and re-engineered it in lightweight materials with top-loading storage that works with the RS bucket seats. Carey was involved at every stage, and her choices, including the color-matched new-old-stock Speedline wheels, became defining features of a car that used approximately 782 genuine Porsche components and earned both the Individualization win and the People's Choice award. Porsche Cary's 2001 Boxster Preservation (national finalist)Follow along: https://www.instagram.com/porsche.cary/ GALLERY-EMBED Porsche Cary's 986 Boxster was prepared with a focus on preservation and thoughtful modernization. Rather than replacing original components, the team prioritized sustainability and authenticity by meticulously cleaning and touching up existing interior pieces. The exterior received a comprehensive paint correction to restore its factory-level luster, and a full dry ice blasting treatment restored the undercarriage while retaining most of the original parts. The car's key systems were fully refreshed with a new convertible top and headliner, new windshield, struts, control arms, clutch and flywheel, along with refurbished wheels and brakes and OEM N-spec tires. To bridge classic and contemporary, the team installed the Porsche Classic PCCM+ system, adding smartphone integration and improved navigation while preserving the authentic interior of the 986. The finished car is a beautiful example of the model that retains the character of an early Boxster. Harper Porsche's 1978 911 Turbo Restoration (national finalist)Follow along: https://www.instagram.com/harperporsche/ GALLERY-EMBED Harper Porsche's 1978 911 Turbo is a rare early Sonderwunsch commission, ordered new in Paint to Sample Buick Medium Green Poly metallic with white leather seats, black and white pinstripe velour inserts, and green shag carpet. Guided by the car's Porsche Product Specifications certificate, the team stripped the car to a bare shell and had it resprayed inside and out in the correct color by Harper's Porsche-certified collision center, then restored the interior to its original specification. The engine was rebuilt from the bare crankcase up, the original turbocharger was rebuilt, and the Type 930 four-speed transaxle was rebuilt in-house. The chassis received period-correct green Bilstein suspension, a fully renewed brake system, and the original Fuchs wheels refinished and fitted with N-rated Pirelli P7 tires. Harper's Porsche Classic service advisor and historian researched production records and period sources to ensure every detail was correct for 1978, and the team even commissioned custom red woven air conditioning hoses to match the originals. Harper Porsche brings a strong Challenge history to the finals, having won the national People's Choice award in 2025 with its 1992 964 RS. Each of these three cars reflects the purpose of its category and the skill of the Porsche Center behind it. Porsche Orlando, Porsche Cary and Harper Porsche now advance to the National Championship in October, where they will meet the winners from Areas West and East.

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 11, 2026

Luftgekühlt 12 Returns to Atlanta This October

What started as a modest, casual car meet centered on air-cooled Porsches quickly grew into a worldwide, manufacturer-backed event. From the coast of California to the streets of Tokyo, Luftgekühlt continues to bring Porsche purists together to celebrate one of the brand's greatest eras, tapping into a simpler time long before forced induction and dealership markups. With a heavy connection to Atlanta, including a rich motorsports history at Road Atlanta and Porsche Cars North America headquarters, Luftgekühlt 12 is coming home on October 10th to Town at Trilith in Fayetteville, Georgia, with tickets now officially on sale.This year's gathering arrives just one week after the 29th running of Petit Le Mans at nearby Road Atlanta, making the timing especially fitting for a celebration of Porsche's racing legacy. In honor of 75 years of Porsche motorsport, attendees can expect a carefully curated mix of historic race cars, air-cooled road cars, preservation-class examples, and rare private collection cars, along with appearances from some of the personalities who helped shape the marque's success on track. Even the official Luftgekühlt 12 poster tips its hat to Porsche history, featuring the legendary Whittington Brothers' 1979 Porsche 935 K3 as it marks its 50th anniversary.Outside of the cars, Luftgekühlt has built a reputation for choosing venues that become part of the experience, and Town at Trilith may be one of its most unique yet. Located next to Trilith Studios and just a short drive from Porsche Cars North America headquarters and the Porsche Experience Center, the walkable town offers modern architecture, public spaces, restaurants, and creative studios as a backdrop unlike any previous Luft event. Whether you're attending the Friday night welcome party or spending Saturday exploring the displays, Luftgekühlt 12 is as much about the people, places, and stories surrounding Porsche as it is about the cars themselves. Learn More Source: Luftgekühlt

By Khris Bharath – September 04, 2026

The World’s Only Porsche 918 Coupé Makes a Rare Appearance at Salon Privé

A Sonderwunsch Porsche 918 rolled onto the lawn at the ongoing 2026 Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace in England, ending more than a decade of obscurity. Ordered new by Ferdinand Piëch, former chairman of the Volkswagen Group and the man responsible for the Bugatti Veyron, the one-off is making an exceptionally rare formal public appearance. Salon Privé describes it as the world’s only 2015 Porsche 918 Coupé and says it is believed to have been seen in public just once before. The stunning example seen here features Paint to Sample Oxford Blue with Arancio orange across the wheels, front intakes, lower body accents, and engine bay, mirroring Piëch’s Veyron Super Sport. Inside, the blue-and-orange theme continues with Tangerine and Imperial Blue leather, while the headrests retain their “918 Spyder” embroidery despite the car’s fixed-roof configuration. The theme appears to have continued within the family collection. Subsequently, a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport associated with the Piëch family was similarly specified in Royal Blue Carbon with Tangerine orange, suggesting the combination became something of a family signature. The roof is where this 918 stops being a normal Spyder (the badge on the back still reads 918 Spyder). Where every other example features two removable carbon-fiber roof panels stored in the front luggage compartment, Piëch’s car replaces them with a single fixed panel. Salon Privé consequently describes it as the world’s only 918 Coupé. Porsche also replaced the Acid Green normally used to highlight the E-Hybrid hardware with orange, while finishing the brake calipers in Oxford Blue instead. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salon Privé (@salonpriveuk) Such bespoke commissions run through Sonderwunsch, Porsche's special-wishes program, which has since produced everything from reimagined Flachbau bodies to hand-applied Chromaflair paintwork and a growing catalogue of factory one-offs. In 2013, though, asking Porsche to fundamentally alter the roof configuration of its new hybrid hypercar was an extraordinary request from almost anyone. Piëch, of course, was instrumental in shaping the modern performance car landscape. He worked on the 917 program in the 1970s, drove the quattro program at Audi in the '80s, then took control of the Volkswagen Group and brought marques like Bugatti, Bentley and Lamborghini into its portfolio in the '90s. Back in 1997, on a train between Tokyo and Nagoya, Piëch famously sketched an 18-cylinder engine on the back of an envelope. The idea would eventually evolve into the Quad-turbocharged W16 that powered the Veyron, a car engineered to produce 1,000 horsepower and exceed 250 mph. Bugatti built the F.K.P. Hommage in his memory this January. That appetite for engineering excellence helps explain the specification of this 918. Our Market Spotlight on the 918 tracks where conventional examples sit, but Piëch’s car exists beyond those usual comparisons. A 204-mile Weissach example reached $3,465,000 on duPont REGISTRY Live in July, yet there is no direct precedent for a factory fixed-roof car with this provenance. Still retained by the Piëch family, it remains one of the few 918s the market has never had the chance to define. View All Porsche 918s for Sale Images: @salonpriveuk

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 07, 2026

Porsche Brings Drivers To Magarigawa

Only twenty drivers got the chance to participate in the Porsche GT Circle event, which took place at one of the world’s most exclusive racing venues: Magarigawa. Nestled outside Tokyo, the stunning Japanese race track offers views of Mount Fuji and Tokyo Bay, itself featuring gorgeous landscaping, opulent accommodations, and a circuit with 22 corners and dramatic elevation change. The twenty lucky participants hailed from nine different countries, and the sports car lineup at the track included a 911 GT3 RS, a 911 Carrera GTS, a 911 GT3 with Manthey Kit, and a 718 Cayman GT4 RS. GT Circle events, which take place across the globe, are available for owners of Porsche GT cars, who can register using their VIN. While track days, including the one at Magarigawa, are some of the most thrilling GT Circle events, others include plant tours, premieres, road trips, and more. Participants got to drive hot laps on the stunning course, but not before a warm-up the day before at the Porsche Experience Center in Tokyo, including its own circuit, a drift circle, an off-road course, and low-friction surfaces. The hot laps at Magarigawa, however, provided a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, with the elevation changes making drivers feel as if they were driving straight into the clouds, and the multiple high-speed sections and challenging corners providing them with a diverse range of experiences behind the wheel. <- Gallery -> The Porsche GT Circle motorsport event at Magarigawa combined the thrill of the race track with the luxury, relaxation, and beauty of the opulent Japanese facility, which opened its doors in 2023. Bringing 20 Porsche GT owners to one of the world’s most buzzworthy racing venues, Magarigawa provided the group with an incomparable track day. View All Porsche For Sale Image Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 30, 2026

Porsche Brings Sonderwunsch Cars To Fuori Concorso

2022 saw the first dedicated display of one-offs and limited-series Porsches at FuoriConcorso, set against the glittering backdrop of Italy’s Lake Como. There, the 2023 Porsche 911 Sport Classic was the star of the show, a limited-production 911 that paid homage to the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 911 that remains one of the most desirable collector-grade Porsches today, with several Exclusive Manufaktur details and a manual transmission. The year after, Porsche brought rarely seen prototypes and concept cars to an open-air exhibition at Fuori Concorso, including the legendary Porsche 911 GT1 that Mark Webber got behind the wheel of. 2024 saw a Porsche Fuori Concorso display that included a Chromaflair-painted Porsche 911 Turbo S customized by Sonderwunsch, set amongst a theme of British Racing Green at the event. At this year’s Fuori Concorso, Porsche plans to continue highlighting Sonderwunsch bespoke design and craftsmanship at the event. A selected number of cars will be displayed at the Lake Como gathering, highlighting the best of both Sonderwunsch and Exclusive Manufaktur, and this year’s event theme, ‘KraftMeister,’ will inform the selection of Factory Commission projects that will be present. The new Porsche 911 GT3 S/C, a new open-top, manual rendition of the Porsche 911 GT3, will be a major highlight of Porsche’s presence at the 2026 Fuori Concorso event. Showcasing how Porsche can bring unique client visions to life, Fuori Concorso will be a venue for craftsmanship, luxury, design, and performance excellence from Porsche. View All Porsche For Sale <- Gallery -> Image Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 27, 2026

Porsche Debuts 911 GT3 S/C At Air|Water

Air|Water celebrated yet another massively successful event at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California, showcasing the breadth of Porsche history as a companion to the Luftgekühlt event that highlights air-cooled Porsches. Taking place this past weekend, the event was not only a bastion of Porsche culture and automotive enthusiasm with over 800 cars on display, but it also featured over 50 private vendors, and the public debut of a new model. That debut was of the new Porsche 911 GT3 S/C, which was recently revealed as a new open-top version of the purist-oriented 911 GT3 with a manual transmission. The creation of the new 911 GT3 S/C highlights Porsche’s commitment to making driver’s cars with a traditional approach to performance. Alongside the 911 GT3 S/C, Porsche masterpieces from throughout the manufacturer’s history also demonstrated the brand’s contributions to the lexicon of automotive excellence. That included a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Porsche’s presence in motorsport. The display consisted of cars like the 962, the “Rexy” 911 GT3 R from AO Racing, and more. In addition, Sally Carrera, the iconic 996 Porsche 911 character from the Cars films, was displayed alongside the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Sally Special, a one-off inspired by the character. With several displays of Porsche legacy and heritage throughout the event, and the debut of the latest Porsche purist masterpiece, the latest Air|Water festival in Costa Mesa was yet another success. <- Gallery -> View All Porsche 911 GT3 For Sale Image Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 21, 2026

Luftgekühlt 12 Comes To Atlanta

A celebration of the air-cooled era of Porsche, Luftgekühlt is known for highlighting the rich car culture and passionate fanbase that Porsche enjoys, and what many enthusiasts consider a golden era in its history as a manufacturer. The Luftgekühlt event started on the West Coast, and recently came east last year for the 11th edition, which took place in a historic part of Durham, North Carolina. However, for Luftgekühlt 12, the event is staying on the eastern side of the map, as Atlanta has been announced as the location for the October event. On Saturday, October 10, Luftgekühlt 12 is coming to the Peach State, with proximity to the headquarters of Porsche Cars North America and the Porsche Experience Center in the city. The team has experienced success with events in the area before, specifically at the iconic Road Atlanta race track located east of the city in Braselton, Georgia. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale, the Petit Le Mans race, will take place before Luftgekühlt 12 at Road Atlanta, giving the event an electrified atmosphere for automotive enthusiasts. Art, culture, cars, and camaraderie will collide at Luftgekühlt 12, with air-cooled Porsche icons at the center of the festivities, and Patrick Long, the founder of Luftgekühlt, said, “Atlanta felt like a natural next move for us. Being so close to Porsche's U.S. home adds another layer to the experience, and we're excited to bring the community together there this fall. As the brand continues to expand into new regions, moments like this reflect a broader intention to connect with audiences in meaningful and culturally-specific ways," about the event’s new location. <- Gallery -> An official venue announcement, as well as additional details like ticket information and the exact location of the event, are all coming soon. However, what we know now is that an iconic Porsche festival is coming to Atlanta, Georgia, on October 10, and Porsche enthusiasts across the globe should prepare for a new kind of Luftgekühlt experience. View All Porsche For Sale Image Source: Luftgekühlt

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 16, 2026

Air|Water Returns In One Week

A companion to Luftgekühlt, which specializes in air-cooled Porsches, Air|Water is a much newer event that acknowledges the ever-growing lexicon of water-cooled modern classics. Held at Costa Mesa’s OC Fair & Event Center in Southern California, the event has quickly gained a following of its own, and the fourth annual installment, driven by Mobil 1, is set to take place in just one week. Tickets for this year’s Air|Water are still available for last-minute purchases, and this year’s event will include the North American public debut of the new Porsche 911 GT3 S/C, a manual, open-top version of the Porsche 911 GT3, a BMX Freestyle exhibit from BMX pioneer Bob Haro, and the displays of various cars and builds from throughout the Porsche community. <- Gallery -> Vehicles on display will include a Group C Porsche 962, AO Racing’s “Rexy” GT3 R, the Sally Special Porsche 911s, and Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche’s personal 911. Broad Arrow will host a special auction that includes incredible, rare Porsches from throughout the history of the manufacturer. Exhibitors will feature parts, apparel, and lifestyle collections at the event, and the entire Air|Water Driven by Mobil 1 event will be hosted by journalist Jonny Lieberman this year. Tickets will be available in limited quantities, with general admission available, as well as tickets that include the Saturday evening Runway Reception at Finish Line Auto Club. Details for Luftgekühlt 12 are set to be announced at the event, building on the excitement of Air|Water for another special Porsche celebration. A growing must-see in the Porsche community, Air|Water’s fourth annual edition is set to be an especially noteworthy one. View All Porsche For Sale Image Source: Air|Water

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 23, 2026

Air|Water Is Returning This April

Created as a spin-off from Luftgekühlt, Air|Water is an ode to Porsche’s long history and the various passionate subcultures of Porsche fans that have come about as a result, especially as the age of the water-cooled Porsche 911 nears 30 years. Returning to southern California in April 2026, the countdown is officially beginning for the fourth edition of Air|Water, as it has gained significant popularity from its previous editions, successful in bringing an accessible, immersive Porsche experience to fans and collectors. Coming to Costa Mesa on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the 2026 Air|Water will take place at the OC Fair and Event Center. Patrick Long, the founder of Air|Water, says “From vintage to modern, racing to street, Air|Water’s vision has always been to have a broad appeal that connects people to the complete story of Porsche. In a similar manner to pushing the automotive engineering envelope we strive to continually deliver more engaging event experiences for our partners, car owners, first timers, and loyal attendees.” Mobil 1 is returning to the festival as a title partner, with its longstanding connection to Porsche Motorsport, and Dunlop will be joining the festival as a partner, as well, with both partners joining the event to celebrate Porsche performance excellence and heritage across the decades of its history. As the name of Air|Water nods to the two distinct eras in Porsche’s history, the poster for this year’s event nods particularly to the transition between the two, highlighting the 993 and 996 generations of the Porsche 911, the end of the first era, and the beginning of the second. <- Gallery -> Parts of the event will feature celebrations of things like the 75th anniversary of Porsche Motorsport by highlighting GT cars, the 90th birthday of Butzi Porsche, the designer of the 911, and the 60th anniversary of the GTP special racing class. Convertible models will also be a highlight of the 2026 Air|Water event, including the Boxster, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the Targa, which is celebrating its 60th. The event will also include a Live Broad Arrow Porsche Auction. Last year’s auction included incredible sales like a 1989 RUF Yellowbird, which sold for $4,650,000, and this year’s auction will have cars crossing the block like the 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup “Diet 7UP VIP” car, and the 1980 Porsche 924 SCCA D-Production, an incredible transaxle pair. More than 50 exhibitors will be present at the Exhibition Hall, and Porsche owners who want to enter their cars in the show are encouraged to submit cars for display soon. Overcrest is also returning with a single-day rally experience, priced at $400, in which a day of driving starts with a group breakfast, after which drivers will take on some of the most scenic roads in Southern California before arriving to Air|Water on Friday evening for a special reception. General admission tickets are available now for the 2026 Air|Water event, starting at $65, and the official Runway Reception at Finish Line Auto Club is also available as a VIP gathering to close out the weekend. As an anticipated gathering full of camaraderie and Porsche passion, the 2026 Air|Water is a continuation of a meteorically rising star in Porsche events. Buy Tickets Image Source: Air|Water

By Dylan Orluck – January 23, 2026

Flat Six Fest: Outlaw Edition

Only a handful of North American events boast a parking lot selection that rivals—or even surpasses—the quality of cars in the main event. The Concours Club is certainly one of those places. For Flat Six Fest, as you pull in through the unmistakable Concours Club gates, you are greeted by friendly staff and ushered into a parking lot filled with some of the rarest Porsches on earth. The artful display brought Porsche’s history to life with a sea of Ruf Automobiles, GT2RS’s, Carrera RS’s from different generations, and a wall of Carrera GT’s in almost every color that has ever been produced. It is only once you are inside the event that you understand The Concours Club’s unique ability to bring the car world to life with the overarching theme of Outlaw Porsches. The Concours Club is Miami’s Automotive Resort that acts as a one-stop automotive playground for car collectors around the globe. Whether you want to take your car around the track, eat an incredible meal, or store your collection, The Concours Club has it covered. The dedication to hospitality and luxury is what makes the Club the perfect location to host an event of this caliber. Flat-Six Fest was an exclusive Porsche event for members of The Concours Club and their guests. The celebration of the illustrious marque featured live music, Porsche racing, and outlaw builds. On top of that, the team created Flat-Six Village, an immersive set that offered engine building and metalworking demonstrations and an art exhibition from Manu Campa. As you made your way along the track to the other side of the beautiful clubhouse designed by Pininfarina, you are greeted by rows of sunbathing convertible Porsches, a display cleverly dubbed “Topless Beach.” At first glance, the show looked like an array of Porsches carefully placed around The Concours Club. It wasn't until I took a closer look that I realized that I was surrounded by some of the rarest and coolest Porsches in existence. GH Vehicles came out swinging and brought multiple Emory Builds, a 959, and a number of Ruf cars from Ruf North America. Prestige Imports contributed a gorgeous Gunther Werks Speedster. But the cars weren’t only for display: we also got to see Porsche in all of its racing glory as old, air-cooled racecars to new Cup cars took hot laps around the track. Porsche has the ability to bring all walks of life together and Flat Six Fest is the perfect salute to one of the automobile community’s most cherished brands. The Concours Club team knocked this event out of the park and left everyone with everlasting memories, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Source: Shamin Abas (SAPR)/Media: Rafael Delceggio

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