My FH5 Log: Rennsport Reunion V - Duke GP

 

Remember this one? This is the 991-spec Porsche 911 GT3 R from Forza Horizon 5's Apex All-Stars DLC Pack. A 991.2-spec 911-based race car made to comply with GT3-class regulations.

Fast forward to the 992 era of the Porsche 911 and here's the GT3 R of today. Yes, this is the current version of the 911 GT3 R racer and I obtained it from the Horizon Track Day's Dry Season Playlist. So, what's it all about the 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 R?

The new-generation Porsche 911 GT3 R, based on the 992 model, is an evolved version of Porsche's proven GT3 racing competitor that adheres to international GT3 racing regulations. It features a 4.2-liter engine, producing approximately 565 horsepower, and is paired with a six-speed sequential dog-type transmission. The car has a weight of around 1,250 kg, depending on the Balance of Performance.

The 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 R has achieved victories across various GT3-class racing championships, including IMSA, DTM, WEC, and others.

To see how much improvement the 992 version of the 911 GT3 R gained from its 991 predecessor, I went to the Stadium to do some work. Some of you say that I'm going to conduct this experiment around the oval and I say I'm not, because...

Because I'm using the Winter Wonderland Circuit to demonstrate the 911 GT3R's capabilities. Let's roll the tape...

And now the results...

991 GT3R - 59.810s

992 GT3R - 59.276s

This is what I call a "close shave". Even with the added power from its increased engine size, it's too close to call compared to its predecessor. 

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R is an evolution of the 991 GT3 R. It has a bigger engine and more power, but it's only marginally faster around the track, I presume.

From the Thomas Preining affair to our favorite IMSA dinosaurs Rexy and Roxy, and the Manthey PureRxing crew that got their first WEC LMGT3 title, the 992 version of the Porsche 911 GT3 R is proven to be a global winner in its own right.

The Duke of Stuttgart has been crowned. Go Beat The Duke if you can.

My FH5 Log: The Born-Again 911s

The GuntherWerks 400R and the Singer 911 DLS are prime examples of resto-mods, the trend in which old cars are born again in new and exciting ways to appeal to modern-day drivers.

What was so distinctive about these resto-mod Porsche 911s that set them apart from every other style example? Let's begin with one of my favorites; the Singer 911 DLS.

The California-based Singer Group Inc. has been restoring and reimagining 964-spec Porsche 911 vehicles since 2009. Following the success of their first model, the Classic Study, they introduced the 911 Dynamics & Lightweight Study (DLS), which evolves the iconic Porsche DNA with insights from Formula 1 technology. Aiming to create the most advanced air-cooled 911 in the world, the Singer DLS features reworked bodywork that enhances aerodynamics and incorporates extensive use of carbon fiber. In collaboration with Williams, the 4.0L air-cooled flat-six engine has been upgraded to deliver 500 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed Hewland gearbox. 

The DLS is part of a limited production run of 75 units, alongside the Classic Study, and is priced at over 1.8 million US dollars.

Now, let's focus on the Gunther Werks 400R, a 993-spec Porsche 911 born again for today's drivers.

Only 25 examples of this modern-day reboot of the 993-spec Porsche 911 Carrera have been produced. The car features lightweight materials, particularly carbon fiber, used throughout its body. It has bespoke LED headlights and a revised 4.0L naturally aspirated flat-six engine that generates over 400 horsepower. Additionally, it includes a modified Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox. Weighing in at 2,677 pounds, this car boasts an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 6.2 pounds per horsepower.

You may remember in one of my previous articles, I pitted the 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 RS against these two born-again 911s on a Coast Run and blew them both. If Our Lady of Margarete got my 992 911 GT3 RS, I forgot to tell you that I've done some overtime with these two born-again 911s. Would you like the check them out?

You may remember the moment I won this Singer 911 back in the Series 10 update, I have Eve Kagayaki's name written all over it. Now, my Eve-designed Singer 911 DLS returns, and this time with a slightly revised design that features PriChan logos written around it. Welcome back, Eve-sama.

The GuntherWerks 400R, meanwhile, has Alice...Kagayaki's name written all over it. Yep, Eve's long-lost twin sister makes her appearance. Yes, really. The ALIVE duo's finally gathered.

With the Kagayaki sisters' names written all over my born-again 911s, it's time to give these two their moment to shine. The GuntherWerks 400R will sprint through FoxFer64's re-enactment of the Middle Circuit track from the Choro-Q 2 video game while the Singer 911 DLS takes on Pato Bincidi's re-enactment of the Albert Park venue from the F1 Australian Grand Prix. Let's get these shows on the road.

Being "born again" never felt so...ALIVE. Get it? ALIVE.

Just like people, classic cars have the opportunity to be "reborn" in new and exciting ways. This is the essence of resto-modding, and the GuntherWerks 400R and the Singer 911 DLS are perfect examples of this transformation.

This is the joy of being "born again". A second chance to do things you haven't done in a lifetime, almost.

My FH5 Log: Rennsport Reunion V - Tornado GP

The 992 911 domination in Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Track Day update continues with the in-game arrival of the offroad-oriented limited edition model, the 911 Dakar.

Having obtained this offroad-ready 911 from the update's Storm Season playlist, it's time for a quick introduction to the limited-edition rally raid sports car the Forza producers labeled as "911 Rallye" for unknown reasons.

Unveiled at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 911 Dakar is an off-road-oriented version of the iconic 911, paying tribute to Porsche's first-ever victory in the Paris-Dakar rally in 1984—an event that inspired the creation of the all-wheel-drive 911.

The 911 Dakar is powered by the same 3.0L biturbo six-cylinder engine found in the 911 Carrera, producing 480 PS and 580 Nm of torque. It is paired with an 8-speed PDK transmission, which enables it to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.4 seconds. The top speed is limited to 240 kph, a restriction due to the all-terrain tires that are standard for this model, marking a first for the 911.

Notable features of the 911 Dakar include Rallye Launch Control, a standard lift system, increased ground clearance, a modified radiator with stone chip protection, and two new driving modes: Rallye and Offroad. Customers can also choose the Rallye Design Package and three decal sets inspired by Porsche's entries in the East African Safari Rally during the 1970s. Additionally, they have the option to add either a roof rack or a roof tent.

A total of 2,500 units were produced and sold.

Recently, a unique 911 Dakar commissioned by Sonderwunsch has been completed in Signal Yellow and Lamperdusable dual color, with light blue lines separating the two colors. This commemorates the end of the 911 Dakar's 2500-unit production run. My take may not match the real deal but this is what the 911 Dakar will be donning for today because this offroad sports car is up its show.

At this point, I was going to get our Teenieping friend Sandping to make me a sandbox for the 911 Dakar to play with but instead...

Instead, I went to another one of Dexter 4130D's EventLab creations which makes good use of the Halo props provided in this update. It's called the Spartan Rally and the 911's unique styling and spartan driving manners as well as the Dakar's offroading prowess will feel at home in this Halo-themed dirt track envisioned by one of the most respected Forza-devoted content creators.

Commence the operation.

Although slight mistakes were made, the 911 Dakar still has the beating heart of the Spartan warrior...from the world of Halo.

Capable of tackling everything Sandping would throw at it, the 911 Dakar is what happens when you turn one of the most influential sports cars of all time into a road-legal rally raid car that can embarrass even the Cayenne.

Sandping, you have lost your battle.

My FH5 Log: Rennsport Reunion V - Spartan GP

The 911 is Porsche's iconic rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe, known for its distinctive styling and minimalist driving experience. The Horizon Track Day update in Forza Horizon 5 pays tribute to the 992 model of this legendary sports car, beginning with the most stripped-down version of the 911: the GT3 RS.

Obtained from this update's Wet Season playlist, it's time to have a word with the most spartan 911 ever made.

The 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 RS is an extreme, track-focused version of the 911, utilizing much of the technology from the 911 GT3 R racing car. This allows it to achieve a lap time of 6:44.85 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, making it slightly faster than the most extreme Lamborghini Aventador, the SVJ.

Visually similar to the standard 992 911 GT3, the GT3 RS features aerodynamic enhancements including front aero bars and air outlets located at the front and rear fenders. It also boasts an adjustable active front diffuser and highlights include the massive swan-neck mounted rear wing—the largest ever installed on a production Porsche. This wing features an F1-style Drag Reduction System, enabling it to be flattened at the touch of a button. The front trunk (frunk) of the 911 GT3 RS is significantly occupied by a centrally positioned single radiator, inspired by its racing counterparts.

Under the hood, the naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six engine produces a power output of 525 PS, which is a 15 PS increase over the standard 911 GT3. It generates 465 Nm of torque and is exclusively paired with a 7-speed PDK transmission. The GT3 RS can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.2 seconds—0.2 seconds quicker than the regular GT3—and has a top speed of 296 km/h, which is 22 km/h slower than the standard GT3. Thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, particularly from the Weissach Package, the 911 GT3 RS has a weight of 1,450 kg.

Being the first Porsche equipped with an F1-inspired Drag Reduction System, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992) easily transforms from a track toy into an ultra-high-performance track machine at the push of a button, pushing the boundaries of what a 911 can achieve on the racetrack.

To demonstrate the capabilities of the 992 911 GT3 RS, I decided to have a no-holds-barred Coast Run against these "born again" 911s I've lined up.

These are the "born again" 911s my 992 GT3 RS will face against; the Singer 911 DLS and the GuntherWerks 400R, two restomodded 911s that rewrote each other's histories in a spectacular and bespoke fashion. Anyway, let's get this show on the road.

And now the results...

Singer 911 - 2m44.648s

GW 911 - 2m50.170s

992 GT3 RS - 2m41.512s

Whether you love it or hate it, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992) stands as the ultimate expression of an extreme track car that is designed for both the track and the road.

Having enjoyed driving the 992 911 GT3 RS in the game, it's time to reward the most spartan 911 ever made a little treat.

Riddle me this: I'm Austrian; my undefeated streak was ended by those girls, and I transferred to the school where they were enrolled for revenge. Who am I? If you're answer is Wien Margarete, then Ding-Dong-Dang! You're correct because the most spartan 911 ever made is all dressed up for the role of one of my favorite foreign school idols from the world of Love Live!

With the revengeful soul of Our Lady of Margarete fused, my 911 GT3 RS is battling against the competition in the EventLab re-enactment of the legendary Laguna Seca track curated by Forza player Arbi4908. Let's get it!

Winning, the Wien Margarete way! Get it? Winners are for Wien-ers. Was it supposed to be "Wieners are for winners"? Hehe... I'm such a fan of Wien Margarete (though someone whispered to me that I'm actually a Win Morisaki fan). Never mind all that!

The 911 GT3 RS is the hottest, hardest, tightest, and most exotic 911 ever made, and with the 992 model, it managed to blur the line between common sense and nonsense the Porsche way. Road and track egoists, rejoice.

My FH5 Log: Taycan Bloodline

The Porsche Taycan revolutionized the company behind the legendary 911 and others with its all-electric powertrain and became the starting point for Porsche's road to electrification. Here in Forza Horizon 5, I sample two versions of the said electric car.

But first, a quick refresher on the Porsche Taycan. The Taycan, Porsche’s first fully electric sports saloon, is a true revolution. It’s a sign of a new era for the company behind the legendary 911, among others. This car is an amazing testament to Porsche’s engineering capabilities. The Taycan Turbo S variant can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in under three seconds and has a unique electric drivetrain with 800V system voltage and 93.4 kWh Performance Battery Plus. The Taycan is also equipped with a wide range of networked chassis systems that keep it sporty and comfortable.

A year after the saloon version was sold, the Cross Turismo joined the lineup. You know, the one that I won from the Modern Horizons Hot Season Playlist. The Cross Turismo features the same bits and bobs from its saloon version but is now in jacked-up shooting brake packaging. The most powerful version, the Turbo S, has 460kW of power output but when over-boost kicks in, it generates up to 560kW of power, delivering a 0-100kph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 250kph, slower than its sedan equivalent. Range? It's up to 419km per WLTP standards.

Both the Taycan and the Taycan Cross Turismo were concepts turned real and had the same performance. The question is, which Taycan is the best? The saloon or the Cross Turismo? To find out, I went to the main festival stage to conduct this experiment. Roll the tape.

And now the results...

Taycan - 1m00.460s

Taycan CT - 1m01.044s

A close shave as expected but the saloon came up on top.

Saloon or Cross Turismo, it makes no difference which Taycan you're on because, with the Taycan, Porsche's road to electrification goes full circle and the hype is real. Electric power just got manly and dangerous. This is Soul, Electrified.

EPILOGUE

Showing respect to the first-ever Porsche Taycan, it's time for the saloon version to do a one-car show but first...

A dab of Angel's Breath and the Taycan's feeling angelic for all the wrong reasons. Still, the scent of Angel's Breath is lovely and nostalgic just like a stack of Mod magazines from my youth. Let's go, Mikan.

With the scent of Angel's Breath lingering, Mikan the Taycan is prepared to take on today's Making Drama; a storm drain setting curated by a certain EventLab pro. 

Making Drama, switch on!

The scent of Angel's Breath may be gone but my little angel skewered through the storm drain like an idol possessed.

The Porsche Taycan is a truly revolutionary vehicle. The electric powertrain is impressive, the performance is incredible, and it's both stylish and comfortable. Plus, it's fun to drive! It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular new cars on the market. It's a testament to Porsche's engineering prowess that they were able to create an electric car that doesn't sacrifice any of the things that make a Porsche a Porsche. I predict that the Taycan will be one of the most iconic cars of the decade.

GET READY FOR THE NEXT BATTLE!

Porsche Panamera (972) v Taycan Minor Change

The only premium saloon in the Porsche stable, the Panamera, is now in its third generation and it's officially the best Panamera ever made by a narrow margin.

2025 Porsche Panamera

Starting at an ultra-expensive 110,900 Euros plus additional costs, the all-new third-generation Panamera is the Third Coming of Porsche's only luxury premium sedan that combines the first-class comfort and track-honed performance you would expect for a Porsche.

2025 Porsche Panamera

The design of the Panamera 972 is very similar to earlier models, but Porsche says that this new version was inspired by the electric Taycan. The all-electric Taycan is Porsche's only luxury premium sedan, and its influence can be seen in the design of the Panamera. I think this is an exciting development that shows that Porsche is moving forward with exciting, new models that will be part of their exciting future.

Now the range-topping Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, the most powerful Porsche Turbo, is the first to don the monochrome Porsche badge because it looks so cool. I think it's a great idea to put the badge on the most powerful version of the Porsche.

2025 Porsche Panamera interior

2025 Porsche Panamera interior

In contrast to its familiar looks, the interior is all-new for the 972. On the driver's side, it features a dual touch-screen display with the other one on the passenger side, which is of course an optional extra and it's only visible to whoever sits in the front passenger seat, not from the driver's seat to avoid distracted driving. Boo. On the plus side, the analog clock from the previous model is still here. On the top as usual. On the passenger side, it still has that out-on-the-limo feeling, and things get even more interesting if you go for the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive with longer wheelbase and executive rear seats. Going first-class doesn't need to be a dull moment especially when you're in the all-new Porsche Panamera.

The new Porsche Panamera has a good amount of boot space, as long as you don't need the rear seats. With the seats folded down, you can fit up to 1264 liters of stuff in the back, which is pretty good for a premium sedan. So if you’re a Porsche purist and you need a lot of cargo space, you’ll likely be happy with the new Panamera.

2025 Porsche Panamera

Base Panamera variants are powered by a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine with 353PS of power and mated to an 8-speed AT but the E-Hybrid variants are armed with the same engine but bolted to an E-Motor to produce a total output of up to 544PS of power for the 4S E-Hybrid variant. Mated to the said gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 3.7 seconds and flat-out at 290kph.

The range-topper Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid is armed with the new 4.0L V8 turbo engine bolted to an E-Motor that produces a total output of 680PS of power and 930Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 315kph. That's nearly supercar performance in a car that weighs over two tons.

Dynamics have been slightly improved thanks to its standard Porsche Active Suspension Management, available all-wheel steering, available Porsche Active Ride active suspension, and new active shock absorbers, among others. With such improvements, the dynamics made the all-new model the best premium sedan to drive by a narrow margin. You might as well ditch your Mercedes-AMG S63 for this one. It feels downright addictive to drive.

As for safety, the all-new Panamera features a revised active speed assistant as well as the updated Porsche InnoDrive now with swerve assistant and the new Remote ParkAssist function.

The all-new Porsche Panamera is no doubt the best Panamera ever made by a narrow margin but is it really the best Porsche sedan you want to drive and leave others driven to tears?

2025 Porsche Taycan

2025 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

2025 Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo

To give us the answer, let's introduce to you to the Porsche Taycan's 2025MY Minor Change. Priced at 101,500 Euros, which is slightly more expensive than the all-new Panamera, the Taycan is still offered with three body styles such as the saloon version, the Sport Turismo with up to 1212 liters of boot space with the rear seats folded down, and the slightly rugged Taycan Cross Turismo.

2025 Porsche Taycan interior

The Taycan minor change features a slightly refreshed design as well as a revised interior with more touchscreens, a refreshed digital instrumental cluster, standard brushed aluminum side sill scuff plates, new leather-free upholstery options (both with Pepita houndstooth fabric), revised two-tone color scheme choices and new Aluminium Prisma decor. Everything around the Taycan is still first-class comfort.

2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

Of course, you can have the all-electric Taycan from 408PS to 952PS for the Turbo S but ignore all of that because there's now the ultimate Taycan you want to have; the Taycan Turbo GT.

Priced at 240,000 Euros plus additional costs, the Taycan Turbo GT juiced its AWD dual-motor powertrain with 105kWh Lithium battery to produce a monstrous 1034PS of power and 1340Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 2.3 seconds and flat-out at 290kph, slower than the all-new Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid. As for driving range, the Taycan Turbo GT is good for 555km in one full charge and it will take half a day to charge it while at home or 18 minutes while at a public 320kW charging station if there is one.

Armed with the available Weissach Package that deletes the rear seats and other forms of comfort to drop 70kg on a car that weighs over two tons, the Taycan Turbo GT is capable of crushing the Nurburgring Nordschleife production EV lap record in 7 minutes and 7.55 seconds, faster than the controversial Tesla Model S Plaid. This is no doubt the fastest saloon to lap the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife and such plaudits must not be ignored.

So, the all-new third-generation Panamera and the Taycan minor change. Both Porsche saloons are built for the new normal with the first-class comfort and race-honed performance you would expect for a Porsche but in the end, it's the facelifted Taycan, in Turbo GT form, takes the upper hand. Either way, these two are too hot to be ignored. WE JUST WANT ONE OF THESE.

Photo: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG