This Might Look Like A Production Porsche 959 At A Glance, But It Definitely Is Not
I wouldn’t criticize you if you tried to say this was a normal Porsche 959, as the body does look pretty similar to the production car. However, this isn’t the case. In fact, as if being one the few surviving examples of just 12 prototypes built didn’t make this car rare enough, it’s also one of the few that were finished in Ruby Red. The car was apparently designed specifically for electric system testing and hot weather testing on the U.S. West Coast and in Europe.
Still need proof that this is an authentic prototype, well that proof comes on the inside. Throughout the testing phase, several different interior layouts were installed, including one with different seats. You can find extra and disconnected electric wiring under the passenger seat along with hard mounts for the electronic testing equipment next to the rear seats. The car is also lacking power steering, ride-height control, a passenger-side mirror, alarm, windshield washer, and the fuel filler cap among other things.
Porsche 959 specifications
Engine
2849 cc Bi-turbocharged flat-6
Bore x stroke
95.0 x 67.0 mm
Compression ratio
8.3:1
Horsepower (DIN)
444 HP @ 6,500 RPM
Torque
370 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM
Fuel delivery
elect. port injection
Transmission
6-speed manual
0-60 mph
3.7 seconds
Top Speed
197 mph
This 959 Prototype’s History Is Interesting
How much do you think the asking price is?
Swipe up to learn more about it, see the full gallery, and find a link to the sale listing!
After the Porsche 969 hit the production lines, Porsche destroyed most of the other prototypes that were built alongside this one. This car, however, was imported into the U.S. in the latter half of the 1980s and was displayed like a trophy at the HQ of Vasek Polak – a Porsche importer and dealer. Sometime after that, it was shipped off to Japan for demonstrational activities before being sold to Belgium and later the United Kingdom. The car eventually made it back to its homeland of Germany, where it’s currently on sale. According to the listing, it has just 26,520 km (16,478 miles) on the odometer, but the asking price is a mystery. If you’re interested in owning a very rare care, you’ll have to contract the owner through Mechatronik to find out how much you’ll have to shell out.
The KD sport 900 was conceived by a number of enthusiasts and artisans in 1963. It was unique with a great design that earned it the nickname of the Soviet Porsche. Structure-wise, it also had all the makings of a fast car, including the 500-kilogram weight and two-seater fibreglass body, though the mechanical bit was a letdown. The KD featured an air-cooled 900 cc engine that produced a maximum of 30 horsepower leading to a top speed of 74 miles per hour. Numbers like that made it one of the very underpowered, and the low budget issues meant only a small-scale production of 6 cars by 1969 before the project was shelved. There are one or two which still survive, though.
Yuna
Like the KD, the Yuna is a small-scale production car produced by Georgi and Stanislav Algebraistov. The exterior had features that resembled the Ferrari Testarossa and the Lotus Esprit. It was made in 1982, so the styling of the time was a significant influence. Interestingly, it is the only custom-built sports car from the Soviet Union period that currently runs today. The performance figures for the Yuna are somewhat ambiguous due to the custom settings, but it did have the engine from a BMW 525i, meaning a 2.5-litre engine rated at an estimated 150 horsepower. The Yuna also had power windows, and the exhaust was upgraded to produce a better sound.
Melkus RS 1000
The Melkus was initially made by Heinz Melkus in 1968 to celebrate the two-decade anniversary of the GDR RS and debuted at the Brussels Motor Show in 1970. The body was composed of polyester resin reinforced with fiberglass, and the base models only weighed 680 kilograms. Despite the weight advantage, the 1-liter, three-cylinder engine only managed 68 horsepower, which meant a top speed of 102 miles per hour. It did feel quite fast, though with a loudness of 90dB. However, the body was prone to crosswind and common flick oversteer. It also had no airbags or ABS. That being said, it was beautiful to look at.
FSO Syrena Sports
The FSO Syrena Sport was a Polish concept car developed during the late 50s by Cezary Narwot, a mechanical engineer and constructor. When he designed this model, Nawrot got his inspiration from western cars. It is probably why the car had a few design similarities to the Mercedes 190 SL and the Corvette. He opted for an air-cooled 700 cc, flat-twin S16 engine producing an estimated 35 horsepower. The Syrena was quite good in the corners despite the lacklustre performance due to the independent rear suspension. From the time that it debuted in 1960, it became a sensation. In fact, there was a newspaper outlet in Italy that dubbed it the most beautiful car from behind the Iron Curtain.
Stratopolonez
In 1977, the Polish Prime Minister’s son, Andrzej Jaroszewicz, participated in the Malboro Arctic Rally in a Lancia Stratos and crashed it into a tree. The body was in tatters, but the chassis, engine, and other significant parts were salvaged. Rather than let it go to waste, the car was refashioned into what became the Stratopolonez. Considering Jaroszewicz was the then head of FSO research and development, his position was convenient as it led to the development of Delta Integrale styled sports car. The same Dino sourced 2.4-litre V-6 engine delivered 260 horsepower and was linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. It accelerated to 60 miles per hour in five seconds and had a top speed of 143 miles per hour. The Stratopolonez was used in rallying circuits until 1985, before it was retired. No others were ever made, probably because no one bothered to crash and redesign a Lancia Stratos.
ZIL-112 Sports
The ZIL-112 was one of the few models from the eastern bloc that competed in races between 1961 and 1969. It had features resembling the Shelby Cobra, aerodynamics, and apparent light body construction allowed for great trackability. Power was derived from two options. One was a 6.0-litre V-8 producing 230 horsepower, while the other was a 7.0-litre V-8 rated at 270 horsepower. Depending on the engine used, the top speed was between 160 and 170 miles per hour. Following land speed record attempts and participation at the domestic USSR Championship races, the Party Committee at ZiL concluded that the model was diverting engineering resources from the flagships of the soviet industry. There was no place in the republic for a car as extravagant as the 112, and only two were ever produced.
Laura
Like the previous entries, the Laura was also a project model courtesy of Dmitry Parfenov and Gennady Hainov. The two enthusiasts wanted to create a sports car that had nothing in common with what the Soviet bloc was producing at the time, hence the Laura. It had a few similar styling attributes to the American GMC DeLorean though the front was decidedly European. Apparently, it was built almost entirely without factory parts, and even the engine was designed and hand-built by the two enthusiasts. Not many technical details are currently available, though concerning the Laura. Scarce mentions place its top speed at 106 miles per hour, and only two were ever made. It was highly praised by the Secretary-General of the Communist Party, Mikhail Gorbachev though, and displayed in numerous international exhibitions.
Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Porsche 911 Sport Classic out for a new testing session on the public roads of Germany. As you can see the car is missing most of the camouflage which means the testing sessions are pretty much done, and all that is left is mostly fine tuning.
The prototype follows the design lines of the 911 models, but there will be a few distinctive features. First one is of course that little ducktail at the back – a signature of the Sport Classic models. The 911 Sport Classic will also feature a double bubble roof and the lines of the special hood will match perfectly the lines of the roof.
The only camouflage we can see on this prototype is some tape around the sides of the ducktail spoiler and in the middle of the rear light arrangement.
As for the engine, rumors suggest the 911 Sport Classic will get the same engine as the 911 GTS: a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six that delivers 480 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
Rumors suggest Porsche will only build 2,000 units of the 911 Sport Classic.
The first couple of gymkhana films featured Block driving a Subaru Impreza. Then, for the next several years and gymkhana films, the American rally driver has been almost exclusively driving hopped-up Fords.
From American Ford to German Audi
Now though, there is a new chapter in the book of Block. The man who popularized gymkhana is moving away from the blue oval in favor of the four rings.
Yes, Ken Block is officially working with Audi.
It is important to point out that the 53-year old rally driver will be working with Audi on the future of the company’s electric mobility.
Block has not been sitting back and letting the sponsorship dollars just roll in, though. He is still competing in off-road motorsports. Block placed third in the final stage of the 2020 Dakar Rally driving an electric prototype and won the inaugural race in the Projekt E series in Höljes in Sweden, also in 2020.
The reasoning behind the move
The reasoning behind this partnership with Audi seems to be more sentimental than anything else. Block said,
“Audi is the brand that ignited my passion for motorsport. I am extremely excited to start this new chapter. Together, we will develop innovative projects and push the boundaries of electric mobility.”
During his visit to Audi, Block got the opportunity to drive several historic cars from the company’s back catalog. Including the Audi Sport quattro S1, the Audi V8 quattro from the DTM, and the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo.
Regardless, if this is just a simple indulgence for Block, it only benefits fans and driving enthusiasts. The more insane car builds that end up doing 360s in a cloud of tire smoke, the better.
What this partnership could lead to
Also, the future of the auto industry does indeed seem to be electric. If this pairing can help make that future more exciting, then more power to him.
Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH, said, “With Ken Block, we’ve got exciting things in store that go perfectly with our strategy.”
Perhaps that means we will see a future gymkhana film featuring an electric RS3, or better yet, an electric conversion Quattro. Or maybe something more like the project between Vaughn Gitten Jr. and Ford that resulted in the 1,400 horsepower Mustang Mach-E that we saw last year.
Many cars and SUVs are stretched into Limo’s, to ponder through the streets of Vegas or Beverly Hills in L.A. But did you know there was a there was a one-of-a-kind Dodge Viper limousine for sale on eBay?
The Dodge Viper is a modern-day American icon. The first generation was tasked with establishing itself as the Shelby Cobra’s spiritual heir. Its main selling point is the purity – and rawness – of its performance, which is powered by a gigantic 8-liter V10, free of any driving aids. Officially, the Dodge Viper was only available as a roadster called the Viper RT/10 or as a coupe called the Viper GTS, both having an interior designed to seat only two people.
This one-of-a-kind limousine variation seen here, which was for sale on eBay, is not from the Dodge catalog. Viewed from up front and even the rear, the car appears to be like just any other Viper.
However, looking at it from the side reveals that it is nearly 8 meters long. The designers preserved the original roll cage while adding a nearly identical one behind the two front seats.
The low-quality images, put up by the seller, suggests that the vehicle does not have rear doors. Apart from that, the car hasn’t undergone any mechanical alterations, except for lengthening the driveshaft to now reaching the distant rear axle.
The 8.0-liter V-10 engine produces 415 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The Viper Limo can carry up to 12 people and is an excellent choice for making a dramatic entrance on your wedding day, with its white livery accented with blue stripes, a tribute to the 25th-anniversary edition.
This particular example was manufactured in 1996 and has only 5,900 miles on the clock. The Limo was put up for sale in early July for $285,000, but no offers were received. The entry price of the eBay auction was reduced to $135,000 in August.
The Yamaha OX99-11 may have been conceived in 1992, but it all started in 1989 when Yamaha started competing in Formula One as an engine supplier. It’s then that the idea of a money-no-object Yamaha supercar came to be. Moreover, the car needed to be based on actual F1 technology, even though Yamaha was doing poorly in motorsports.
Named after its engine
In 1991, Yamaha developed a Formula One engine called the OX99. It was a 3.5-liter, 72-degree, 60-valve, V-12 unit capable of around 560 horsepower and well over 10,000 RPM in race trim.
For the road-going Yamaha OX99, the engine developed 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts) at 10,000 RPM and 210 pound-feet (285 Nm). This allowed the 2,535-pound (1,150 kg) V-12 Yamaha to sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds and get up to 217 mph (350 km/h). The V-12 engine was paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
Fun fact: some people believed that the V-12 had something in common with the one used in the Bugatti EB110, as it had similar displacement and the same V-12 layout. The difference of course was that while the Yamaha unit was normally aspirated, the one used by Bugatti had a quad-turbo setup. Of course, the two engines didn’t share a single component. Essentially, it was a road car, powered by a Formula One-derived engine, similar to what they did with the Ferrari F50 and, more recently, the Mercedes AMG One. The difference is that Yamaha’s V-12 was much more restricted in its road-going form.
Yamaha wasn’t pleased with the initial design
Yamaha first approached a German company to design the body. However, the end result was deemed to be too mainstream, as it looked like most other supercars of that era. Yamaha’s subsidiary – Ypsilon Technology – then contracted IAD (International Automotive Design) for the task. The car ended up with an aluminum body, designed by Takuya Yura. The whole car was underpinned by a carbon-fiber chassis. The suspension was double-wishbone all around. The Yamaha OX99-11 featured a staggered set of tires, which were 245/40R17 front and 315/35R17 rear.
It had two tandem seats
Yes, the Yamaha 0X99-11 was a two-seater, but not in the traditional sense.
Yamaha wanted a two-seater but also wanted something closer to home (they normally make motorcycles), so a second seat was added just behind the driver.
The tandem arrangement was one of the reasons why the Yamaha OX99-11 looked like a hybrid between a Formula One car and a Group C racer. This also allowed the mid-engine Yamaha to retain a central driving position, just like the McLaren F1.
The OX99-11 did not have doors
At least not in the traditional sense. Because of the tandem seating arrangement, the car featured a canopy. The whole thing was glass, just like in a jet-fighter. To gain access to the interior, you have to open it from the left side.
The final product was rushed
This was mostly due to disagreements between IAD and Yamaha in regard to the development budget, which happened sometime in late 1991. This resulted in Yamaha transferring the entire project to its subsidiary, Ypsilon Technologies. Yamaha gave them six months to sort things out with the project, otherwise, it would be terminated.
Very few ended up being made
The Yamaha OX99-11 eventually took final form, in 1992. However, only three units were produced.
In terms of specifications, the cars were completely identical, only differing in the exterior finish. One was bright red, another was black, and the third was dark green. That said, because the project was rushed, even those three were technically functional prototype vehicles. At least two of the three cars are believed to have been bought by collectors and have exchanged hands a couple of times, while one of them could still be in Yamaha’s possession.
Yamaha wanted to put a steep price tag on it
The Yamaha OX99-11 reportedly had an expected price of around $800,000, which in 2021 equates to over $1.53 million – an enormous amount of money, considering the manufacturer lacks a previous history of making supercars. To put things in perspective, back in those days, the McLaren F1 cost $815,000. Not to mention the much more affordable (in comparison) $350,000 Bugatti EB110 or the $239,000 Lamborghini Diablo – all of which great supercars with heritage.
Moreover, a mid-engine V-12 Yamaha supercar would never have had the same recognition as, let’s say Lamborghini, Bugatti, or McLaren. Strangely enough, it would probably make it today, as many startup manufacturers are giving established ones a run for their money.
In the end, the Yamaha OX99-11 had a bad timing
The Yamaha OX99-11 was a product of the early 1990s. At that time, Japan’s economy was in a deep recession. Corporate investments dropped by a whopping 22 percent, so people weren’t exactly in a rush to get their hands on an exclusive, six-figure, V-12 supercar, especially from a manufacturer that doesn’t have much experience in making such. The project was delayed until 1994 before Yamaha pulled the plug on it.
That said, the Yamaha OX99-11 would have succeeded in our time, as nowadays, it is much more acceptable for companies to branch out into making exclusive vehicles. Moreover, Yamaha has proven itself by designing capable and great-sounding performance engines for various carmakers. In addition, the OX99-11’s minimalistic, yet uncompromising approach to performance could have spelled big trouble for modern-day supercars. With that being said, the OX99-11 would make much more sense now than it did back then. Sadly, we may never know.
Back in 2019, before the C8 Corvette was officially launched, we learned that not even Hennessey would be able to tune the C8 Corvette because of its encrypted ECU. Needless to say, the aftermarket world has tried its best to work with GM to get access to the ECU or manage to break through its security, but so far nothing has really worked.
Now we’ve learned that GM isn’t interested in helping aftermarket companies at all, with exception of Callaway, and only then to a minor extent.
This latest news comes via Muscle Cars & Trucks, which had a sit down with the Corvettes Executive Chief Engineer, Tadge Juecther. In short, GM has went overboard in terms of its cybersecurity measures between the Global B electrical architecture and the C8’s ECU. In short, and as MC&T put it, “Engine tuning [the C8] is nearly impossible without running a ton of aftermarket computers in tandem with the factory ECU – otherwise known as a “piggyback”. The process isn’t exactly without serious compromises, either, often involving a rats nest of wires, and major drivability issues.”
According to Juecther, “our business model doesn’t really cater to the aftermarket, we have to do all the things internally between Corvette just like any other General Motors product. Our desire is to make the car as hack proof as possible to protect our customers.”
From this point on, it was pretty much Juecther going on and on about protecting customers and preventing hackers from taking over your car. When asked if GM would at least help a select group of tuners with the C8 Corvette, his answer was disheartening at best. “The answer is essentially no. We’re not going to give everybody kiers to the backdoor into our modules to do whatever they want. We think the best will figure it out.”
At this point, most of the report sounds like little more than what GM’s legal department has drafted up for Juecther. From the outside, it seems that GM would rather force customers to buy more expensive C8s that will be available down the road or take advantage of any performance upgrades eventually offered through Chevy. Either way, if you own a C8 Corvette, don’t expect any tuners to be able to do much for you anytime in the near future, and you can thank GM for that.
Roland A. Bussink commissioned HWA AG – a company that develops components for AMG. Hans-Werner Aufrecht is the founder of HWA AG, as well as one of the founders of AMG. Officially, Mercedes still don’t have a Speedster as the bespoke AMG GTR is not actually developed by AMG. However, HWA’s connection to AMG makes it the next best thing.
The AMG GTR Speedster draws inspiration from the SLR Stirling Moss, as well as Formula One. Its most distinctive feature is the Y-shaped “Speedbow”. It starts from where the windshield used to be – you still get a small Barchetta-style windshield – and finishes behind the headrests, connecting with the rear of the car. It bears striking resemblance to the Halo used in current Formula One cars. In addition to giving it unique and striking new looks, the element provides structural rigidity.
Initially, the car started life as an AMG GT R Convertible, which made the conversion slightly easier, as less cutting was required. But it’s not just a matter of chopping the roof off. There are many other chassis enhancements, ensuring superior structural rigidity.
You can choose to have the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 in stock trim – 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) or you can have HWA bring it up to a mind-blowing 850 horsepower and 767 pound-feet (1,040 Nm).
For comparison, the McLaren Elva engine is generating 803 horsepower, while the Aston Martin V-12 Speedster – “only” 700. There will be only five copies of the Bussink GTR SpeedLegend.
Both Ferrari and Aston Martin take similar steps towards electrification
They will effectively become direct competitors on the EV front
Although both companies produce exclusive performance vehicles, they were never really considered direct competitors. When we talk about high-performance cars, Ferrari has always been a direct competitor to Lamborghini, while Aston Martin has often been pitted against what Jaguar had to offer in that segment.
Although both companies produce exclusive performance vehicles, they were never really considered direct competitors. When we talk about high-performance cars, Ferrari has always been a direct competitor to Lamborghini, while Aston Martin has often been pitted against what Jaguar had to offer in that segment.
Aston Martin’s “Project Horizon” will spawn 10 new models by 2023
Among them will be plug-in hybrids, mild hybrids, and EVs, which will share a platform
However, the current strategies of both companies will make them direct competitors in the EV supercar segment. Aston Martin is on the offensive, implementing its “Project Horizon”, which, by 2023, will spawn 10 new models. Many of them will be electrified, although we are being assured that they will still be internal combustion engines working in the brand’s sports cars. Among the 10 new cars, will be plug-in hybrids, mild-hybrids, as well as EVs, based on a flexible skateboard architecture, which would accommodate different body styles.
As for the Valhalla, the in-house designed 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 may be replaced by the AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8. To be more specific, the Valhalla may receive a more powerful version of the hybrid powertrain, powering the Mercedes AMG GT73 4Matic. Given that Ferrari is already pushing a 1,000 horsepower in their SF90, we expect no less than the Valhalla. This still means that the Valhalla will be a hybrid and not an EV. However, the Valhalla might end up evolving into the brand’s first hyper EV, in 2025.
Ferrari will also give us their first EV
This will also happen in 2025
As for Ferrari, 2025 will definitely see a fully electric Ferrari. No details are available at the moment, other than the “when”. At the same time, Ferrari was caught testing a new LaFerrari test mule, believed to be the next V-12 hybrid flagship model. Despite the direction everybody is heading, Ferrari promises that it will keep making the V-12, at least for now.
Despite rarely being uttered in the same breath, it seems Aston Martin and Ferrari are on their way to becoming competitors in the high-performance EV segment. They are already taking similar steps towards the eventual transition to electrification, while still choosing to equip their flagship models with internal combustion engines.
As of now, BMW isn’t planning to follow-up on the current BMW Z4 – once it goes out of production, that’s supposed to be it. And last we heard, Audi was completely unsure of what to do with the Audi R8 and the Audi TT, meaning neither may survive beyond their current generations or the next generation at best. With the Toyota Supra being based on the Z4, there’s a good chance it’ll be a one-and-done ordeal too, and Mazda hasn’t exactly been open about electrification plans for the MX-5, either.
So what happens later this year when Porsche unveils a Boxster EV concept that is, reportedly, near-production ready? Will it take less than the five years it took the Mission E to morph into the Taycan and MX-5 electric too. Perhaps a couple of automakers are secretly working on their own electric compact sports cars or maybe they aren’t. If they are, then all the better for us, and if they aren’t, expect to watch them all scatter like roaches when the lights come on as they start scrambling to take their rightful pieces of the pie before Porsche comes to dominate a lightly touched segment.
