The 963 Is Back, GT4 Goes 911, and Fake Paddle Shifters
About this episode
Porsche enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate after a stellar racing weekend, including a GT3R victory at Spa and a podium finish for the 963 at Watkins Glen. Hosts Mike and Aaron dive into the surprising confirmation that the 963 prototype will return to IMSA for another season, defying previous rumors of its retirement. They break down the implications of the 2025 versus 2026 car specs, analyze the shifting driver lineups as younger talent steps up, and look ahead to a highly competitive hypercar grid featuring incoming rivals like Genesis.
Thank Our People
Big shoutout to the crews putting in work this weekend. IMSA customer racing had JDC Miller taking 3rd overall, with GTD going to Manthey in 1st, Phorm and Wright's Motorsport rounding out 2nd. And over in Europe, the 24 Hours of Spa customer racing saw Lionspeed take the win in the GT3 R. Solid weekend across the board for the customer teams, and it's always worth pointing out how deep the talent pool is right now.
The 963 Is Coming Back
So we were wrong, and honestly we're happy about it. The 963 is confirmed for next year, which means Porsche is about to spend millions of dollars just to prove us wrong for talking trash. We'll take it. Still no Le Mans on the schedule though, which has us wondering out loud if the factory team is a little salty at the FIA and just decided to focus everything on IMSA instead. Pure speculation, but it's not a crazy theory given how things have played out.
GT4 Goes 911
The new series taking over for GT4 is running a 911 instead of a 718 Cayman, and honestly the reasoning writes itself. The obvious one: the 718 Cayman isn't in production anymore, so you can't exactly build a race series around a car that doesn't exist. The less obvious one: it's another built-in opportunity for Porsche to sell more race-spec 911s. Curious what you all think about losing the Cayman as the entry point car for this class.
Fake Paddle Shifters on the Taycan
In "who asked for this" news, the 2027 Taycan is getting fake gear shifts, simulated paddle shifting, as a $1,000 option. We're not going to pretend we have a strong take here beyond mild bewilderment. It's a sign of where EV performance cars are headed as manufacturers try to recreate some of the physical feedback people miss from ICE cars.
Leipzig Takes Over From Slovakia
Also filed under "who cares but let's talk about it anyway," Porsche is shifting production back to Leipzig from Slovakia. Got us wondering if Porsche will ever actually build cars stateside. Our gut says probably not anytime soon, given how tied their manufacturing identity is to Germany, but we'll argue both sides of that one on the show.
Get On the Fahren Waiting List
If you haven't put your name down for Fahren yet, now's the time. Rally season creeps up fast and car prep should already be in progress if it isn't. Some of the summer rallies have already come and gone, but the big fall events are right around the corner. Our lineup is a mix of air-cooled and water-cooled cars, so there's room for both camps. Don't sleep on this one, you'll miss your shot to drive with a group of genuinely like-minded people.
That's the show for this week. Head to pcartalk.com for event info, and if you want to support what we're doing, hit up Patreon.com/pcartalk. Find us at @pcartalk.
Kimchi Crew: Steve, Leslie, Chris, Ken, Aaron, Matthew, Sean, and Nik.
Porsche 911 GT3 R
"Lionheart Racing customer team won the 24 hours of spa in GT3R, so congratulations to them."
A race-only version of the Porsche 911 built for professional and amateur teams to compete in sports car championships around the world.
The Porsche 911 GT3 R is a customer race car based on the 992-generation 911, powered by a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter flat-six engine. It is designed specifically for global GT3-class sports car racing series, offering privateer teams a highly competitive, track-only platform.
Porsche 963
"JC Miller, the customer Porsche 963 team, they finished third on the podium. So the other teams didn't do so well..."
A high-tech, hybrid race car built by Porsche to compete in the world's most prestigious endurance races, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Porsche 963 is a LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) sports prototype racing car designed by Porsche and built by Multimatic to compete in the Hypercar and GTP classes. It features a twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with a standardized hybrid system, representing Porsche's top-tier factory and customer endurance racing effort.
BOP
"However, they're being BOP'd, I wanna say 38 pounds of ballast per car, so they made the car lighter, but they're being penalized."
A set of rules in racing that adds weight or limits power on faster cars so that different types of cars can race closely and fairly against each other.
Balance of Performance (BoP) is a regulatory mechanism used in sports car racing to ensure parity between different car designs. Officials adjust parameters like vehicle weight, engine power, turbo boost, and fuel capacity to keep racing competitive.
Hyundai Genesis
"...k some of these will be that. We saw the debut of Genesis. That's a big one, if you're not paying attention..."
The Genesis is a luxury car line created by the South Korean company Hyundai. It is designed to offer high-end comfort and modern technology at a lower price than other luxury brands.
Originally introduced as a premium rear-wheel-drive sedan by Hyundai, the Genesis nameplate eventually spun off into its own standalone luxury brand. It represents a high-value alternative to traditional European luxury cars, offering premium materials and strong performance.
Ford Mustang
"or any of some lower class. They're like a Ford Mustang or anything. They're like, nope, we're going stra..."
The Ford Mustang is a famous two-door sports car made by the American company Ford. It is designed to look sporty and go fast while remaining relatively affordable.
The Ford Mustang is an iconic American pony car, currently in its seventh generation (S650), offering a mix of turbocharged four-cylinder and powerful V8 engines. It is a staple of affordable performance, known for its rear-wheel-drive layout and aggressive styling.
Porsche Cayman
"You're like, hey, so we no longer make the Cayman, so we can't do a Cayman club sports series or anything like that..."
A smaller, two-door sports car from Porsche that has its engine in the middle of the car (behind the seats) for incredible handling. It is typically more affordable than the iconic 911.
The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine, two-seater sports coupe first introduced in 2005 as a fastback coupe version of the Boxster roadster. Known for its near-perfect weight distribution and exceptional handling, it has been a benchmark for driver engagement.
Cayman S
"... the two and a half liter flat four that's in the Cayman S currently or the outgoing Cayman S, I should say,"
The Cayman is a two-door sports car made by Porsche with its engine in the middle. The 'S' version uses a specific four-cylinder engine designed to make the car go faster.
The Cayman (specifically the 718 generation) is Porsche's mid-engine coupe, which famously transitioned to turbocharged four-cylinder engines for its standard and 'S' trims. The 2.5-liter flat-four in the Cayman S delivers impressive torque and performance, despite some purist pushback regarding its exhaust note.
Porsche 911 (991.2)
"The Cayman S, like 17 through current on paper, they make 350 horsepower. Well, the 991.2, three liter turbo makes 370 horsepower."
A version of the Porsche 911 sold in the late 2010s that introduced turbocharged engines to the standard models to improve fuel efficiency and power.
The 991.2 is the facelifted version of the seventh-generation Porsche 911, produced from 2016 to 2019. This generation famously transitioned the standard Carrera models from naturally aspirated engines to smaller-displacement twin-turbocharged flat-six engines.
911 Carrera Cup Car
"...he Carrera Cup series because they already make a Carrera Cup car. So they couldn't very well just turn that car"
The 911 GT3 Cup is a race car built by Porsche that is only allowed to be driven on race tracks, not public roads. It is built with no passenger seats or luxury features to make it as fast as possible for racing competitions.
The 911 GT3 Cup is a non-street-legal, factory-built race car designed specifically for Porsche's one-make Carrera Cup racing series worldwide. Based on the 992-generation 911, it features a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, a sequential racing gearbox, and stripped-out, track-focused aerodynamics.
Porsche Boxster
"...of that car and didn't want to have a convertible Boxster. Yeah, but now they want more money."
The Porsche Boxster is a two-seat convertible sports car made by Porsche. Because its engine is located in the middle of the car rather than the front or back, it balances very well and is fun to drive.
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engine, two-seat roadster known for its near-perfect weight distribution and exceptional handling. The 718 generation offers turbocharged flat-four engines, as well as naturally aspirated flat-sixes in higher trims.
BMW M240I
"...guess, the better part of 15 years with all these M240i, M this, they diluted, we've talked about it, the..."
The BMW 2 Series is a small luxury car made by the German company BMW. It is designed to be sporty, compact, and fun to drive.
The BMW 2 Series is a compact premium car offered in rear-wheel-drive coupe (G42) and front-wheel-drive Gran Coupe formats. The enthusiast-focused coupe models, especially the M240i, are praised for keeping BMW's traditional driving dynamics alive with powerful inline-six engines.
PTS
"We've got a new PTS, you know, cardboard brown color that's sick and it costs like $25,000 just to paint the car that but it only cost us like $300 in paint, gotcha."
A special option from Porsche that lets buyers pay a large extra fee to paint their new car in almost any custom color they want, instead of the standard factory options.
Paint to Sample (PTS) is Porsche's bespoke vehicle customization program that allows buyers to choose historic, non-standard, or completely custom paint colors for their vehicles at a significant premium.
Porsche 928
"..., but still. Yeah, then they could bring back the 928 and make a Aston front engine competitor"
The Porsche 928 is a vintage luxury sports car made by Porsche in the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike most Porsche sports cars, it has its large engine in the front and was designed for comfortable, long-distance driving.
Produced from 1978 to 1995, the Porsche 928 was a front-engine, V8-powered grand tourer originally intended to replace the 911. It featured advanced technology for its time, luxurious amenities, and a distinctive futuristic design.
Targa
"But back then it was Cooper cab, basically, or a Targa. It was red or white."
A style of car roof where you can take off the middle section over your head, but the rear window and a metal bar behind your head stay in place.
A Targa top is a semi-convertible car body style featuring a removable roof section and a full-width roll bar behind the seats. Porsche trademarked the "Targa" name in 1966, inspired by the Targa Florio road race.
Porsche Cayenne
"...d we get in a situation where let's just say, the Cayenne needs service and I'm taking it in and she's gonn..."
The Porsche Cayenne is a large, luxury family SUV made by Porsche. It is designed to be spacious and comfortable while still driving like a fast sports car.
The Porsche Cayenne is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV that saved Porsche from financial ruin in the early 2000s. It combines sports-car-like handling and performance with the utility and off-road capability of a premium SUV.
Honda Civic
"So I think the end goal is, or go get like an old Civic, just so we can just go beat it up."
The Honda Civic is a highly popular, affordable compact car made by the Japanese company Honda. It is widely known for being dependable, cheap to run, and easy to drive.
The Honda Civic is a compact car renowned for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and practical design. Now in its 11th generation, it is offered in sedan and hatchback body styles, with performance variants like the Si and Type R.
Porsche 911 Turbo (996)
"Tom with the 996 turbo still dailying his car, bought it brand new, approaching 800,000 miles. I mean, dude's a legend."
A high-performance, turbocharged version of the Porsche 911 from the early 2000s. It is famous for having an incredibly tough engine that can last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
The 996-generation Porsche 911 Turbo, introduced for the 2001 model year, features a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six engine derived from the Le Mans-winning GT1 race car. Known as the "Mezger" engine, it is legendary for its bulletproof reliability and tuning potential.
Mezger engine
"And that's when you hit them with, they're like, oh, there's a guy out there with a 996. Metzger, it's got 800,000 miles on it. Never been worked on."
A legendary engine design used in high-performance Porsche 911s. It is famous among car enthusiasts for being incredibly tough, powerful, and reliable under racetrack conditions.
Designed by legendary Porsche engineer Hans Mezger, this engine family features a true dry-sump oiling system and a split-crankcase design. It powered Porsche's most successful racing cars and high-performance street models like the 996/997 GT3 and Turbo, avoiding the IMS bearing failures of standard water-cooled Porsches.
Bore scoring
"you know that thing's got bore scoring issues and shit? Like then you're like, what the fuck? Like, you know what I mean? Like I need to get rid of this car."
A serious engine problem where the moving parts inside the engine scratch the cylinder walls. This causes the engine to burn oil, lose power, and eventually require an expensive rebuild.
Bore scoring is a mechanical failure where the piston skirt scratches and gouges the cylinder wall (bore) of an engine, leading to oil consumption, loss of compression, and eventual engine failure. It is a well-known issue on certain water-cooled Porsche engines from the late 1990s to late 2000s.
Lexus LS430
"I don't, because if I didn't want that, I would just buy a Lexus LS430 and just drive a couch around all day long and never have to repair anything..."
A large, extremely comfortable luxury sedan built by Toyota's luxury brand in the early 2000s. It is famous for being incredibly quiet, smooth, and almost never breaking down.
The Lexus LS430 (UCF30) is a full-size luxury flagship sedan produced from 2000 to 2006, powered by a legendary 4.3-liter 3UZ-FE V8 engine. It is globally renowned for its obsessive build quality, whisper-quiet cabin, and near-indestructible reliability.
Porsche Taycan
"So and who doesn't care news? Porsche 2027 Taycan is gonna be having fake gear shift as an option."
The Porsche Taycan is a high-performance, fully electric luxury car with four doors. It runs entirely on battery power instead of gasoline.
The Porsche Taycan is an all-electric luxury sport sedan and wagon that showcases Porsche's engineering prowess in the EV era. It features an 800-volt electrical architecture for ultra-fast charging and sports-car-like driving dynamics.
Leipzig
"So Porsche is moving the production of the Cayenne to Lipsec from Slovakia."
A city in Germany where Porsche has a large, modern factory that builds several of their popular models and has its own race track for testing.
Leipzig is a major city in Saxony, Germany, home to one of Porsche's primary state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. The plant produces models like the Macan and Panamera, and features an on-site FIA-certified test track and off-road testing ground.
Luftgekühlt
"But just speaking specifically for Porsche, we've got air-cooled rallies, we've got Lufteco, we've got our rally, there's always stuff going on..."
A famous car show and gathering specifically for older, air-cooled Porsche cars, known for being held in cool, artistic locations.
Luftgekühlt (German for "air-cooled") is a highly popular, curated automotive lifestyle event celebrating air-cooled Porsche cars, from the early 356 to the 993-generation 911. Founded by racing driver Patrick Long and designer Howie Idelson, it is famous for its unique industrial venues and artistic curation.
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