Why the 992.2 GT3 Touring is Annoyingly PERFECT
About this episode
Spike Feresten and Johnny Lieberman gear up for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, sharing hilarious stories about the high-stakes pressure of driving rare cars in front of crowds. Johnny reports back from Spain after testing the Mercedes-Benz VLE, a hyper-luxurious electric van aiming to redefine the "grand limousine" segment in the US. The guys also dive into a stunning Porsche 992.2 GT3 Touring, debating its near-flawless design, and discuss custom watch collaborations with Sheffield.
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
"Pebble Beach Concord coming up. What are the dates? So I know, OK, Saturday, August 15th, 10 a.m. You're going to see Spike Farristan, Johnny Lieberman, Paul Suckerman and possibly Jerry Seinfeld."
A world-famous car show in California where some of the rarest, most expensive, and most beautiful classic cars in history are displayed and judged.
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is one of the world's most prestigious charitable automotive events, held annually in California. It showcases highly prized collector cars judged for their historical accuracy, technical merit, and style.
Jerry Seinfeld
"You're going to see Spike Farristan, Johnny Lieberman, Paul Suckerman and possibly Jerry Seinfeld. That was so funny on the post. Jerry said, I'm not confirmed yet dot, dot, dot."
The famous comedian from the TV show Seinfeld who also happens to be one of the world's most famous and serious Porsche collectors.
Jerry Seinfeld is an American comedian, actor, and legendary car collector, particularly famous for his extensive and historically significant collection of Porsches. He is a frequent guest and reference point on automotive podcasts due to his deep knowledge of marque history.
Pagani Zonda F Roadster
"I was backing a Pagani Zonda F Roadster, whatever the hell they're called out of the Pagani factory in front of a bus load of tourists who just, you know, they're on vacation."
An incredibly rare and expensive Italian supercar with a loud V12 engine. It looks like a spaceship and is famous for being extremely fast and artistic.
The Pagani Zonda F Roadster is an ultra-exclusive Italian supercar powered by a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated Mercedes-AMG V12 engine. It is highly regarded for its carbon-titanium construction, dramatic styling, and raw, analog driving experience.
Tiff Needell
"Did it end up anywhere? No, probably. Well, then Tiff Nadel almost crashed into us. It was quite a day."
A famous British race car driver and TV host who used to present shows like Top Gear and is known for his incredible car-sliding skills.
Tiff Needell is a British racing driver and television presenter, best known for co-hosting the original format of Top Gear and Fifth Gear. He is famous for his high-speed, sideways driving style and automotive journalism career.
VLE Mercedes Vle
"...e new coming to the U.S. Probably it's called the Mercedes VLE. Is that on your Instagram?"
The Mercedes V-Class (or VLE) is a large, high-end luxury van made by Mercedes-Benz. It is used primarily for carrying business executives or families in a spacious, premium cabin.
The 'VLE' refers to the Mercedes-Benz V-Class (often colloquially or internally referenced alongside luxury van variants), a premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) or luxury van. It is highly regarded globally for VIP transport, offering high-end executive seating and advanced technology, with rumors of a dedicated luxury electric van platform coming to the US.
Toyota Alphard
"... the S class and you would climb into your Toyota Alphard, which is a four-passenger vehicle, which has lik..."
The Toyota Alphard is a high-end, luxury minivan made by Toyota. It is designed to carry passengers in extreme comfort, featuring seats that resemble first-class airplane chairs.
The Toyota Alphard is a flagship luxury minivan primarily sold in Asian markets, highly favored by executives and VIPs as a chauffeur-driven vehicle. It features an ultra-luxurious rear cabin with reclining captain's chairs, advanced climate control, and high-end materials that rival premium luxury sedans.
Lexus Lm
"...Lexus does in Japan. They make a thing called the Lexus LM, which is a four passenger minivan, but it's like..."
The Lexus LM is an extremely expensive, ultra-luxury minivan made by Lexus. It is designed to be driven by a chauffeur while passengers relax in the back in giant, high-tech reclining seats.
The Lexus LM is an ultra-luxury minivan based on the Toyota Alphard, designed specifically for chauffeured executives in Asian and European markets. It offers a private-jet-like experience, particularly in its four-seat configuration which features a massive partition screen, refrigerator, and fully reclining massage seats.
Nissan Leaf
"...ays a better. But a Sprinter is, you know, it's a leaf sprung truck. It's a diesel. This is an air sprun..."
The Nissan Leaf is a small, fully electric hatchback made by Nissan. It runs entirely on battery power and is designed for everyday city driving.
The Nissan Leaf is a pioneering mass-market all-electric hatchback first introduced in 2010. By 2026, it represents an affordable entry point into EV ownership, known for its practical cabin and user-friendly technology, though its charging standard is largely outdated compared to newer EVs.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro
"I drove a car I was not able to bring today. The it's called the AMG GT 63 Pro. Yeah. Seems like you've had this car a dozen times in the last year. Never had the pro before."
A high-performance version of Mercedes' top sports car. It has a twin-turbo V8 engine and is modified with better cooling and aerodynamics to make it faster on a race track.
The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro is a track-focused variant of the brand's flagship sports coupe, powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. It features upgraded aerodynamics, enhanced cooling systems, and increased horsepower and torque over the standard GT 63.
Weissach Package
"I mean, like this this Porsche here, right? It's it's got the left bow package. Right. And you know how they put like manual transmission on the car? Yes, they put Lex bow below the shift."
An expensive upgrade package for high-performance Porsches that replaces many parts with carbon fiber and lightweight metals to make the car as light and fast as possible.
The Weissach package is a high-performance option package offered on Porsche's GT models, named after the brand's development center. It focuses on weight reduction through the extensive use of carbon fiber, titanium components, and magnesium wheels.
carbon-ceramic brakes
"This is carbon ceramic brakes standard. So the guess what the calibers say? Carbon ceramic. Ah, just in case you forgot."
Super-expensive brakes made of high-tech materials that don't lose stopping power even when they get extremely hot from fast driving on a race track.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are high-performance braking systems made from a carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite. They offer extreme resistance to brake fade under high temperatures and are significantly lighter than traditional iron brakes.
911 Porsche Gt3
"...meras ready? And then we're going to look at this Porsche GT3 Touring. But first, let's talk about our friends ..."
The 911 is a famous sports car made by Porsche. It is known for its distinctive shape, high performance, and having the engine located in the back of the vehicle.
The Porsche 911 is a benchmark sports car celebrated for its rear-engine layout, exceptional build quality, and daily drivability. The transcript references the GT3 Touring, an enthusiast-focused variant that pairs a high-revving, naturally aspirated engine with a manual transmission and subtle, wingless styling.
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring (992.2)
"Let's look at this GT3 again. And here we are, the new GT3 Touring in what looks like Genshin Blue. Yeah. Speaking of things that are up 60 percent."
A special version of Porsche's famous 911 sports car that has a super powerful racing engine but looks more subtle because it doesn't have a giant wing on the back. It's built for pure driving fun on normal roads.
The Porsche 911 GT3 Touring is a high-performance sports car featuring a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine. It is designed for enthusiasts who want the track-ready performance of the standard GT3 but with more understated, wingless styling and a focus on road driving.
Andreas Preuninger
"OK. Well, Andreas Pruniger. Not long ago, brought this car on the show in the lovely color of the weird metallic green Nero metallic."
The boss of Porsche's high-performance GT division. He is the mastermind behind all of Porsche's wildest, fastest, and most driver-focused sports cars.
Andreas Preuninger is the head of Porsche's GT road car department, widely credited with shaping the modern era of high-performance Porsche GT cars like the GT3, GT3 RS, and GT4. He is highly respected by enthusiasts for his commitment to manual transmissions and naturally aspirated engines.
final drive ratio
"powers exactly the same, but the final drive ratio is 8% shorter, meaning that every single gear feels punchier. That's true. It feels a little punchier."
The gear setting at the very end of the drivetrain that determines how punchy the car feels when you step on the gas. A shorter ratio makes the car accelerate faster in every gear.
The final drive ratio is the gear ratio of the final set of gears (usually in the differential) that transfers power from the transmission to the drive wheels. A shorter (higher numerical) final drive ratio improves acceleration at the expense of top speed and highway fuel economy.
Nürburgring
"I was thinking specifically, there's two spots on the Nurburgring. If you've ever been lucky enough to drive the Nurburgring, there's the Fox Hole and then it's like, you know, kilometer marker 17, but you're going really fast and you jump into a hole."
A massive, incredibly challenging race track in Germany. Car companies use it to test their sports cars and prove how fast they are.
The Nürburgring is a legendary 20.8-kilometer racing circuit located in the Eifel mountains of Germany, famous for its dangerous Nordschleife layout. It serves as the ultimate testing ground and benchmark for modern sports cars and supercars.
cabriolet
"and him going, your only decision is whether you want cabriolet or coupe. Right, right. You know, that's that said a lot, you know."
A fancy European term for a convertible car with a roof that can fold down.
A cabriolet is a body style designation for a passenger car that can be driven with or without an overhead canopy, typically featuring a folding fabric or metal roof. In Porsche terminology, it refers specifically to their open-top convertible models.
PDK transmission
"That's the great thing. I love the PDK. Honestly, if he said go buy a GT3 right now, I would struggle with which to get because the way I drive the PDK is so good."
Porsche's special automatic gearbox that uses two clutches to pre-select the next gear, allowing it to shift gears almost instantly.
PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) is Porsche's proprietary dual-clutch automatic transmission, renowned for its lightning-fast gear changes and efficiency. It offers both fully automatic driving and manual control via paddle shifters.
Porsche 911
"But what? One's a target and one's what? Just 911 So you think each of these cars is going to sell ..."
The Porsche 911 is a famous two-door sports car made by the German company Porsche. It is known for having its engine in the back of the car and is widely considered one of the best sports cars ever made.
The Porsche 911 is an iconic rear-engine sports car renowned for its everyday usability, precise engineering, and timeless design. In 2026, the lineup includes the updated 992.2 generation, featuring hybrid technology in certain trims alongside traditional turbocharged flat-six engines.
Mazda Tribute
"...e 9 11 GT three Earl's Court 51 edition that pays tribute to the 1951 356 Coupe to the left. Over 51 only 5..."
The Mazda Tribute is a small, older SUV made by Mazda. It was designed as a practical, everyday family vehicle with basic features.
The Mazda Tribute is a compact SUV produced from 2000 to 2011, developed in partnership with Ford and sharing its platform with the Ford Escape. It offered a sporty driving dynamic relative to its competitors but was eventually replaced by Mazda's proprietary CX-5.
Hyundai Kona
"in Goodwood. Awesome. This is a full sized Lego Kona's egg seder spear. Oh, that thing. Yeah."
The Hyundai Kona is a small, affordable SUV made by the South Korean company Hyundai. It is designed for city driving and comes in gas-powered or electric versions.
The Hyundai Kona is a popular subcompact crossover SUV offered in gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric variants. Redesigned recently, it features a futuristic exterior design with a spacious, tech-forward cabin that punches above its price point.
Porsche Panamera
"Oh, my God, yes. Panamera, exactly. Uh, Ozark, Cayenne."
The Porsche Panamera is a large, luxury four-door car made by Porsche. It is designed for people who want the speed and handling of a sports car but need extra seats and a larger trunk.
The Porsche Panamera is a full-size luxury sedan designed to offer the performance of a 911 with the comfort and space of a four-door executive car. The third-generation model, current in 2026, features advanced active suspension systems and powerful hybrid drivetrains.
Porsche Cayenne
"Panamera, exactly. Uh, Ozark, Cayenne. Oh, I know, is our Cayenne."
The Porsche Cayenne is a mid-sized luxury SUV made by Porsche. It combines the space and height of a family utility vehicle with the fast, sporty driving feel of a Porsche sports car.
The Porsche Cayenne is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV that famously saved Porsche from financial ruin in the early 2000s by proving that an SUV could handle like a sports car. The current generation offers a range of powerful turbocharged V6 and V8 engines, alongside highly capable plug-in hybrid options.
autonomous driving
"Like, you know, cars will be autonomous very soon. You can choose not to believe it, but like very soon. Oh, I believe humans won't be doing a lot of driving."
Cars that can drive themselves using computers, cameras, and sensors without a human needing to steer or press the pedals.
Autonomous driving refers to self-driving vehicle technology that uses sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence to navigate roads without human intervention. It ranges from driver-assist features to fully driverless systems.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.
1 community members have helped improve this episode.