Why The Toyota GR GT Is The Only Ultra-Expensive Supercar I’m Actually Excited About

The Porsche Mission S is not the successor to the 918 Spyder or Carrera GT. First of all, it’s technically a concept car, although even Porsche isn’t pretending it’s anything but a preview of a showroom-bound model. But more to the point, the 918 Spyder and Carrera GT were hypercars of their day, even if the term wasn’t in widespread use when the latter was new. The Mission S—or rather, whatever it turns into—is a supercar, in the current sense of the word. It is not here to fulfill prophecies of a new Holy Trinity alongside the Ferrari F80 and McLaren W1 as a limited-run special; it’s here to battle the likes of the Ferrari 296 and 849 Testarossa and whatever follows the McLaren 750S. Just ask the big boss himself. “The Mission S represents a mid-engined super sports car platform positioned above the 911—not as a one-off hypercar, but as a permanent and versatile addition to our customer offering,” Porsche CEO and chairman of the executive board Dr. Michael Leiters said in a statement.

Porsche is developing a mid-engine supercar that will be positioned above the 911. Previewed by the new Mission S concept car, the new supercar marks the first time Porsche has developed a permanent model that will sit above the iconic 911 in the lineup. Details are still in short supply, but we know that Porsche wants the interior to have minimal screens and that the exterior design takes inspiration from historic models. What’s that? The world turned upside down? And are those pigs flying? Oh, it’s an announcement from Porsche that the 911 will no longer be the top of the lineup? That’s basically the same thing. Porsche is incredibly protective of the 911’s image and its place at the top of the brand’s lineup. Usurpers in the form of the 959, Carrera GT, and the 918 have all been allowed to pop in for a quick stay but not long enough to supplant the 911 in any way, and the same has been true for the 718, which has traditionally not been allowed to surpass the 911 in terms of performance. Now, though, for the first time, Porsche is officially developing a permanent line above the 911. And it’ll house its engine in the middle, like a proper supercar.

Classic gems, tasteful customs, legendary supercars - for Silvian, they're all fair game. He's been in love with cars and motorcycles for as long as he can remember, so it made perfect sense to eventually turn that passion into a full-time writing career. Around six years and more than 3,000 articles later, he is still going strong and doesn't plan on hitting the brakes anytime soon. Brabus is so much more than a regular tuner in our day and age. It is a fully-fledged luxury lifestyle brand involved in a wide variety of pursuits not related to cars, including fashion, high-end real estate, and aviation. But to us car guys and girls, its core identity will always be rooted in car tuning and wild customization. The company’s partnership with Smart started more than two decades ago and is still going strong today, having yielded some fascinating results in the meantime. And with the tiny Fortwo discontinued to make way for the all-electric #2, you can bet your bottom dollar on this replacement getting the Brabus treatment.

It's wild how far we've come in automotive technology during the past couple of decades. Who in the '60s would've figured that we'd make 100 horsepower per liter, like with the Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0-liter V8, or that adaptive dampers would be common in the luxury market, including on the Acura Integra A-Spec (with Technology Package). Still, one seemingly overlooked aspect of automotive progress is how we actuate the clutch between an engine and manual transmission. While this area's workings have stayed relatively simple, moving from one form to another has improved daily driving in several ways. We're talking about transitioning from cable-operated to hydraulically actuated clutches.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is still one of the most luxurious off-road SUVs you can buy. It's also one of the most expensive, with the G550 starting at $153,900 (plus $1,150 in destination charges) and the price with options and AMG badges only going up from there. Still, the G-Wagon does stand out defiantly against the crossoverfication of the industry, with its upright boxiness remaining uncompromised from its launch in 1979 all the way up to today. It isn't just a look either. Underneath all the modern Mercedes-Benz luxury remains real ladder-frame off-road credibility, complete with a solid rear axle, mechanically locking differentials, and proper low range gearing. Fortunately, the G-Class doesn't have exclusive rights to the rolling brick aesthetic, and you can still get some portion of G-Wagon energy for less than a G-Wagon MSRP. From relative up-and-comers like the Ineos Grenadier or the Rivian R1S to historical direct competitors like the Land Rover Defender, you can absolutely capture some of that boxy magic without spending quite as much, and in some cases by spending $100,000 less.

Joel was previously an editor at Autoblog for nearly a decade, covering cars from humble economy hatchbacks to high-end sports cars. He has extensive driving experience with plenty of track time, and even dabbles in motorcycling. Joel has shared his experiences in the car world not just in text, but also on podcasts and web videos.