Skip to main content

Techart’s turbocharged Porsche 911 Cabriolet is the best way to have a bad hair day

Currently, the most powerful convertible Porsche 911 available new from the factory is the Turbo S, which packs 580 horsepower. If that’s not enough, German tuner Techart has you covered with a 711-horsepower machine that’s as fast as it is head-turning.

Introduced just in time for spring, Techart’s GTstreet R Cabriolet is billed as a street-legal race car suitable for daily use. It started life as a 911 Turbo, but the rear-mounted 3.8-liter flat-six has been tuned to deliver 711 horsepower and 678 pound-feet of torque. Techart is reluctant to reveal its trade secrets, so we don’t know how the extra power was obtained. If we had to guess, we’d say bigger turbos and a reprogrammed ECU were part of the process.

The GTstreet R Cabriolet rockets from zero to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds; if you want to void your 911’s factory warranty, this is one of the fastest ways to do it. And if you live in Germany, you’ll be able to get on the Autobahn and race to your office at 211 mph, potentially getting more free time back than those who commute in a self-driving car.

A full body kit helps the GTstreet R Cabriolet stand out from the regular-production model on which it’s based. The most visible add-on is a massive carbon fiber wing planted right on the rear deck lid. It was developed in a wind tunnel to improve handling by providing more downforce, according to Automobile Magazine. Other add-ons include gaping air vents cut into the front bumper, a splitter, fender flares, and an air diffuser integrated into the bottom part of the rear bumper.

The entire kit is made out of carbon fiber in order to keep weight in check. Center-locking wheels add a final touch to the custom look. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s difficult to deny that the Techart treatment gives the 911 Turbo Cabriolet a unique appearance.

The base Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet starts at $171,500 before options are factored in. Pricing for the Techart GTstreet R package hasn’t been announced yet, but don’t expect to get in the driver’s seat of one for under $200,000.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more