Alpine A710 – dead on arrival
Alpine A710 – dead on arrival
It didn’t get to succeed the A610, but instead transformed into one of the ’90s most extreme sports cars
Ford F‑150 Lightning 2023 review
Ford F‑150 Lightning 2023 review
The electric version of America’s best-selling pickup is a 580bhp modern-day muscle car
‘Pigeons flutter, leaves rustle, Alfa Romeo has a new comeback plan’
‘Pigeons flutter, leaves rustle, Alfa Romeo has a new comeback plan’
A journey through the familiar sights, sounds and stories of the everyday
Mercedes-Benz C112 – dead on arrival
Mercedes-Benz C112 – dead on arrival
Despite strong demand, this V12-powered supercar was denied production – but its legacy lives on
‘The great thing about ordering a Porsche new is that you get to indulge in the joy of specs’
‘The great thing about ordering a Porsche new is that you get to indulge in the joy of specs’
Porter plays ‘Horrible & Expensive’ with the Porsche online configurator
HSV HRT 427 – dead on arrival
HSV HRT 427 – dead on arrival
This racing-inspired 7-litre Holden Monaro garnered more than enough interest for its limited production run to sell out. But sadly the sums didn’t ad…
‘There’s a segment of the population that still wants Jaguars to have barrel sides and droopy boots’
‘There’s a segment of the population that still wants Jaguars to have barrel sides and droopy boots’
JLR is reinventing Jaguar. Porter doesn’t underestimate the scale of the task
Mini-based sports car – dead on arrival
Mini-based sports car – dead on arrival
Not one but two attempts were made to spin a two-seater sports car off the original Mini’s platform, but flaws in their designs would see both stall a…
‘Brown Chords shot to fame in 1966, taking their place as one of Britain’s top eleven bands’
‘Brown Chords shot to fame in 1966, taking their place as one of Britain’s top eleven bands’
Lost’ film footage of a 1960s band and their cars has Porter intrigued
Volkswagen AE 266 – dead on arrival
Volkswagen AE 266 – dead on arrival
Few cancelled automotive projects have had such significant consequences, or been as costly, but the culling of VW’s original choice for a Beetle succ…
'The most magnificent thing of all, it turns out, is a Bentley Mulsanne Speed'
'The most magnificent thing of all, it turns out, is a Bentley Mulsanne Speed'
Porter finds himself moved (extremely rapidly) by a very British saloon
Ford GT70 – dead on arrival
Ford GT70 – dead on arrival
It was supposed to be Ford’s first mid-engined rally contender, to be joined by 500 homologation road cars, but a plethora of problems saw it stall at…
Leyland Force 7 – dead on arrival
Leyland Force 7 – dead on arrival
This V8-powered hatchback was all set to take on the Australian muscle car establishment until the twin 1970s woes of the oil crisis and Leyland build…
‘She gestured towards a double switch on the wall. “That switch,” she said. “I want to get rid of it.”’
‘She gestured towards a double switch on the wall. “That switch,” she said. “I want to get rid of it.”’
Porter recounts a tale of home improvements that feels eerily familiar…
Lamborghini P140 – dead on arrival
Lamborghini P140 – dead on arrival
A V10-engined ‘Baby Lamborghini’ was in development more than a decade before the Gallardo was launched in 2003. This is the story of why it it never …
‘The occupants of a Porsche 911 with the Jarvis Cocker Pack will find their trousers firmly anchored’
‘The occupants of a Porsche 911 with the Jarvis Cocker Pack will find their trousers firmly anchored’
Leather is overrated, reckons Porter. It’s time to embrace the corduroy
Opel Omega V8 – dead on arrival
Opel Omega V8 – dead on arrival
It would have been the understated successor to the Lotus Carlton, if only it could’ve stayed cool
Rover P6BS/P9 – Dead on arrival
Rover P6BS/P9 – Dead on arrival
This mid-engined, V8-powered three-seater could have been Rover’s first sports car, but a
wary rival within the British Leyland empire ensured it wo…
‘The Porsche Taycan is a terrifically comfortable and able bit of kit, but as a sports car, I’m not so sure’
‘The Porsche Taycan is a terrifically comfortable and able bit of kit, but as a sports car, I’m not so sure’
A drive in a Taycan leaves Porter reflecting on The Meaning of Liff
Renault Clio RS16 – Dead on arrival
Renault Clio RS16 – Dead on arrival
With 271bhp, a manual gearbox and a weaponised chassis, this ‘SuperClio’ could have restored the Renault Sport Clio’s reputation, but instead it had t…
‘General Motors is a company that made a 7.5-litre V8 front-wheel drive coupe'
‘General Motors is a company that made a 7.5-litre V8 front-wheel drive coupe'
GM has built some quite brilliantly bonkers cars over the years, says Porter
Ford RS1700T – Dead on arrival
Ford RS1700T – Dead on arrival
Even turbo power and a switch to rear-wheel drive couldn’t make the Mk3 Escort competitive against the upcoming mid-engined, 4WD weapons of 1980s rall…
'A two-spoke steering wheel makes sense in a sports car: it gives you more places to wrap your fingers’
'A two-spoke steering wheel makes sense in a sports car: it gives you more places to wrap your fingers’
The revival of the two-spoke steering wheel is welcomed by Porter
Lotus M90 Elan – Dead on arrival
Lotus M90 Elan – Dead on arrival
Financial issues, the death of the company founder and a change of drivetrain ethos at a Japanese giant all played their part in the demise of this 19…
Mid-engined Audi Quattro – Dead on arrival
Mid-engined Audi Quattro – Dead on arrival
When Lancia and Peugeot threatened Audi’s early-’80s rallying dominance, a secret plan was hatched to build a new car. But one photo was all it took t…
‘I’d be all over Russian websites trying to pin down why KGB agents had Ladas with Wankel engines’
‘I’d be all over Russian websites trying to pin down why KGB agents had Ladas with Wankel engines’
Researching dull facts has led Porter to make an interesting discovery
MG ZT XPower 385 – Dead on arrival
MG ZT XPower 385 – Dead on arrival
MG Rover’s collapse put paid to plans for a 385bhp production version of the Prodrive‑developed, rear-drive V8 Rover 75
'I wither inside when someone tells me their car is 'called Terry''
'I wither inside when someone tells me their car is 'called Terry''
Ascribing human qualities to a car is just silly, says Richard. Unless it’s his Jaguar I-Pace
Honda NSX V10 – Dead on arrival
Honda NSX V10 – Dead on arrival
Just one year after it was first spotted testing at the Nürburgring, Honda’s front-engined V10 replacement for the original NSX was dead in the water
Yamaha OX99-11 – Dead on arrival
Yamaha OX99-11 – Dead on arrival
Drawing comparisons with McLaren’s F1, Yamaha’s $1m OX99-11 supercar promised light weight, V12 power and a central driving position
'The key to autonomous driving is obvious to anyone with half a brain'
'The key to autonomous driving is obvious to anyone with half a brain'
Porter's a fly on the wall in a critical moment within the biggest automotive R&D's quest for autonomous driving success
Lotus Esprit – Dead on arrival
Lotus Esprit – Dead on arrival
Whilst Lotus’s 2010 Esprit concept never made it past the styling stage, there was a fully functioning prototype of its all-new in-house hybrid V8
‘I was given Murray Walker’s number and invited to ring him at home. A voice answered. That voice’
‘I was given Murray Walker’s number and invited to ring him at home. A voice answered. That voice’
Murray Walker disproved the adage about never meeting your heroes, says Porter
Jaguar F-type – Dead on arrival
Jaguar F-type – Dead on arrival
In the early noughties, Jaguar had a second stab at a successor to the iconic E-type, even proposing a V6 mid-engined Boxster rival. But once again it…