'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
28 Sep 2022
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…
22 Sep 2022
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…
18 Aug 2022
‘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…
3 Aug 2022
Range Rover 2022 review – new generation icon sits in a class of its own
Range Rover 2022 review – new generation icon sits in a class of its own
Doubling down on a Range Rover’s best bits, while polishing some of its worst – the all-new model is everything you expected, and hoped, it would be
22 Jul 2022
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 …
14 Jul 2022
‘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
17 Jun 2022
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
9 Jun 2022
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…
5 May 2022
‘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
4 May 2022
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…
31 Mar 2022
‘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
15 Mar 2022
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…
24 Feb 2022
'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
2 Feb 2022
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…
20 Jan 2022
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…
30 Dec 2021
‘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
21 Dec 2021
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
2 Dec 2021
'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
10 Nov 2021
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
28 Oct 2021
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
23 Sep 2021
'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
14 Sep 2021
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
19 Aug 2021
‘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
3 Aug 2021
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…
15 Jul 2021
It’s time for some home truths about the Toyota GR Yaris, reckons Porter
It’s time for some home truths about the Toyota GR Yaris, reckons Porter
‘It looks stretched and contorted, like someone who’s had too much cheap plastic surgery’
22 Jun 2021
Triumph Lynx – Dead on arrival 
Triumph Lynx – Dead on arrival
With a 3.5-litre Rover V8 under the bonnet and TR7 fastback styling, the Lynx could have been British Leyland’s answer to the Ford Capri
18 Jun 2021
Caterham C120 – Dead on arrival 
Caterham C120 – Dead on arrival
A lack of funding may have killed Caterham’s dream of a new sports car, but its tie-up with Renault did help spawn the brilliant Alpine A110
22 May 2021
The twists and turns of a new Netflix drama have got Porter gripped
The twists and turns of a new Netflix drama have got Porter gripped
‘The series is based around a rag-tag cast of characters forced into a crazy struggle for survival’
12 May 2021
Jaguar XJ41 – Dead on arrival 
Jaguar XJ41 – Dead on arrival
The blighted ’80s ‘F-type’, the demise of which led to the creation of the Jaguar XK8 and launched a new era for Aston Martin
8 Apr 2021
'Look beyond the obvious and the Land Rover Discovery has an appealing skill set'
'Look beyond the obvious and the Land Rover Discovery has an appealing skill set'
Driven with a gentle touch this chunky bus will swoop across the countryside feeling imperious
17 Mar 2021
'It’s time for some hard truths about motor racing’s influence on road cars'
'It’s time for some hard truths about motor racing’s influence on road cars'
Even long-standing teams with road car divisions might struggle to point out where the tech transfer lies
16 Feb 2021
Porsche 965 – Dead on arrival
Porsche 965 – Dead on arrival
In the second instalment of our series looking at evo cars that never made production, we spotlight a troubled 911 Turbo successor that fell victim to…
3 Feb 2021
'Traction control, ABS, airbags, lights, – one press of a button and they're all off. We're better off without them'
'Traction control, ABS, airbags, lights, – one press of a button and they're all off. We're better off without them'
The Common Sense Car offers a glimmer of hope for British sports car lovers
19 Jan 2021