The Flag Off
Teach them young, they say, and I, like most other boys, was someone who always had a glaze in his eyes upon seeing a big, bright sports car pass by. The voice of a loud, hairy-chested ‘supercar’, as we fondly used to call it back in the day, would pull my attention like nothing else. So, obviously, when I was offered the opportunity to experience a few Porsches, there was nothing in the world that was going to stop me.
The Porsche World Road Show is an exemplary showcase and experience of the crème de la crème that the German marque has to offer, not just in India but various parts of the globe. The excitement was in the air, and the sight of what I had only seen in posters or caught an occasional glimpse through the glass of the showroom down Pedder Road in Mumbai as a kid, was now right there in front of me.
I’m in pure disbelief, even as I type these very words. Apart from the sea of Macans, Macan EVs, Cayennes, Taycans, and a few more, were the hero cars, the legendary GT3 RS and the famed Cayman GT4 RS. After fixing my dropped jaw and wiping the drool off my face, it was time for the show to begin. I’m going to spare you all the numbers and stats, since this write-up comes straight from the heart. Let the rhythm get flowing then.
Start Your Engines!
We started off with the ‘vanilla’ 718 Spyder RS, which would take us through a slalom course and back. Each of us present would get one round where the instructor would explain the tricks as well as the do’s and don’ts, followed by two laps per participant.
We were also timed for each lap, and touching a cone or missing the parking spot would result in a penalty. Taking the larger picture of the experience into consideration, the latter took a backseat, no pun intended. As the Spyder roared to life, we got to attacking the cones and avoiding them simultaneously. The agility of the car, along with the ease with which it picked up speed, meant that before I knew it, the two laps were done.
After watching the rest of the participants give their best, speaking to our coach from Germany, and sharing a few giggles watching the car do what it did, it was time for the next round. I thought I was prepared, but as they say, always expect the unexpected. And that’s what happened in the acceleration run, where the Taycan Turbo GT finished in an electric Purple Sky Metallic took the stage. Donned with a plethora of options, including the Weissach package, this beast is a real tyre-shredder.
Showcasing the launch control feature with a simple procedure, this run was over in almost the same time as it would take you to pronounce the entire model name. Blisteringly fast would be an understatement, as the acceleration was so brutal that I could feel my vital components getting restructured inside. By the end of it, I could even feel one of the ribs that was fractured in the recent past. Zero-to-100kmph in a blisteringly quick 2.2 seconds literally went past in the blink of an eye, with the visuals reminding me of those psychedelic themes where you blast off from one dimension and transition into another. Peter Parker was right when he said ‘With great power comes great responsibility’.
Back to School
Each session also involved a small classroom tutorial, and the details, as expected, would vary based on the kind of course at hand. Next up were the GT cars, and while on one side, I was trying to get my body back to its senses, the kid inside me was jumping from one corner to another as if handed the keys to a chocolate factory no less.
First up was the 911 Carrera. We were given full liberty to enjoy ourselves, but also reminded to be mindful of the power on tap and maintain formation while leaving the pits. It is at such moments that you realise the sheer size of these cars. Although tight from a performance perspective, they are much larger in real life than the ones from the posters and toys of yesteryear.
The Carrera gave me a fair idea of the power I possessed under the right foot. I also understood the track better so as to justify the larger cars, hence I did’nt push it to its limits. That said, the way the car handled, stuck to the ground, had absolutely no body roll, felt composed, and then some more, made me realise what the term ‘ride and handling’ truly means.
What followed was the first hero of the day, the Cayman GT4 RS, which was now under my control. I didn’t miss a single chance to hear that engine sing away to 9,000rpm, and every downshift had the child in me smiling ear to ear. Compared to the Carrera, the Cayman in this avatar was so much more raw, unforgiving, and brutal. The lack of anything separating the occupants and the engine, apart from a roll cage, meant that I could enjoy the tune of that glorious flat-six symphony every single second.
They say you shouldn’t always meet your heroes, and I guess that came down as bad luck for me, as the GT3 RS was now unavailable due to a technical snag. The GT segment wouldn’t get any better for me later in the day either, as I missed out on a chance to drive the PTS-coloured 911 Carrera due to some miscommunication.
An Electrifying Switch
What was in store for us next, though, were the EVs. Starting with the Macan EV, you’d be surprised how effortlessly it pulls away, giving tough competition to even its own sibling, the Taycan. The Macan EV, although on the heavier side courtesy of its batteries, managed to slide out its rear with the ridiculous amount of torque available right from the word go, and its slightly taller profile due to the body style.
Driving the Taycan Turbo next was like comparing chalk to cheese, and while it didn’t hold a candle to the Macan in terms of outright acceleration, it more than made up for it with precise handling, no drama of sliding the derriere, and zero body roll.
Off-road Drive into the Sunset or the Beginning of a New Era?
After a small showcase of the Cayenne’s off-roading prowess, it was time for us to call it a day. Or did the whole day pass by that quickly? Well, not before a hot lap in one of the GT cars with our very own instructors at the wheel. Sliding in and out of almost every corner, passing by the cones with just a few mm to spare, they showcased the real capabilities of these cars when given in the right hands.
The event showcased what Porsche truly stands for. And now, I understand why a purist or a real enthusiast prefers a Porsche over the variety that the market has to offer. Will I shift my loyalty from the house of the raging bull to the Porker gang? Maybe, just maybe.
