2012 Porsche 911 GT3

As this magazine went to press, we had not yet driven the redesigned 911, but based on early reports and nearly half a century of history, we're willing to go on record predicting it will be very good. The new 911 promises its biggest gains yet in refinement and efficiency. The longer wheelbase all but irons out the rear-engined snappiness found in earlier 911s, and the already-posh interior gains a high-tech center console and optional eighteen-way power seats. A smaller-displacement base engine, a lighter body, automatic stop-start and freewheeling technologies, electric power steering, and a seven-speed manual transmission collectively improve efficiency by up to sixteen percent. Power improves by 5 hp on the Carrera model and 15 hp on the Carrera S. That added horsepower, combined with a weight reduction of between 65 and 100 pounds (depending on trim), yields minor improvements in acceleration to 60 mph, to 4.5 and 4.3 seconds, respectively. Based on Porsche's past model rollouts, we expect to see new base and S convertibles join the coupe this year. Those in search of a spicier 911 will still have some choices--sixteen of them actually--as the last-generation's Carrera 4 and 4S, Turbos, Targas, Black Editions, and GTS models all carry over to 2012, albeit in limited quantities. The GT3, GT2, and all their spin-offs are gone for now, unless you manage to snag a leftover 2011.