Porsche Creates a Special 911 in Honor of Driver Pedro Rodriguez

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Like many drivers of his era, Pedro Rodriguez died in a racing accident, doing what he loved until his life was cut short at age 31. Though he was behind the wheel of a Ferrari at the time, Rodriguez had just been crowned two-time world champion as a factory sports car driver with Porsche.

On the 50th anniversary of his untimely death, the German automaker revealed a custom one-off 911 Turbo S to commemorate his life and contributions to Porsche motorsports history.

Famous colors and custom features

Commemorative Porsche 911 Turbo S for Mexican Racing Driver Pedro Rodriguez | Porsche

True to the Porsche 917 prototypes that Rodriguez drove, this 911 tribute is finished in Gulf’s iconic racing livery. Bright blue paintwork is accented with the signature orange center stripe, and his racing number takes center stage on the front bonnet and doors. The gloss black alloy wheels were custom-made for the project and feature an aluminum center lock design.

Interior of the commemorative Porsche 911 Turbo S Mexican Racing Driver Pedro Rodriguez
Interior of the commemorative Porsche 911 Turbo S for Mexican Racing Driver Pedro Rodriguez | Porsche

Inside the vehicle, graphite blue leather is seemingly everywhere, with contrasting orange stitches to complement the exterior stripe. Special touches like Rodriguez’s signature and the national flag of Mexico can be found throughout the interior, while the headrests include a silhouette of his Porsche 917 race car.

“This car has unique elements that no other car in the world could have,” says Camilo San Martin, Director of Porsche Mexico. “This configuration, with these specific details and equipment, has been locked in the Porsche configurator, as well as in the production system, so that this car is literally unrepeatable.”

How did Pedro Rodriguez become a factory driver for Porsche?

Jo Siffert and Pedro Rodriguez at the 1000 km of Monza race in 1970
Drivers Jo Siffert and Pedro Rodriguez at the 1000 km of Monza race in 1970 | Paul-Henri Cahier via Getty Images

Born in Mexico City, Rodriguez grew up racing bicycles and motorcycles but clearly had a knack for driving sports cars as well. His list of accomplishments includes 11 total wins in the World Championship of Makes (now known as the World Endurance Championship or WEC), along with two Formula One Grand Prix victories. Rodriguez was a four-time winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona and even won the 24 Hours of Le Mans behind the wheel of a Ford GT40 in 1968.

Taming the beast

The number two Gulf-Porsche 917K driven by Pedro Rodriguez at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1970
The number two Gulf-Porsche 917K driven by Pedro Rodriguez at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1970 | The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images

According to Motorsport.com, Rodriguez was a master of the notoriously unforgiving Porsche 917. With a flat-12 engine producing over 500 hp and streamlined bodywork, acceleration was generally not an issue. Maintaining high speeds without crashing a 917 was a significant challenge, however, due to unintended lift that plagued early variants. Porsche improved the car’s stability over time through aerodynamic revisions, thanks to brave drivers who did the research at over 200 miles per hour.

“Pedro Rodríguez continues to be the Latin American driver who has given Porsche the most triumphs and joy,” explained George Wills, President and CEO of Porsche Latin America. “With this unique car in the world we want to pay tribute to a unique, irreplaceable driver, an idol of the past and a legend of today.”

What is Porsche doing with the car?

The commemorative Pedro Rodriguez 911 Turbo S was revealed to the public on July 11th, 2021, at the Sportscar Together Day event in Toluca, Mexico. Porsche is planning to sell the car at auction later this year and then donate the proceeds to charity.

RELATED: 2.2 Seconds Is All the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S Needs to Hit 60 MPH

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This McLaren F1-Inspired Porsche Minivan Will Change Your Mind On Everything

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Porsche people are rolling over in their branded, leather-upholstered graves, while the rest of us are thinking, “Porsche has finally done something cool!” Porsche has made a single center-mounted driver seat – plucked straight from a McLaren F1 – electric minivan made for performance family hauling. The Porsche minivan is easily the coolest thing Porsche has ever done. 

Porsche Vision Renndienst | Porsche

What is this Porsche minivan?

There is actually a precedent for this insanely cool concept Porsche minivan. Back in the 1980s, Porsche partnered with VW and actually built a very limited run of racing support vans called the Porsche B32.

Fast forward a few decades, and Porsche is revisiting that idea again. According to CarBuzz, Porsche revealed 15 never-before-seen concept cars last year, including an electric van called the Porsche Vision Renndienst. When Porsche initially released images of the electric Porsche minivan, the Germans only showed us the exterior. Now, after a year, Porsche has released images of the interior and its nuts. 

Porsche’s minivan concept is inspired by the legendary McLaren F1

single seater, center driving position in the Porsche concept plucked fro a McLaren F1
Porsche Vision Renndienst driver’s seat | Porsche

Not only is the idea of a sports minivan beyond cool; one that can fit six people and has a center position driver’s seat is simply too cool to handle. The Porsche minivan features three seats in the third row, two captain’s chairs in the middle, and a single center-mounted seat, like a McLaren F1 in the front. This is, without question, the most no-nonsense driving position possible, and to see it in an all-electric minivan brings value to both segments. 

Typically, minivans carry seven people, but most minivans don’t have a center driver’s seat and are made by Porsche. The sacrifice of one less family member allowed in the minivan is a worthy sacrifice, indeed. 

The center seat isn’t the only striking feature upfront. The cockpit includes some high-tech details, including a 1950’s-esq curved wrap-around windshield, two screens for the second-row passengers, and a digital cluster that seems to have been lifted from a Porsche Taycan.

What was Porsche thinking? 

a view of the back of the Porsche concept minivan
Porsche Vision Renndienst passenger seats | Porsche

“We thought about how we could still give a distinctly Porsche flair to a passenger compartment that is so far removed from the classic sports-car interior. And how autonomous driving could be designed,” Chief Designer Michael Mauer said to CarBuzz. 

He went on to say that, “We don’t assume that our customers want to give up using a steering wheel. When I want to drive, I have more cockpit feeling than in any other car. And when I don’t, the driver’s seat can be rotated 180 degrees – with one swivel; it turns to face the other passengers. We worked on materializing these basic ideas for about a year.”

Could this change peoples’ minds about minivans? 

The minivan sector has taken a bit of a hit over the years. In the 80’s and 90s, minivans were the preferred method of family hauling. This was a simpler time where SUVs were mostly big, heavy, and inefficient 4x4s that were used for hauling gear and off-roading. With a few exceptions like the Chevy Suburban, SUVs weren’t the preferred family whip. That honor went to minivans and station wagons. 

These days driving a minivan is seen as lame by many. As the crossovers and increasingly soft SUVs take over the family-hauling, the minivan is quickly disappearing from the suburbs. This is a shame because of how versatile and efficient they are. Maybe something like this Porsche minivan concept could change minds enough to give the minivan a comeback. However, few would have thought that Porsche would be the one leading the charge. 

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The Struggling Ford Escape Wins a Spot on This List of the Best Hybrid Vehicles of 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ford makes market-dominating pickup trucks, but not everything else the Blue Oval makes sells well. That’s the case with the Escape, which isn’t selling so hot in the compact SUV segment. Despite the model’s weak sales, the 2021 Ford Escape hybrid just took home an award for the best plug-in hybrid SUV of the year. 

Ford’s compact SUV has had better years

2021 Ford Escape | Ford Motor Company

Frankly, the Ford Escape has seen better sales in years past. According to GoodCarBadCar, from 2013 to 2017, the automaker sold about 300,000 Escapes every year, and that was a significant improvement over previous years. However, in 2018, sales began slipping. In 2018, they dropped to about 270,000 units, and in 2019, they fell to 240,000.

Then the 2020 pandemic struck, and, predictably, sales fell even further. Ford sold only about 180,000 Escapes in 2020. and so far this year, this compact SUV’s sales don’t look to be doing much better. For example, in June, Ford sold just under 9,000 Escapes. But in June 2020, Ford sold about 15,000. Overall, in the first six months of 2021, the automaker sold only about 85,000 Escapes. 

That isn’t a good sign because the Escape’s rivals, including the Toyota RAV4, are selling well. For example, in the first quarter of 2021, the RAV4 sold over 110,000 units. That means Toyota sold more RAV4s in three months than Ford sold in six. So the Escape has a tough road ahead of it. But fortunately, it might be one of the best plug-in hybrid SUVs out there.

The 2021 Ford Escape PHEV is the best in its class

According to Good Housekeeping, the best hybrid vehicles this year include the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and Kia Niro. Many of the winners aren’t surprising, especially the CR-V. In fact, the CR-V sells much better than the Escape, though not as well as the best-selling RAV4. 

However, Good Housekeeping gave the CR-V the win for regular hybrid SUVs. Though Ford offers the Escape with a regular hybrid powertrain, the Escape PHEV ultimately won in the non-luxury PHEV SUV category. Similarly, the Audi Q5 was Good Housekeeping’s winner in the luxury PHEV SUV category. In any case, though the Escape isn’t selling as well as many of its compact crossover competitors, the Escape PHEV definitely deserves that win.

An overview of the 2021 Ford Escape PHEV

One of the main advantages of a PHEV over a regular hybrid powertrain is the battery-only mode. According to Good Housekeeping wrote, the Escape PHEV can go about 37 miles on battery-only mode, and that’s enough for most commutes. Of course, drivers can also get some great fuel economy when the PHEV’s engine works with its electric motors.

In fact, the Escape PHEV gets about 100 MPGe, far more than most gas-powered cars get. Fuel economy aside, the Escape PHEV excels in other ways, too. For example, Good Housekeeping loves how spacious and roomy it is for passengers and cargo. On top of that, GH praises the Escape PHEV for its “comfortable ride” and “composed driving experience.”

The Ford Escape PHEV also comes with an easy-to-use infotainment system and plenty of standard smart safety features. And because the Escape PHEV starts at about $33,000, it’s a relatively affordable SUV that many families can enjoy.

RELATED: The 2020 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Breaks New Fuel Efficiency Ground

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How Much Is a 2021 Polaris Slingshot R?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While it’s not quite a three-wheeled bike, the Polaris Slingshot is fun in its own right. And depending on where you live, you might not need a motorcycle license to drive it. But before you head to the dealer, it’s worth knowing what’s within your budget. And that means knowing the 2021 Polaris Slingshot price layout.

What’s the price of a base 2021 Polaris Slingshot S cost?

2021 Polaris Slingshot S | Polaris

For 2021, the Polaris Slingshot lineup has been shaken up slightly. The base model is now the Slingshot S, which starts at $19,999 before destination with the five-speed manual. With the optional five-speed single-clutch ‘AutoDrive’ automated manual, the starting price increases to $21,699.

As the base model, the 2021 Polaris Slingshot S only has one exterior color: white. However, you can add painted accent elements for an additional fee. As standard, though, the S gets ABS, LED headlights and indicators, keyless start, traction control, stability control, cruise control, and hill-hold assist. And it’s powered by Polaris’s own 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 178 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque. That goes to the rear wheel via a belt drive.

One step up from the 2021 Polaris Slingshot S is the Slingshot S with Technology Package I. With the manual, this trim starts at $22,299; with the automatic, it starts at $23,999. It has the same standard features as the S but adds an LED rear center taillight, a passive security system, and a Rockford Fosgate Stage 1 50W audio system. That last feature adds a 2.7” display with Bluetooth and an additional USB port (for a total of two).

What’s the difference between the 2021 Polaris Slingshot R and SL?

The front 3/4 view of an orange-and-blue 2021 Polaris Slingshot R in a parking lot
2021 Polaris Slingshot R front 3/4 | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

One rung above the 2021 Polaris Slingshot S is the Slingshot SL. The SL offers several additional features, including two driving modes: Comfort and Slingshot. It also trades the white paint for a choice between red and black. Both Polaris Slingshot SLs have the same price: $24,999 with the manual and $26,699 with the automatic.

After the SL is the 2021 Polaris Slingshot R, which starts at $31,299 with the manual and $33,299 with AutoDrive. This Slingshot trim has one significant difference from the SL and the S (besides the orange-and-blue and gray-and-blue paint scheme). Rather than 178 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque, its engine makes 203 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. And while shift paddles are optional on the other automatic trims, they’re standard on the automatic Slingshot R. Plus, the R has a wider rear tire and wheel, and a tinted windscreen instead of a clear one.

Speaking of features, the 2021 Polaris Slingshot R comes standard with most of the SL’s optional features But otherwise, the trims are fairly similar. The features are summarized in the table below, with ‘S’ for standard and ‘O’ for optional.

Feature 2021 Polaris Slingshot SL 2021 Polaris Slingshot R
Integrated steering-wheel controls S S
7″ center touchscreen S S
Turn-by-turn navigation O S
Apple CarPlay O S
Backup camera S S
Rockford Fosgate Stage 2 100W audio system S S
Interior bi-color LED accent lights O S
Front lower LED accent lights O S

There is another 2021 Polaris Slingshot trim above the R: the R Limited Edition. It has the same features as the R, including the 203-hp engine and standard AutoDrive shift paddles. However, it has an exclusive green-and-black paint scheme, plus blacked-out badges and lightweight forged aluminum wheels. With the stick, the 2021 Slingshot R Limited Edition’s starting price is $32,799; the automatic is $2000 more.

Which model should you buy?

The rear 3/4 view of a blue-and-orange 2021 Polaris Slingshot R in a parking lot
2021 Polaris Slingshot R rear 3/4 | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

Choosing between the different 2021 Slingshot trims mainly boils down to several factors. Firstly, do you want the R’s extra horsepower and torque? Secondly, which color scheme do you prefer? And thirdly, is the lack of a backup camera a deal-breaker? That last one is particularly important because it’s the only SL and R feature the Slingshot S doesn’t offer as an optional accessory.

If performance isn’t your thing, the mid-tier Slingshot SL is the trim to get, The Drive says. This way, you get the open-air experience while saving some gas money. And you can always add some of the R’s features as options—including an engine tune.

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