Photo: Nissan / Porsche
I am so ready to pass judgment on last week's major introductions. To me, there were just three models worthy of the red carpet's spotlight: the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, the new 911 S/T special edition, and the uprated Nissan Z Nismo.
Sure, other minions could get a hall pass these days. For example, Nissan performed a double introduction – something that's relatively uncommon during the scorching summer days when everyone is hiding from the sun at home or having some pretty astonishing road trip adventures at the beaches or on top of mountain trails.
So, they not only officially showcased the 2024 Z Nismo but just a little while later also announced the pricing details for the 2024 Titan series, which kicks off at a higher MSRP of $45,470 and also adds an SV Bronze Edition Package for less than $3k. It's a nice effort, indeed, but unfortunately for Nissan, the Titana and its larger Titan XD siblings are relegated to a niche position behind the big Detroit Three kahunas.
Otherwise, all I can think of tickling my senses when they appeared on the automotive radar are the little Skoda Scala and Kamiq, which get a subtle refresh in Europe, the launch of the Honda CR-V in Australia, and that's about all for the global newsreel. Back to America, a series of launches solidified the impression that inflation is not only a nuisance but possibly soon our greatest enemy – the 2024 Mazda CX-5 got pricier, the Lexus RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid was introduced as the flagship version in the US from over $70k, plus the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV costs an arm and a leg ($109,300, sans destination) or almost enough to buy a couple of EQB crossover SUVs!
The only one swimming against the current – if you gauge its American MSRP in comparison to other regions, such as the UK – was the 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron, which kicks off at $89,800 and $92,600 in case you want the Sportback version. But enough with the MSRP talk – we have bigger fish to fry. Besides, I don't want to start my Porsche 911 S/T discussion with the fact that it costs no less than $291,650 – even if, this time, the destination charge is included.
Yep, over $290k for a Porsche 911 in special edition trim. Of course, it will immediately turn into a collectible, and I bet that by the time it finally reaches a human audience during its initial public debut at the Rennsport Reunion 7, starting September 28, it will be completely sold out. After all, there are only 1,963 examples on offer, all designed to celebrate 60 years of continued 911 existence.
By the way, this model is not for everyone. Instead, the engineers in Weissach managed to trump their designer counterparts and infuse the 911 S/T with a highly purist sports car ethos characterized by a mix of the best elements from the 911 GT3 with Touring Package (aka its subtle looks) and the latest 911 GT3 RS – aka its 4.0-liter boxer engine packing 518 horsepower, all sent to the rear wheels through a short-ratio manual transmission.
More precisely, Porsche is offering the option to buy a 911 with the GT3 RS engine, a manual transmission, and a lightweight clutch for the first time. Other highlights are pretty easy to follow – this is the lightest 992-series model at 1,380 kg (3,042 pounds) and comes with an optional Heritage Design Package that harks back to the racing versions of the 911 S from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
All in all, this special edition can reach 100 kph (62 mph) in just 3.7 seconds and will roar its flat-six mill to a top speed of 300 kph (over 186 mph). However, with 290k, I can probably buy a 2024 Nissan Z Nismo and spend just 10% of the remaining cash to obliterate the 911 S/T on the track or at the local quarter-mile dragstrip after a few precise aftermarket realm mods.
And that brings me to a conundrum – why are we spending so much money on cars that do almost the same thing? A Porsche 911 S/T will be capable of drifting, thundering down a canyon road, hunting any sports car prey on the racetrack, and having a blast on the quarter-mile dragstrip. But it probably won't do any of that because it's too darn special and pricey, to begin with.
On the other hand, I bet the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo will have an MSRP around the $60k threshold – which is already high but still enough to leave you some aftermarket breathing space if you started with a purse of $100k or so. Already, the engineers and designers reworked the regular Z Performance to 420 horsepower and greater looks. Thus, all you have to do is find the perfect tuner that can fit in some additional ponies, and you're all set to go and even duke it out with more potent rivals – such as the 500-hp, V8-powered Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Yeah, that will be a sight to behold at a quarter-mile strip – and they're probably eerily similarly priced. Well, in the end, it's clear that my mind is set: if I had to choose an automobile or two for my garage from this past week's novelties, I would go to the track in a tuned 2024 Nissan Z Nismo with around 550 to 600 hp and also enjoy myself on the nation's trails in the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser – not the Land Cruiser 1958 or First Edition, because I favor the squared, boxier looks more than the classic round headlight shape. But that's just me; you can select your favorite too!
So, they not only officially showcased the 2024 Z Nismo but just a little while later also announced the pricing details for the 2024 Titan series, which kicks off at a higher MSRP of $45,470 and also adds an SV Bronze Edition Package for less than $3k. It's a nice effort, indeed, but unfortunately for Nissan, the Titana and its larger Titan XD siblings are relegated to a niche position behind the big Detroit Three kahunas.
Otherwise, all I can think of tickling my senses when they appeared on the automotive radar are the little Skoda Scala and Kamiq, which get a subtle refresh in Europe, the launch of the Honda CR-V in Australia, and that's about all for the global newsreel. Back to America, a series of launches solidified the impression that inflation is not only a nuisance but possibly soon our greatest enemy – the 2024 Mazda CX-5 got pricier, the Lexus RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid was introduced as the flagship version in the US from over $70k, plus the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV costs an arm and a leg ($109,300, sans destination) or almost enough to buy a couple of EQB crossover SUVs!
The only one swimming against the current – if you gauge its American MSRP in comparison to other regions, such as the UK – was the 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron, which kicks off at $89,800 and $92,600 in case you want the Sportback version. But enough with the MSRP talk – we have bigger fish to fry. Besides, I don't want to start my Porsche 911 S/T discussion with the fact that it costs no less than $291,650 – even if, this time, the destination charge is included.
Yep, over $290k for a Porsche 911 in special edition trim. Of course, it will immediately turn into a collectible, and I bet that by the time it finally reaches a human audience during its initial public debut at the Rennsport Reunion 7, starting September 28, it will be completely sold out. After all, there are only 1,963 examples on offer, all designed to celebrate 60 years of continued 911 existence.
By the way, this model is not for everyone. Instead, the engineers in Weissach managed to trump their designer counterparts and infuse the 911 S/T with a highly purist sports car ethos characterized by a mix of the best elements from the 911 GT3 with Touring Package (aka its subtle looks) and the latest 911 GT3 RS – aka its 4.0-liter boxer engine packing 518 horsepower, all sent to the rear wheels through a short-ratio manual transmission.
More precisely, Porsche is offering the option to buy a 911 with the GT3 RS engine, a manual transmission, and a lightweight clutch for the first time. Other highlights are pretty easy to follow – this is the lightest 992-series model at 1,380 kg (3,042 pounds) and comes with an optional Heritage Design Package that harks back to the racing versions of the 911 S from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
All in all, this special edition can reach 100 kph (62 mph) in just 3.7 seconds and will roar its flat-six mill to a top speed of 300 kph (over 186 mph). However, with 290k, I can probably buy a 2024 Nissan Z Nismo and spend just 10% of the remaining cash to obliterate the 911 S/T on the track or at the local quarter-mile dragstrip after a few precise aftermarket realm mods.
And that brings me to a conundrum – why are we spending so much money on cars that do almost the same thing? A Porsche 911 S/T will be capable of drifting, thundering down a canyon road, hunting any sports car prey on the racetrack, and having a blast on the quarter-mile dragstrip. But it probably won't do any of that because it's too darn special and pricey, to begin with.
On the other hand, I bet the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo will have an MSRP around the $60k threshold – which is already high but still enough to leave you some aftermarket breathing space if you started with a purse of $100k or so. Already, the engineers and designers reworked the regular Z Performance to 420 horsepower and greater looks. Thus, all you have to do is find the perfect tuner that can fit in some additional ponies, and you're all set to go and even duke it out with more potent rivals – such as the 500-hp, V8-powered Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Yeah, that will be a sight to behold at a quarter-mile strip – and they're probably eerily similarly priced. Well, in the end, it's clear that my mind is set: if I had to choose an automobile or two for my garage from this past week's novelties, I would go to the track in a tuned 2024 Nissan Z Nismo with around 550 to 600 hp and also enjoy myself on the nation's trails in the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser – not the Land Cruiser 1958 or First Edition, because I favor the squared, boxier looks more than the classic round headlight shape. But that's just me; you can select your favorite too!
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