Experience from the passenger seat as the new Porsche 911 GT3 breaks a record at the Nürburgring.

      **911 GT3 with Weissach Package (Manual Transmission), Nürburgring Nordschleife 2025, Porsche AG**

      If you've ever dreamed of racing at high speeds on one of the world's most famous tracks, your chance has arrived. A new Porsche 911 GT3 has just achieved the fastest lap time around the Nürburgring for a road car equipped with a manual transmission, setting a new record by slashing nearly 10 seconds off the prior best. Porsche has also released an onboard video of the run, allowing you to feel the excitement firsthand.

      The record was accomplished by renowned driver and Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, who drove the 911 GT3 with the Weissach package, clocking in at 6:56.294. This is 9.5 seconds quicker than the previous record held by the Dodge Viper ACR in 2017, although specific time calculations are affected by a track reconfiguration that occurred in 2019.

      The 911 GT3 that established the new record features enhancements associated with the Weissach package, which includes various upgrades over the standard model to reduce weight, taking cues from racing, utilizing lightweight materials such as carbon fiber shift paddles, carbon trim on the steering wheel, and thinner carpeting.

      These enhancements provided the new GT3 not only with increased speed but also greater enjoyment thanks to the manual transmission, as noted by the driver. It proved to be 3.6 seconds faster around the circuit compared to the PDK-equipped 992.1-gen GT3.

      “The new 911 GT3 offers even greater confidence at the limit compared to its predecessor. I was quicker through nearly every corner,” stated Bergmeister. “We gained significant insights from the 911 GT3 RS, particularly regarding the chassis. The car handles bumps and curbs with improved stability. Additionally, the eight-percent-shorter gear ratio delivers noticeably more traction from the rear axle during acceleration while maintaining the same engine power.

      “Even though it may have been a few seconds faster with the seven-speed PDK — using the six-speed manual gearbox definitely made the fast lap more engaging and therefore more enjoyable.”

      **Toyota shifts gears: 15 New EVs and a million cars by 2027**

      After years of carefully approaching the electric vehicle (EV) market, Toyota is finally increasing its commitment to fully electric vehicles. The Japanese manufacturer, which has predominantly focused on hybrids, is now set to develop around 15 fully electric models by 2027, a significant increase from the five it currently offers. These vehicles will feature both Toyota and Lexus branding, with production anticipated to reach 1 million units annually by that date, according to a report by Nikkei.

      This change represents a major shift for Toyota, which has previously taken a conservative stance regarding electric cars. The company sold only 140,000 EVs worldwide in 2024, comprising less than 2% of its total global sales. Nonetheless, Toyota aims to expand its presence in the EV market, targeting approximately 35% of its global production to be electric by the end of the decade.

      The Nikkei report also indicates that the company intends to diversify its production locations beyond Japan and China, expanding into the U.S., Thailand, and Argentina. This strategy aims to mitigate the effects of President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on all vehicle imports and to reduce delivery times. Furthermore, Toyota is constructing a battery plant in North Carolina.

      Currently, Toyota has only two fully electric vehicles available in the U.S. market: the bZ4X and the Lexus RZ models. The automaker is also expected to unveil new models, including the bZ5X and a potential electric version of the popular Tacoma pickup truck.

      Separately, on April 4, Toyota and Honda, along with Hyundai from South Korea, announced they would not raise prices for at least the next few months following the implementation of U.S. tariffs. According to a separate Nikkei report, Toyota’s North American division informed its suppliers that it would absorb the additional costs of parts imported from Mexico and Canada, as a further 25% tariff on automotive parts imported to the U.S. is set to take effect on May 3.

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      **Tesla, Warner Bros. dodge some claims in ‘Blade Runner 2049’ lawsuit, copyright battle continues**

      Tesla and Warner Bros. gained a partial legal victory as a federal judge dismissed several allegations in a lawsuit filed by Alcon Entertainment, the company behind the 2017 sci-fi film Blade Runner 2049, according to Reuters. This lawsuit claimed that the two companies used imagery from the film to promote Tesla’s autonomous Cybercab vehicle at an event hosted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Studios in Hollywood last October.

      U.S. District Judge George Wu expressed an inclination to dismiss Alcon’s claims that Tesla and Warner Bros. violated trademark law. The judge noted that Musk merely referenced the