Porsche Teases New Supercar! Rivian R2 Pricing Announced! Montana Plate Crackdown! THISCARPOD! EP102

High-Level Overview This episode covers key automotive news and commentary ranging from Porsche’s financial struggles and plans for a new supercar to the recently announced pricing of Rivian’s R2 electric SUV. It also explores California’s crackdown on out-of-state registration tax evasion schemes via Montana plates and reflects on the decline of full-size luxury sedans. Additional topics include the fate of several niche cars, an extraordinary flooding event at a major car gathering, insights into Stalantis’s quality issues, and a lively market report on collectible cars. The discussion wraps with listener questions addressing car reviews, ownership fatigue signs, and potential automotive future directions. This briefing offers automotive enthusiasts, industry watchers, and collectors a detailed update and thoughtful perspectives across a wide spectrum of the car world.

Porsche’s Current Challenges and Future Vision (00:13–07:07)

Porsche recently reported a steep profit decline—from $5.9 billion to around $90 million in 2025—reflecting notable challenges. Despite this, panelists emphasize that $90 million is still a substantial profit, holding a humorous view that many would be content with this. However, the broader Volkswagen Group, which owns Porsche, is cutting 50,000 jobs by 2030, signaling pressure across the corporate umbrella.

A recently appointed CEO with a background at McLaren is striving to reshape Porsche’s lineup, particularly aiming to establish models above the iconic 911, hinting at a new hypercar or high-performance sports car beyond the current spectrum. While Porsche’s recent electric models like the electric Cayman and Macan have struggled sales-wise, the company plans to make its products leaner, faster, and more desirable.

Patent activity around a W18 engine and the possibility of adapting Formula 1-derived powertrains for road cars were mentioned, though skepticism remains. Enthusiasts debate whether Porsche will retain manual transmissions on future top-tier models, especially in high-performance cars—a manual 911 ST was recently discontinued but saw high demand in the used market, reflecting ongoing interest. Although Porsche faces a complicated market, its unique ability to sell both ultra-expensive supercars and more modest SUVs illustrates an unusual multi-tiered brand presence.