A 991 Porsche 911 Turbo S up against a McLaren MP4-12C Spider; nice work Chris! The Porsche is cheaper, but is heavier and has less power than the 12C. So what do you think happens next? Well, it’s a bit like comparing a Golf GTI against a Megane RS265, just with an extra zero in the purchase price.
Chris Harris was offered an impromptu drive of a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 and, for our benefit, of course, he cancelled his plans and took to the track. He discovered the brakes are first class, but the car’s front-end didn’t talk to him like he thought it might. A connection to the MP4-12C road car? Not so much.
Watch the video after the break to see if he enjoyed himself.
“There’s nothing the world needs less, and there’s nothing I want more. Because it’s the best car of its type I’ve ever driven!”
Yes, it’s safe to say Chris Harris—who is now clearly back in Ferrari’s good books—loves the F12 berlinetta.
Oh, a big pat on the back for regular cameraman Neil Carey, too, this is some of his best work for Drive. Well done all, it’s a great video.
In his latest video Chris Harris shows us how he used his Ferrari 512 TR to buy some bread. As you can see, he even hams it up in a white linen suit to complete the Miami Vice look. Explaining his lack of talking, Harris notes: “When a car looks and sounds as good as this, you don’t need to talk.”
As you know the Alfa Romeo 4C was launched last week. Alfa did this by inviting a bunch of motoring hacks to Italy and threw them a set of keys. Initial thoughts via Top Gear were less flattering than perhaps we wanted. So what did Chris Harris think?
Well, we’ll let you watch the video of course, suffice to say he thinks the basic ingredients are right: “There’s something about a light, mid-engined, car that just feels right, isn’t there.”
On a day where our Australian readers are heading to the polls to kick out one dimwit for another, it’s our duty to brighten this otherwise most depressing of days. Here’s a choice you won’t dread making and when your vote has been cast you won’t regret it for the next three years, regardless of what you choose.
In truth, of course, we have Chris Harris to thank.
Firstly, his reputation presented him with an opportunity to drive two of Ferrari’s best ever cars, the insanely epic F40 and the improving with age F50.
Secondly, because when he does drive these two icons you are left in no doubt as to how much fun he is having. I’d like to be jealous, but I know I wouldn’t be able to do the justice to this comparison that he has done. Normally, Harris’ strength as a reviewer is to explain the detail about what he is experiencing. Here, though, it’s just kid in a candy store stuff and it is sensational.
He does take the time to delve into the past a little, and we’re ever thankful for that. So, without further ado, here’s Chris’ intro before you watch 20 of the most entertaining minutes of car video you could ever wish to see:
Here goes. Two of the greatest Ferraris thrashed as intended. This was one of the best days of my life.
We love fast Euro estates here at AUSmotive. Absolutely love ’em! As it happens so does Chris Harris and he brings us two of the very best in his latest video. It’s the Audi RS6 Avant up against the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake. Wagon versus wagon. V8 versus V8. And, tellingly, all-wheel drive versus rear-wheel drive.
And that’s probably all the introduction you need. The rest is perfect Sunday afternoon fodder.
Chris Harris takes the BMW Vegetable Bum Water 435i out for a drive this week. He likes this new 4 Series a lot. But then doesn’t. Watch the video to find out why.
After watching this clip there’s two things for you to remember. First, if you’d like to buy a new BMW 4 Series we’ve got the skinny on local pricing. Second, no drifting!
Here it is, the one we’ve all been waiting for. The Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG and the BMW M135i in the hands of Chris Harris. There’s no need for an intro, just strap yourself in for the next 20 minutes and enjoy the ride.
If you would like a few more words, head on over to PistonHeads.
Chris Harris turns his hand to the Mk7 Golf GTI. He’s at the wheel of a base-spec 162kW model with a proper gearbox. Part of the GTI’s appeal is its understated nature. And yet, when a respected reviewer, such as Harris, takes an understated approach to his work what are we left with?
Just that, a question mark. Yes, Chris does say lots of nice things about the latest GTI, but where’s the passion and the gut feel that we normally get from his videos?
So, are we too comfortable with the Harris style, or has the GTI recipe become so familiar that it’s almost taken for granted? Like Chris, we’re going to leave you with a question mark.
[Thanks to Richard for the tip]
“The steering is superb… I just feel more connected.”
“Comfortably the best PDK that Porsche has ever made.”
They’re two comments worth taking away from Chris Harris’ exclusive review of the new Porsche 911 GT3. It’s worth noting that this is not a final production-spec car, but with almost 20,000km showing on the dials it is a GT3 that’s been worked hard over its very short life.
Electronic steering and the lack of a manual gearbox are two of things lounge room experts are lamenting about the latest version of the iconic GT3. Harris touches on both with his usual candour. He also covers what is lost or gained with the new 9A1-based 3.8 litre engine over the much-loved Metzger from previous generations.
You’ll enjoy this review, at least you should! And thanks, as always, to Drive for making their content so accessible.
Porsche invited a select group of journalists to its Leipzig factory to bring them up to speed on the progress of 918 Spyder. Previously its weight was reported as being over 1700kg, now it’s claimed to be 1640kg. Before it had less than 800hp, now Porsche says there’s 887hp (660kW) to play with. It’s faster, too, so the claims suggest.
Project leader Frank-Steffen Walliser says Porsche isn’t responding to the gauntlets thrown down by the more powerful and faster rivals—LaFerrari (708kW) and McLaren P1 (675kW), but it’s hard not to draw any other conclusions. Yet, if Porsche wants to claim hybrid hypercar performance supremacy they still have a lot of work to do.
Porsche says the 918 can reach 300km/h in 23 seconds flat. That’s fast. But compared to the LaFerrari (15.0 seconds) and the P1 (sub 17 seconds) it is positively pedestrian.
More in depth analysis of the 918 has been given by Chris Harris (video after the break) and Autocar.
In his review for Autocar Greg Kable said: “With sufficient battery charge in E-Power mode, the Porsche relies on the front electric motor to provide propulsion at speeds of up to 93mph—which makes this Porsche’s first front-wheel drive car.
“Before the first lap is over I’m already gushing at the razor-sharp throttle response, the immense in-gear urge, the immediacy of the chassis and the searing V8 engine, which emits a spine-tingling mechanical shrill on the way to its 9150rpm limiter.”
Chris Harris was more circumspect, praising the car, but always with a caveat. It’s worth noting that the cars being tested are pre-production prototypes still to undergo fine tuning. It’s also worth checking out Harris’ thoughts below.