The Porsche 911 Carrera T is back for 2023, revived now for the current 992 generation. It slots in above the base Carrera and below the Carrera S, preserving its touring car roots in the best ways possible: it’s fun, sporty, and cool; and it does it in a purist drivers’ package.

Instead of just hitting the streets of LA, we left the city for the Angeles Crest Highway. It was here where the rear-mounted twin-turbo six-cylinder came to life, displacing 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a standard seven-speed manual transmission. According to Porsche, a Carrera T manual can do 0-60 sprints in 4.3 seconds.

But as a touring car, I almost feel like the 0-60 stuff and top speed– 181 mph, by the way– is less important. It’s about how it feels on the road. And this engine is perfect for the Carrera T’s job. Smooth acceleration, accurate response and harmonics you just can’t get enough of. The transmission is slick, and the clutch is firm in actuation without being a burden.

Sticking to the road was easy thanks to the mechanical limited slip differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring– a standard feature on the Carrera S trickled down to the T. The Porsche Active Suspension Management system and Sport Chrono Package are also included, though rear-axle steering, which my car had, is an option.

After some time driving, I had a realization– thinking back to another T I drove on similar roads…

“You know, it’s kinda funny. I was out here with the Macan T not that long ago, and I made a comment then about how the Macan T was a little sportier without going full-bore. That’s exactly the case with the Carrera T. It’s meant to be sort of a sportier ride, a very– almost like a purist kind of experience without going all-out, right? Now, they accomplish this first and foremost by being a 911, right? It’s going to sport. But, uh, standard you get a seven-speed manual and you get a rear-seat delete. Now, you can opt for an 8-speed PDK and you can also throw those rear seats back in if you so choose, and that’s fine, but I think the way I have this one optioned is just perfect. Like, this is how I would want it. So that, along with the lightweight glass, less sound deadening to let all the good noises in, um, and the Porsche Active Suspension– all those things, it all culminates into yeah, exactly that: a purist, just totally fun experience.”

So, the Carrera T brings in some of the more driver-focused amenities and also does it while saving a little weight in the process, but it does so without stripping away all the premium features you’d realistically still want. 4-way power sport seats are standard, as are the digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen; the latter of which I used for Apple CarPlay.  My car’s seats were the optional 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats– very comfortable, and stylish with the 911 name embroidered up top.

The Carrera T stands apart from the crowd in some obvious ways, like the big side profile designations and rear badging, but it also accentuates the exterior with various trimmings in Agate Gray. The wheels are finished in Titanium Grey and carry the theme well. All in all, it’s nice to have something a little bespoke in a near-entry trim.

Now, I understand that an “entry level Carrera” may sound like an oxymoron to some, but that’s what it is, starting around $118,000 with delivery. My Guards Red tester ultimately optioned out to $137,480, so you can get a little gung-ho with the options– some of which I highly recommend for that driver’s experience, like rear axle steering.

So, to reiterate my opener: the 2023 Porsche Carrera T is a fine addition in the lineup, slotting in perfectly above the Carrera and below the Carrera S. It’s fun, sporty, and– at least in my opinion– undeniably cool.

And we’ll have plenty more cool cars soon, right here on MotorWeek.

Lexus’ flagship SUV, the LX, is famous for its luxury, power and rugged capability. Now, its 30 year legacy has inspired a hybrid powertrain- the first ever Lexus LX 700h.

This milestone called for a First Drive. So Lexus invited us to California.

“I’m in Napa Valley, behind the wheel of the new Lexus LX 700h.”

Let’s find out if it can handle our tough off-roading and city explorations.

The 700h is powered by a 3.4-liter twin-turbo hybrid V6 paired with a 10-speed direct shift automatic transmission. The hybrid system produces 457 horsepower and 583 pound feet of torque for an improved EPA estimated combined fuel economy rating of 20 miles per gallon. On and off-road, power was pretty steady thanks to the twin turbochargers.

For 2025, improvements were also made to the Lexus LX 600.

The LX offers five grades including the new Overtrail grade. It includes electronically controlled front and rear locking differential which allows the driver to lock as needed to improve wheel stability and traction over rough terrain. Behind the wheel, off-roading, the Overtrail grade felt very planted to me. It didn’t feel like it was getting away from me.

“The vehicle feels very durable out here. It gives you a lot of peace of mind when off-roading. You feel like it won’t break when you get home with it.”

Standard on the LX, is the Torson limited slip locking center differential which evenly splits the engine’s power resulting in more control in low grip situations while preventing excess wheel spin on trails like this. On the flip side, that contributes to a more stable ride on city roads.

For 2025, there’s a good amount of a variety of standard features on the LX : active height control and adaptive variable suspension, multi-terrain select, crawl control with turn assist and downhill assist control.

“Right now the vehicle is in crawl control, so it’s doing a lot of this by itself. I’m really just steering at this point.”

As we found out, the high tech features work in conjunction with one another to give you extra confidence behind the wheel especially on intense trails. Most hybrids perform alternator and starter duties with a starter/generator electric motor, but the LX700h is unique in that it retains both a traditional starter and alternator. So, if you run out of gas or have an engine failure on the trail, the alternator will keep your electronics working, while the starter can power the vehicle until you can get to a safe place off the trail. That’s something that’s not even available on any of Toyota’s off-roaders. The LX also has a completely waterproof hybrid battery case to help keep water from seeping in during deep water crossings and ruining your day.

It uses the GA-F platform, which was introduced in 2022. Thanks to some tweaks, the ride is more responsive and low-frequency vibrations have been significantly reduced. A double wishbone suspension is paired with a multi-link rear suspension to achieve terrific on and off-road performance. Towing is up to 8-thousand pounds.

The Overtrail grade can be equipped as a two or three row configuration which was previously seen on the 2024 Lexus GX. The cargo space of the LX 700h looks very unique, a fold-flat shelf system has been added because of its battery placement.

For 2025, there’s also an F Sport handling grade. It distinguishes itself with a jet black chrome grille and 22-inch forged aluminum wheels. It’s fun and sporty to drive thanks in part to its uniquely tuned standard front and rear performance dampers.

If you’re looking to be pampered, LX’s cabin will do the trick. Comfort, luxury and tech are prioritized. There’s a standard 12.3 inch high-def upper touchscreen plus a 7-inch lower touchscreen. For convenience, a physical knob does control volume and on/off power. For 2025, a front wireless charger is now standard. The LX also offers massaging seats and a cool box in the center console and it comes standard with a 10-speaker premium surround system with available 25-speaker Mark Levinson surround system.

The Ultra Luxury grade looks especially beautiful with a full VIP experience. As you can see, there are entertainment screens for rear passengers, and they can use this control panel to change the music, control the climate, recline their seats and even dim the lighting.

All Lexus models now come standard with Lexus Safety System 3.0 which includes tons of safety features including a pre-collision system and pedestrian detection.

After a full-day of driving on and off road in Napa Valley, it’s pretty clear Lexus went above and beyond with the 700h, packing in cutting edge performance, tech, comfort and luxury, all wrapped up in a chic package.

The 2025 Lexus LX 600 starts at more than $106,000. The hybrid powertrain costs about $9,000 dollars more starting at $115,000. The 2025 Lexus LX 600 and Lexus 700h will arrive in dealership showrooms soon. We’ll have much more coming up soon on MotorWeek.