Saturday Shift: BMW’s 1,100-hp M2 Goes Full Gymkhana, Porsche’s Painful Pivot, and a Quick Blast Through the World’s Longest Tunnels

I started the day with cold coffee and tire smoke in my feed. One minute I’m watching an over-caffeinated M2 turning Munich’s factory floors into a skidpan, the next I’m sifting through Porsche’s balance sheet blues and timing sheets from Mexico and Sepang. It’s one of those mornings where the car world feels like a live radio mix—industry, motorsport, a little infrastructure geekery. Let’s riff.

Porsche’s Profits Slide as Three Petrol Models Near the Exit

Porsche’s latest financials aren’t pretty: profits are down, and the timing isn’t accidental. The brand is in the messy middle of a product pivot—winding down three internal-combustion stalwarts while ramping up EV and hybrid lines. Expect turbulence whenever you change the engine room mid-voyage.

Which models are bowing out? Think of it as the end of an era for the entry sports cars and a big step for the crossover that arguably funded half of Stuttgart’s renaissance:

• The 718 Boxster/Cayman are in their twilight as pure ICE cars, with their electric successors queuing in the wings.
• The last petrol Macan is also shuffling off in many markets as the all-electric Macan takes over the heavy lifting.

I drove a 718 GTS 4.0 not long ago, and its naturally aspirated flat-six is the kind of engine you bookmark in your brain—clean throttle, a note that hardens perfectly at 5,000 rpm. It will be missed. But Porsche’s game is forward momentum: the latest Cayenne hybrids pull like freight trains, the Taycan’s updates have meaningfully extended range and repeatability, and the next-gen 718 EV is the brand’s chance to make a lightweight electric driver’s car feel… light.

What’s changing, at a glance

Short-term pain, long-term play. If you’re hunting for a last-of-its-kind 718 to tuck away, now’s the time—just budget for tires. The GTS eats rears for breakfast if you drive it like it wants to be driven.

BMW’s 1,100-hp M2 Does the Night Shift in Munich

Put this in the “did they really?” folder: someone turned a BMW M2 into an 1,100-hp drift lunatic and slid it through the Munich factory for a film that smells like fresh stamping oil and Michelin smoke. The stunt plays like a love letter to lateral grip and corporate insurance policies.

• Power: 1,100 hp (from an M2, yes)
• Location: BMW’s Munich plant—think assembly lines, robot ballet, and a lot of concrete
• Vibe: Gymkhana-in-a-white-coat

For context, the stock M2 I drove earlier this year felt stout at 453 hp. On bumpy backroads, the S58’s torque hits early and often; in the wet, you need a respectful right foot or a clever diff. Now double (and then some) the power and put it on polished factory floors. That’s artistry and bravery in equal parts—plus a tire budget that could fund a small hatchback.

Would I daily it? No. Would I watch it again with the volume up? Obviously.

Motorsport: Heat, Altitude, and a Harsh Reminder

F1 Mexico GP: Verstappen quick on paper, uneasy on the long runs

Max topped FP2 in Mexico City but admitted the long-run pace “was nowhere.” That’s the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez being its usual self—high altitude, thin air, and cooling that becomes a math problem. It’s the kind of weekend where brake management and slipstream chess decide Sunday as much as raw quali speed.

MotoGP Sepang: Bagnaia digs deep and grabs pole; Aprilia stumbles

Pecco Bagnaia found the lap when it mattered and put it on pole in Malaysia, a proper strike-back that sets up a tense Sunday in sauna conditions. Aprilia, meanwhile, had one of those sessions you’d rather not frame—momentum lost at exactly the wrong circuit. Sepang rewards clean exits and tire discipline; Bagnaia’s got the first half handled.

Supercars: Photographers injured after heavy shunt

A serious incident at a Supercars event left multiple trackside photographers injured. Early notes suggest debris and energy went places barriers didn’t fully catch. These are the days the paddock tightens its circle. Expect procedural reviews and, hopefully, quick recoveries. No headline should ever be more important than people going home okay.

Road-Trip Nerd Corner: The Longest Road Tunnels You Can Actually Drive

Autocar pulled together a greatest-hits reel of the world’s longest road tunnels, and it sent me down memory lane. I’ve run the Gotthard Road Tunnel after a red-eye—16.9 km of focus with radio low and hands light on the wheel. The Norwegian Lærdal Tunnel still wears the crown at about 24.5 km, complete with blue-lit caverns that give your brain a little reset. Tokyo’s Yamate Tunnel, roughly 18.2 km, is the king of the urban set—part commute, part science experiment in ventilation.

• Norway’s Lærdal: ~24.5 km, with mood-lighted “caves” to cut monotony
• Tokyo’s Yamate: ~18.2 km, the world’s longest urban road tunnel
• Switzerland’s Gotthard: ~16.9 km, second tube construction underway to ease maintenance closures

Tip for the long bores: set cabin air to recirculate for a bit, keep a gentle pace, and don’t be the person who discovers claustrophobia at kilometer seven. Also, if you’re EV road-tripping, plan your charge stops before and after—ventilation fans and crawl-speed traffic can nudge consumption in funny ways.

Quick Takes

• Porsche’s transition will squeeze supply of beloved ICE specials—watch for lightly used cars to spike before settling.
• That viral M2? Cool heads remind us: closed set, pros only. The rest of us can practice car control at an autocross and keep our HR departments calm.
• Mexico GP strategy window: undercuts are powerful when air is thin and brakes run hot. Expect creative tire offsets.

Conclusion

Today felt like a pivot and a power-slide all at once. Porsche is tightening its helmet for the EV jump, BMW just reminded us that theater still matters, and the racing world delivered both pace and perspective. If you’re heading out, enjoy the drive—just maybe not through a factory.

FAQ

Which Porsche ICE models are ending soon?

The petrol 718 Boxster and Cayman are nearing their sunset as Porsche preps their EV successors, and the petrol Macan is being phased out in favor of the Macan Electric in many markets.

Was the 1,100-hp BMW M2 factory drift real?

Yes—filmed on a closed set inside BMW’s Munich facility with a heavily modified M2 and professional drivers. Don’t try it in your office parking lot.

Why did Verstappen say Red Bull’s long runs were “nowhere” in Mexico?

Mexico’s high altitude reduces air density, complicating cooling and aero efficiency. You can look fast on a single lap yet struggle to maintain tire and brake performance over race stints.

Who took MotoGP pole in Malaysia?

Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia put it on pole at Sepang, while Aprilia had a difficult session.

What’s the longest road tunnel in the world?

Norway’s Lærdal Tunnel at around 24.5 km is the longest road tunnel currently open to traffic.