Photo: Porsche Romania | Radu Chindris | Edited
For many people around the world, owning a Porsche is a major life goal. It's not just the price that drives people to be ambitious and hope that one day they'll have a 911 or a Macan in their driveway; it's also the impressive features that this member of the VW Group infuses into its cars. But you don't have to believe it. Just look at what these Porsche owners have recently achieved in an Eastern European country where you can find a real street gem.
You may not have heard of it, but (old) Top Gear fans will surely know Romania and its famous Transfagarasan highway. Back in 2009, the iconic trio, who are now in the midst of introducing their latest and final episode of the Grand Tour to the world, had been searching for the best road on Earth for a few years. They thought it was in Italy, Switzerland or Germany. However, their search took them to an unexpected place: Romania. That's where they found the Transfagarasan.
Jeremy Clarkson, now a highly successful farmer, drove an Aston Martin DBS Volante. Although dissatisfied with the road surface, he forgot about the “dimpled” tarmac and potholes after watching the massive mountain pass unfold beneath him as if someone had thrown spaghetti between the peaks. “It’s the most incredible road I’ve ever seen,” the former Top Gear co-host said as he took in the scenery.
Open for about eight months of the year, the Transfagarasan Highway reaches an altitude of 6,699 feet (2,042 meters), making it the second highest mountain road suitable for driving in Romania. The other is the Transalpina. If you’re planning on visiting it, you should be prepared to take a little more time off and drive both. Just make sure they’re open before you board your flight to Eastern Europe.
Clarkson was so fascinated by the road that he ended up describing it as “an unbroken grey ribbon of automotive perfection”, which he thought was better than the famous Stelvio Pass in Italy. Because fate loves irony, Richard Hammond said in that same episode that they had reached a fine end to their “grand tour”. If only he had known…
Photo: Top Gear on YouTube
And on September 13, the trio's story will officially end with the last episode of The Grand Tour (“One for the Road”), filmed in Zimbabwe.
Be like Mufasa from The Lion King
But their story will live on through the gearheads who buy or lease all sorts of specialty cars. That includes boring SUVs, EVs, and rugged pickups, because you never know what someone might find unique, good, or extraordinary. You don’t need a seven-figure whip, a supercharged Challenger, a restomod, a rare barn find, or a souped-up Civic to be a gearhead. Hell, you don’t even need a car to be part of the community. You can always go to shows around the world without a special ride.
However, the undeniable truth is that a car, especially a Porsche, can help you make new connections and friendships. Some may even become business partners or family members.
A good example of how an automaker can help form new transnational communities was provided by an event that temporarily blocked public access to the famous Transfagarasan highway. Around 200 people and over 120 Porsche models invaded the mountain pass to celebrate two important anniversaries and anticipate a major milestone for that market.
Their local Porsche Club celebrated 15 years of existence, which overlapped with the 50th anniversary of the Transfagarasan Highway. It was the perfect occasion to bring together people who love Porsches, mountains and fantastic roads.
Photo: Porsche Romania / Radu Chindris
The club obtained the necessary permits to block public access for a few hours on the 94-mile Transfagarasan, and they were right to do so because the members created probably the best traffic jam in the world. Several generations of Taycan, 911, 718, Panamera, Macan and Cayenne occupied the mountain pass and sent a clear signal to all spectators: Eastern Europeans are not just enthusiasts, they now also have the purchasing power to make their automotive dreams come true.
The event also attracted Porsche owners from neighboring countries. Some even came from France. But driving on the world's best road according to Top Gear wasn't the only thing that convinced these enthusiasts to take some time off, enjoy each other's company, and test the capabilities of their cars. There was something even more interesting!
A gift for the participants
Porsche officially unveiled the all-new and cleverly hybridized 911 Carrera 4 GTS at the rally and has decided to grace the Eastern European market with a limited-edition model of its own! For the first time, lucky and wealthy buyers from Romania and neighboring countries will be able to order a bespoke 911 that celebrates what is probably their most important automotive possession: the Transfagarasan Highway.
Photo: Porsche Romania / Radu Chindris
The special model is based on the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, which now hides a 478-hp 3.6-liter engine with an electrically powered turbocharger behind the rear seats. An electric motor tucked neatly into the transmission helps boost total output to 532 hp. In the U.S., the 911 Carrera 4 GTS starts at $172,700, while in most parts of Europe, the price including VAT is €186,248 ($206,335).
Dubbed the 911 Carrera 4 GTS “Tribute to Transfagarasan,” this special coupe will likely be similar to recent limited-edition Porsches launched in other parts of the world, such as the 911 Carrera GTS Cuarenta Edition, available only in Spain and Portugal, or the Taycan Turbo K-Edition, available only in Korea.
Unfortunately, Porsche isn’t ready to reveal all the details about the 911 Carrera 4 GTS “Tribute to Transfagarasan” just yet. However, we suspect that it will only be about cosmetic improvements. However, it will definitely be expensive. The German brand made sure to turn to the experts at Sonderwunsch for this project, which is the same team that delivered the 911 Turbo S (992.1) with an MSRP of $511,625.
Don't worry, we will keep you updated on the 911 Carrera 4 GTS “Tribute to Transfagarasan” as soon as the details are fully revealed or when the first customer order is confirmed and revealed.
Finally, if Jeremy Clarkson somehow sees this, it should remind him of the impact Top Gear has had on so many people around the world who are now able to see themselves behind the wheel of extraordinary vehicles and follow in its footsteps. This special edition 911 exists partly because of his work and the old format of the BBC show.
