Full Throttle Talk

What separates a great driver’s car from just another fast car?

Aerospace engineer Derek joins Blair and Shinoo for a fascinating discussion on the science of driver engagement. From fighter jets and flight controls to Miatas, Lotus sports cars, Toyotas, and EVs, the conversation explores why feedback, communication, and feel matter more than horsepower.

Plus:


Toyota’s commitment to combustion engines


A possible new MR2


Caterham’s future


Mustang Dark Horse vs Shelby


Flying Miata Summer Camp


Why some modern performance cars feel disconnected

If you care about the emotional side of driving, this episode is for you.

Blair accidentally started a Porsche civil war.

After last week's comments about the Porsche Cayman GT4's long gearing, the internet fired back. In this episode, Blair and Shinoo read the comments, respond to the criticism, and dive into a bigger conversation about what makes a great driver's car.

Along the way, Blair test drives a C8 Stingray, C8 Z06, Audi E-Tron GT, GR86, Miata Club, BMW Z3M Roadster, and more while searching for a replacement daily driver. The result? Some surprising opinions about EVs, manual transmissions, and why the Corvette Z06 may be one of the best performance bargains on the market.

They also discuss:


Porsche GT4 gearing controversy


Corvette Z06 vs Porsche GT3 debate


Audi's stunning new Nuvolari concept


Dodge's upcoming Hyper Muscle Car


Lotus Emira 420 updates


California's potential performance tire regulations


Why flawed cars often create the best driving experiences

Is the Corvette Z06 really better than cars costing significantly more? And are enthusiasts too loyal to brands?

Listen and decide for yourself.

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Ferrari just revealed the Luce, its first EV, and the reaction was not exactly quiet. Blair and Shinoo break down why the design, price point, and Ferrari badge have created so much controversy — and whether this is a bold move or a massive miss.

They also cover the new Lotus Emira 420, the reality of softening new car sales, Shinoo’s latest shop updates, including the supercharged Corvette E-Ray and 996RR progress, plus a deep dive into what it was really like taking the BAC Mono and Drakan Spyder to Jay Leno’s Garage.

And in this week’s “This or That,” the guys ask the obvious question: if you had around $750,000 to spend, would you really buy Ferrari’s EV… or build a much better garage?

Topics include:
Ferrari Luce EV reaction
Lotus Emira 420
Porsche 996RR updates
Supercharged Corvette E-Ray
Jay Leno’s Garage behind the scenes
BAC Mono and Drakan Spyder
New car sales slowdown
Ferrari 296, 458, 812 Superfast, Taycan Cross Turismo, Tesla Model X
The problem with expensive EVs

For more car talk, market takes, and stories from inside the enthusiast world, subscribe to the Full Throttle Talk newsletter at fullthrottletalk.com.

BMW may have finally built a modern enthusiast car worth caring about.

In this episode, the Full Throttle Talk crew breaks down the new manual-only rear-wheel-drive BMW M3 CS, why modern sports cars feel increasingly disconnected, and how manufacturers may finally be waking up to what drivers actually want.

They also debate the Porsche GT4 gearing controversy, Audi R8 vs Lamborghini Gallardo, Nissan’s surprisingly good new Z NISMO, analog GT3 race cars, and why race cars rarely make good road cars.

Plus plenty of real-world shop stories, driving impressions, and enthusiast chaos along the way.

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This week on Full Throttle Talk, Blair Smith and Shinoo Mapleton go deep into Porsche’s most exclusive world: VIP customers, Special Wishes, Sonderwunsch builds, Paint to Sample, and one-off factory projects.

The episode also covers the Singer Turbo Study, why some high-end restomods barely get driven, the risks of shipping valuable cars, Lotus’ return to ICE and hybrid powertrains, and why the future of enthusiast cars may be less about horsepower — and more about feel.

Guest Derek joins the show to share his story from wrenching on an MGB as a kid to helping shape some truly wild Porsche builds, including a Dakar, ST, 918 recommissioning project, and more.

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