Today’s Biggest Car News: A Stunning Porsche Tribute, Mazda Aces A Crash Test, And More

The news you can use

From a new Porsche 911 GT3 variant to Mazda‘s surprising crash test come-up, to Toyota‘s regulator hurdles, things aren’t the way they were yesterday. Here, we’ll round up the biggest news stories of the last 24 hours on AutoBlog and divvy them up into bite-sized chunks that get right to the heart of the story, allowing you to go deeper if you want.

Porsche has another six-figure 911 that demands your attention

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Porsche, by now, knows how to do an homage. This one is based on a 911 GT3 Touring, and is a tribute to the legendary Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (also known as F.A.), the grandson of Porsche AG Founder, Ferdinand Porsche. The younger Ferdinand passed away in 2012 but would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 11, 2026. Only 90 examples of the 2027 Porsche 911 GT3 90 F.A. will be built, all with the marque’s magnificent 4.0-liter boxer-six naturally aspirated engine with 502 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. In addition to near limitless personalization, we assume each one will also be available with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. To check out all the cool tribute details, click below.

Land Rover will make you any old Defender you want

The Land Rover Defender Octa debuted in 2024 as the new flagship of the Defender lineup, bringing high-performance engineering and exclusive customization options. Now, the British marque is extending those premium finishes by making Octa-inspired colors and trim combinations available to more customers through Land Rover Classic. If you’re out of the loop, Land Rover Classic will build you just about any old Defender you’d like – all to order. It’s absurdly pricey, but if you want a new-old Defender, it’s tough to beat. You can check out the full run of colors below.

Toyota won’t be selling its cute new Land Cruiser FJ here

The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ has had no trouble drawing attention. It surfaced about a week before the Japan Mobility Show and immediately stirred interest as the entry-level sibling to the global Land Cruiser lineup. It’s easy to see why the tiny SUV has held such appeal. Who doesn’t love a small off-roader? Powered by a small three-cylinder engine, it was clear the Land Cruiser FJ just wasn’t intended for the US market, but now Europe and Australia are off the table. Find out why below.

Mazda’s new CX-5 aced its crash tests

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 arrives in the United States early next year. It will go up against the Toyota RAV4, which has also just entered a new generation. As if that’s not enough of a challenge, the CX-5 must also fill the big shoes of the second-generation model. Buyers are likely to move on to the new CX-5 quickly if it proves to be good, and Mazda has just given families a solid reason to spring for the new one, as it has passed its first major crash tests with flying colors. Moreover, it has also passed the Euro NCAP tests, some of the world’s most stringent, with just as many flying colors. In doing so, Mazda has surpassed Volvo, a long-standing safety leader, in the pedestrian safety category. The tests bode well for the CX-5’s US-market tests. To see just how well the Mazda did, read on below.