For drivers who want maximum performance out of their high-performance luxury sports vehicle, the car to beat in 2007 was the Porsche 911 GT3. With traction that would be the envy of other cars in this range, the GT3 got the most — and the best — out of an engine that could output 415 horses. While the car probably wasn't the best choice for a daily commute, the power and handling of the 2007 GT3 were perfect for those who wanted the "consumer" version of the Porsche racing cars.

Whenever a car company has to homologate a car to make it eligible for racing competition, the results are usually ... interesting. The 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was a sporty car that was at home on the highway. It was built for the racetrack and, as such, was a little harder to tame. While the vehicle's 376-horsepower potential was the same as its GT3 stablemates, the RS was 110 pounds lighter, had racing suspension, a large rear spoiler to provide better downforce and other alterations that let the driver know the car's true home was the track.

Fans of the 911 weren't happy when the 2003 GT3 shared headlights with the company's Boxster line (the 911 was supposed to be the "next level" above the Boxster), so the company redesigned the front in the 2004 model year to restore the difference. By 2005, the GT3 had emerged from its growing pains to be its best for the 996.2 Series, with a 376-horsepower engine with 284 foot-pounds of torque. This represented 60 more horsepower than the base-level 911. The 2005 GT3 had also shed quite a bit of weight to get the best of out its powerplant.

When anything lasts for 50 years, it's a cause for celebration. So, when the Porsche 911 celebrated 50 years of production, it decided to release a car that both reflected where it came from and offered some of the best technology developed since 1963. The Carrera S 50th Anniversary Edition came in only two colors — Graphite Grey or Geyser Grey. It had retro styling by Porsche designer Tony Hatter, including green-numbered gauges and houndstooth seat coverings, as well as modern touches, such as the "Power Kit," which gave the car a 30-horsepower surge.

The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS had a little bit of something for every Porsche fan. An engine that could generate more than 400 horses with a top speed of 190 mph? Check! The ability to drive like a top-of-the-line sports car but still be useful for everyday driving? Check! A back seat that could fit two grown humans? Check! The 2011 Carrera GTS was a well-balanced vehicle that was made for people who demanded a lot from their luxury sports car but didn't live for the track.

Some Porsche purists were upset at the thought of an all-wheel-drive 911 instead of the standard rear-wheel-drive to which they had become accustomed, but the 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 made a strong case for the change. In its review, "Car and Driver" said the vehicle "may prequalify as the all-weather bahn bomber of the millennium." The sure-footed handling and powerful 3.6-liter flat-six engine that could put out 247 horsepower were the perfect marriage of power and style.

The GT2 RS released in 2011 had looks, style, substance and, most important, speed. A rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the GT2 RS had a turbocharged monster under the hood that could output 612 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque to get off the line quickly and stay at the head of the pack. With a top speed of 205 miles per hour and a 0-to-100 km/h (0-to 62 mph) acceleration time of just 3.4 seconds, the GT2 RS was the fastest member of the 911 for quite some time.

Before moving on to new technologies, it's sometimes best to salute the end of an era, and the 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RS marks the end of manual transmissions for its type. This car is also the last to use what became known as the "Mezger engine," which was developed for racing cars and, among other things, ensured a smooth flow of oil even under conditions where the gravitational forces prompted by quick maneuvering made that problematic. This car was a celebration of all that had come before.

It's always exciting when Porsche debuts a new series. In 2005, the 996 Series passed the baton to the 997. The first two 911s in the series were the Carrera and Carrera S. While both were good vehicles, the Carrera S had a more powerful 3.8-liter engine than the base model's 3.6-liter motor, as well as a dynamic suspension system, more powerful brakes and other upgrades. While the 997 looked very similar to the 996, the latter had many design changes, sharing only about a third of its parts with the 996.

Many reviewers found a great deal to love about the 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. Probably the car's greatest strength was that it balanced performance, appearance and budget to create the perfect Porsche 911 for many enthusiasts. With an engine that could generate 450 bhp and go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, many Porsche fans had all the power they desired. Balanced handling and all-around solid performance completed the picture. Porsche won over many fans with the 2018 Carrera GTS.

Is this 911 one of the most sought after in the car's history because it's beautiful? Fast? Powerful? Exceedingly rare? The answer is ... yes! The 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S had a production run of only 345, making it one of the rarest 911s on the planet. Add to that the powerful engine (it could go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds) and superior handling (it's regularly found in the "top five driving experience" lists of Porsche enthusiasts), and it's easy to see why this model is the apple of many Porsche fans' eyes.

If money is no object, you might as well get a Porsche that only a select few have ever owned or driven. An extremely limited edition — only 250 were made — aimed at the European market, the 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Complete with a Power Kit and other additions that got 408 hp out of the motor, the Sport Classic also had sports suspension, ceramic composite brakes and a specially designed interior that featured woven leather seats and door panels. The Sport Classic had style, class and exclusivity.

While it's not the most powerful 911 ever built, the 2013 Turbo S still had plenty of horses under the hood (the 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six put out 530, to be exact) and offered a more comfortable ride than some of its siblings that were designed for the track and "slum" it out on the streets. The 2013 Turbo S still had some refinements that were developed in the racing world, however, such as the PDK dual-clutch gearbox, as well as brake-based torque vectoring and dynamic engine mounts.

Racing technology is all well and good, but the vast majority of Porsche drivers aren't race car drivers. Produced in 2016 for the 2017 model year, the Porsche 911 R was built for drivers who wanted to scratch that performance itch every now and again but found themselves on the road or highway in their day-to-day lives. The 911 R had heart — a 4.0-liter flat-six engine that could put out 500 bhp — but also offered a six-speed manual gearbox that put the driver in control and provided a fun, exciting driving experience.

The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo caught a lot of enthusiasts off guard when it debuted at the Frankfurt motor show. In addition to introducing a revised variable-vane turbocharger to get the most out of the direct-injection 3.8-liter flat-six engine, it also offered a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox and paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel. The 2010 Turbo also offered the Sport Chrono package that gave the car a performance boost to be used when passing or in other situations where a little extra "oomph" would come in handy.

Turbocharging is great, but what's even better? Two turbochargers! In 1995, Porsche upped its turbo game by introducing engines with twin turbochargers, giving the 3.6-liter flat-six engine a maximum output of 400 horsepower. The 1995 911 Turbo was also the first of its line with all-wheel drive and was one of the first automobiles in the world to have an OBDII diagnostic system. In all, this version of the 911 was a leader in technology that would pave the path for vehicles coming up behind it.

It was a controversial call, but in 1998, at the betting of the 996 Series, Porsche decided to switch from air-cooled to water-cooled engines. The 911 had been air-cooled since its beginning in 1963, but the limitations of the technology were affecting potential performance. Tightening emissions standards were also a factor. While some purists believed that this was the end of the "proper" Porsche 911, others thought the switch would lead to better, more powerful engines.

The idea of putting the top down as you're driving your 911 has massive appeal. But the reality of taking the top off and stowing it in the car — losing every bit of storage space — was a drawback (not to mention it was frightfully easy to damage the top during the process). Recognizing this, the company shelved the Targa body style in 1993 and went back to the drawing board. In 1996, the Targa made a comeback, this time complete with a glass roof that slid automatically and stowed away on its own. Experiencing the open air was never so convenient!

When Porsche decided to race a hybrid, they went all out, and the result was the GT3 R Hybrid. The car had a conventional gasoline engine that output 500 braking horsepower, as well as two electric motors that added a total output of an additional 218 bhp. It also had a kinetic energy recovery system, or KERS, that stored kinetic energy in the flywheel, rather than in the battery, for more rapid use. In 2011, the GT3 R Hybrid ran as an "unclassified" car at the American Le Mans Series at Monterey. Starting in last place, it beat all the other GT cars and ran the fastest GT lap of the race.

When coming up with a "best of" list like this, it's hard to ignore the latest in the line — unless the company just completely drops the ball. Porsche did not drop the ball with the 2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS. Offering a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine, the 2019 GT2 RS puts out 691 horses, can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 211 mph (that speed, it should be noted, is electronically limited). Add in the fact that it's one of the best handling 911s to ever come out of Stuttgart, and the 2019 GT2 RS is a modern classic.