Porsche 911 turbo and 911 turbo S – top models with freshened design… and more power

A Porsche 911 turbo or 911 turbo S is bought to enjoy its performance and looks… and now these have more of both.

Even more power

Not exactly short on power or outright accelerative performance, the Porsche 911 turbo and turbo S models are built with lots of power, which makes lots of speed.  Well, Porsche has now given both models an extra helping of power.

The bi-turbo boxer-6 engine of 3.8 litres now boasts 397kW instead of the previous 383 in the “standard” turbo model, while the turbo S goes from 412 to 427kW.  Overboost torque peaks are 710Nm at 2250-4000 r/min for turbo, and 750 at the same revs for the turbo S.

More instant response

The turbocharged engines feature a new dynamic boost function, to further improve acceleration response:  when the accelerator pedal is released briefly, the turbo pressure is maintained (achieved by interrupting the fuel injection, whereas the throttle valve stays open) giving the driver as-instant-as-it-gets back-on-the-pedal response.  The effect of this new dynamic boost function is more pronounced when the driver selects Sport or brave Sport Plus mode.

The new GT sport steering wheel was adopted from the Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid hypercar, and also gets the rotary knob that sits between the steering wheel spokes to select Normal, Sport, Sport Plus or Individual driving modes.

Another new feature in the centre of this new rotary switch is part of the Sport Chrono Package:  the Sport Response button filters down from motor racing into the road car – it preconditions the engine and gearbox for the best possible responsiveness, at the push of a button.  In this mode, optimum acceleration is produced for up to 20 seconds, which is ideal for an overtaking manoeuvre.  Ya, sure – if you have ever experienced an overtaking slingshot in a Porsche 911 turbo, you will realise it is one car that did not need such a feature.  But in a 911 turbo, quickest is best.   

330 km/h

Already some of the fastest cars on the planet, the 911 turbo cars are undoubtedly supercars.  Four models are available, consisting of Porsche 911 turbo coupé and 911 turbo cabriolet, and 911 turbo S coupé and 911 turbo S cabriolet.  If the around-3-second 0-100km/h pushed you back in your seat previously, the new uprated engines slice another 0.2 seconds off for a push-deeper-into-seat time of 2.9 seconds for the fastest of these fast&furious four – the turbo S coupé. 

Top speed?  Earlier generations of 911 turbo models were of the first cars to crack the magic 300 km/h mark – in the new ones maximums rise from 315km/h in the turbo (coupé and cabriolet) to 320, but the turbo S models see a jump from 318 to 330 km/h!

Despite this extra punch, these turbo models consume 0.6 litres / 100 km less, in the combined test cycle, than before.

Freshened design

The new 911 Carrera and targa models have received the new look and their new 3-litre turbo engines as reported.

Now the top models in the 911 get their turn.  The quickest way most people will be able to tell the 911 apart is seeing the new taillights, which are now more sculpted, and similar to what we’ve seen on Macan and 918 Spyder, and with the 4-point brake lights.

The exit openings for the exhaust system and the quad tailpipes are in a new design.  Compare the new and rear engine lid grille (covering the rear-mounted flat-six turbo powerhouse) then the new more prominently-styled air outlets become apparent.

The turbo models are also distinguished by double lines in the narrow new LED front lights (look at the top part of the front bumper).

The 911 turbo shiny multi-spoke wheel has been re-interpreted, while the aggressive racing-style 911 turbo S wheel is retained, but with a new twist, literally, where the hub meets the spokes.

Market

In the supercar world, the Porsche 911 turbo models meet with other exotic machinery.  The multi-talented 911 turbo can play the everyday supercar or the long-distance comfortable GT cruiser roles equally well.  As such it is up against divergent (but mostly slower) cars like the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio, Mercedes-AMG GT and Mercedes-AMG SL, Ferrari 488 GTB / 488 Spider and California T, Lamborghini Huracán (the Spyder is almost here), and certain Aston Martin, McLaren and Bentley.

The Porsche 911 turbo and 911 turbo S models are available to order now, and will be launched onto the South African market in April 2016.  Pricing for local cars have not been made public, though expect an increase over the outgoing 911 turbo / turbo S models’ price area of R 2.4 to R3.1 million.