For more than a century, Porsche’s formula for the 911 has remained practically unchanged. Take a timeless teardrop silhouette, insert a powerful rear-mounted six-cylinder engine, and voila, you’ve got the recipe for one of the best-selling sports cars of all time. For 8 generations, the formula has proven impeccable, with more than 1. 2 million 911s sold since its appearance in 1963. While the 8 generations so far have consisted of cars powered by natural gasoline, the most recent version supports the trend with electrification for the first time. ever ever
The base Carrera can be ordered as a coupe (£99,800) or convertible (£109,800), with either rear-wheel drive. The GTS is available as a coupe or convertible with rear-wheel drive (£132,600) or all-wheel drive, as well as an all-wheel drive Targa, which tops the range at £149,100. Deliveries are expected between autumn and the end of the year.
“It’s a very big step,” says Frank Moser, vice president of the 718 and 911 models, in Malaga, Spain, where the car was launched. “The 911 stands for ease of everyday use and the highest social acceptance: in a 911 you look smart. “
On the road with the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Coupé in Carmine Red
You’re well-dressed in a 911.
This is not the first time Porsche has replaced the formula. In 1974, the automaker introduced the turbocharger and, 15 years later, all-wheel drive. In 1997, it made a significant replacement from air-cooled to water-cooled engines. But in spite of its differences on the bottom, aesthetically it matched the unique profile of the original 1963 model.
The new 911, known as the 992. 2 to those in the know, is no exception. With two variants available at launch, the Carrera and the Carrera GTS, only the latter receives the complete “T-Hybrid” solution with its redesigned 3. 6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine powered by a small high-voltage battery located at the front. This powers an electric turbocharger (eTurbo) and an electric motor in the transmission, which can generate an additional 150 Nm of torque. We are still far from a 911 capable of driving only in electric mode, the assistance provided by hybridization is not negligible. The new GTS coupé starts off particularly faster: the electrical components catapult it from 0 to one hundred km/h in just 3 seconds and ensure a top speed of around 300 km/h.
On the track, its impeccable handling is aided by a lower 10mm ride height and the GTS’s rear-wheel steering, which helps keep the car solid at top speeds but helps it pivot around tight corners. Around the gruelling German Nordschleife circuit, almost nine seconds faster than the previous generation.
For now, the base Carrera style remains purely thermal, with its 3. 0 flat-six engine making 146 less horsepower than its GTS hybrid sibling. While this means the Carrera is slower, it’s still more than capable of sprinting if needed. This might be the most affordable position for anyone looking for a do-it-all sports car for everyday driving.
From the outside, the updated 911 is difficult to distinguish from the existing model, because of the new vertical air intakes in the front bumper of the GTS model. These channel air to places that need to be cooled when the car is driving overhead. (At low speeds, they close to make it more aerodynamic. )In the cockpit, a new, fully virtual tool panel makes it less complicated to read the dials. Porsche has also ditched its rotary transfer for a button of some sort to turn it on and off.
Recommended
For a brand that has already committed to electrifying some of its most important pedestrian vehicles (see the best-selling Macan), Porsche has been cautious with the 911. Keen to ensure its flagship vehicle doesn’t alienate its stalwart community, it electrifies the latest 911. The GTS could help reduce emissions slightly, but it is a tremendously effective tool for improving performance. For a car that was already considered a benchmark in sports vehicle performance, the new 911 has raised the bar again.