Porsche will be showing their new lighter, faster and more economical 911 at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Evolution, not revolution, is the key with the new 911 retaining much of the older model’s silhouette. A longer wheelbase, wider front track and lower roofline – along with shorter overhangs front and rear – mean that the car is still compact and handles even better than it did before.
A new 3.4-litre engine develops 350 hp (257 kW) while the revised 3.8-litre version has 400 hp (294 kW). Both retain the legendary ‘flat-6’ layout and develop more power and lower emissions than ever before. Fuel consumption is also improved by up to 16 per cent and emissions are now below 200 g/km CO2 for the first time in a Porsche sports car.
Performance is improved and impressive. The smaller-engined Carrera hits 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds when fitted with the with the seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) gearbox (which 80 per cent of current 911 owners specify) and the larger-engined Carrera S takes just 4.3. Customers ordering the optional ‘Sport Chrono Pack’ can knock 0.2 seconds from both of those times.
A lightweight “intelligent” aluminium-steel composite body reduces the weight of the shell by 45 kgs and is more rigid too. The variably extending rear spoiler helps to reduce lift at high speed.
The wider front track, longer wheelbase, electro-mechanical power steering and a new rear axle improve handling. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), an active roll stabilisation system,a is now available for the first time on the 911 Carrera S.
Standard equipment on all models is leather interior, sports seats, automatic climate control, Bi-Xenon headlights, 7-inch colour touch-screen Porsche Communication Management with satellite navigation, a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity, Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), and a three year warranty.
The Carrera S adds 20-inch alloy wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with rear limited slip differential, in addition to the larger engine.
The new Porsche 911 will be available in the UK from December 2011 and the price starts at £71,449 (approximately $114,000 or €80,316) for the Carrera, while the Carrera S will start at £81,242 (approximately $130,000 or €91,300). All UK buyers will be eligible for a free course at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone.
