The Porsche 911 is due for a
makeover, and after a series of increasingly more revealing spyshots and leaked
photos, we’ve now got the new 992 version in all its glory. The eighth
generation of Zuffenhausen’s iconic rear-engined sports car has been thoroughly
rejuvenated with a fresh new look, a fettled turbocharged engine and a slew of
new technologies.
We’ll start on the outside, where the 992 follows an
evolutionary design direction while referencing a few classic cues. At the
front, the bumper shutline now goes under the round LED headlights instead of
through them, while the bonnet sports a deep centre recess. Both these features
have been taken from early 911s.
The body is significantly wider than before – 45 mm
wider at the front, in fact – to house wheels that measure up to 20 inches at
the front and 21 inches at the rear. The rear width, which used to be wider on
all-wheel drive models, has been standardised to emphasised the tapered middle
section. The smooth surfacing along the sides is now unbroken thanks to the
flush, pop-out door handles.
Moving to the rear, the full-width tail light on
all-wheel drive models is now a standard feature across the range, complemented
by the wider active rear spoiler. Prominent features include the vertical
centre brake light as well as a blacked-out bumper section with large oval
tailpipes. Apart from the front and rear fascias, the body panels are now
entirely made from aluminium.
Inside, the new 911 takes after other new Porsche
models such as the Panamera, Cayenne and Macan, with a bluff, horizontal
dashboard design and a tall centre console. Ahead of the driver, there are new
digital instruments flanking the analogue centre rev counter; beside it, the
touchscreen for the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system
now measures 10.9 inches.
The PCM itself has been revamped and features a new
online navigation system with crowd-sourced data – the company calls this swarm
data – as well as Porsche Connect Plus smartphone connectivity. There are also
five shortcut buttons under the screen to access important vehicle functions,
plus new seats and a mini gearlever for the PDK dual-clutch transmission.
This brings us to what’s under the bonnet – or
rather, what’s under the rear engine cover. For now, only the Carrera S and 4S
models have been detailed so far, and both get a revised turbocharged flat-six
of unspecified capacity (3.0 litres in the current facelifted 991) making 450
PS. That’s 30 PS more than before.
All this comes thanks to an improved injection
process and a new turbocharger and intercooler layout. From launch, the only
transmission available will be a new eight-speed PDK, though a manual should
come later – we doubt Porsche would abandon its purist fanbase quite so easily.
Naturally, with increased power comes increased
performance, with the S taking just 3.7 seconds to sprint to 100 km/h (3.6
seconds for the 4S), 0.4 seconds quicker than before. This drops by another 0.2
seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package, and the two cars max out at 308
km/h for the S and 306 km/h for the 4S. Fuel consumption is rated at 8.9 litres
per 100 km on the S and 9.0 litres per 100 km on the 4S.
Last but not least is safety, and the 911 has been
improved significantly in this regard. First up is the new Wet mode, which is
prompted to the driver thanks to sensors that detect water on the road; it then
preconditions the stability control systems accordingly. There are also
standard warning and brake assist systems with autonomous emergency braking,
plus Night Vision Assist and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go.
