When: October 2011
Where: Weissach, Germany
What: 2012 Porsche 911
Occasion: Passenger ride
Overall rating: 5/5
The launch of a new Porsche 911 model is always a significant event, but the eagerly-awaited 991 variant is particularly momentous. The new 911 is faster, lighter, longer and more economical than the outgoing 997, and features a raft of technological advances that have contributed to the Carrera S bettering its predecessor around the Nürburgring by an almighty 14 seconds. We hitched a ride around Porsche's Weissach test track in one of the 400hp 3.8-litre S offerings.
Key Facts
Model: Porsche 911 Carrera S
Engine: 3.8-litre petrol flat-six
Transmission: seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic (PDK) or seven-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Body style: two-door coupé
Rivals: Aston Martin V8 Vantage-S, Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
CO2 emissions: 205g/km (Band F, €1,050 per annum)
Combined consumption: 8.7 litres/100km (32.4mpg)
Top speed: 304km/h
0-100km/h: 4.5 seconds (with PDK and Sport Plus: 4.1 seconds)
Power: 400hp at 7,400rpm
Torque: 440Nm at 5,600rpm
In the Metal: 5/5
It still has the familiar silhouette of every Porsche 911, but it is immediately obvious that the new 991 is a bigger sports car than what has gone before. A 100mm longer wheelbase and wider front track are chief contributors here, while front and rear overhangs are shorter to aid the sporting stance. The roof line has been lowered 20mm, while the dramatically weight-reduced body features door-mounted Panamera-style mirrors and a wider rear spoiler.
The longer wheelbase has helped make the cabin roomier, and there's a real leap in interior luxury. Taking cues from the Panamera, there's a premium feel throughout that makes it seem as much limousine as sports car. Of note is an intelligent Sound Symposer in the cabin that supplies delicious induction and engine acoustics to the occupants.
Driving it: 5/5
Sadly, no behind the wheel time for journalists as yet, but a development driver showed us what the new 991 is like at the limit around the Weissach test track. This fully optioned Carrera S was the same specification as the one that cracked the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 40 seconds, and it wasn't hard to see why. Its 3.8-litre 400hp boxer six-cylinder engine hits 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds, with an engine note from behind your ear sending shivers down the spine.
Its cornering ability is simply phenomenal. Grip, turn-in and braking levels were otherworldly, with no hint, not anywhere, of any body roll or understeer. Predictable oversteer ensures the new 911 is still a hoot in the turns, yet perfectly safe with the development driver never fighting the wheel. Our pilot also commented that the new 991's controversial electro-mechanical power steering takes nothing away from steering feel, and wouldn't have worked its way onto the car otherwise.
What you get for your Money: 4/5
Standard equipment levels are expectedly high. Leather interior and sports seats are complemented by a 4.6-inch multi-function touch-screen with satnav, while Porsche Stability Management, Bi-Xenon headlights and climate control are also included. Irish prices have yet to be announced.
Opt for the Carrera S and expect 20-inch wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Torque Vectoring with rear limited slip differential as well. There's a new seven-speed manual as standard, or find a little extra and you'll have the more economical and performance-enhancing PDK, dual-clutch gearbox.
Worth Noting
Even with the extra performance and inclusion of new safety features and technology, own a new 991 and feel free to brag about how economical it is. The entry level Carrera with PDK uses 8.2 litres/100km (34.4mpg), and is the first Porsche sports car to sit below 200g/km CO2.
Summary
Moving the game on is a constant challenge for Porsche with its venerable 911, but the leap forward appears monumental here. The new 991 has been significantly altered structurally, dimensionally, technologically and dynamically; something graphically illustrated on the race track. It's an intoxicating recipe when combined with the luxurious interior and impeccable lower-speed manners. It's a cliché, but the best really did just get better all over again.