This is the new Porsche 911 Turbo, and it’s not as fast as 2020’s mind-bendingly capable 911 Turbo S—a car we found quite compelling indeed. No, this being the baby brother to that S, means everything’s been turned down.
You’d still be wise before you took it on, though, because like its big brother, it’s bloody quick. Total power now sits at 572hp and a healthy 749Nm of torque. Down on the Turbo S’s 641hp, but nearly 40hp more than the last-gen, 991 Turbo. Also, 572hp is quite a lot, anyway.
Especially when it manifests as 0-100kph in 2.8sec (a mere tenth of a second down on the S), delivered via that frenetic 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine slung proudly out back. Flat out on an autobahn or on a really, really long circuit straight, it’ll hit 320kph. That pesky 992 Turbo S, because it’s a know-it-all, goes 330kph.
Still, the engine’s quite amazing. It’s fancy, naturally, featuring such hits as variable turbine geometry, which adjusts the intake boost according to engine speed and load. There’s a new charge air cooling system, and “highly accurate” piezo fuel injectors to improve throttle responsiveness. To use a probably terrible cliché, think of them like little fuel snipers. It’s four-wheel-drive because it’s a Cap T Turbo, uses an eight-speed PDK gearbox, and—claims Porsche—will return between 9.6km/L and 10km/L.
Chassis-wise, it’s wider on both axles than the old Turbo—42mm more up front, 10mm at the back—features Porsche’s traction management setup (able to transfer higher torque up front), bigger brakes, active dampers (PASM), or the option of PASM sports suspension that rides 10mm lower and is firmer still. More options include composite brakes and dynamic chassis control. The option to buy a new, now-probably-thinner wallet is conspicuous by its absence. If anyone in 2020 still uses wallets.
You’d be hard pressed to tell this and a Turbo S apart. Besides the obvious lack of an ‘S’ on the rear. The pipes back there measure four in number (the S has two), there are electric cooling air flaps up front, plus that active rear spoiler, induction intakes on the rear side panels, and a continuous LED light bar at the back.
Still got that wallet handy? The Lightweight Design pack cuts weight by 30kg via lightweight bucket seats, a rear-seat delete, and less insulation (yay!). There’s also the option of a sports exhaust system. Inside, it’s as per the 992—that is, peerless.
Prices in the UK start at £134,400 (P8.37 million) for the 911 Turbo Coupe, and £143,560 (P8.94 million) for the 911 Turbo Cabriolet. Think you can handle the stigma of going 0-100kph a tenth of a second slower than a Turbo S? Save yourself some money and bag one of these.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
