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Iconic Porsche 911 gets turbocharged engines, a first in 52 years

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The worst-kept secret in the automotive world has gone public – Porsche has made the switch to smaller-capacity turbocharged engines for its 911 Carrera and Carrera S models.

Stiffer springs in rear to cope with extra 40kg of engine
Stiffer springs in rear to cope with extra 40kg of engine
The celebrated German company has done what pretty much every other top-end European carmaker has had to do – go to boosted induction to cut fuel use and meet ever-tightening C02 exhaust emission laws. The new 911s will land in New Zealand next March, joining a car park of 830-odd 911s sold here since 2000. Porsche NZ’s best year for 911 sales was 2007 when 97 were registered. So far this year it has sold 46. Both will use a new twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine, cleaner burning and a claimed 12 per cent more fuel-efficient than the naturally aspirated 3.4- and 3.8-litre six-cylinder units in the current Carrera twins.
How the right-hand-drive cabin will look
How the right-hand-drive cabin will look
Apart from the 911 Turbo, it is the first time Porsche has used boosted engines in any of its two-door coupes since the 911 first appeared in 1963. The new engine is heavier but 15kW more powerful, delivering 272kW in the entry-level Carrera and tweaking the boost in the Carrera S to generate 309kW. The main gain is torque, up 60Nm in each case – 450Nm in the Carrera and 500Nm in the Carrera S – and generated between 1700-5000rpm to aid driveability. Add Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono package – a sharper-shifting dual-clutch PDK gearbox and adjustable suspension – and the result of the extra oomph is a faster 0-100km/h sprint time and top speed – 4.2 seconds and 295km/h for the Carrera and 3.9 seconds and 325km/h for the Carrera S. Despite the change to boosted units and a 7500rpm rev limit, Porsche says the character of the traditional flat-six hasn’t been lost. What else is new about the facelifted 991-series:

  • At the front, new headlamps with four-point LED daytime running lights and reshaped air intakes. Redesigned rear lights and a new rear engine cover.
  • Inside is the updated Porsche Communication Management (PCM) touchscreen infotainment system, now with Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay.
  • Cars with Sport Chrono get a new four-mode rotary switch on the steering wheel that allows drivers to adjust suspension and transmission settings.
  • An adaptive cruise control with a coasting function, that can also brake when going downhill to keep you at your pre-set speed.
  • The four-wheel-steering system from the GT3 and Turbo variants to the Carrera twins. The rear springs and anti-roll bar have been stiffened to cope with the extra 40kg of engine weight.
  • The Carrera uses a mechanical limited-slip diff on the rear axle, the Carrera S an electronic version.
  • Both models are fitted with nose-lift kits, which raise the front of the cars by 40mm to improve access to steep driveways.