What is it?
New added-width, eighth-generation Porsche 911, meet famously narrow British B-road.
Now here’s the good news: the 992-generation 911 still feels pretty slim-hipped for a full-sized sports car. That it’s even more incisive and precise in its handling than the 991 means owners of old narrowbody cars will hardly notice the difference.
And anyway, the most revered sports car in the world hasn’t so much become wider as less narrow – which sounds like the same thing but isn’t quite. The 45mm of extra metalwork across the wings only brings the rear-driven version up to the same width as the old four-wheel-drive model.
This has been done not only to improve the handling of the former (thanks to the influence of the bigger wheels, wider tracks, quicker steering, lighter and stiffer body and overhauled suspension) but also in response to customers who’ve been asking for a wider-hipped, better-looking, purist’s-pick rear-driven 911 for some time. These customers have been getting exactly that in the shape of the Carrera GTS for a couple of model generations, but now they needn’t venture that far up the derivative hierarchy.
The 992 is available only as a 444bhp Carrera S or Carrera 4S to begin with, and only with Porsche’s new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (Cabriolet versions of the same won’t be far behind the first coupés). There’s the usual abundance of possibility to tailor the driving experience by picking options such as lowered sport suspension, active four-wheel steering, active anti-roll bars (which can only be had in combination with four-wheel steering), carbon-ceramic brakes and Porsche’s familiar Sport Chrono package, which adds dynamic engine mounts and launch control, among other things. Electronically controlled adaptive dampers and an electronically locking rear differential are now fitted as standard.
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interesting
interesting
Epic piece of kit
I'd have the 4S over the 2 just for the added grip when it gets a bit wet, even if the 2 is 5% better.
Stunning effort Porsche.
It may be very good, but I
This is basically a turbo light, not a Carrera. Amazingly similar to a 996 turbo in fact.
Money no object, I'd take a 997 C2S over this anyday.
Prefer the 997
I am with you on this one eseaton, 997 will do me just fine, the GT3RS of 2011/2012, in my opinion the zenith to date for the GT3RS line.