Currently reading: Frankfurt motor show 2013: Porsche 911 Turbo
Advanced technology and genuine supercar pace pushes prices of top-end 911 Turbo variants to more than £140,000

The 40th anniversary of the Porsche 911 Turbo is to be celebrated in style with the introduction of the fastest, most powerful and most technically sophisticated version yet: the new 991-series.

The sixth generation of the 911 Turbo, shown here at the Frankfurt motor show, will be offered with the choice of two power outputs as Turbo and Turbo S models.

In standard guise, the new four-wheel-drive 911 flagship’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre flat six engine produces 20bhp more than its direct predecessor, at 513bhp. That’s double the output of the original 1974 model, whose feisty turbocharged 3.0-litre flat six produced 256bhp.

In more sporting Turbo S guise, the new 911 Turbo’s reserves swell by 30bhp over the previous version to 552bhp. That’s sufficient to provide it with claimed 0-62mph acceleration in a McLaren 12C-equalling 3.1sec, together with a 198mph top speed. 

Porsche has yet to confirm the torque rating of its new engine, but indications are that it has risen above the 516lb ft of the old model, if only slightly.  

As with all recent 911 models, the new Turbo has grown in size. Length is up by 40mm, at 4490mm, and width extends 28mm beyond that of the latest Carrera 4 to 1878mm, due to customary flared rear wings.

The adoption of aluminium in the inner and outer body structure is claimed to bring the new car under the 1570kg kerb weight of the old 911 Turbo for a vastly improved power-to-weight ratio.  

The increase in external dimensions brings a significant change in chassis geometry, with the wheelbase growing by 100mm to 2450mm and the front and rear tracks extending well beyond the 1490mm and 1550mm of the old model. Larger wheel housings permit the fitment of 20-inch wheels and those on the Turbo S feature centre-lock wheel nuts.

In line with the latest 911 GT3, the new 911 Turbo receives four-wheel steering. Porsche claims that this provides it with new levels of agility and the ability to lap the Nürburgring in a time that undercuts that of the Carrera GT, at a claimed 7min 30sec. It forms part of a new steering system that adopts electro-mechanical operation for the first time.

Also included is a new active aerodynamic package, with a three-stage front spoiler and a modified three-stage rear spoiler to improve downforce.  

Further developments include Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, which uses hydraulically operated anti-roll bars to reduce body roll, pitch and lift. It comes as standard on the new 911 Turbo S and — in combination with dynamic engine mounts, carbon-ceramic brakes and full LED headlamps — will form part of the Sport Chrono package available as an option on the 911 Turbo. 

Reacting to criticism of the old 911 Turbo, the new model receives a so-called ‘sound symposer’ to accentuate the sound of the inlet manifold and heighten the overall acoustic qualities of the revised engine.

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For the first time since its introduction to the Porsche line-up four decades ago, the 911 Turbo goes without a manual gearbox. As with the latest 911 GT3, the new model will be sold exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

Also included is a revised multi-plate-clutch four-wheel drive system. It now sports water cooling for improved efficiency and an added ability to place the 911 Turbo’s reserves to the road.

The UK order book is open now, with deliveries starting in September. Prices are up by about 10 per cent for each model, in line with other 991 variants. The Turbo starts from £118,349 and the Turbo S from £140,852.

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kamlottis 4 May 2013

That Porsche has managed to

That Porsche has managed to squeeze a hefty 1000bhp off a 4.0ltr turbo blaster and got it singing a heady off-beat warbble in the back side of a legit road going version and got it hurtling to an 8ltr veyron rivalling 256mph is testimony that Porsche can do pretty much what the choose to do in automotive engineering. They are trail blazers in this field and besides not making these motoring jewels specifically for nurburgring, I doubt they need to take motor vehicle engineering lessons in driveability from anyone else.......least of all, Nissan! 

Sirit 4 May 2013

kamlottis wrote: That

kamlottis wrote:

That Porsche has managed to squeeze a hefty 1000bhp off a 4.0ltr turbo blaster and got it singing a heady off-beat warbble in the back side of a legit road going version and got it hurtling to an 8ltr veyron rivalling 256mph is testimony that Porsche can do pretty much what the choose to do in automotive engineering. They are trail blazers in this field and besides not making these motoring jewels specifically for nurburgring, I doubt they need to take motor vehicle engineering lessons in driveability from anyone else.......least of all, Nissan! 

 

afew guys in a small garage manage to squeeze 1800hp out of the gtr, whats your point? unless they can make that 4.0 engine last in everday driving and sell it to customers with a warranty then its nothing to shout about. this turbo is equal to the one before it, infact the only difference that i notice is the 20 extra horses and the rear wheel steering. no significant weight saving, same gearbox, same engine about the same lap time. where is the advancement? 

nick644uk66 4 May 2013

ah but you've forgotten....

there will be a facelift version to address your criticism,  which will have an extra 20bhp in 2017,  then there wil will a 'special' s turbo,  with an extra gear ratio which will change gears at a billion'th of a second quicker and then there will be a final super special version with an extra 5bhp and special paint job,  before a final 'final' version in 2019, by which time there will be a small advancement on the 997 model.  When the 992 turbo comes out in 2021,  it will be 5metres long, 2 metres wide and weigh 10 kilos lighter than the present model and do 0-60 in '3.0' seconds!  Bet the Chinese and Russians and Arabs are wetting themselves in anticipation!  

MikeSpencer 3 May 2013

991 Turbo S vs 959

959: 444bhp, 1450kg, 306bhp-per-tonne, 197mph, 0-62 in 3.7sec, £144,536 in 1985 (£358,000 in today's money)

991 Turbo S: 552bhp, 1505kg (est), 367bhp-per-tonne, 197mph, 0-62 in 3.1sec, £140,852

Progress at work.

Lanehogger 3 May 2013

MikeSpencer wrote: 959:

MikeSpencer wrote:

959: 444bhp, 1450kg, 306bhp-per-tonne, 197mph, 0-62 in 3.7sec, £144,536 in 1985 (£358,000 in today's money)

991 Turbo S: 552bhp, 1505kg (est), 367bhp-per-tonne, 197mph, 0-62 in 3.1sec, £140,852

Progress at work.

It'd be interesting to see tests between the 991 Turbo and the 959, and indeed current supercars against those manufacturer's hypercars from years ago. F40 v 458, F1 v MP4......

JIMBOB 3 May 2013

Shouldn't this really be the new 959?

Indeed, Porsche have missed a trick here, a bigger spoiler on the back and they could have slapped another £50k on the price, and called it a 959.