Currently reading: Porsche 911 Turbo - new pics
Porsche is set to ramp up the already potent power output of the 911 Turbo to about 525bhp

These are the latest winter spy pictures of the all-new Porsche 911 Turbo. Porsche is set to ramp up the already potent power output, crushing in-gear performance and overall economy of the current model through the adoption of a new tri-turbo system for its existing 3.8-litre, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine.

The firm plans to replace the twin-turbo set-up of today’s 911 Turbo with a complex triple-turbo induction process similar to that employed by BMW M’s new six-cylinder diesel-powered M550d xDrive and X5 and X6 xDrive50d models.

Porsche’s new system is undergoing its final phase of development in the back of engineering prototypes of the new top-of-the-line 991.

As revealed in a series of recent patent applications made by the German car maker, the Porsche system uses three individual turbochargers. One smaller unit is mounted close to the engine to boost low-end response together with two larger ones similar to the Borg Warner units in use today.

As well as increasing overall power and providing a more linear delivery at the lower end of the rev range, the new induction process is also claimed to improve efficiency — something well placed Weissach sources suggest will bring about significant fuel savings.

Details remain scarce, but power for the new 911 Turbo, the coupé version of which is due out early next year, looks set to climb from 495bhp to somewhere in the region of 525bhp — or the same as that of today’s 911 Turbo S. At the same time, combined average fuel economy and CO2 emissions are expected to beat the existing model’s 24.4mpg and 272g/km.

As well as appearing in the 911 Turbo, the new tri-turbo system is also earmarked for the next-generation 911 GT2 and the successor to the GT2 RS.

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

A sublime all-purpose sports car that few others can match for its combination of power, handling prowess and interior refinement

Join the debate

Comments
34
Add a comment…
Maj1c 22 February 2012

Re: Power hike for Porsche 911 Turbo

Well it will need it in a world of 458, mclarens and the GTR but I fear the price hike will be comparable as well, predict it coming in at ~130k mark...

Boris911 21 February 2012

Re: Power hike for Porsche 911 Turbo

275not599 wrote:
McJohn wrote:
was the last one not fast enough?

McJohn wrote:
Am I the only one that finds this depressing?

Here's something to make you contemplate suicide, McJohn. I have extrapolated the improvements in the 0-60 time of the 911 Turbo, starting with 1986 at 5.0, drawing a line through 2011 at 2.7, and I can confidently predict that the 2042 911Turbo will get to 60 slightly before it leaves the starting gate. I think this will make it a time-traveller, (probably the triple turbo set-up will have been replaced by twin Higgs-Bosons, unless it's the walks-on-water version which will have Higgs-Bosuns.)

Gotta say you made me laugh '275not599'. I think your a bit late with 911 'walks-on-water' version. I think 'RWDpetrol's' M5 beat them to that at the weekend :) Back to serious matters, a well known Porsche driver, British, ex Le Man's winner, commented last week that the new turbo, prototypes of which he has driven, was focused on improving in gear acceleration and flexibility throughout the rev range. I asked him if that meant the current version was deficient? No he said but that is where the focus is for the new one. Sounds similar to what BMW have done with the new M5.

275not599 21 February 2012

Re: Power hike for Porsche 911 Turbo

McJohn wrote:
was the last one not fast enough?

McJohn wrote:
Am I the only one that finds this depressing?

Here's something to make you contemplate suicide, McJohn. I have extrapolated the improvements in the 0-60 time of the 911 Turbo, starting with 1986 at 5.0, drawing a line through 2011 at 2.7, and I can confidently predict that the 2042 911Turbo will get to 60 slightly before it leaves the starting gate. I think this will make it a time-traveller, (probably the triple turbo set-up will have been replaced by twin Higgs-Bosons, unless it's the walks-on-water version which will have Higgs-Bosuns.)