It may look like the old Porsche 911 Turbo, but this newest version of the 997 Turbo has been upgraded with the Carrera's 3.8-liter direct-injection mill. Can this old dog learn a new trick?
Porsche isn't stupid. They may not be great at corporate takeovers, but they've heard the moans of weekend Nurburgringers being overtaken in their 911 Turbos by dentists in Lambos and Nissan GT-Rs. They know the 3.6-liter twin-turbo in the outgoing Turbo is now old enough to vote and the thrill of driving a Porsche has been slowly watered down.
The engine's a big upgrade, as the new direct-injected twin turbo puts out an impressive 500 HP, launching the new Turbo to 62 MPH in 3.4-seconds with a top speed of 194 MPH. At the same time, the fuel economy has been boosted to 24.1 MPG (euro scale).
In addition to the new power upgrade, the 911 will be getting a version of the seven-speed PDK transmission with actual paddles. Why stop there? All the Porsche's electronic overseers have been given a dose of Cialis to liven up the experience. Prospective buyers can line up at the Frankfurt Motor Show to see it.
Click next to see the press release and walk through the gallery.
Intelligent power boosts performance and efficiency of next generation Porsche 911 Turbo
Porsche is proud to present a new top model at the pinnacle of its broad range of production sports cars; the next generation 911 Turbo.
All key features of this high-performance sports car have been improved significantly and combine far-reaching technical innovations with supreme refinement. As a consequence, the new 911 Turbo offers increased performance, lower weight, enhanced driving dynamics and greater fuel efficiency.
With respect to dynamic performance and fuel economy in particular, the next generation 911 Turbo now stands apart from its competitors even more. The new model will be presented to the public for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show from 17 - 27 September.1
The heart and highlight of the seventh generation 911 Turbo is the new power unit displacing 3.8-litres and delivering maximum output of 500 hp (368 kW). The first entirely new engine in the 35 year history of the Turbo comes with features such as Direct Fuel Injection and twin turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, the latter attribute being unique to Porsche on a petrol engine.
The new six-cylinder engine can be combined with the option of the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox; and, for the first time, a further new feature of race car-inspired paddle-shift technology can also be specified. Fitted firmly on the steering wheel, the right paddle is for shifting up through the gears, and the left paddle for shifting down. In conjunction with the optional Sport Chrono Package Turbo, both the paddle-shift steering wheel and the PDK steering wheel with its shift buttons feature integrated displays for Launch Control and the Sport/SportPlus mode.
This unique combination of supreme technical features ensures an unprecedented standard of responsiveness, agility, performance and efficiency. For example, the new 911 Turbo reduces CO2 emissions versus its predecessor by almost 18 per cent and therefore ranks unique in its segment in this respect also.
Depending on the configuration of the car, the new 911 Turbo offers fuel consumption ranging between 24.1 - 24.8 mpg (equal to 11.7 - 11.4 litres/100 km) under the EU5 standard. This is all the more remarkable considering the potential for the 911 Turbo to accelerate from 0-62mph (100 km/h) in 3.4 secs. Top speed, in turn, is 194 mph (312 km/h.)
Owners of the new 911 Turbo will also enjoy a further improvement in driving dynamics, with detailed enhancement of the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) fully-controlled all-wheel drive and Porsche Stability Management (PSM) being further supported by the new option of Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV). Porsche Torque Vectoring makes the car even more agile and precise in its steering responses, particularly on twisting roads.
The next generation Porsche 911 Turbo Coupé and Cabriolet go on sale in the UK and Ireland on November 21 2009, priced from £101,823 for the Coupé and £109,048 for the Cabriolet. Standard equipment includes the touch-screen Porsche Communication Management system with both Bluetooth mobile telephone and i-Pod connectivity. Also fitted to every 911 Turbo is a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard.
Customers will also be able to explore the dynamic attributes of the new 911 Turbo, and develop their own skills behind the wheel, courtesy of a Driving Experience Programme at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone.