New Porsche 911 goes turbo 08 | 09 | 2015
PORSCHE HAS LIFTED the wraps from its new facelifted 911 ahead of its public unveiling at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show. And as expected, the German sportscar giant has switched to turbocharged engines.
Without question, the biggest news is the adoption of the new turbocharged engine range. The entry-level 911 Carrera ditches the 3.4-litre flat-six for a newly developed 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six, which brings a 20bhp power boost to 365bhp.
The Carrera S keeps the same engine but with modifications to boost power to 414bhp. Both cars take 4.2 and 3.9 seconds respectively to get from 0-62mph – two-tenths faster than before.
While the new engine has a 7500rpm rev limit, Porsche is understandably keen to emphasise the traditional flat-six character hasn’t been lost.
As you would expect, the arrival of turbocharging is primarily to boost efficiency, with PDK-equipped Carreras now capable of up 38.2mpg with CO2 emissions of 169g/km.
Externally, as you would expect, there are only subtle design tweaks: the main focus has been beneath the skin.
Related: See more photos of the new facelifted 2016 Porsche 911
Afficianados will note the new headlamps — which now feature four-point LED daytime running lights — and reshaped air intakes are the big changes, while at the back there's designed rear lamps and a new rear engine cover.
Inside the cabin, the facelifted 911 gets the updated Porsche Communication Management (PCM) touchscreen infotainment system, now with Wi-Fi and Apple Carplay.
And buyers who opt for the Sport Chrono package get a new four-mode switch rotary knob on the steering wheel, inspired by 918 hypercar. This allows drivers to configure their own vehicle setup, with adjustments on Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM), the PDK transmission and sports exhaust possible.
Porsche has also added a new ‘Sport Response’ button. This prepares the drivetrain for 20 seconds of maximum acceleration, by selecting the optimum gear and adjusting the engine management for better response.
Amongst the other technology on the latest 911, there's adaptive cruise control with a coasting function that can also brake when going downhill to keep you at your pre-set speed. A post-collision braking system is standard, while lane-change assist is optional.
The latest 911 now starts at £76,412 and rises to £94,698 for the Carrera S Cabriolet, which is an increase of around £2,500 over the outgoing model.
Related: Roadtest — Porsche Macan S
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars
Jim McGill