After a long wait, Porsche has finally lifted the veils off the facelifted 911 Carrera. As usual with Porsche’s core sports car, the changes are more significant under the skin than on the surface.
The revised 911 Carrera gets turbocharged flat-six cylinder engines, a reworked chassis and a new infotainment system. Furthermore, rear-axle steering is available as an option for the Carrera models for the first time.
The base 911 Carrera gets a 3.0-liter bi-turbo flat-six engine producing 370PS (365hp) – an increase of 20PS compared to the previous model. The 911 Carrera S gets the same engine but with modified compressors, a specific exhaust system and tuned engine management, for an output of 420PS (414hp) – also a 20PS increase.
Torque is also up compared to the previous naturally-aspirated units, by 60Nm in each case (44lb-ft). The 911 Carrera has 450Nm (332lb-ft) of torque, while the 911 Carrera S has 500Nm (369lb-ft), delivered constantly from 1,700 rpm up to 5,000 rpm in both cases. The engine has a maximum speed of 7,500 rpm, more than conventional turbo engines.
Thanks to the new turbocharged engines, the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S are up to 12 percent more fuel efficient than before. The 911 Carrera with PDK transmission now averages just 7.4 l/100 kilometres (31.8 mpg US), while the 911 Carrera S with PDK returns 7.7 l/100 km (30.5 mpg US).
Performance-wise, the facelifted 911 Carrera Coupé with PDK and Sport Chrono Package sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds – making it 0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor. The 911 Carrera S with PDK and Sport Chrono Package covers the same sprint in 3.9 seconds (also 0.2 seconds faster), making it the first 911 in the Carrera family go below the four second mark. Top speeds of both models have also increased: the 911 Carrera now reaches of 295 km/h (183 mph), while the 911 Carrera S hits 308 km/h (191 mph).
All Porsche 911 Carrera models feature a reworked PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) chassis which lowers the ride height by 10mm (0.39in), further improving stability during fast cornering. In addition, the new shock absorbers with wider spread characteristics are said to enhance comfort and improve the body connection during dynamic driving.
In terms of styling, the 911 Carrera features very subtle changes including new headlights with four-point daytime running lights, door handles without recess covers, a redesigned rear lid with vertical louvers and new rear lights including four-point brake lights. Inside, the new standard Porsche Communication Management infotainment system with a 7-inch multi-touch display offers is easier to use and offers more functions.
The facelifted 911 Carrera models will be launched in Germany on December 12, with prices starting from €96,605 for the Carrera and €110,766 for the Carrera S. In the US, the revised 911 Carrera will arrive in March 2016, with prices starting from $89,400 for the base model and $103,400 for the more powerful one.
PHOTO GALLERY
