The day has finally come for Porsche to lift the embargo for driving impressions of the new 911 (992) so here’s a look at the first video reviews.
The first comes from Top Gear’s Chris Harris, who drove the new 911 on the Hockenheim racetrack in Germany. From the first turn of the wheel, he says the 992 feels like a 911, which is exactly what enthusiasts want to hear.
However, that also means the new car is a lot like the old one to drive, leading Harris to say it feels more like a facelifted 991 than an all-new model. That will surely raise some eyebrows in Zuffenhausen but apart from some nitpicking, Top Gear’s review is full of praise for the new Neun-Elfer.
Also watch: Porsche Picks Out The Five Best Interior Highlights Of New 911
Most importantly, Harris is amazed by the new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine’s soundtrack, even going as far as comparing it to the sound of the naturally aspirated engine from the Porsche 996. Another thing the new engine has going for it is the response — according to the reviewer, you wouldn’t know it’s a turbo engine as lag is imperceptible.
The car he drove was a Carrera S, which comes with 444 hp (450 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. As you can imagine, it’s a really fast car, thanks also to the smooth-shifting PDK transmission. However, Harris finds the new eight-speed dual-clutch too smooth in Sport mode as it lacks drama during shifting. While Top Gear‘s entire review is filmed on the track, we’ve added a second video from YouTuber Mr JWW who got to drive the car on the road as well.
All in all, the 992 is seen as a clever evolution of the 991 with a great new cabin and a fantastic engine. And yes, it will still drift with the same enthusiasm as its forerunners.