There’s now a new 911, the type 992 or eighth generation. I was fortunate enough to travel to Cape Town to sample the current hard-top range and decide for myself if it is still the leader within the segment.
The new 911
On paper at least, the new 911 appears to have gone awry, it’s around 50kg heavier and is a bit bigger than the 991 machine that it replaces, however, it has more power, more technology and indeed, more performance on offer.
The styling
From a styling perspective, this may just be my favourite 911 shape since the 930 from the 70s and 80s. Up front, you’d be hard pressed to find much of a difference, however, the headlights now feature four integrated LED daytime running lights while there is also a daytime running light below each headlamp.
The side profile is dominated by the fact that the front and rear wheels are now different sizes, some 20-inches at the front and 21-inch at the rear. There are also new door handles that sit flush with the body and pop-out when unlocked. It is at the rear-end where you will find the most dramatic change. In place of two tail lamps is a LED light bar which incorporates the Porsche moniker and the traditional taillamps. This creates a large section between the light bar and the lower part of the rear bumper, which houses twin exhaust exits or one on either end of the bumper if you opt for the sports exhaust system.
Overall, it looks wider, more aggressive and more purposeful than the cars that preceded it. The fact that the wider body style is now standard across all models is also noteworthy.
Interior
The interior of the new 911 is a masterclass of ergonomics, modern technology and a splash of retro throwbacks. The PCM 10.9-inch infotainment system is perhaps not class-leading but provides good haptic feedback and has features such as Apple CarPlay, USB, Bluetooth functionality and navigation. The instrument cluster features two seven-inch displays on either side of the decidedly old school analogue rev counter.
The centre console is free from buttons and only features high-quality metal switches for the climate control along with the smallest gear level I’ve seen since the early Ferrari F1 gearboxes. The steering wheel is beautiful and incorporates media control functionality and a drive mode selector on the lower right-hand side.
The material quality and general fit and finish are exemplary, although, our Carrera S test model did have a creak coming from the door handle. As with all 911 models, this is marketed as a 2+2 seater, although the rear seats are best used for children or luggage. Having the engine at the rear, the boot is at the front. The aforementioned frunk is rather spacious, with 132-litres on offer, or enough for two overnight bags, as I discovered.
Driving 911
There are those who love the driving sensation that a 911 provides and those that don’t, it’s a bit of a Marmite car, although, I struggle to see how someone could dislike it. Locally we have two coupe and two cabriolet variants on offer, each with the option of either rear or four-wheel drive. We started our test-drive early in the morning, at around 7 am departing from Porsche Studio situated at the Waterfront in Cape Town in a 911 4S, finished in GT Silver Metallic paint, fitted with a sport exhaust.
From the passenger seat, the first thing that became apparent to me was the 911’s GT credentials; it’s a supremely accomplished open-road tourer, particularly when left in ‘Normal’ mode, versus the ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport Plus’ modes. There’s also the addition of a ‘Wet’ mode, which utilises acoustic sensors in the front wheel wells to detect excessive water intrusion, prompting a message on the dashboard asking if you’d like to switch to the moisture-friendly mode.
Both the Carrera S and 4S feature the same 331kW and 530Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six motor mated to a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. With the Sports Chrono Package fitted, the rear-wheel drive S will get to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds and the four-wheel drive Carrera 4S in just 3.4 seconds. These are incredibly fast cars, with supercar-chasing levels of performance. Attacking the Franschhoek and Du Toitskloof passes in the two variants revealed the difference between the rear and four-wheel drive models. Where the 4S feels predictable and instantly exploitable, the Carrera S provides the more satisfying steering feel and requires more time to learn how to drive quickly.
For those looking for an incredibly fast, stable and capable sports car, the 4S is likely all you’ll ever need, however, the Carrera S is cheaper and provided the more satisfying driving experience, in this writer’s opinion, at least.
Verdict
The latest Porsche 911 is the best that the company has ever produced, but one thing kept revisiting me at the launch event and that’s the fact that the models on offer are in the lower echelons of the range. How insane will the GTS, GT3, GT2, Turbo and Turbo S variants be? I simply cannot wait to find out.
Service plan and warranty
All 911 models come with the Porsche three-year/90 000km Driveplan with the option of extending it to a five-year Driveplan.
Pricing
911 Carrera S coupe R 1 708 000
911 Carrera 4S coupe R 1 797 000
911 Carrera S cabriolet R 1 874 000
911 Carrera 4S cabriolet R 1 964 000
