AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR&SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 125E
ight generations since its
introduction in 1964, and
seven years after the biggest
step-change for the planet’s
most iconic sportscar, the
new 992 series takes the 911
even further down the road of
luxurious grand touring and
away from its raw, racy origins.
Available fi rst in S spec as
either Coupe, priced from
$265,000, or Cabriolet, from
$286,500, 992 naturally ups the
ante on performance with more
powerful and torquey versions
of the 3.0-litre six-cylinder
which introduced turbocharging
(to the chagrin of many 911
faithful) in 2016.
With an additional 22kW/30Nm,
all Carrera S variants now
achieve sub-4.0 second times to
100km/h.
Mixed-size wheels for the fi rst
time (20-inch on fronts, 21-inch
on rears) help put power down in
rear-drive cars although all-wheel
drive variants, priced at $281,100
for the Coupe and $302,600 for the
Cabriolet, still have the edge off-
the-line. The dual-clutch gearbox
gains a ratio (now eight) with
maximum speed of more than
300km/h achieved in sixth.
The glorious tunes made
by naturally-aspirated 911
engines have been lost with
turbocharging, but this unit does
mean business and sounds fi ne
when you ask for its best.
Thanks to the extra drag and
weight of the roof, Cabriolets are
marginally slower than Coupes
but there’s plenty of responsive
pace, the gearbox is telepathic,
and control weights precise. The
steering remains a highlight even
in the electrically-assisted era.
Active suspension is part of the
deal and although chassis balance
is not a given with this rear-engine
layout, it has been programmed
into the car. There’s no sense of
pendulous weight behind the rear
axle. Every body movement is
fi nely damped and calibrated.
So it points predictably and
somehow retains the pleasing
nuances you expect in a 911 –
albeit under a blanket of civility.
The ambience is now luxury
cruiser rather than sportscar.The whole cabin benefi ts from
a substantial rise in design fl air
over the previous 991, with a
glossy and technical fl avour like
the Panamera.
It’s quiet inside, the seats are
excellent and ride quality very
good, partly thanks to extra body
rigidity. Even the Cabriolet feels
extremely solid while its new roof
is a masterclass in fabric origami.
It does compromise rear vision
and add weight (70kg) compared
to the Coupe but even roof down
you’ll be almost as snug thanks to
a power-operated wind defl ector.
The exterior revises lights and
other details, and all 911s get the
wide-haunch shape which used
to be reserved for all-wheel drive
variants.
Porsche says the bonnet is
inspired by 1970s G Series 911s,
but in every other respect this is
a very different car. Some purists
might not like it, but the new
range of turbocharged 911s are
just as devastating and delightful
on the right piece of road as their
illustrious predecessors.Base Carrera, GTS, Targa
and hot rod GT versions will
follow as Porsche rolls out the
rest of the 992 line over the next
couple of years.By Phil KingTHINGS WE LIKE
Smooth, responsive fl at six
Excellent traction
Nuanced, engaging handling
Upgraded cabin materials
Great resale values
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Rawness of earlier 911s now long
gone
Retractable door handles tricky
Cabriolet’s rear “hump” spoils its
lines
Adaptive cruise is optional
SPEX (S Coupe)
Made in Germany
3.0-litre twin-turbocharged fl at-six/
eight-speed dual clutch automatic/
rear or all-wheel drive
331kW of power at
6500rpm/530Nm of torque from
2300-5000rpm
0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds [4S
Coupe] to 3.9s [S Cabriolet]
7.2L/100km highway; 13.4L/100km
city; 98 octane premium; CO2
emissions are 216g/km (Coupe)
Warranty: Three years/unlimited km
Standard: Four airbags, stability
control, alarm, autonomous
emergency braking, parking
assistance, parking sensors,
lane change assist, blind spot
monitoring, LED head and tail-
lights, heated seats, leather trim,
DAB, Apple CarPlay connectivity
Redbook future values: 3yr: 66%;
5yr: 59%PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S FROM $265,000
compare with ...
Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari
Portofi no, Jaguar F-Type,
Lamborghini Huracan EVO,
McLaren 570Safety
Not yet tested
PerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS