Porsche 911 Carrera S

With an all-new 911 set to make its debut next year, there are numerous special editions of Porsche’s most famous sports car to tempt enthusiasts. These include the wide-bodied, chopped roof Speedster (driven in Issue 1,140) and the hard-top GTS. 

But those who’d rather hide their light under a bushel can go for this: the Carrera 2S Powerkit. Featuring the same 3.8-litre flat six-cylinder engine as the Speedster and the GTS, it gets another 23bhp, taking its total output from 385bhp to 402bhp. But is the upgrade – which costs £8,241 and lifts the asking price to £82,847 – worth it?

In short, no. This car’s biggest problem is nothing to do with how it looks or drives – the thorn in its side is the special-edition 911 Carrera GTS, which goes on sale in December. Costing £76,758 before options – £2,152 more than the standard Carrera S, but £6,089 less than the Carrera 2S Powerkit – the GTS not only adds the same 23bhp upgrade, but includes the wider bodywork from the Carrera 4S plus a set of 19-inch RS Spyder wheels. It’s a bit of a no-brainer, really.

Pricing structure aside, does the Powerkit deliver an enhanced driving experience? The additional grunt isn’t immediately noticeable – up to 5,000rpm it feels equally as torquey but no quicker than a standard Carrera S. However, keep your foot to the floor and the extra 23bhp makes its presence felt as the engine charges for the red line with no let-up in thrust.

The direct-injection 3.8-litre unit responds crisply to even the tiniest inputs, especially in Sport mode. Activate the sports exhaust and the Porsche produces a throaty roar, although we still think the Boxster Spyder outdoes it for acoustic pleasure.

Our car was fitted with the short-throw Sports shift manual gearbox (a £380 option), and even though it will never match the PDK box for speed of shift, it’s still the best way to interact with a 911.

On a wet day, such as the one we experienced, the Carrera S is a car that demands respect. But with the Porsche Stability Management system engaged it’s still possible to make extremely quick progress. That’s thanks mainly to the feedback through the steering wheel and the progressive brake pedal, which allows you to approach the car’s limits with confidence.

Make no mistake, the Carrera 2S Powerkit is an incredible car to drive, but the numbers simply don’t add up.

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