Skip advert
Advertisement

Best Porsche cars ever: Porsche 911 Turbo S

The 933 Turbo S can trace its bloodline back to the ‘60s original. Is it the ultimate air-cooled 911?

Key specs
EngineTwin-turbocharged, 6cyl boxer
Capacity3.6 litres
Power450bhp
Top speed186mph

The last of the air-cooled cars, the 993 was also the end of the line for a 911 structure that could trace its origins back to the sixties. British designer Tony Hatter was responsible for the 993’s shapely form, giving it styling that was the most radical departure yet for the evergreen 911. It would also underline the influence of the eighties’ 959, the nineties’ Turbo S not only coming with twin turbos – parallel here, as opposed to the 959’s sequential units – but also exploiting its 959-matching 450bhp output via a four-wheel drive system. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Those in the know will spot the ‘punctured’ air intakes in the rear wheel arches. These were just one of the numerous revisions that saw the 993 Turbo S produce that output from its 3.6-litre flat-six – a not-insignificant 42bhp hike over its still-rapid 993 Turbo relation. The S will sprint from 0-62mph in just over four seconds, and while that pace feels shocking even now, for all its prodigious performance, the 993 Turbo S really is a supercar that can be used every day. 

The premium over its regular Turbo relation was sizeable – by around 50 per cent – because each S was built by Porsche’s Exclusive department. As such, it is luxuriously appointed inside (in eye-challenging red in this museum example), with all Turbo S models featuring polished carbon-fibre trim on any surface that doesn’t wear leather. This then-modern material must have given it an air of exclusivity, and helped justify its hefty premium. 

Otherwise, it’s familiar 993 – and by default, largely similar to the 964 before it. Body-hugging, hard-backed, electrically powered sports seats feature, and the Turbo S’s spec is lavish enough to see it add nearly 83kg over the regular Turbo. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Despite nods right back to the earliest 911s of the sixties, the 993 Turbo S feels modern to drive even today. It’s a mature performance-machine proposition that has an air of grand tourer about it – which is not to say it’s not scintillatingly quick, because the 3.6-litre’s 450bhp ensures otherwise. The transition between its off-boost to full-boost state isn’t quite as pronounced as with the 911 Turbos that preceded it, because the force it delivers is more linear and predictable. 

There’s still a definite point in the sweep of the rev-counter’s needle where those turbos are really working hard, but with the security of that four-wheel drive system, there’s less need to be fearful of it. In fact, the additional traction allows the Turbo S to be exploited – enjoyed, even.

That it’s a quick car is no surprise. Just how quick it can be, though, and the ease with which it carries its pace, are deeply impressive. The suspension rides with composure, while the steering delivers accuracy and sensations that give you the confidence to really enjoy the performance. Its significance is multi-faceted, it being a car that bridges Porsche’s history while giving a nod to the brand’s future. A 911 of phenomenally rounded capability, it is usable, desirable and understated, yet still pure in its driving appeal.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Bag one of the last Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs for under £400 a month
Jaguar I-Pace - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Bag one of the last Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs for under £400 a month

The I-Pace shows how good an electric Jag can be. It’s our Deal of the Day for 7 February
News
7 Feb 2025
Best car insurance comparison sites 2025
Person browsing on a laptop

Best car insurance comparison sites 2025

It’s always a wise policy to shop around for car insurance cover, so which websites make it easiest?
Product group tests
6 Feb 2025
BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?
BMW X3 and Lexus NX - front tracking

BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?

BMW’s much-lauded new X3 is one of the best luxury compact SUVs on the market – but is it good enough to topple the cheaper hybrid-powered Lexus NX 35…
Car group tests
8 Feb 2025