Porsche’s legendary 911 is better than ever. It’s one of the most engaging and desirable performance cars around. This latest version is faster, cleaner and more economical than its predecessor, too. Yet while the PDK transmission is a good replacement for the Tiptronic box, it is let down by counter-intuitive controls. So we would choose the six-speed manual version every time!

It’s the car that refuses to grow old! With 45 years of evolution behind it, the latest version of the Porsche 911 has finally arrived in the UK.

There’s a choice of standard 3.6 and 3.8-litre S models, both now with direct fuel injection – so power is up, while emissions and economy are improved. And for the first time, Porsche’s new double-clutch PDK gearbox is an option. It works in a similar way to VW’s DSG transmission. On the road, the system delivers fast and smooth shifts, while its seven speeds ensure the car cruises at low revs on the motorway.

Unfortunately, though, the sequential lever has been configured to change up when you press it forward and down when you pull back. These are counter-intuitive actions.

The wheel-mounted buttons are equally fiddly because you have to press with your thumb to shift up and nudge them from behind to change down. In town, the automatic function works well – it’s just that the standard six-speed manual is preferable for the enthusiast. After all, the 911 is better to drive than it ever has been. The superb traction, grip and poise, plus the sharp, communicative steering, make it one of the best performance cars on the market.

Impressive brakes and excellent body control complete the dynamic package. On the road, few models can involve the driver like the 911 does. Not only is the exceptional quality of engineering felt from behind the wheel, subtle improvements inside and out have made the cabin and exterior smarter than ever.

The 911 success story goes from strength to strength.