Porsche 911 Turbo
Latest tweaks boost supercar’s power and pace.
After those 35 years of development, the 911 Turbo is better than ever. With its stunning blend of performance, agility and refinement, the newcomer really is a supercar for all seasons. Other models in the 911 line-up deliver a purer driving experience, but the flagship Turbo still remains one of the fastest vehicles in the real world.
Evolution involves the survival of the fastest – and here’s the car that proves it.
For the past 35 years, Porsche’s 911 Turbo has set the high-performance benchmark, with each generation quicker than the last – and the latest model is no exception.
The newcomer’s 3.8-litre direct-injection flat-six engine delivers 493bhp – that’s 20bhp more than before – while torque rises by 30Nm to 650Nm.
But that’s not all. In a first for the Turbo, buyers can specify the firm’s slick-shifting seven-speed PDK dual clutch transmission, while hi-tech chassis revisions promise sharper dynamics.
Externally, the changes are subtle. Look closely and you’ll spot fresh 19-inch alloys, LED lights set into the front grille, revised tail-lamps and larger, twin-exit exhausts.
Climb aboard, and keen drivers will be pleased to find that PDK versions of the Turbo are avaibable with optional paddleshifters in place of the counter-intuitive steering wheel-mounted buttons of standard 911 variants.
As you’d expect, the new model delivers explosive performance. The PDK car scorches from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds – two-tenths up on the manual model.
Equally awe-inspiring is its cornering agility. Porsche’s new Torque Vectoring system brakes each rear wheel individually to enhance turn-in, while the sophisticated four-wheel drive serves up incredible traction.
Although the Turbo can’t match the feedback of the stripped-out GT3, the mix of staggering all-weather pace, refinement and comfort makes it a supercar you can live with on a daily basis.
The £104,375 price for the PDK is expensive, but it undercuts slower rivals from Ferrari and Aston Martin.
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