By Alistair Weaver
16 June 2008
Launching the latest version of the Porsche 911 in the middle of a fuel crisis might seem like a PR disaster, but don’t be too hasty. This ‘new’ 911 might look almost exactly like the old car, but where the boot should be you’ll find a brand new engine. Employing direct injection, it promises a huge improvement in fuel economy and, almost as an afterthought, a few more horsepower.
The two new engines, available in the Carrera and Carrera S, are accompanied by the introduction of a new double-clutch PDK transmission. Similar to Audi’s S Tronic system, it’s been 25 years in development and seeks to combine the best bits of a manual and automatic ’box.
On the outside
According to our press pack, ‘the new-generation 911 models stand out clearly and convincingly at very first sight.’ Read on and you discover that there are new LED front and rear lights, bi-xenon headlights, revised front air intakes and wing mirrors, new wheels and tweaked tailpipes.
But if this were a human facelift, you’d be asking for your money back. The changes are so subtle that only the most dedicated Porsche spotter will notice. Not that this will trouble Porsches customers – they’ve always enjoyed the evolutionary approach.
On the inside
See above – Porsche boasts of a new touchscreen infotainment system, but that’s about the total of the changes. The cockpit of the 911 is still an intimate and engaging place to be. You sit upright and view the world through a steeply raked screen. It feels faintly old school, but this has always been part of the 911’s charm and the visibility is good, especially in the coupe.
The days are also long gone when Porsche interiors were sparse and business-like. You can plunder the (pricey) options list for all manner of goodies, reaffirming the 911’s reputation as the everyday supercar.
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