911 Turbo – 0-100km/h in 3.23sec

Porsche -- and road-legal cars in general -- has a new acceleration champion. The new 911 Turbo posted an amazing 3.23sec 0-100km/h (electronically timed) sprint in testing at the coupe's Australian launch this week. The time was registered by Aussie journalist Marton Pettendy and was the fastest of half a dozen times set by the press -- all of which were under 4.0sec.

Measured with a GPS-based VBox timing system, Pettendy's run posted a 0-400m of 11.18sec and a 0-1000m time of 20.5sec with a terminal speed of over 250km/h.

It is, to the best of our knowledge, the fastest reliably recorded 0-100km/h time posted in a standard road-registered ADR-compliant car. That it was recorded on a bumpy, dusty test strip in 35-degree heat with two onboard and strong winds speaks volumes for the genuine performance credentials of Porsche's newest generation 911 flagship.

Priced from $360,100 and ranging to upwards of $394,000, the latest 911 Turbo line-up includes coupe and cabriolet body styles and a choice of conventional manual and PDK double-clutch automated sequential gearboxes. Porsche claims the circa-$377,000 PDK and Sports Chrono Pack-equipped coupe version of the new Turbo (as tested above) will run the 0-100km/h time in 3.4sec and lists its official top speed as 312km/h.

The new generation Turbo features a new powerplant that draws its inspiration (and its core design) from the latest direct-injected naturally-aspirated six-cylinder Boxer engine debuted in the 997 Generation II Carrera and Carrera S in 2008.

Displacing 3.8 litres and featuring variable cam timing and lift as well as the abovementioned direct fuel injection, the Turbo breathes through twin variable geometry turbochargers fed by a pair of intercoolers. Like the Carrera engine, there are fewer moving parts and the engine is lighter, both overall and in terms of its reciprocating parts. It revs harder and makes more power, though torque has also been increased and the rev range over which maximum torque is delivered increased.

Peak power is now 368kW, up from 353kW. Torque is pegged at 650Nm -- 30Nm more than the car it replaces. With the optional $8590 Sports Chrono Pack fitted, an overboost feature pumps the torque figure at full throttle to 700Nm for periods of up to 10sec.

Kerb weight of the new car has been reduced by 25kg.

Despite the extra performance, the more powerful Gen 2 Porsche 911 Turbo uses less fuel to boot. Combined economy drops a claimed 16 per cent drop from 13.6 to 11.4L/100km when fitted with the new seven-speed PDK gearbox. The manual to manual stat is a reduction from 12.8 to 11.6L/100km.

Other key updates include a retuned all-wheel drive system (Porsche Traction Management, PTM ) and optional Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV). This system features electronically controlled braking of the rear axle to supplement the mechanical LSD to reduce understeer under throttle through corners. PTV combines with Porsche Stability Management to provide very high levels of dynamic ability with the safety net of stability control et al. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive dampers are also standard.

Sports Chrono equipped cars get selectable Sport Plus mode that interacts with PTM, PSM, PASM and PDK (where fitted) and delivers the auto launch mode so ably demonstrated by the above quoted 0-100km/h time. The car also benefits from active engine mounts which can selectively 'lock' the powertrain in position (using variable viscosity magnetorheological fluid) to deliver a racecar like set-up for the ultimate handling and response benefits.

If the standard 350mm disc brakes with six-pot front and four-pot rear calipers aren't enough, there are always the optional 380mm Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes. They shed speed prodigiously, 18kg of weight and $20,590 from your wallet.

With most of the changes under the skin, exterior design has only been modified slightly. Keen Porsche watchers will notice new LED daytime running lights, reshaped LED brake lights and new 19-inch alloy wheels. Tyre sizes are carried over -- the Turbo is shod with 235/35 ZR19 fronts and 305/30 ZR19 rear tyres. Bridgestones in the case of the launch cars.

Other changes include the arrival of steering wheel paddles for the PDK versions of the Turbo. Though optional, the paddles are expected to replace the unloved wheel-spoke mounted 'slider' shifters in future Porsches.

Standard equipment items include: tyre pressure monitoring; sunroof (on Coupe); Porsche Communication Management (satnav, ect); BOSE audio system; Bi-Xenon headlamps; and electric memory seats.

Porsche says its pricing of the new car reflects the reduction in tariffs introduced on January 1. At $360,100 the base manual Turbo Coupe is $1000 less than the Gen 1 997 Turbo. Similar small reductions are present across the four-car Turbo range.

Porsche says it is already holding around 30 orders for the new car.

Look out for our launch review of the new Gen 2 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe next week. 

-- with staff

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