LA MOTOR SHOW: New Porsche 911 revealed
Details of eighth-generation 992-series Porsche 911 due here in first half of 2019The 992-generation Porsche 911 has made its global debut in Los Angeles, where the German sports car maker also announced Australian pricing and specification details.
Unveiled to a global media throng on the eve of tomorrow’s LA motor show, the eighth-generation sports car will arrive in Australia in the second quarter of 2019.
Pricing will start at $265,000 plus on-road costs for the Carrera S Coupe and $281,800 plus ORCs for the up-spec Carrera 4S.
Porsche Cars Australia has confirmed an entry-level 911 Carrera will join the 992 ranks shortly thereafter, but was non-committal on a firm timeline or price.
The initial pricing represents a near-10,000 price premium over the 992’s immediate predecessor, the 991.2 Carrera S Coupe ($255,600 plus ORCs), but this time an automatic transmission will be standard and the there's a host of new dynamic and technical advancements.
Evolutionary design
Most obviously, the new Porsche 911 offers subtle styling tweaks which stay true to the classic silhouette that has paralleled its success over eight generations.
Sporting what Porsche calls a “completely new design” fashioned largely from an aluminium outer skin, wider wheel housings now shroud the 911’s 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels.
The front of the car is now 45mm wider, while the rear is now the same width across all models, measuring closely to the outgoing 911 Turbo S.
New recessed door handles underline the changes in concert with new LED headlights and a bonnet that features “pronounced vertical beading”.
Further back, a wider variable-position rear spoiler and far-reaching light bar punctuate the visual enhancements.
Under the (rear) bonnet
From the engine bay, the Carrera S receives a 22kW power increase, taking its overall tally to 331kW (450hp in the old money) and 530Nm of torque.
Key to the upgrade is what Porsche calls an “improved injection process” and new layout for the turbochargers and charge air cooling system.
The upgraded 3.0-litre turbo boxer six is matched as standard with a new eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission, but the seven-speed manual is thankfully still available at no cost.
The fillip corresponds with a hastened 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds for the Carrera S Coupe and 3.6 seconds for the four-wheel drive Carrera 4S Coupe – an improvement of 0.4 seconds on both counts.
Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono Package can pare back acceleration by a further 0.2 seconds, the manufacturer says. Top speeds are rated at 308km/h (S) and 306km/h (4S) respectively.
Fuel use remains unchanged, though this is the first time the regular 911 range has been tested via the more realists WLTP emissions cycle. As such, the Carrera S boasts an 8.9L/100km combined rating while the Carrera 4S is rated at 9.0L/100km combined.
More details to come
Porsche hasn’t officially confirmed further underbody changes at this point, but what we do know is the new 911’s interior will take a leaf from the more contemporary Panamera, employing a large central rev counter alongside two thin, frameless freeform displays bearing all key driving information.
A central screen measuring 10.9 inches sits pride of place within the dashboard, operated by five buttons directly underneath positioned to reduce driver distraction.
Safety will be another key step change with the 2019 911, thanks to introduction of a new Wet mode joining Normal, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. It preconditions the electronics for tricky conditions, along with a ‘warn and brake assist’ system that can initiate automatic braking if necessary.
Other new safety systems including adaptive cruise control and night vision will be optional.
Confirmed new standard equipment for Australia will include Lane Change Assist (lane departure warning and lane keeping assist) and Porsche Entry & Drive, while carryover stuff includes a reversing camera, front/rear ParkAssist, 14-way Comfort seats with memory, heated front seats, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors with rain sensor, BOSE Surround Sound system and a digital radio.
Once again, options should include rear wheel steering, sports exhaust and a Sport Chassis that brings a 10mm ride height reduction for the standard PASM suspension.
The new Porsche 911 Carrera S and 911 Carrera 4S are available to order in Australia now. Convertible, GT and Turbo versions are yet to be announced. Stand by for more details.
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