Porsche 911 Carrera 2016 Review

Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S (Coupe and Cabriolet)

Local Launch Review
Launceston, Tasmania

It’s not every day there’s a new 911, and it’s not every day the 911’s engine takes such a big technological step forward. For the first time in Porsche’s 40-year history of turbocharging we find a twin-turbo set-up offered as standard in the ‘entry grade’ 911 Carrera range. Smaller in displacement, but with more power and torque, the 3.0-litre flat six is impressively efficient – and everything else a Porsche should be besides… Priced from $217,800 (plus on-road costs), the 911.2 series Carrera is available now.

Like a panther in a prom dress, the new 911 looks lean and pretty resting quietly on its lonesome. Give it a poke, however, and the force-fed menace of its new twin-turbo engine is very apparent.

But unlike the big black cat the latest Carrera range won’t rip your head off at a moment’s notice. The addition of pair of ‘snails’ [turbos] to Porsche’s all-new 3.0-litre flat six has only enhanced the ‘base’ model 911’s progressive, predictable acceleration. There’s no lag to speak of, and no nasty surge. In fact, the engine is such a brilliant successor to the outgoing 3.4 and 3.8-litre normally-aspirated units we can’t help wonder why it wasn’t introduced sooner.

The 911.2’s revised styling and technology offerings are met with an almost $10,000 increase in price. A base model 911 Carrera will now set you back a cool $217,800 (plus on-road costs). But with more power, more torque, better fuel economy and lower emissions, the spend is arguably justified. Yes, we’re aware we pay more for a 911 than just about anywhere else in the world. But that’s a story for another day.

Now we’ve all heard the cries before. Each time Porsche changes the 911 purists have a minor meltdown. Water-cooling? It’s not a real Porsche. Electric steering? Not a real Porsche. Dual-clutch transmission? Not a real Porsche. Turbocharging? Definitely, not a real Porsche.

Or is it..?

From the driver’s seat the latest and greatest feels every bit a real Porsche. At wide throttle openings it makes the same sonorous flat six howl and delivers sensationally fast, free-revving acceleration. If we’re really picky the throttle response is better over 3000rpm; but it’s not like the normally-aspirated motor was any different in that regard. And at lower revs the extra torque available is palpable.

At fair to middling speeds the 911 is surprisingly docile, asking you via the dash to upshift quite prematurely in a bid to save fuel. At 50km/h in seventh (top) gear you’ll find yourself doing just 900rpm(!) with no stumbling or straining. At 110km/h the engine speed is just 1800rpm, such is the fluidity and ‘trickery’ of Porsche’s clever new induction set-up.

Still with conventional wastegated turbos, the 911’s intake plumbing and delivery management technology means the engine is almost always ‘primed’ for action. It’s a system that Porsche takes full advantage of in the new model, offering a ‘response’ mode (on PDK-equipped models fitted with optional Sport Chrono Pack) for 20 seconds of additional ‘boost’. It makes for powerful overtaking, the car’s brain pre-selecting the right gear and engine speed at the push of the steering-wheel-mounted button. Think of it as a ‘push to pass’ function, if you will.

Porsche promises its new engine produces torque from lower in the rev range. From 1700-5000rpm there’s a hefty 450Nm available in the base Carrera and 500Nm in higher spec Carrera S – a 60Nm leap for each model. Power also increases, now 272kW and 309kW for each model respectively. That’s a 15kW uptick over the predecessor – and on song from 6500-7500rpm.

Getting it all to the rear wheels – which are now 11.5 inches wide and even ‘louder’ than before – is a seven-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK in Porsche speak, short for Porsche Doppelkupplung). We can’t fault the latter – it’s lightning fast and fantastically intuitive – but found the former very much arranged for right-hand drive markets, the throw from fifth to sixth especially biased.

It doesn’t matter, of course. Most buyers prefer the self-shifting transmission and are prepared to fork out the extra $6k for it. They’ll likely also be the type of buyer swayed by Porsche’s myriad customisation options and additional equipment, which of course includes a switchable sports exhaust (also $6k) and carbon ceramic brakes (a staggering $20k).

Interestingly, you don’t have to shell out extra coin to score bigger brakes. Porsche has equipped the new 911 range with bigger steel brakes on its standard models – the Carrera gets a 17 per cent increase in pad-to-disc surface area while the Carrera S rises 16 per cent, thanks to the fitment of the previous 911 Turbo’s calipers and rotors. Despite the increase in capacity, the pedal remains superbly progressive while stopping power speaks for itself. A few hard laps of Symmons Plains racetrack quickly testified to that.

Our ‘pace laps’ of Tasmania’s answer to Sandown also proved the 911’s mechanical grip has in no way been diminished – and this is in spite of a minor gain in weight (30kg). The road-holding available is quite simply stellar and comes at no cost to ride comfort which, all things considered, is remarkably pliant.

The steering of course remains direct and informative. Porsche offers what I personally feel is the best electrically-assisted set-up in the business.

Porsche told media gathered for the launch of its newest 911 that it’s crucial each new model is better than the last. Having driven both standard and S models I can tell you they’ve succeeded. The changes here are progressive in the grand scheme of things, but from a mechanical standpoint have truly brought the 911 into the modern age.

Now if I could just get that prom dress back from the panther…

2016 Porsche 911 Carrera pricing and specifications:
Price: from $217,800 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol
Output: 272kW/450Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed manual / seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined) / 11.6L/100km (as tested)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: N/A

2016 Porsche 911 Carrera S pricing and specifications:
Price: from $252,800 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol
Output: 309kW/500Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed manual / seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined) / 12.2L/100km (as tested)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: N/A

Also consider:
>> Audi R8 (on sale Q2, 2016)
>> Mercedes-AMG GT S (from $295,000 plus ORCs)

See the full gallery of the Porsche 911 Carrera launch