Porsche lands all-turbo 911 Carreras

Porsche Cars Australia has stressed the performance and efficiency improvements delivered by its upgraded '991.2' series 911 Carrera, which is powered exclusively by a downsized, twin-turbo boxer six and is now available Down Under.

Priced from $217,800 (almost $10,000 more than before), the upgraded 'MY17' 911 is differentiated externally by a slightly sharper look, but the bulk of the changes are beneath the skin – led by two versions of a new 3.0-litre turbo engine for the Carrera and Carrera S respectively.

“It’s critical that every 911 we produce is better than the last,” stated Director of Public Relations and Motorsport, Paul Ellis.

“There is already a team of engineers and designers hard at work in Weissach ensuring the next 911, and the one after that, will be better again. It’s never easy to improve on what’s already a very, very good product, but it’s something we’ve managed to do now for five decades.

“The latest creations from our designers and engineers this time are exclusively [fitted] with engines that are not only turbocharged, but reduced in capacity.

"Welcome to the world of downsizing. In the case of our car, you’ll find that smaller is actually much better. These 911s are quicker, faster, more powerful, and yet more fuel efficient than the models they replace.

“So, not only has the 911 survived paradigm shifts in their illustrious five-decade history, but at each critical change point, the 911 has gone on to become more popular, and more envied," said Ellis.

For now, only the 2017 911 Carrera and Carrera S Coupe and Cabriolet are available in Australia, with the updated 911 Targa 4 to arrive in May, followed in July by other all-wheel drive models in the 911 Carrera 4 Coupe and Cabriolet and the 911 Turbo and Turbo S Coupe and Cabriolet.

Only the 3.8-litre 911 GT3 and 4.0-litre GT3 RS are expected to retain a naturally-aspirated boxer engine, but the same is expected of the new 911 'R', which is expected to debut at the Geneva motor show on March 1 and arrive here later this year.

The upgraded models should make the 911 even more popular. Porsche sold 377 911s in Australia last year — the best result for the model since 2007, accounting for 34 per cent of its market segment.

“2016 is shaping up as a great year for Porsche Australia, and we expect the 911’s popularity to remain as strong as ever, with the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 and Targa versions to be in showrooms in the coming months,” said Ellis.

Replacing the 3.4- and 3.8-litre horizontally-opposed six-cylinder offered previously in the Carrera and Carrara S respectively is a smaller 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat six offering 272kW/450Nm in the entry Carrera and 309kW/500Nm in the Carrera S – an uptick of 15kW/60Nm for each variant. Peak power is delivered over 6500-7500rpm and peak torque over a broader 1700-5000rpm in both engines.

The additional power makes the new 911 Carrera S the first to break the four-second 0-100km/h barrier, the model completing the sprint in 3.9 seconds (-0.2sec). The 911 Carrera falls by an identical figure, now hitting triple digits in 4.2 seconds.

Top whack is listed at 295km/h (+6km/h) and 308km/h (+4km/h) respectively (all figures quoted are for PDK auto-equipped models fitted with Porsche’s optional Sports Chrono Package including launch control).

But perhaps the biggest statistical jump for the new 911 comes from its improved economy. Fuel consumption for the new 911 range is around 12 per cent better than the outgoing model.

For the 911 Carrera that’s 7.4L/100km (-0.8L) on the ADR Combined cycle (when optioned with PDK transmission) and 7.7L (-1.0L) for the more powerful Carrera S. Each is fitted with idle-stop regardless of transmission type [seven-speed manual or dual-clutch PDK].

Porsche has also lowered the ride height of its flagship model by 10mm, the chassis also adopting previously optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard.

Rear-axle steering – adopted from the 911 Turbo and 911 GT3 – is optional on the Carrera S for the first time, sharpening response and reducing the turning circle to 10.7 metres (-0.4m)

A hydraulic lift system, adding 40mm of front-end clearance for those low driveways, is available optionally, while both 911 Carrera models now also include Porsche’s clever Post-Collision Braking System (PCBS) as standard.

Braking is further improved with the 911 Carrera scoring thicker front rotors (now 330x34mm) with four-pot callipers a pads with a 17 per cent greater surface area. For the Carrera S, pads from the 911 Turbo are fitted up front, increasing pad surface area 16 per cent. The S’ front brake rotors grow in diameter to 350x34mm (+20mm) and are joined to a new aluminium brake bell to further reduce unsprung mass.

Porsche’s optional ceramic brake package (PCCB) remains available, the system identical to that offered previously on the 911 Turbo (410x36mm front, 390x32mm rear) and the stability control system now also incorporates a ‘Sport’ mode.

Aerodynamics are improved with the drag coefficient now 0.29Cd due to new automatic cooling-air flaps and a variable rear spoiler, while inside the cabin the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system is renewed with a touch-screen infotainment array.

The infotainment system – which is now included as standard on the Carrera and Carrera S – offers access to a range of apps, as well as Google Earth and Google Street View via Porsche Car Connect. It also includes Wi-Fi connectivity and Apple CarPlay, and can even recognise hand-writing inputs via touchpad (a la Audi).

The steering wheel – which is available in two diameters (360 and 375mm) – is now adorned with the 918 Spyder-sourced mode switch (available in conjunction with the optional Sport Chrono Package) offering four driving modes: Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual.

Depending on vehicle configuration, the selector can control exhaust, chassis, transmission and even the turbochargers, pre-arming the latter for 20 seconds of ‘maximum acceleration’ at the push of a button.

Trainspotters will also note new four-point LED DRLs, new air intake, and the omission of recess covers from the 911’s door-handles. The rear lid is also redesigned, adding new look vertical louvers and restyled tail-lights. The 911’s alloy wheel design is also slightly altered, the rear rims growing in width to 11.5-inch (+0.5 inches) with a 395mm (+10mm) section tyre.

Of course a long list of options means the 911 Carrera is infinitely personalisable. Of note, new items include lane-departure warning and a brake function for the model’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system.

All Porsche 911 variants are backed by a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and roadside assistance program.

Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our local launch of the MY17 Porsche 911 Carrera line-up.

2017 Porsche 911 pricing (plus ORCs):
Carrera Coupe — $217,800 (man) / $223,750 (PDK)
Carrera S Coupe — $252,800 (man) / $258,750 (PDK)
Carrera Cabriolet — $239,300 (man) / $242,250 (PDK)
Carrera S Cabriolet — $274,300 (man) / $280,250 (PDK)
Carrera 4 Coupe — $233,900 (man) / $239,850 (PDK)
Carrera 4S Coupe — $269,000 (man) / $274,950 (PDK)
Carrera 4 Cabriolet — $255,400 (man) / $261,350 (PDK)
Carrera 4S Cabriolet — $290,500 (man) / $296,450 (PDK)
Targa 4 — $255,400 (man) / $261,350 (PDK)
Targa 4S — $290,500 (man) / $296,450 (PDK)
GT3 RS — $387,300 (PDK only)
Turbo Coupe — $384,900 (PDK only)
Turbo S Coupe — $456,500 (PDK only)
Turbo Cabriolet — $406,400 (PDK only)
Turbo S Cabriolet — $478,000 (PDK only)