Unveiled: 2010 Porsche Turbo Facelift

The Porsche Turbo hasn’t been living up to its decades old hype. Egged on by the Nissan GT-R and being blown away by other rivals doesn’t help with the already faltered image of the legendary Turbo. So rather than let the aftermarket tuners have all the glory, Porsche has gone back to the drawing board and came back with an updated Turbo for 2010. After performing a complete character upgrade, the new car is lighter, more rear biased and in true Porsche fashion, it now comes with a more sporting character.

So whats new? The biggest change is predictably the engine. Displacement has been increased from the 3.6liter six to a 3.8-liter which is now a directed injected flat-six cannibalised from the Carrera S. Coupled to a pair of variable-vane turbos, power is up to 500hp. And because it’s direct-injected, fuel-consumption has significantly improved as well, whether you opt for the manual or the dual-clutch tiptronic.

The new Turbo also features new F1 style ‘right-is-up’ and ‘left-is-down’ wheel-mounted paddles but these are mounted on the wheel rather than the steering column as the Ferraris and GTRs. These new paddles replace the silly dual-action faux-paddle shifters but these inferior paddles are still available if you so wish. Also optional is a new, three-spoke steering wheel and in conjunction with the other option, the Sport Chrono Package Turbo, either of the steering wheels come fitted with integrated displays for Launch Control and the Sport/Sport Plus mode. These displays are designed differently on the two steering wheels.

The new Turbo also sports a reprogrammed Porsche Traction Management system that works to distribute torque between the front and rear differentials via an electric multi-place clutch. It’s a rear-biased system so expect it to be much more fun and agile than current models. Porsche’s Stability Management program is now supported by a new Porsche Torque Vectoring system available as an option.

The new Turbo, thanks to new electronic wizardry is among the most fuel efficient and agile new 911. Acceleration figures stand at 3.4 seconds for the 100km/h run, and a top speed of 312km/h. The most important number however, of the Turbos run around the ‘Ring, is yet unavailable but expect an official run soon. Read on below for all the information you want of the new facelifted Turbo.

PRESS RELEASE:
Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is proudly presenting a new top model at the pinnacle of its broad range of production sports cars: The new Porsche 911 Turbo combines far-reaching innovations in technology with fine tuning and supreme refinement in design. All key features of this high-performance sports car have been significantly improved, the new 911 Turbo combining a substantial improvement in fuel efficiency and lower weight with more power, even higher speed, and enhanced driving dynamics.

Particularly in terms of fuel economy and dynamic performance, the new top-of-the-range 911 from Zuffenhausen now stands out even more than before from its competitors in the market. Porsche’s new top model will be presented to the public for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show from 17 – 27 September.

The heart and highlight of the seventh generation of the Turbo is the new power unit displacing 3.8 litres and delivering maximum output of 500 bhp (368 kW). The first entirely new engine in the 35-year-history of the Turbo comes with features such as Direct Fuel Injection and Porsche’s exclusive turbocharger with variable turbine geometry on a gasoline power unit. And as an option, the new six-cylinder may be combined for the first time with Porsche’s seven-speed PDK Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (Double-Clutch Gearbox).

Models equipped with PDK are also available with a new, optional three-spoke steering wheel with gearshift paddles as an alternative to the standard steering wheel with its proven shift buttons. Fitted firmly on the steering wheel, the right paddle is for shifting up, the left paddle for shifting down. In conjunction with the optional Sport Chrono Package Turbo both the gearshift paddle and the PDK steering wheel with its shift buttons come with integrated displays for Launch Control and the Sport/Sport Plus mode, which are however designed differently on the two steering wheels.

The combination of PDK, Direct Fuel Injection and turbocharging ensures an unprecedented standard of efficiency, agility, responsiveness and performance, the Porsche 911 Turbo reducing CO2 emissions versus its predecessor by almost 18 per cent and therefore ranking unique in its segment also in this respect. Depending on the configuration of the car, the new top model requires just 11.4 – 11.7 ltr/100 km (equal to 24.8 – 24.1 mpg imp) under the EU5 standard. And unlike most other cars in its segment, the new Turbo remains even further below the crucial level of fuel consumption for gas guzzler tax in the USA, the special tax imposed on cars with substantial fuel consumption. All this despite acceleration to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Top speed, in turn, is 312 km/h or 194 mph.

The Turbo driver of the future will also enjoy a further improvement in driving dynamics, detailed enhancement of PTM fully controlled all-wheel drive and PSM Porsche Stability Management being further supported by new PTV Porsche Torque Vectoring available as an option. This makes the car even more agile and precise in its steering for an even higher level of driving pleasure.

Sales of the new Porsche 911 Turbo in both Coupé and Cabriolet guise are starting in Germany on 21 November 2009. The Euro base price without value-added tax and national specifications is Euro 122,400.- for the Coupé and Euro 131,800.- for the Cabriolet. The gross retail price in Germany, therefore, is Euro 145,871.- for the Coupé and Euro 157,057.- for the Cabriolet, in each case including 19% value-added tax and national specifications.