Today, Porsche Malaysia unveiled the latest 911 series. Following global trends in engine downsizing and turbocharging to meet the ever-stringent emissions regulations, the 2017 Porsche 911 (991-gen) is now force-fed. Yes, all 911s of the future will be turbocharged from even the base model.
Not to be confused with the 911 Turbo, these next-generation 911 Carrera models are no longer naturally aspirated, so are dubbed the 991 mark II, where it is more powerful and efficient than ever before.
Powertrain
The 991.2 now features a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, replacing the older 3.4-litre naturally-aspirated unit on the 991.1.
In the new Carrera, its twin-turbo engine produces 370hp and 450Nm of torque while the Carrera S and Carrera 4S, sporting different compressor wheels, exhaust and a specific ECU tune nets in 420hp and 500Nm of torque.
Both entry level 911 models now serve up 20hp and 60nm more than their non turbocharged predecessors. Both Carreras can rev up to 7,500 rpm on their tachometers, a respectably high engine speed for a turbocharged engine, no less.
Exterior
The 2017 Porsche 911 gets cosmetic changes to distinguish it from the predecessor. There's new headlights with quadrant LED, new tail lights, re-profiled front intakes, and a pair of 911 Turbo-like vents in the rear bumper.
Side intakes will be available exclusively for the king 911. Yes, the one with a Turbo badge at the rear. On this new turbocharged 911 however, gets fed air through the cooling panel at the rear deck, with the grille on the rear panel now being vertically-arranged, as compared to horizontal arrangement on the naturally-aspirated, previous 911.1.
Reducing rolling resistance and enhanced performance are the new five slim twin spoke wheels and the rear tyres of the Carrera S and Carrera 4S now measure at 305 instead of 295.
Interior
New on the 991.2 is the Sport Chrono Package which now features a mode switch on the steering wheel, derived from the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar. The mode switch enables the driver to select from Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual; the latter settings configure the PASM, active engine mounts, PDK shifting strategy and sport exhaust system according to the driver's preference.
There are also Sport Response Button, in which when pressed, releases maximum performance for a short period of time. Specifically for 20 seconds, the drivetrain and engine management are conditioned to a spontaneous response.
Functional improvements were thrown at the 911's interior, too. A new seven-inch touch-screen infotainment display offers Apple CarPlay integration, touch response familiar to smartphone users plus Google Earth and Street View maps.
Chassis
The PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) is now standard on all Carreras. It lowers ride height by 10 mm and further improves stability and performance during cornering.
The active rear-wheel steering is now an option for the Carrera S and Carrera 4S, adopted from the 911 Turbo and 911 GT3. The system enhances the car's stability and agility at various speeds.
Everyday practicality is not compromised with the inclusion of Porsche's hydraulic lift system with integrated lifting cylinders in the front struts. The hydraulic lift increases the car's ground clearance by 40 mm to help the car maneuver around steep surfaces.
Safety
In the boring-but-important category of 2017 911 improvements, there are improved Porsche Traction Management (PTM) that promises exceptional traction in all driving conditions.
The new 911 Carrera models also get new safety features such as post-collision braking and blind-spot monitoring as well as coasting feature built into the adaptive cruise control.
Now, will we miss the naturally-aspirated Carrera?
2016 Porsche 911
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: Carrera: 370hp; Carrera S: 420hp; Carrera 4S: 420hp
Torque: Carrera: 450Nm; Carrera S: 500Nm; Carrera 4S: 500Nm
Zerotohundred: Carrera: 4.2 seconds; Carrera S: 3.9 seconds; Carrera 4S: 3.8 seconds
Transmissions: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic PDK
Dimensions: 4496mm (L), 1803-1880mm (W), 1295mm (H)
Weight from: 1,251kg
Fuel consumption: Carrera: 7.4L/100km; Carrera S: 7.7L/100km; Carrera 4S: 7.9L/100km
Price: Carrera: RM870,000; Carrera S: RM970,000; Carrera 4S: RM1,040,000
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