Nip/tuck for 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo/Turbo S
Porsche has unveiled two new models of the 911 series: the 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S, ahead of the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, boasting a 15kW increase and a sharpened design. Available as both coupe and convertible versions, the 3.8-litre bi-turbo six-cylinder engine in the 911 Turbo now produces 397kW. The power gain was achieved by modified inlet ports in the cylinder head, new injection nozzles and higher fuel pressure. The 911 Turbo S now sports 427kW, thanks to new turbochargers with larger compressors.The engines feature a dynamic boost function to further improve their response. They maintain the charge pressure during load changes. This is achieved by interrupting fuel injection, whereas the throttle valve remains open. As a result, the engine reacts with practically no delay to another press of the accelerator pedal.
Overall, the new high-performance sports cars achieve breath-taking driving performance, while fuel consumption is further reduced. The 911 Turbo S Coupé sprints to 100kph in 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 330kph (12kph higher than before), while the 911 Turbo reaches the 100kph mark in 3.0 seconds, and its top speed is 320kph (5kph faster than the previous model). Nevertheless, the coupes only consume 9.1l/100 km, and the convertibles 9.3l/100 km – 0.6 litres less fuel per 100km thanks to transmission management and revised gear change mappings.The Turbo range gains a new GT sports steering wheel – 360mm in diameter and with a design adopted from the 918 Spyder. It comes with a mode switch as standard which consists of a rotary ring with four modes: Normal, Sport, Sport Plus or Individual. The Individual setting lets the driver configure and store a personally preferred vehicle setup.
Another new feature of the Sport Chrono Package is the Sport Response button at the centre of the mode switch. Inspired by motor racing, it preconditions the engine and gearbox for the best possible responsiveness at the push of a button. In this mode, the vehicle can produce optimal acceleration for up to 20 seconds, such as for an overtaking manoeuvre. A running timer displayed in the instrument cluster shows the driver the elapsed time.Porsche Stability Management (PSM) in the 911 Turbo models now has a new Sport Mode option. A press of the PSM button in the centre console puts the system into a very sporty mode, independent of the driving programme that is selected. The PSM Sport mode alters the system’s intervention threshold much more effectively than Sport Plus mode in the previous model. The new function makes it possible to approach performance limits easier.
The chassis of the new 911 Turbo models, with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) now as standard offers an even greater spread between performance and comfort. In addition, the 911 Turbo S offers a full complement of equipment for driving dynamics, such as Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control roll compensation, which comes as standard in the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes system.The new generation 911 Turbo adopts significant characteristics of the striking design of today’s Carrera models, supplemented by typical 911 Turbo features. The newly formed front end, with side air blades and narrow LED front lights with double fillets, give the vehicle a wider look, in combination with the additional fin in the central air intake. From the side, the high-performance sports car boasts new 20-inch wheels, with the 911 Turbo S centre lock wheels now featuring seven instead of ten double spokes.
The 911 Turbo wheels are now half an inch wider, making them the same size as the 911 Turbo S. The new door handles come without plastic shell inserts just like on the Carrera models. The rear of the car has been reworked with three-dimensional rear lighting, featuring four-point brake lights. The exit openings for the exhaust system as well as the dual tailpipes come in a new design. The rear lid grille consists of three parts: the right and left sections with longitudinal louvres, and the middle, which has a separate cover for optimised air induction to the engine.Along with the generation change in models, the newly developed Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with online navigation, is making its way into the cockpits of the 911 Turbo as standard. It is operated via a multi-touch monitor with high-quality glass surface, seamlessly integrated into the centre console. A range of PCM functions are also controlled via voice control. As in the previous models, the Bose sound system is offered as standard, with an optional Burmester system also available.The new Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S models will be officially launched in South Africa during the second quarter of 2016.
