In the race for change, the Porsche 911 could lose to an Icelandic glacier. But as with most evolutionary processes, it doesn’t stop. Such is the flow of new product from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Less than one year since the GT2, the last variation of the 997—phase one—was launched, the next 911 is here. It's still called the 997, though, indicating that changes to the legendary sports car are modest.
The body remains unchanged, but Porsche apparently thinks the 911 needs daytime running lights so it won't be overlooked on the road. Admittedly, these LED units also look cool . . . maybe not as cool as those on the Audi R8, but cool nonetheless. The new LED rear lights look aggressive on the road, and their shape is slightly altered. The dashboard is also modified with redesigned knobs and buttons, which makes for a more rounded, less technical appearance.
No 911 ever feels underpowered—it is one of the lightest cars in its class—but Porsche is catching up with the competition in the horsepower department. The 911 Carrera's 3.6-liter engine jumps from 325 horsepower to 345 horsepower, the 3.8-liter unit in the Carrera S gets 385 horsepower, up from 355. Both engines are equipped with direct-injection technology, an expensive and complex technology that significantly improves fuel efficiency. The base 911 Carrera is rated at a remarkable 24 mpg in the European cycle.
New Seven-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission
More significant even than the bump in horsepower is the new seven-speed dual clutch transmission, which replaces the previous five-speed Tiptronic automatic. Known as “PDK” (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe), the new transmission is the latest evolution of the same basic technology developed by none other than Porsche in the early '80s for racing applications, as it saves time by providing seamless upshifts and downshifts. It debuted in 1983 in the 956 and was subsequently used in the 962 race cars. The technology was then largely forgotten until, supposedly, Ferdinand Piëch thought of it again and launched it in a series of VW and Audi models.
Even Speedier than Before
Even though Porsche pioneered dual-clutch technology, this new unit is supplied by ZF. We predict that not every Porsche fan will be pleased that the dual-clutch unit accelerates better than a perfectly driven manual version. However, we do expect most to enjoy the 13 percent increase in fuel economy thus equipped.
Acceleration depends on the transmission: In the Carrera S coupe, 0–60 mph comes in 4.7 seconds with the manual transmission, but with the optional dual-clutch transmission, the figure improves to 4.5 seconds. And if you opt for the Sport Chrono Plus package, time drops further to 4.3 seconds thanks to Launch Control. Top speed for the 911 Carrera S is 188 mph. Not entirely coincidentally, that’s one mile per hour faster than the R8. Now that Porsche officially controls VW Group, and thus Audi, it seems that Porsche is establishing exactly who’s on top.
Sales of the upgraded 911 start in September, with prices ranging from $75,600 for the Carrera coupe to $86,200 for both the Carrera cabriolet and the Carrera S coupe to $96,800 for the Carrera S cabriolet. That's modest if you consider that the standard 911 Carrera now is almost as powerful as the previous 911 Carrera S. Just don't start adding options if you hope to hang onto any money.
With phase II of the 997, the inevitable launch cycle starts all over. A few weeks from now, the 4WD Carrera 4 versions will follow. Look for wide-body versions, Targas, and upgraded GT3, Turbo, Turbo Convertible, and GT2 models down the road.
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