Generation-two 997 Turbo



What is it?
The new 911 Turbo. With 500bhp, DFI, and a paddle-shift gearbox, Porsche’s giant slayer is back.

What’s new?
Being a 911, the car whose iconic silhouette has barely changed over the past 45 years, means the significant changes have happened under the skin. A quick visual inspection reveals a set of LED daytime driving lights and a pair of LED indicators, with Dynamic Cornering Lights consummating the front-end revisions. Gen-2 997 Turbo customers also receive new-look 19-inch alloys, though we personally think the optional 19-inch RS Spyder wheels would be money well spent. There’s also an even more aggressive look for the car’s rear courtesy of a more extreme split rear-wing, a set of LED lights and a larger dual exit exhaust system. Subtle changes then, but what did you expect Porsche?

The latest 911 Turbo marks a historic milestone for Porsche. Not for being the fastest 911 Turbo ever built, which it is, but for putting an end to 35 years of tradition with the use of an all-new 3.8-litre engine based on the unit found in the 997 Carrera S. Although the new engine bears no relation to previous Turbos it does follow Porsche tradition of being cleaner, more efficient and more powerful than the car it’s replacing. A little more about the Turbo’s party-piece though. It’s still a twin-turbocharged flat-six that sits out back, but with the use of a modified version of the Carrera’s DFI system and the Turbo’s optional PDK-transmission (available with steering wheel mounted paddles when you specify the Sports Chrono package) the next generation 911 Turbo becomes the most efficient vehicle in class returning a staggering 24.6mpg. There’s also a new set of VTG blowers, an expansion intake manifold as seen on the GT2, and the whole engine sits lower in the car. Let’s cut to the chase though, how fast is it? How does 0-60mph in 3.4 sec and 0-100mph in 7.0 sound? Still want that GT2? Did we mention there’s also a new Porsche acronym to digest, PTV, which works in combination with PSM and PTM?

What’s it like then?
Sure it’s faster, keener and leaner than its predecessor, but it’s also the most manageable Turbo we’ve ever driven. We wouldn’t go so far as to say the seventh- generation Turbo is a revolution, but Porsche has certainly improved the car’s road manners. So they’ve added a layer of polish, albeit a thick one, to the previous generation’s already fearsome armour. Behind the wheel the Turbo feels as though it has every one of the 500hp, and with no discernable lag and its torrential 517lb ft of torque during overboost available from a little over 2,000rpm the car’s overtaking ability reaches new levels. But what about in the corners, and what’s this new Porsche acronym all about? PTV, or Porsche Torque Vectoring, compromises a mechanical limited slip differential and electronically intervenes by braking an inside rear wheel during cornering. It all sounds very clever, and it is, but it really does work, as do the dynamic engine mounts.

The result is a more agile and planted car, with the Turbo rarely feeling rear-wheel drive apart from when you’re really pressing on. Mind you, these trick new innovations are all exclusive to the Sports Chrono Package. Which brings us onto the next question, is a PDK Turbo now the way to go? Now Porsche has heeded our advice (ahem, criticism) the merits of the company’s twin-clutch transmission can really be appreciated. With shift paddles mounted behind the wheel -pull left to change down and right to change up- the Turbo is a formidable weapon. Porsche will charge you £271, when you specify the Sports Chrono Package, for the said luxury. The existing button setup still remains standard for PDK cars, with the six-speed manual still one of the sweetest transmissions we’ve come across. So it’s more of a case of evolution not revolution, but the results are nevertheless comprehensive.

Verdict?
Porsche has really pulled out the stops for the seventh generation 911 Turbo, and it’s a good job it did. The importance of the 911 Turbo to Porsche’s prosperity is crucial, and they’ve done themselves proud. In a year of mixed fortunes for Porsche, it’s certainly ending the year on a high.

The 911 Turbo
Engine: 3800cc, V8 twin-turbocharged
Max Power: 500bhp @ 6000rpm
Max Torque: 480lb ft @ 1950rpm(516lb ft with overboost)
Weight: 1570kg
Transmission: seven-speed PDK, four-wheel drive
Max Speed: 194mph
0-62mph: 3.4 seconds
Price: £101,823

Read the full story in the December issue of the magazine, on sale 12th November.


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