992 = The New Porsche 911
Full disclosure: With its combination of daily usability, iconic looks and near-supercar performance, the Porsche 911 may well be my go-to for all things automotive. While my eye occasionally wanders to the miscellaneous McLaren, Aston, Ferrari or Lamborghini, the 911 has always felt like home.
Home is getting a remodel…
The 2020 Porsche 911, chasis code 992, has been revealed,
and I like what I see.
A cursory glance might produce a “same old” reflex, but slow
your roll and look a bit closer. The
Devil is, after all, hiding in the details.
While wheelbase remains the same as the previous gen 991.2 car, rear
wheel width is an inch and a half wider, and the front track nearly two inches
greater. For the first time in forever,
there is also a staggered wheel diameter, with the rears being an inch larger. The sum is greater bite on initial corner entry,
and what feels to be even more insane grip throughout the corner.
Other exterior visual cues of newness include updates to the
front and rear fascia and light treatments.
The most striking is the wraparound taillight assembly, which looks good
in pictures, but stunning in person.
Another detail of note: the flush door handles. A fine bit of Germanic techno-geekery these
are, but it truly contributes to the overall cleanliness of the 992 design
concept.
My favorite design takeaway?
On previous gen 911s, if you spec’d a model with all-wheel drive, you inherited
a wider rear track. The extra fender width
made for a sexier stance. All models in
the 992 range will receive this treatment, so even the standard rear-wheel
versions get that extra something! A smidge
more junk in the trunk, visually.
Alright, now I shall dive into more of the tech. The PDK transmission is now an 8-speed, up
from 7 in the previous car. This allows
for closer ratios and a taller overdrive, aiding both performance and
economy. The 3.0-liter flat-six engines have
been worked over with changes in turbocharging, intercooling and other
wonderfulness, upping their horsepower rating to 443 in the S trim level, along
with 390 lb-ft of torque. This should get
you to 60 mph from a standstill in the 3.3 second range. All manner of suspension, braking and safety tweaks
are included as well, and don’t be surprised when some hybrid tech arrives on
the scene in a couple of years.
The interior has been nicely updated to fall in line with
the Panamera and Cayenne, sharing the large 10.9” touchscreen on the center
dash. In fact, the only analog dial
remaining is the center mounted tachometer.
Overall the cabin has the usual fit-and-finish and ergonomic excellence
that one comes to expect from a Porsche.
Price of entry for the Carrera S starts at $114,550, and if
you configure one online, you can quickly escalate from there by adding doodads
and thingamajigs.
This car is Porsche’s cornerstone, their icon. Despite overwhelming pressure to make an
age-old design (remember that engine in the trunk?) mo’ better, the wizards at Zuffenhausen manage to
live up to expectations. This car is a
winner, pure and simple.
Cheers!
Marty Feldmann, The Connoisseur, is the highly sought after consultant who assists businesses and individual clients with the acquisition of the finer things life has to offer. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to wine country, selecting audio equipment to outfit your home, planning your dream vacation or purchasing your ultimate transportation, Marty is your personal connection to the good life…Marty can be contacted at: 916.952.9529 Marty@ConnoisseurCorner.com