2016 Porsche 911 Carrera Review

The iconic sports car maker from Zuffenhausen may have bid farewell to its naturally aspirated boxer engine, but by no means does that dilute the spirit and performance of this legendary 911 coupe.

Everyone always thought that the Porsche 911 Carrera would soldier on with at least one naturally aspirated boxer engine in the range. Not anymore. From now onwards, the legendary Carrera coupe will only be offered with forced-induction engines. Its 3.8-litre engine has been downsized, and turbocharged, to 3.0-litres. In doing so, the power output has increased from 395bhp to 414bhp, and torque is up from 440 to 500Nm – concurrently, its consumption and emissions have been cut significantly.

So what can we say about the performance of this newly launched twin-turbo, six-cylinder boxer engine? Well, we can readily confirm that the 911’s soul and spirit is still intact – the way it should be.

Porsche’s engineers have been working hard to infuse character into this engine, and they’ve succeeded! The torque curve kicks in at lower rpm – an indisputable advantage of turbocharged engines. There is some turbo lag, but it’s barely perceptible. And once the engine revs past the 4,000rpm mark, the progression is consistent and quite sharp – typical of a 911. It starts tapering off only beyond 7,500rpm. Maximum power is generated at 6,500rpm, but it’s linearly spread across the rev-range – making it possible for the driver to exploit the engine for a thousand rpm more. In day-to-day driving – where you typically end up driving at medium-to-lower speeds – the acceleration is brisk and the performance of the twin-turbos is fantastic.

In terms of acoustics, the whistles from the turbines can be perceived only at lower speeds – on all other occasions, it’s the boxer roar that continues to prevail. It can be amplified in a dramatic way by installing the sport exhaust, an optional extra we’d definitely go for. Porsche offers the 911 Carrera S with either a PDK (dual-clutch) or a manual – both are 7-speed transmissions. The former can be adapted in every situation and will help you go quicker – selecting the best gear for you.  But, actually, it’s the 7-speed manual gearbox that undeniably stands out for its precise and sharp nature, closely matched gear ratios, and perfectly spaced out pedals. The current Carrera S comes with electrically controlled suspension (you can alter damping using a control knob placed on the steering wheel). On request, Porsche will also equip the car with its dynamic chassis control system and rear-wheel steering.

First impressions, then, are that the legacy of the 911 is certainly safe with
this one...