Porsche updates the 911 Turbo

This the latest in the updates of the Porsche 997 series; a lighter, more powerful, yet more fuel efficient 911 Turbo. As with the rest of the 911 range, the new Turbo receives minor visual changes, such as new tail lamps, new front headlamps, as well as new wheels.  Noticable interior modifications include new steering wheels, as well as the optional sports seat that can be found in the 911 GT2.

The new 911 Turbo receives a brand new engine as well.  The 3.6l engine from the previous car has now grown to 3.8l, and features the same variable turbine geometry turbochargers as the previous Turbo, but this time the new engine carries over direct fuel injection system just like the rest of the 911 range (exlucing the GT3 and GT2 models).  This means that the brand new powerplant now produces 500 bhp, 20 bhp more than the previous model.

A six-speed manual transmission comes as standard in the 911 turbo, but Porsche's seven speed double-clutch gearbox (PDK) has replaced the previous 6 speed tiptronic transmission, and is now available as an option. Although the PDK can be operated manually by Porsche's ubiquitous steering wheel mounted buttons, Porsche now offers a new three-spoke steering wheel with traditional paddle-shifters as an option, with the left paddle changing down a gear, and the right paddle for upshifts.

The new engine and PDK gearbox enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 sec, and goes on to achieve a top speed of 312 km/h.  The new powerplant and drivetrain also enables the new Turbo to be 18 per cent more fuel efficient than the car it replaces, using 11.7l for every 100 km it covers.

To improve the handling of the new 911 Turbo, the car is now available with PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring), a system designed to make the car more agile and more precise in its steering inputs.

The new 911 Turbo will be presented to the public in September at Germany's Frankfurt Motor Show. Prices for the Turbo will be 145,871 Euros for the coupe, and 157,057 Euros for the convertible (based on German retail prices with taxes included). 

Certainly many enthusiasts will be happy to find that the new car is more powerful, and can now be specced with a PDK gearbox and paddle-shifters.  But enthusiasts will definitely be curious to find out if the new 911 Turbo can grab its crown back from the Nissan GTR as the fastest point-to-point machine in the premium sports car segment.

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