The Porsche 911 has always been the benchmark sports car by which all other manufacturers measure their own creations. After nearly eight years of service, the 991 generation finally gets a successor in the form of the new 992 generation. As is often the case with Porsche, it’s a matter of evolution rather than revolution—they’re not reinventing the wheel, but rather perfecting it.
The new 992 generation is one of the most important 911s since Porsche decided to make the switch from air-cooled engines to water cooled. The 992-gen brings back a single body size for all 911 variants since the 997 generation, and with it come a host of upgrades and new features compared to its predecessor, the 991.
The new body type is a wider shell, which will be used for all 911 models, something previously reserved only for the S and GTS models. The entire front end is wider by 45 mm as well, increasing front end grip and aiding stability. Visually, it’s distinguishable from its predecessor thanks to more pronounced front wings, redesigned headlights complete with LED matrix units, and a bonnet recess hinting at old air-cooled 911s. The back features even more prominent changes, thanks to the use of new wraparound LED taillights, a vertically-slatted engine cover, and even a wider retractable wing that now comes on all 911 variants. Fans of big, circular exhausts will love the new exhaust tips on the 992-gen car, which have been designed to closely match those found in the GT2 RS.
In the Carrera S and 4S, the back houses the same twin-turbocharged flat-six engine as the one found in the previous GTS models with a few tweaks, which means 450 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration times to 100 km/h drop by 0.4 seconds and now stand at 3.6 and 3.7 seconds for the Carrera S and the Carrera 4S respectively. Likewise, the top speed goes up for both models and is now 308 km/h for the rear-wheel driven Carrera S and 306 km/h for the all-wheel drive Carrera 4S variant.
Although the engine is a revised unit carried over from the 991 type car, the PDK transmission is all new. It gains an extra ratio and a plethora of new electronic components to make it a lot more compact. As a result, it’s exactly the same size as the outgoing one despite the fact that it’s got an unoccupied area for the electric motor, which will be required for future hybrid 911 variants.
The cabin has had a redesign as well. The dashboard is all new and so is the center console. Fans of old-school 911s will love the redesigned instrument cluster, especially the rev counter. A world-first is the Wet mode that is included as standard. It can detect water on the road and precondition the control system accordingly, including warning the driver. Other features include Night Vision Assist with a thermal imaging camera, the Sport Chrono Package, and the adaptive cruise control.
The 992 type car marks a turning point in the 911’s life. It paves the way for future hybrid versions and even an all-electric variant as early as 2028. If you’d like to learn more about the new Porsche 911 or book a test drive in any Porsche model, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Date Posted: December 10, 2018