There is something undeniably magnetic about the Porsche 911. And with the new 911 models currently drawing attention to Porsche Centre showrooms across the nation, it’s the perfect time to look back at the legacy of Porsche’s most iconic auto and ponder the big questions. Namely, why has the Porsche 911 been so loved by so many for so long?
Here are four of the main reasons:
Unrivalled Performance
Not everyone drives for the joy of it. Then again, not everyone drives a Porsche. Because from behind the wheel of the Porsche 911, the answer to the age-old question “but why” becomes crystal clear. Since the moment the first Porsche 911 hit roads in 1963 (dubbed the 901 at the time), and thanks largely to its unique rear-engine layout, it has set the standard for performance, providing a driving experience that’s at once visceral and restrained, raw and refined.
Today, the all-new 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S honours its legacy of performance with a 641-horsepower 3.8-litre, twin-turbo, 6-cylinder horizontally opposed engine that carries the car from zero to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds with Launch Control and up to a top speed of 330 km/h.
All the Options
There is no shortage of model options beneath the 911 nameplate, which gives shoppers plenty of ways to find the right fit. Carrera. Carrera S. Carrera 4S. Targa. Targa 4S. Turbo S. Turbo S Cabriolet—these are just some of the available 911 flavours available for the 2020 and 2021 model years. With an over 50-year history, there are literally hundreds more.
The 911 continues to be offered in three body types: coupe, cabriolet and Targa. The style icon that is the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa recently arrived on Canadian soil, completing the trio of options available for the summer.
A Winning Motorsport Legacy
Just a few short years after its birth, the Porsche 911 was dominating on international racing stages. It began in the dirt with multiple rally victories in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but soon shifted over to the track. Then came the golden era of Porsche GT racing, a period of ten years or so during which Porsche teams held nearly all of their competition in the rearview mirror.
Check out some of Porsche’s most legendary 4-wheeled heroes here, including the Porsche 935/78 known as Moby Dick and the 1998 911 GT1, which was the first Porsche to bear a carbon-fiber chassis.
Even closer to home, the Policaro Motorsport team has been competing with multiple Porsche 911 GT3s since 2015, and has won events including the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and Canadian Touring Car Championship.
That Porsche Look and Feel
The 911s famous silhouette remains unique in its industry. Even at a distance, it’s clear that it’s a 911. Inside, Porsche marries traditional materials like wood and leather to modern tech to create a setting that doesn’t sacrifice comfort or convenience in the name of performance.
Despite being such a beast on the track, the Porsche 911 is, like all Porsches, a true luxury product. Yes, there are models with many of the amenities stripped in the name of performance, but there are also those laden with the most cutting-edge safety and comfort tech available on the market today.
Owners can also utilize the brand’s Exclusive Manufaktur Program, which brings the customization expertise of a Porsche factory to dealerships and allows for the addition of interior finishes like leather edging, embossing, and exterior details like tinted LED headlights, high-gloss accenting and more.
Date Posted: July 10, 2020