Interested in a Porsche but 0-60 is a high prioirty?
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<td class="Caption">The 911 Turbo Cabriolet was recently spied testing. (Photo by Hans G. Lehmann/Hidden Image)</td>
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<h2 class="Headline">Porsche Juices the 911: Rapid new Turbo set for 2006 Geneva show debut</h2>
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<div class="Byline">GREG KABLE </div>
<div class="Date"><span class="FieldLabel">Published Date: [/quote]11/7/05</div>
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No one can accuse Porsche of failing to make the most of the 911.
Though the latest iteration of the iconic German supercar, the 997 as it is known internally, has been with us only a year, already there are eight different models to tempt customers: Carrera, Carrera S, Carrera Cabriolet, Carrera S Cabriolet, Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Carrera 4 Cabriolet and Carrera 4S Cabriolet, to name them all. It seems every time you turn around, a different version of the 911 pops up on the new-car
radar screen.
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<td class="smallinks3" bgcolor="#cccccc">Note the roofline difference and C-pillar on the 997 Turbo Cabriolet. (Photo by Hans G. Lehmann/Hidden Image)</td>
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Not that we’re complaining. It’s just that with so many variants, and with such high production numbers these days, the 911 appears to be in danger of losing its allure.
But Porsche is not deterred. With at least four more variants of the 911 scheduled to bow in 2006, including the heavy-hitting Turbo captured here testing with only minimal disguise, Porsche is forging ahead like never before.
Traditionally the most eagerly anticipated of all 911 models, the new Turbo is scheduled to make its first public outing at the Geneva motor show in March, with North American sales likely to begin next June.
As our pictures reveal, the Turbo once again sports more aggressive styling than lesser versions of the 911. The new look is partly revealed on the Carrera 4S, which receives the Turbo’s widened bodywork.
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<td class="smallinks3" bgcolor="#cccccc">The current ’05 996 Turbo Coupe and Cabrio look tough, but the new 997 cars appear more menacing.</td>
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Other distinguishing features include a deeper front bumper with large ducts directing air to a trio of front-mounted radiators, chunkier sills underneath the doors, cooling ducts in the leading edge of the rear fenders, a reworked rear bumper with ducts at the corners to direct hot air out of the engine bay, and tailpipes that poke out of the lower valance cover.
To provide even greater levels of downforce, Porsche also modifies the outgoing model’s biplane rear spoiler.
A set of standard 19-inch wheels and lowered ride height complete the visual makeover, giving the new car an appealing, hunkered-down stance highly reminiscent of today’s model.
The recent popularity of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, brought back in the previous generation after a lengthy hiatus, convinced Porsche to retain it the next time around, though the Cabriolet is not expected to join the lineup until 2007, according to
AutoWeek sources.
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<td class="smallinks3" bgcolor="#cccccc">Though cammoed spy pics of the 997 Turbo Coupe have been around since July, Porsche is getting bolder in on-road tests. The cars, above, were captured near Weissach, Germany. Note front intake grilles: Is it subterfuge, or will they be in place at launch?</td>
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Powering next year’s range-topping 911 is a reworked version of the outgoing model’s devastatingly effective 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine. Porsche drew on its engine-building experience to crank up the output of the horizontally opposed unit with an enhanced management system, twin variable vane turbochargers, improved exhaust routing with reduced back-pressure, and the latest evolution of its electrohydraulic VarioCam Plus system, which continuously varies valve lift and timing.
The exact output is still under wraps, but the German carmaker’s long history of evolutionary improvements suggests peak power will not rise dramatically beyond the outgoing 911 Turbo’s 420 hp.
Insiders hint at a gain of 30 hp, taking the new model up to around 450 hp. That is about the same as today’s 911 Turbo S (444 hp), but our sources say the power curve is flattened out, with added clout below 2500 rpm and improved breathing efficiency giving it a more determined character above 6000 rpm.
While the new car’s curb weight creeps above 3520 pounds, the subtle increase in power should be sufficient to endow it with a power-to-weight ratio beyond its predecessor’s 253 hp per ton. Torque is also expected to rise by at least 30 lb-ft, to around 457 lb-ft.
These numbers point to even sharper standing-start acceleration for the car and, in combination with improved aerodynamics, an incremental increase in top speed.
Though nothing is official, a 0-to-60-mph time under 4.0 seconds and an all-out 200-mph appear to be reality, creating what should be a fascinating three-way tussle for supercar supremacy with the heavily lauded 4.3-liter 490-hp V8-powered Ferrari F430 and the 5.0-liter 500-hp V10-powered Lamborghini Gallardo.
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<td class="smallinks3" bgcolor="#cccccc">The car above was snapped by intrepid AW reader Jonathan Souza, who found it in high-altitude tests in Colorado. (Photo by Jonathan Souza)</td>
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As with the past two generations of the 911 Turbo, power is delivered permanently to all wheels via a closely stacked six-speed manual gearbox. Porsche also intends to offer a new double-clutch unit, though it remains to be seen whether it will be ready in time for the car’s debut early next year.
Together with the new Turbo, Porsche’s other 911 debuts for 2006 include the GT3, Targa and GT2—the latter sharing the new Turbo’s driveline but channeling its reserves through the rear wheels.</div>