The Porsche 992 Carrera S and Carrera 4S marks yet another step forward in its 56 year long history. Its quite possibly the most unmistakable sports car in our history, a pop culture icon that’s occupied the same spot over decades. Previously the space occupied by the Porsche 911 remained unchallenged, as not many sports cars can boast the usability and racing pedigree the 911 has. Times are changing fast, and the 911 has to evolve even more so in providing a more rounded yet unique package that carries its signature and appeal. Has Porsche been successful in this mission? We find 10 amazing details about the 992 that proves its evolved with the times while retaining its appeal.
Return to the original
The first thing you notice is the return of the classic 911 facia that was last scene in the air-cooled 911’s. The interior layout is more closer to the pre-996 cars with the slight curved instrument clusters. The center display and and transmission tunnel are similar to the other post-modern Porsche’s like the Panamera, to accommodate the other modern features. But the classic nod to the air-cooled era cars is such a cool with no practical drawback
An analog rev counter
A perfect example of how the instrument cluster is retro without the drawback is the central rev counter. Looking very much like the face of a Porsche Design time piece, the rev counter is very clear and works under various light conditions. If you have taken any 911 on a track, you know that this is the most important gauge you will be looking for. The rest of the instrument are purely digital, with two 7 inch free from displays, displaying the vehicles speed, drive modes, range, and other info’s.
Multimedia overload
It is a 911 for 2019, and the center infotainment screen is proof of that. Its 10.9 inch touchscreen displays everything from the Navigation, to the car’s setup and drive modes in detail, entertainment and communications info. There are 5 shortcut keys in front of the touchscreen display allows you to raise the spoiler and change the damper settings on the go without having to fiddle with the screen itself. Handy when you’re charging hard on a mountain road.
8 speed gearbox
There is no such thing as too many gears we suppose? The 992 comes exclusively with an 8-speed PDK gearbox, 1 more than the previous generation 911’s. Gone is the gear stick and in its place a tiny toggle which lets you run through the gearbox. We do not know how the lack of a gear stick will go down with 911 fans, but based on our experience behind the wheel of a 911, you wont miss it and you would be thanking for those shift pedals.
When in doubt, Flat-6
Its not a 911 if it does not have a flat-6 for sure. Now even the base 911 comes with force induction, and the numbers are not far from the 997 Turbo variants. Horsepower is at 450bhp, while torque is at 530Nm from 2300rpm – 5000rpm, which is more than the GT3 / GT3 RS variants of the 997. Its only slightly behind in terms of horsepower to the 991 GT3 but completely trounces it in terms of torque.
Supercar performance in a Sports Car
A flat turbocharged torque curve with 8 forward ratios via a double clutch gearbox allows the ‘sports car’ 911 produce some supercar worrying stats. It does 0-100kph takes 3.7 seconds in the Carrera S and 3.6 seconds for the Carrera 4S. That puts the current 911 above the striking range of the Mercedes Benz AMG GTS and GTC. While the latter may boast a bigger power output the performance figures suggest that the difference may not be that far off. Mind you the Porsche does this with lesser power and 2 small seats in the back.
Lighting the way
The 992 retains the signature 911 front look and headlamp design, while joining with the rest of the family range with its LED projector headlamps. The LED headlamps feature 4 daytime running lights and the entire assembly is blended seamlessly into the rest of the bodywork, rather than being upright. Other than the headlamps, the 992 also sports, for the first time, a Night Vision Assist with thermal imaging camera is available as an option.
Retro Spoiler
Another retro yet functional touch is the rear spoiler design. Gone are the horizontal louvers, now its a set of vertical louvers which bring back the flavor of the original 911. As usual the rear spoiler is activated at speed or you could choose to activate it manually. And like all the finer details of the 911, the louvers are there not for show, but to handle the heat dissipation of that turbocharged flat-6.
Seeing red
And the final retro touch that truly completes the classic 911 feel is the red LED strip in the rear. Its a beautiful homage to the 911’s of yesterday and its beautifully integrated into the design of the car. The rear LED really gives the back end of this car a distinct look, and is a lovely sight for those who the 992 leaves in its wake to enjoy. We love it.
Rolling big
The last piece that catches the eyes on this new 992 Porsche is the rims and brakes. The rims measure 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the back, which is the same as the 991 GT2 RS. And rightly so with 6 piston brake calipers coming in as standard for the 992. The optional PCCB brakes measure a whopping 410mm in diameters. In fact, its similarly sized as the 991 gen GT2 RS car, and that’s a 911 with 700bhp. Porsche’s are known to have over engineered brakes, and these calipers are proof of that.
The Porsche 992 is a car that shows the competition whose the OG of the sports car game. Sime Darby Auto Performance is bringing in the Carrera S for RM1,150,000 and the Carrera 4S for RM1,220,000. This puts it within the same range as the Mercedes Benz AMG GT variants, the BMW 8 series and the Ferrari California T. While the rivals may offer various tricks up their sleeves, the 911 offers the same unique experience across all its generations, which can only be appreciated from behind the wheel, preferably on a racetrack. Its a drivers car true and true, which so happens to have a whole lot of creature comfort. And the best part is it will continue to perform in the same way for years to come.
