Porsche ready to rumble with new 911 Turbo

PORSCHE Cars Australia has opened the order books for its new-generation 992-series 911 Turbo, which will slot underneath the ballistic Turbo S as a far more affordable, but still unquestionably quick, top-end sportscar from December this year. 

The new 911 Turbo Coupe is priced from $396,500 plus on-road costs while the 911 Turbo Cabriolet starts at $417,500, making them $77,400 less expensive than their respective Turbo S counterparts and placing each about $6000 upstream of the previous 991 series.

The benefits are immediately obvious as the Stuttgart sportscar specialist is quick to emphasise that the more powerful, faster and “even more individual” 911T matches the previous-generation Turbo S ballistic missile in terms of its 427kW power output (+30kW), 750Nm peak torque (+40Nm) and 2.8-second acceleration from standstill to 100km/h (-0.2s), now without an overboost time limit.

All of this derives from the same newly developed 3.8-litre (3745cc) twin-turbocharged six-cylinder boxer engine at the even faster-beating heart of the 992 911 Turbo S, which is due in Australian showrooms soon and as previously reported, has raised the benchmark further with 478kW, 800Nm and 0-100km/h devoured in 2.7s.

Top speed for the new 911T remains at 320km/h (10km/h shy of the new 911T S) as drive is directed through a model-specific eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive system. 

The extra individuality referred to includes new options on 911 Turbo for the first time, including the sports exhaust system (with adjustable flaps) and sports chassis already announced for the S.

The sports chassis takes a less compromising, racetrack-oriented position than the standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) chassis set-up, with a firmer and lower (-10mm) suspension setting designed for improved dynamics and extra stability at high speeds.

As with the Turbo S, the standard Turbo has a wider chassis and body which in this case has an extra 42mm and 10mm of front and rear track width respectively, as well as a mixed wheel and tyre combination of 20-inch rims and 255/35-section tyres at the front and 21-inch 315/30 behind.

Braking hardware has also come in for a serious overhaul, the cast-iron front brake discs now measuring 408mm diameter (+28mm) and 36mm thick (+2mm). The rear axle uses 380mm x 30mm rotors. 

Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) with 10-piston grippers at the front are optional, while the other main dynamically focused option is the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) hydraulic active anti-roll stabilisation system.

From early next year, Australian buyers will have the ability to sharpen the performance of the 911T further with ‘lightweight design packages’, which in the case of the coupe reduces the kerb weight by 30kg through a variety of measures including the use of lightweight full-bucket seats, the omission of the rear seats and the fitment of less insulation. 

The trade-off for the latter is, Porsche says, extra aural pleasure from the engine. 

There will be other packs that are more aesthetic in nature, using gloss-black and carbon-fibre trim and a unique tail-light treatment, for example.

LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) Plus are standard, as are LED tail-lights and ‘active’ aerodynamic elements across the body, including the front and rear spoiler.

The interior design, basic controls, infotainment technology and so on are naturally based around the 992 911 Carrera fit-out, including the ‘Porsche Advanced Cockpit’, ‘direct touch control’ and 10.9-inch Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. 

The Australian-spec 911T also comes with electrically controlled 14-way front sports seats (with heating), the Sport Chrono package, a GT sports steering wheel with shift paddles, multifunction and mode switches, and a Bose surround-sound system and digital radio. 

Front and rear parking assistance including a surround-view camera is thrown in, along with ‘comfort access’ and lane-change assist.

Other available options extend to adaptive cruise control, LED matrix headlights, Night Vision Assist and a higher-end Burmester audio system.

2020 Porsche 911 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs