What’s New in the Porsche 911: A Detailed Overview

Nearly 60 years after it was first introduced, the Porsche 911 remains one of the greats! Its iconic design, forged over the decades and multiple racing victories, leaves an impression like few other sports cars. While there are fancier go-fast cars in the market, the indomitable legacy and brilliant achievements of this Porsche are tough to replicate.

Some of the prime contestants in this space include the BMW M4, Chevrolet Corvette, Lexus LC500, and Mercedes-AMG GT. It might be a brilliant sports car, but choosing which Porsche 911 to buy can be a tricky endeavor. Then there’s the fact that the 911 range is divided into the 992.1 and 992.2 series – the latter is newer.

Variants & Price

The following are the variants and prices (incl. VAT) of the Porsche 911 in Saudi Arabia:

•       Carrera – SAR 548,700

•       Carrera Cabriolet – SAR 605,300

•       Carrera T – SAR 600,200 (new)

•       Carrera T Cabriolet – SAR 660,500 (new)

•       Carrera S – AED 685,700 (new)

•       Carrera S Cabriolet – SAR 744,000 (new)

•       Carrera GTS – SAR 752,900

•       Carrera 4 GTS – SAR 789,100

•       Carrera GTS Cabriolet – SAR 812,000

•       Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet – SAR 848,100

•       Targa 4 GTS – SAR 848,100
  

  
  

•       Turbo – SAR 851,600

•       GT3 – AED 909,300 (new)

•       GT3 w/ Touring Package – AED 909,300 (new)

•       Turbo Cabriolet – AED 909,700

•       Dakar – AED 986,700

•       Turbo S – AED 1,009,200

•       Turbo S Cabriolet – AED 1,067,100

•       GT3 RS – AED 1,070,500

•       Turbo 50 Years – AED 1,119,100

•       S/T – AED 1,303,700

Exterior

The Porsche 911’s design philosophy is about gradual evolution – it’s not the shouty type. Looking at the 992.1 and 992.2 series side-by-side, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the differences right away. The 992.2 Porsche 911 gets newer exterior colors, updated bumpers, slightly redesigned headlights & taillights, plus new alloy wheels. Although miniscule, these changes contribute to a more modern-looking 911.

You could buy the boisterous 911 GT3 (or GT3 RS) with the flashy colors, fixed rear wing, and carbon-fiber trim. Or, you could go for the new Carrera S. It strikes a beautiful balance between new-age styling cues and traditional 911 design traits. Choosing the ST accessorizes your 911 with distinctively custom bumpers, plus special branding & wheels.

The Dakar is the most hardcore-looking 911. It’s identifiable by its almost SUV-like ground clearance, rugged all-terrain tires, a tow hook, and extensive stainless-steel lower-body protection shields. The styling of the good-old Turbo S is mostly functional – albeit in a visually pleasant manner. Customers get to pick from colored brake calipers and carbon-fiber trim, among other optional extras.

Interior

Porsche cabins have been one of the epitomes of what a premium interior of a premium car should be like. This is one of the other positive trademarks that one gets to enjoy when one buys a Porsche 911. Not only is the quality of touchpoints in this interior upscale, but the sheer level of customization is also fantastic.

Customers can choose from a wide variety of materials – carbon-fiber, leather, alcantara, piano black, wood veneer, aluminum, etc. There are a few key differences between the 992.1 and 992.2 series. The new 911 now gets push-button start instead of the previous key-style arrangement. It also features a customizable 12.65-inch digital driver’s display – the traditional analog rev counter is gone.

While the 911 has two seats in the back, they can be considered as appeasement artifacts in the real world. The front seats are not only comfortable but really supportive as well – one can spend hours without feeling uneasy. Equipment worth mentioning includes a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, a Burmester sound system, and a 10.9-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay.

Engine and performance

As you might have guessed, the Porsche 911 is available with different engines and transmissions. The base Carrera’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six makes 389 hp and 450 Nm, meaning a top speed of 294 kmph. The new Carrera S has the same engine but with 473 hp and 530 Nm – the top whack is 308 kmph.

Equip it with the Sport Chrono Package, and the 911 Carrera S will breach 100 kmph in just 3.3 seconds. Then there’s the Turbo S, which can do the same in 2.7 seconds (with Launch Control). This is made possible by a dependable AWD system plus 641 hp and 800 Nm – courtesy of a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six.

With a top speed of 330 kmph, the Turbo S is the fastest Porsche 911 on sale. The 911 is not a fuel-sipping econobox, but the Carrera is rated at 9.9 kmpl or 10.1 L/100 km. Most variants get an 8-speed (PDK) dual-clutch transmission, which is quick and smooth no matter your driving style. There’s sports exhaust, too – it’s fine.

Apart from the track-focused GT3 RS, the exhaust note of most 911 variants is nothing to sing about. Where almost all 911s score high is on their incredible ability to be dynamically genius without severely impacting the ride. This is the result of decades of incremental updates and engineering brilliance, plus adaptive dampers, and an overall well-calibrated suspension.

The Porsche 911 is nowhere near as taxing to drive in the city as some of its peers. Its relatively compact size and easy controls play a vital role, but that’s not all. The 911 can be optioned with a front axle-lift system and rear-axle steering – both are a boon during regular commutes. Even the cabin is fairly hush and civil.

Safety

Porsche’s pedantic attention-to-detail means that the 911 is one of the safest sports cars on the planet. It’s bristling with passive and active safety nannies to prevent you from getting into trouble. However, if you’re already knee-deep in it, the 911 has your back. Some of the ubiquitous features are parking sensors, traction control, electronic stability control, and multiple airbags.

 

The Porsche 911 also gets adaptive cruise control, lane-departure prevention, active lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, auto-emergency braking, tire-pressure monitoring, etc. It can be optioned with surround-view cameras, adaptive Matrix LED headlights, traffic-sign assist, and carbon-ceramic brakes, among other safety tech.

Conclusion

If you want a legacy sports car designed and built well and can go stupidly fast, there’s the 911. If you want a fast two-seater that’s laden with modern technology and luxury appointments, there’s the 911. The Porsche 911 is absolutely wonderful.