A riddle for you: what has seven speeds, two clutches, more power and VERY subtle styling changes? Porsche’s latest 911.
BY JENS MEINERS
In the race for change, the Porsche 911 could lose to an Icelandic glacier. But as with most evolutionary processes, it doesn’t stop. Such is the flow of new product from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Less than one year since the GT2, the last variation of the 997 - phase one - was launched, the next 911 is here. It's still called the 997, indicating that changes to the legendary sports car are modest.
The body remains unchanged, but Porsche apparently thinks the 911 needs daytime running lights so it won't be overlooked on the road. Admittedly, these LED units also look cool…maybe not as cool as those on the Audi R8, but cooler than before. The new LED rear lights look aggressive on the road, and their shape is slightly altered. The dashboard is also modified with redesigned knobs and buttons - which make for a more rounded, less technical appearance.
No 911 ever feels underpowered - it is one of the lightest cars in its class - but nevertheless, Porsche is catching up with the competition in the horsepower department. The 911 Carrera's 3.6-liter engine jumps from 325 horsepower to 345 horsepower, the 3.8-liter unit in the Carrera S gets 385 horsepower, up from 355. Both engines are equipped with direct-injection technology, an expensive and complex technology that significantly improves fuel efficiency. The base 911 Carrera is rated at a remarkable 24.0 mpg in the European cycle.
