New Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S debut in Detroit
Has the 911 Turbo lost its status in the new all-turbo Porsche 911 range? Not a chance, the 2016 Turbo and Turbo S are quicker than ever
The Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S have made their debuts at the 2016 Detroit Motor Show, topping an all-turbo (for the time being) 911 range with outputs of 533bhp and 572bhp respectively.
Last year we discovered the entire Porsche 911 range would switch over to turbo power. The changes kicked off on the standard Carrera and Carrera S, and will follow with the Carrera 4 and Targa shortly. Then Porsche revealed the entirely unsurprising news that the 911 Turbo and Turbo S would keep their powerful forced-induction engines, while benefiting from a similar mid-life nip and tuck. We've had our first chance to take a look at the cars in the metal in Detroit.
The facelifted 911 Turbo gets a handful of changes, including a 20bhp power hike for the 3.8-litre flat six. That means the Turbo model now boasts 533bhp and the S gets 572bhp. Both versions have a new dynamic boost function, allowing drivers to get back on the power more quickly after lifting off.
Extra power means extra performance, with the new models being two-tenths-of-a-second faster from 0-62mph than the outgoing cars. The Turbo now completes the benchmark sprint in three seconds flat, while the S shaves this to 2.9 seconds. Top speed has been improved as well, to 199mph and 205mph respectively.
There are a few styling updates to keep the range looking fresh, with LED headlights and reshaped vents being the main changes at the front, while at the rear there are new exhaust pipes, a new engine cover and reworked tail-lights. New 20-inch wheels are the biggest change when looking at the car in profile, with the Turbo model getting the same size wheels as the pricier S.
Inside, the most obvious change for the driver will be the new steering wheel, derived from the one in the 918 Spyder hypercar. It comes as standard with a Mode Switch, which lets you select from Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. These change the suspension, gearbox and exhaust settings – with the driver even able to mix and match different features.
The cabin also features sports seats, a seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav and infotainment system, dual-zone climate control, Bose speakers and leather. Online navigation is standard, with real-time traffic updates and satellite images displayed on the glass screen. Drivers can also ‘write’ sat-nav destinations on to the touchscreen with their fingers, plus smartphones can be connected using a cable, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
All Turbo models come with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and the Sport Chrono Package as standard. A new button on the centre console activates PSM Sport Mode, which alters the system’s level of interference. It’s something that will appeal to owners who intend to use their Turbo on a track, allowing drivers to get closer to the car’s limits without disengaging the electronics completely.
New options include a radar-based lane-change assist feature and a lift system that raises the car by 40mm at low speeds. Fuel economy is improved in the new models, too, with the coupés claiming 31mpg and the Cabriolets 30mpg. The slight improvement on both comes as a result of small changes to the engine computer and new gear mappings.
The new Porsche 911 Turbo S will hit the road at the end of next month, after debuting at the Detroit Motor Show. Prices range from £126,925 for the Turbo coupe to £154,614 for the top-spec 911 Turbo S Cabriolet.
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