Porsche’s modus operandi has always been to not mess with a winning recipe, and 55 years later they are still sticking to it.
You don’t need to take our word for it; we’re quite content to let the sales figures for the 911 Carrera speak for themselves. There are very few companies that can make a sports car (dare I say it?) practical, but Porsche is one of them. In a world where the bottom line and the Environmental and Pollution Agency (EPA) are increasingly dictating the auto industry’s next move, it is refreshing to see a true driver’s car hit the market.
What’s New?
What’s new with the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera?
Exterior Styling
Enough already, with the 2020 Carrera already available for order, let’s jump into what is new.
Cosmetically, there have been a few fairly major changes – the wheelbase is two inches wider, allowing for better tracking and steering (yes, it is actually possible to improve the legendary drive-by-wire system). This change has lead to a slightly more aggressive flare in the wheel arches that were previously reserved for the GTS and all-wheel-drive models.
In the front, the trunk lid has been squared off and the headlights made ever so slightly more elliptical in a throwback to the 993 stylings. At the back Porsche’s stunning new wrap-around LED light bar dominates the scene and only the center taillight seems a little out of place as it protrudes from the intake grille.
The only noticeable difference between the 911 Carrera and the 911 Carrera S are the tailpipes. The base model features a single pair of rectangular openings while the sport version has twin pairs of circular tubes. An optional sports exhaust will change these into more oval shapes.
Interestingly enough, all of the visible end pipes are faux. Porsche says that this is to keep the costs of replacing the rear bumper down. We don’t quite know how to feel about this (a bit like the headphone jack on a smartphone,) but it is true to the trend that other leading brands like Mercedes have been trying to set for a while now.
Interior Styling
Slightly more retro cues are visible in the instrument cluster, with the only true analog instrument being (quite rightly) the tach which takes the center spot as usual. There is a new (larger) center touch screen and Porsche have fitted it with their new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system.
The right side of the tach also turns into a navigation display at intervals that the onboard computer deems critical (light sharp turns). It is extremely useful when not being obscured from the driver’s view by the steering wheel (come on Porsche). The other oddly out of place item is the PDK shifter which would look more in keeping with a classic 1980s interior.
Engine and Power Train
The 911 receives a new PDK (Porsche Doppel Kupplung) 8-speed automatic transmission which is one of the reasons why it is slightly heavier than the outgoing model.
On the upside, power is also increased with the water-cooled flat-six pumping out 14 more horses than the last thoroughbred. That’s a total of 379 ponies and should get you up to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds (according to Porsche). For those purists out there that are looking for the stick shift – rest assured, a seven speeder is on its way (which may actually improve the power to weight ratio).
This has been a landmark year for Porsche, with the introduction of its Taycan (the Tesla challenger) and much heavier investment into futuristic technologies such as battery chemistry and electrical powertrains. Despite this, they remain true to their roots, and if you want to give back to the environment after your 911 purchase, why not look into their carbon offset programs?