Volume 16 Issue 1 » 49
2020 Porsche 911
»
The redesigned eighth-generation Porsche 911 has finally arrived,
and the name of the game this time around is a combination of
additional power extracted out of the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged
flat-six motors, more tech and some special classic styling harkening
back to models from a bygone era.
First revealed in Los Angeles in late 2018, the sports car looks
kind of the same, but doesn’t. The wheel arches have gotten wider,
as has the body itself all around, the front growing a significant 45
millimetres. The luggage compartment lid gains a pair of grooves,
echoing the original vehicle, and the door handles are fully electric
and sit flush against the surrounding panel.
A bigger spoiler can be found at the back, and a thin LED light bar
connecting the taillights is now included across all grades. In fact,
the only differentiating visual element between trim levels is the
shape of the exhaust pipes. The 379-horsepower regular variants use
dual rectangular exits, as opposed to the quad rounds installed on
the 443-horse Carrera S and 4S.
The nostalgic twist continues inside the cabin. The straight lines
characterizing the dashboard are 1970s-esque, meeting a modern,
nearly four-inch larger 10.9-inch high-definition widescreen touch
display, which is the command centre for the latest version of
Porsche Communication Management (PCM). Not only taking care
of infotainment duties, PCM also handles many onboard vehicle
functions previously operated using physical buttons.
Porsche Active Suspension comes standard. Essentially electronically
variable dynamic dampers that automatically adapt to whatever the
current road condition happens to be. Drivers may choose either a
Normal or Sport setting, the latter firming up settings for enhanced
control under higher speeds.
A new safety feature added to the 2020 model is Wet Mode,
helping maintain grip on slippery surfaces without sacrificing
performance. Utilizing acoustic sensors — or microphones in plain
language — mounted in the front wheel housings, these fancy
devices detect water and can adjust engine output, as well as driver
assistance systems like stability and traction management and active
aerodynamics, to compensate at the push of a button.