Porsche 911 Carrera facelift revealed with new turbo engine

The new standard Porsche Communication Management system with a multi-touch display offers an expanded range of functions and simplified usability. Porsche is adamant the traditional flat-six character hasn’t been lost, and is keen to emphasize the 7,500rpm rev limit of the new engine. The selector is derived from that on the 918 Spyder and includes Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual settings that, depending on which options are selected, manipulate the settings for the transmission (on PDK-equipped cars), exhaust, PASM, and the engine stop-start feature.

The new 911 Carrera Turbo has been revealed ahead of the Frankfurt motor show, featuring a new 3.0-litre flat-six engine.

Why has Porsche decided to end over 60 years of tradition by switching from naturally aspirated boxer engines to turbocharged variants for its sports cars? This doesn’t just make it faster than the previous-generation Turbo S and GT2, but also brings it deliciously close to the 7.28.71 time of the Carrera GT.

Externally you might not notice the visual changes to the model instantly, but there’s a new headlight design, bumpers, wheel design and engine cover for starters.

Both models benefit from increases in output of 15kW/60Nm, the base Carrera now generating 272kW/450Nm and the Carrera S 309kW/500Nm.

The new turbocharged flat-six engines list power figures of 272kW in the 911 Carrera and 309kW in the 911 Carrera S – an increase of 15kW for both.

The switch to turbocharging delivers predictably faster acceleration, with a new 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds claimed for the 911 Carrera Coupe – a two-tenths improvement – when matched with the PDK transmission and Sport Chrono package.

The new 911 isn’t just about performance though.

Moreover, with the right options – more on those to follow, of course – a 911 Carrera S will now reach 62mph in 3.9 seconds and a 191mph.

And despite the additional power, Porsche has realised its ambition to make the 911 more frugal (and less emitting) with economy now improving (on the official cycle ) to 38.2mpg with emissions of 169g/km when you opt for the PDK ‘box.

Add in the new rear-axle steering available for the Carrera S and the Sport Chrono package, which allows the driver to set the vehicle up in the desired configuration, and the new 911 manages a ten-second improvement in lap time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, tackling the infamous 73-corner, 13-mile “Green Hell” in seven minutes and 30 seconds.

Expect the new 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera to arrive in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other GCC countries sometime middle of next year. The Carrera cabriolet is $5500 more ($102,695), while the Carrera S cabriolet is now $4900 dearer ($116,695). The latter aids maneuverability at low speeds and increases accuracy and confidence at higher speeds.

Complimenting the new turbocharged engine and optional driving modes is a reworked chassis, with both the 911 Carrera and Carrera S receiving a newly tuned PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) system which provides a 10mm reduction in nominal ride height as standard. Smartphones can be connected to the system through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, as well as support for Apple CarPlay connectivity. This state of the art navigation system also receives Google Earth and Google Streetview integration while a new smartphone tray is on hand, integrated into the central armrest which also acts as a charger while optimizing mobile phone recognition.