2011 Porsche 911: What's New

Vehicle Overview

Porsche’s rear-engine flagship 911 comes in more than a dozen variants, and more are on the way, including the GT2 RS, which Porsche says is its fastest, most powerful street-legal model ever. At the low end, the car competes with the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and BMW 6 Series; higher-performing trims are in a price range with the Maserati GranTurismo and Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

New for 2011

Three new models are on tap, including the 911 GT2 RS, which comes with a 620-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.6-liter six-cylinder that generates a 205-mph top speed, making it Porsche’s fastest street model ever. Just 500 units will be built for global sales. Also new are the 911 Turbo S (530 hp) and GT3 RS (450 hp). All 911 models now come with Bluetooth hands-free phone and MP3 audio interfaces.

Two more 911 variants are headed for the U.S.: the 911 Speedster and 911 Carrera GTS; both debuted in October at the Paris Motor Show.

Exterior

The 911 is offered as a soft-top convertible, metal-roofed coupe or glass-roofed Targa. A rear spoiler deploys at 75 mph to enhance high-speed stability; the 911 Turbo has a fixed spoiler. Exterior features include:

• Bi-xenon headlights
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Available 19-inch alloys
• Available adaptive suspension
• Dual or quad exhaust pipes
• Rear-mounted engine, with small luggage area under the hood
• Glass hatch (Targa)
• Power-operated soft-top (convertible)

Interior

The four-seat interior has a purposeful layout and stiffly bolstered seats, though only the front seats are habitable by adults. The rear seatbacks fold to form a makeshift cargo shelf. Front sport seats with larger bolsters are optional, as are non-adjustable racing buckets. Interior features include:

• Automatic climate control
• Retractable glass roof with power sunshades (Targa)
• Partial leather seats, with full leather optional
• Optional leather-wrapped dashboard
• Standard Bluetooth and MP3 interfaces
• Optional navigation system
• Optional Bose surround-sound system and full iPod integration
• Optional power-adjustable seats with memory driver’s seat

Under the Hood

The 911’s horizontally opposed six-cylinder engines measure 3.6 or 3.8 liters, depending on the model. The 911 Turbo’s 3.8-liter engine makes 500 hp, and the Turbo S has 530 hp. The GT3 has a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter that produces 435 hp (450 in the GT3 RS) and comes only with a six-speed manual transmission. The 911 Carrera has a 3.6-liter six-cylinder, and Carrera S models use a 3.8-liter six-cylinder. Both are available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed PDK automatic. Mechanical features include:

• 3.6-liter six-cylinder makes 345 hp and 288 pounds-feet of torque (Carrera/Targa)
• 3.8-liter six-cylinder makes 385 hp and 310 pounds-feet of torque (Carrera/Targa S)
• Standard six-speed manual
• Available seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto-manual with paddle shifters
• Available Sport Chrono Package Plus with performance modes for heightened accelerator sensitivity and swifter PDK shifting
• Rear- or all-wheel drive
• Turbo has 500 hp, all-wheel drive and manual or PDK transmission
• Turbo S has 530 hp, all-wheel drive and PDK transmission
• GT2 RS has 620 hp, twin-turbo 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive and six-speed manual

Safety

Available adaptive headlights swivel up to 15 degrees to illuminate corners better. Standard safety features include:

• Dual front airbags
• Seat-mounted side-impact airbags
• Door-mounted side curtain airbags (included on convertibles, too)
• Pop-up rollover bars behind rear seats (convertibles)
• All-disc antilock brakes with high-performance ceramic brakes optional
• Electronic stability system
• Traction control