Porsche 911 Carrera bids avidazen to natural aspiration

The Porsche 911 Carrera is saying farewell to natural aspiration for the 2017 model year, welcoming turbocharging to the fold for the first time in the model's history.

Both 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S models will see their naturally-aspirated six-cylinders replaced with twin-turbocharged units that are more powerful and efficient while making the cars faster.

Going the way of the turbocharger means both 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S models will be powered by the same 3.0-litre flat sixes, with the former making 370 horsepower and 331 lb.-ft. of torque, and the latter making 420 horsepower and 368 lb.-ft. of torque—all improvements compared to the outgoing version.

The 2017 911 Carrera models are "almost twelve per cent more efficient" than their predecessors, according to Porsche, while being faster, both in terms of top speed and 0 to 100 km/h times.

Both versions are .2 seconds quicker from a dead stop to 100 km/h than the outgoing cars, while the base Carrera has a top speed of 295 km/h, and the upgraded S maxes out at 307 km/h.

Also new for 2017 is the addition of optional rear-axle steering on the 911 Carrera S, adopted from the current 911 Turbo and 911 GT3.

A revised version of Porsche Active Suspension Management lowers the ride height by 10 millimetres all around, while the front end can be raised by 40 millimetres to help clear speed bumps with an optional electro-hydraulic lift system.

All new 911 Carrera variants come with standard seven-speed manual transmissions, with Porsche's smooth-shifting PDK offered as optional equipment.

Expect the twin-turbo'd Carrera to hit dealers in the spring of 2016.