Porsche Spooling up a New Turbo
Porsche’s Turbo used to be the ultimate sports car. Capable of daily use and even snow friendly by virtue of its excellent all wheel drive system, it’s ability to compete with the best of the supercars was just icing on the cake. And then came the GTR, with its amazing gadgetry, unparalleled speed and performance, and lower price tag.
But Porsche is finally firing back with an updated 911 Turbo, set to be shown at Frankfurt. Equipped with a few exterior updates, it’s the new twin turbocharged 3.8L flat six that’s making headlines. Upping horsepower to an even 500 courtesy of the increased lung capacity (and yes, the turbochargers are still of the amazing variable vane type) and direct injection. Fuel mileage is increased, now hitting 9.7L per hundred kilometres in manual trim, while mileage for the new seven speed PDK transmission improves upon the old slushbox’s by almost two litres per hundred km’s (9.5 previously to 11.3 currently).
The all wheel drive system is also revised, now supplying a more rearward-biased driving attitude and the PSM stability management system will also give more freedom to spirited drivers before cutting in and catching potentially lethal situations. All in all, a more hard core driving tool that should bring the Turbo back in line with its previous supercar beating roots.
