While this is the first official unveiling of Porsche’s 8th generation 992 911, it almost seems like old news. This is to be expected when one of the most iconic and significant cars on the planet undergoes a major overhaul. Spy shots, stories and rumors on the 992 have circulated on the internet for months and months!
To tamper with such a car could be disastrous, especially when the formula’s so perfectly calibrated and honed. Some will say that the 5th generation 996 was more of a miss but that has been all but completely dismissed.
The new 992 picks up where the astounding 991 and deliciously analog 997 have left off thanks to next-generation powertrains, chassis dynamics and all the latest infotainment and safety technologies.
Let’s start with the real good stuff. The 2020 Carrera S and Carrera 4S will be the first to hit the road. And hit they will as the turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-6-cylinder engine now produces 443-horsepower, or 23 more than the outgoing 991.2 Carrera S. Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels via a newly developed 8-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.
Altogether, the Carrera will reach 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. The S, in 3.6 seconds. The optional Sport Chrono package chops an extra 0.2 seconds – the is seriously fast! You and I are both thinking that the Turbo will re-write the laws of physics. There’s no word in the press release about a manual transmission but this is Porsche so all in good time.
Styling-wise, the 992 is 1,000% a Porsche 911. The highlights include the fact that the car is massively wider, and muscular. Up front, the 992 spreads 45mm further across than the 991 and the huge front wheel arches cover 20-inch wheels. In the rear, the equally large flares arch over 21-inch wheels for an incredibly powerful yet subtle stance. New for the 992 is that all trims will feature identical rear widths. In the past, the Carrera S was wider than the basic Carrera.
The front bonnet is more recessed than previously, evoking design cues from the first 911 generations. Out back, all 911s will get a variable-position rear spoiler which hovers above the much talked-about horizontal light bar.
The cabin moves forward with more elegant and luxurious touches that Porsche buyers now expect. The center-piece is a 10.9-inch screen as part of the PCM. Below it is a compact switch unit with five buttons that give occupants direct access to the more important vehicle functions.
The most notable safety advancement is Porsche new Wet Mode. Its job is to detect water on the surface, preconditions the car and even warns the driver. Consider it a snow mode for rainy weather.
The all-new 2020 Porsche 911 is already available for ordering in Canada. Pricing for the Carrera S starts at $129,100 while the Carrera 4S begins at $137,400. Deliveries and the first units will arrive in the fall of 2019.
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
2020 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S | Photo: Porsche
