PORSCHE 911

Non-S Carrera fiendishly fast for a ‘base’ car

- DYLAN CAMPBELL

ENGINE 2981cc flat-six, DOHC, 24v, twin-turbo

POWER 283kW @ 6500rpm

TORQUE 450Nm @ 1950-5000rpm

0-100KM/H 4.0sec (claimed, Sport Chrono)

WEIGHT 1505kg •

PRICE $229,500

LIKE: Crazy performance; totally engrossing to drive; more front end; more comfortable

DISLIKE: Keeps getting bigger and heavier; electric exterior door handles a bit dicky

GONE ARE THE DAYS you bought the slightly slow one when you got the ‘base’ Porsche 911 Carrera. We know, because we just drove the new, 992 series around the Bathurst hinterland in New South Wales, and we’re a bit shocked how fast the thing is.

We’ll get to more of that shortly, but let’s quickly run through what’s new. For the new 992 the 911 has grown in overall dimensions yet again, now 20mm longer, 44mm wider but 5mm lower (all 911s now get the ‘widebody’ treatment). Despite increased use of aluminium in its body (now 70 per cent), at 1505kg the base Carrera is 55kg heavier than its 991.2 equivalent. The wheelbase is the same but the front and rear tracks are a whopping 50mm and 39mm wider respectively, tyre widths unchanged.