Driving the Carrera S makes me wonder what the rest of this 911 lineup has in store: Porsche says this car will end up being the second slowest variant of the group. It could alternatively be called the “oh sh*t” button, because that’s what all your passengers will say the first time you hit the button and then the gas. This button sits in the middle of a dial that selects different drive modes, and pressing it induces 20 seconds of maximum responsiveness from the engine and transmission.
It adds launch control, a more aggressive Sport Plus driving mode and a Sport Response button on the steering wheel. The Sport Chrono Package feels like a must on this car. If you don’t, the paddle shifters rip off shifts in a blink. PDK is still electronic wizardry of the best kind if you trust the transmission, it does a great job picking the right gear for every situation. The copious acceleration and chorus of pops and hisses as you lift off the pedal provide sensory delights. Its instant response to throttle inputs makes the engine feel like an extension of your foot as you drive. The 911’s powertrain is an absolute delight. Porsche says the new Carrera S will run from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds (with the optional Sport Chrono Package), which is 0.4 second faster - a significant gap in the auto world. The new engine only bumps power up 23 hp and 22 pounds-feet of torque compared with the previous-generation Carrera S, but there’s a big difference between the two cars in sheer speed. The new 911’s subtle exterior changes do a poor job hinting at the car’s performance gains.
A manual transmission of some kind will eventually be offered on the 911, but it’ll be automatic only at launch. It comes mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic (PDK in Porsche-speak) transmission.
Tucked behind the seating area is the beating heart of the 911 Carrera S: a 443-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter boxer-six-cylinder that makes 390 pounds-feet of torque. 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S | photo by Brian Wong Rear Engine, Rear Drive Some of the 911’s competitors include the new mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and front-engine 2020 Jaguar F-Type and 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT. My test vehicle was a rear-wheel-drive Carrera S with the Sport Chrono Package ($2,720) and rear-axle steering ($2,090). Expect a slew of 911 variants to rain down over the next few years offering a wide range of performance (and price tags). The 911 will initially come only in Carrera S and Carrera 4S (all-wheel-drive) coupe variants, with convertible versions of both to follow. (Per ’s ethics policy, Porsche provided only the car the trip was mine.) Over the course of about 900 miles, I got to know the new 911 quite well and found a lot to love, along with one catch I didn’t see coming. My route included a detour into the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest to let the car stretch its legs on some proper roads. I flew into Atlanta to grab a new 911 Carrera S from Porsche’s North American headquarters and head east to the Atlantic. Hop behind the wheel, however, and it will quickly become evident that it’s a very different beast.Ī weekend wedding in Charleston, S.C., provided a nice excuse to check out these changes up close. All told, these styling updates don’t add up to much - it’s still hard to pick out the new car unless you find it parked next to a previous-generation 991. The bumpers and lower valence both front and rear are different, as well, adding more dimension to the 911’s styling and playing well against the smoothness of its sides. The easiest way to pick out a 992 is from the back, where the taillights now stretch across the entire width of the car. Related: My 2020 Porsche 911 Fantasy Configuration The interior has been completely reshaped and a new engine delivers a big leap forward in performance. But to get stuck on the subtlety of the car’s surface changes would be to miss the litany of changes under the skin. The 2020 Porsche 911 continues in this vein, serving as an introduction to the model’s eighth generation (called the 992 series).
New generations of the Porsche 911 bleed together thanks to the subtlety of the car’s stylistic evolution and a strict adherence to tradition the German automaker insists upon for its most iconic model. Versus the competition: Though some competitors can keep up with the 911’s speed, none can match how it feels to drive the rear-engine Porsche.
The verdict: The new generation of the 911 ups the car’s performance ceiling, and its effortless thrills spoil you - perhaps too much. 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S | photo by Brian Wong