The Porsche 911 is finally in India. Porsche officially launching its entire range in the country. The 911 Carrera S has a more powerful engine. The shape is instantly recognisable, and prettier, having dropped the previous version’s runny-egg headlamps in favour of traditional ovals.  The chassis has been updated as well, with better safety equipment, upgraded suspension and better chassis electronics.

 

The quality of the interiors is top-class. Neat and perfectly formed, the powered seats are supportive and you can spend hours behind the wheel happily, with every creature comfort available. Look around the cabin and you will find a small button that operates the active damper system that adjusts both the ride height and the electronically controlled dampers. Drivers can choose between two settings - a comfort-style setting that has a slightly softer ride quality till the driver starts hustling her when the system automatically adopts a tauter stance and a track biased Sport setting wherein the dampers cancel out pitch and yaw and make for a faster track tool. The rear seats, if you can call them that, are only for kids, unless the front passenger is willing to be really cramped. But on the whole, this is a surprisingly user-friendly super car.

 

The 350mm Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are the ultimate word in braking systems and are gripped by four-piston calipers finished in yellow (red are for the standard 300mm steel discs). Power is channeled to the rear wheels by either a six-speed manual or in our case a Tiptronic auto ‘box that has a manual over-ride via toggle switches on the steering wheel.

 

The new Porsche 911 Carrera S’ motor is sharp, nasal and deep at low engine speeds. A 3.8-litre flat-six, the engine makes a terrifying 355bhp, enough for over 280kph, and spine-snapping acceleration. The gearbox is one of the best around, and the performance will make distances seem half as long. The car was fitted with the Sports Chrono package that allows the driver to set various parameters (revs, throttle response etc) to suit his driving style and mood.

The 911 is an exceptional driver’s car, with blade-sharp, perfectly-weighted steering, excellent, multi-mode PASM active suspension.

 

The S version that puts out the aforesaid 355bhp of power and 400Nm of torque from the 3824cc, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timed and switch able intake manifold equipped boxer six. All of which rockets the Carrera S to 100kmph in 4.8sec, 160kmph in 10.7sec, 200kmph in 16.5sec and a top speed of 293kmph. The S has an incredibly low centre of gravity due to that flat six motor, and with its engine slung out back, its full weight over the rear wheels in time-honoured tradition, there’s fantastic traction from the fat, 295 tyres at the rear.

 

Aiding aforesaid track work is variable ratio rack and pinion steering that’s brilliantly responsive and direct making the 911 feel like a racing car. While the standard 911 comes with 18-inch wheels, our S was shod with the full-on 19-inch wheels running 235/35 and massive 295/30 Michelin Pilot Sports. In fact check out any 911 from the rear and she looks awesome riding on those impossibly wide tyres.

Filed under: Porsche Cars in India