- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
3.6TT, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
353kW, 620Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 12.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
2 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Porsche 911 Turbo
The car you have to have
There's much about Porsche's mighty 911 Turbo to take your breath away. Acceleration, braking, cornering . . . the options list. But omigosh, considering you've just paid $327,000 you might think you wouldn't have to fork out an extra $1090 for parking sensors, $2190 for a telephone module, $3990 for some metallic paint choices (others are no charge) and $8000 extra if you prefer the five-speed auto to the standard six-speed manual. Floor mats are an economical $450.
Mind you, it's probably logical to surmise that your "average" 911 Turbo buyer isn't put off by such incidentals. And if they have worked their way up the chain of Porsche models then no doubt they are used to paying plenty for extras by now.
But whether they are a serial Porsche buyer or first-timer there's no doubting the 997 - the codename for Porsche's fifth-generation vehicles - 911 Turbo's sheer ability will make a mighty impression, even if the options pricing doesn't.
This is an extreme motor car. A rear-mounted twin-turbo 3.6-litre horizontally opposed engine produces 353 kW at 6000 rpm and 620 Nm at 4600 rpm. It is transferred to the road via a new variable torque split all-wheel-drive system first developed for the Cayenne softroader.
In six-speed manual form as tested, the Turbo will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and to 160 km/h in 8.4 seconds. The auto version is even quicker thanks to the sophisticated relationship between the transmission and the new multi-plate clutch at the heart of the all-wheel-drive system.
For all that performance, Porsche claims a respectable 12.8 L/100 km average premium-fuel rate for the manual (13.6 for the auto), while the Green Vehicle Guide awards it a 3.0-star emissions rating. A Commodore SS V V8 officially averages 14.4 L/100 km/h and gets a meagre 2-star rating.
So the message is the Porsche is smart. And it needs to be. The performance potential goes way beyond normal limits, so to harness it the Turbo must be engineered to the highest standard.
There's physical evidence of that in the bevy of ducts penetrating the body and the undersides to feed cooling air to brakes and engine, the massive 19-inch rubber and the split rear wing that rises automatically to generate increased downforce.
Less obvious, but equally impressive, is the five-kilogram weight drop from the old model, the pioneering use of variable geometry turbocharging in a petrol (rather than diesel) engine and standard 350 mm brake discs and six-pot front calipers that come straight from the Carrera GT sports car.
On a racetrack where full performance potential can be tapped, the Turbo is almost gravity-defying. Its various sophisticated parts meld and mesh into one violent yet controlled whole, dedicated to accelerating, cornering and braking as fast and efficiently as possible.
On the public road, the Turbo impresses almost as much for its liveability. The engine provides supreme power and huge flexibility. Any gear any time delivers acceleration without hitches or burps. The gear change and clutch are both easy and civilised. And while the steering never hits the delicate, innate heights of rear-wheel-drive 911s, it is entirely wieldy over a broad range of uses, including the city crawl.
The biggest surprise is the ride. Yes, the tyres are massive and low profile and the suspension obviously sporting. But on its standard settings the Turbo offers compliance and comfort, so it will also perform as a day-to-day commuter.
Mind you, flick the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) to sport and the dampers firm noticeably. It's good on a racetrack but just too harsh for our patchwork public roads.
There's no shortage of things to push and flick in the turbo's cockpit. This is a busy place thanks to a plethora of buttons wrapped around the small media screen in the centre stack. It certainly takes a while to familiarise oneself with.
Still, it seems odd that there's no multi-function operations on the steering wheel, nor is it power-adjustable. If you want to change reach or rake, you'll have to do it manually just like us plebs.
Overall, the equipment level is above pauper standard but below true luxury. There is satellite navigation, climate control, leather trim, six-CD audio and extremely comfortable powered front seats. On the safety side, dual front, side and curtain airbags are standard along with stability control and ABS with EBD and BAS.
The Turbo is unimpressive - like all 911s - in the amount of storage areas it includes in the cabin. The best solution is to exploit the rear seats as they are useless for all but the smallest children. There is enough luggage space under the hood for a couple of soft bags. Naturally, Porsche can sell you some tailored luggage to fit. Cheap, too.
I wouldn't let that stuff put me off the Turbo - if I could actually afford one. There are few cars on the planet that combine this level of performance, civility and sex appeal. But I'd haggle. Porsche would have to throw in the floor mats for free.
What's it got?
- Satellite navigation
- Security alarm
- Trip computer
- Bi-xenon headlights
- Climate control
- Leather trim
- Remote central locking
- Powered front seats
- Front and rear fog lights
- Six-CD audio
- Cruise control
What's missing?
- Multifunction steering wheel
- Power adjustment of steering wheel
- Parking sensors
- Bluetooth module.