Sporting and comfortable all in one
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911 Carrera / Carrera SPorsche proudly presents the 911 in two outstanding versions: the 239 kW (325 bhp) 911 Carrera featuring a 3.6-litre flat-six power unit and the 911 Carrera S powered by a 261 kW (355 bhp) 3.8-litre.
3.8-litre power unit in the 911 Carrera S The flat-six power unit featured in the 911 Carrera largely corresponds to the proven 3.6-litre already well known from the former model. Indeed, Porsche has decided in response to many customer requests to keep this high-tech engine in production, while optimising the cylinder charge cycle and increasing engine output as a result to 239 kW or 355 bhp. Proceeding from this starting point, Porsche's engineers have developed an even more im-pressive high-performance power unit displacing 3.8 litres in the 911 Carrera S. To achieve maximum output of 261 kW or 355 bhp, plus maximum torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft, Porsche's engineers have not just enlarged cylinder bore from 96 to 99 millimetres (3.78 - 3.89"), but have also tuned the cylinder charge cycle to the new geometry of the combustion chamber. Benefiting from this extra power and muscle, the 911 Carrera S accelerates from a stand-still to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and takes just 6.1 seconds in fifth gear to complete the sprint from 80 km/h (50 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph). Both the 911 Carrera and the 911 Carrera S outperform the EU 4 emission standard and naturally come with that unique, inimitable sound so typical of the Porsche 911. Innovative six-speed gearbox for both 911s Offering 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft maximum torque, the Porsche 911 Carrera S boosts the power and performance of Porsche's six-cylinder to a new dimension requiring the development of a new gearbox. Hence, both models come with the same, all-new six-speed manual gearbox with a particular feature: Despite the larger diameter of the shafts and wider gears able to convey more power and torque (which also means they are heavier), overall weight of the manual gearbox benefits from intelligent lightweight construction and remains almost unchanged. And Tiptronic S optimised in its gearshift program and quality is of course available as an alternative to the six-speed manual transmission. Updated chassis and suspension for active damping The basic suspension of the 911 Carrera is 30 millimetres or 1.18" wider than on the former model and has been re-set in its ride features. The driver's steering commands are conveyed to the front wheels for the first time by rack-and-pinion steering and the Carrera is now also available with two additional options on the chassis and suspension: The active PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) suspension system and sports suspension lowering the entire car by 20 millimetres or 0.79" which, operating in conjunction with a mechanical differential lock on the rear axle, offers the ultimate in fast, dynamic and uncompromising performance. Porsche Active Suspension Management comes as an option on the 911 Carrera and is standard on the 911 Carrera S. Operating a button in the centre console, the driver using PASM has the choice of two suspension programs: The "Normal" setup offers a more comfortable damper setting automatically changing to the sporting mode as soon as the driver switches over to a more dynamic style of motoring. The advantage, particularly on long trips on the Autobahn, is a significant increase in comfort and motoring pleasure. The "Sports" setting, in turn, maintains harder damper control for an extremely agile and dyna-mic style of motoring otherwise only provided by an all-out sports suspension. The reduc-tion of body movement in this case ensures even faster lap times on the race track, various measure-ments on Nürburgring revealing an average improvement by 5 seconds compared with the standard suspension. Larger wheels on the 911 The current generation of the Porsche Carrera marks the first-ever change in wheel circum--ference in the history of the 911, up by 2.5 per cent on the front and 5 per cent on the rear wheels. The result is significantly better transmission of power through the reduction of specific tyre loads, a reduction in tyre pressure at least under certain conditions, and an even higher standard of performance. In practice, this means that the 911 in Carrera S trim comes for the first time on 19-inch wheels running on 235/35 ZR 19 tyres at the front and 295/30 ZR 19 tyres at the rear. The current Carrera, in turn, comes in standard trim on 18-inch wheels. Excellent stopping power guaranteed The 911 Carrera comes to a large extent with the same high-performance brake system already featured on the former model. Only the boost factor on the brake servo has been increased by 17 per cent to 4.5:1, giving the brakes even more spontaneous response and reducing brake forces to an even lower level than before. Reflecting its enhanced performance, the 911 Carrera S features an updated brake system for even better deceleration and stopping power. Larger in diameter than before, the main brake cylinder ensures an even better feeling for the brake pedal with an even more precise pressure point. Compared with the 911 Carrera, the S-model comes with larger, reinforced four-piston monobloc fixed callipers both front and rear (finished in red to provide a clear sign of distinction). The innervented, cross-drilled brake discs are also larger than before, now measuring 330 millimetres or 13.00" on both the front and rear wheels. This is combined with the use of larger brake pads to increase the overall, effective swept area of the brakes and extend the service life of the brake pads accordingly. Over and above the reinforced brake system, the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S are both available as an option with PCCB Ceramic Composite Brakes. In conjunction with the brake linings tailored especially to these brakes, the ceramic brake discs immediately build up high and, in particular, consistent brake friction during the application process. For the first time the new Carrera comes with further enhanced ceramic brake discs featuring interior cooling ducts of new design pumping even more cool air through the spinning discs. A further positive side-effect of the larger number of cooling ducts is the greater stiffness and rigidity of the discs. Sporting character at the touch of a button The Sports Chrono Package Plus offers the driver a particularly sporting set-up of various functions on the car, enhancing the sports driving experience to a standard never achieved before: Just pressing a button, you change the gas pedal control map, engine behaviour at the speed limit and under load change, the intervention thresholds of PSM, as well as the PASM and Tiptronic S map control curves. Indeed, the Sports Chrono program even gives the driver the option to mastermind these benefits through efficient time management: Pressing the on-board computer control stalk on the steering column, the driver is able to start an analogue/digital stopwatch on the instrument panel. Then, entering simple commands at the touch of a button, he can clock, add up and save lap times. The date recorded in this way can then be called up by Porsche Communication Management and evaluated graphically on the monitor. Passive safety of a new dimension Efficient reinforcement of the body structure gives the 911 Coupé a very high level of crash safety, particularly in an offset crash. The restraint system as such is supplemented by no less than six airbags, including two doublestage fullsize frontal airbags and the enhanced POSIP Porsche Side Impact Protection system comprising a thorax airbag on the outer side of the front seat armrests and the firstever head airbag of its kind in the door. When not in use, the head airbag remains concealed in the window sill on the lower edge of the side window. In a side impact, in turn, the 8-litre headbag inflates to form a kind of flat cushion. The result is excellent protection for the occupant's head both in an impact against the side window or when possibly hitting other objects such as debris. New interior architecture The lower seating position, the steering wheel also adjustable for height, and the pedals moved further to the front offer extra comfort particularly for the tall driver. Highly sophisticated materials, in turn, add unique flair and style. And the Porsche Carrera now comes as standard with PCM Porsche Communication Management conveniently supplemented as an option by a number of additional modules. The main advantage and forte of the excellent seats is the extra support they provide at the side, the seat frame contours holding the side cushions even more firmly than before. On the sports seats available as an option, side support is another 50 per cent greater than on the standard seats, and the adaptive sports seat concept even allows the driver to adjust the side support elements on the seat bottom and the backrest individually to his or her requirements. Reduced cost of ownership Purchasers of the Porsche 911 will be happy to note that the extra power, dynamism and equipment offered by their car comes with a significant reduction in the cost of ownership: Service intervals of the 911 Carrera are up from 20,000 km or 12,000 miles to 30,000 km or 18,000 miles. Given average annual mileage of 15,000 km or 9,000 miles, this means less time at the workshop and a reduction of regular maintenance by 25 per cent within four years. Numerous individual improvements serve furthermore to significantly reduce the cost of repair after minor bumps and accidents. Particularly around the front end of the car a wide range of optimisations such as new impact elements in the bumper efficiently protect the body of the car from significant damage in minor collisions.
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Both models come with a six-speed gearbox
and up-dated suspension featuring active damper control as standard on the
911 Carrera S. This intelligent suspension control system appropriately named
PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) is also available as an option
on the "regular" 911 Carrera, giving the two coupés in their classic
911 line an unprecedented standard and quality of driving dynamics: Benefitting
from this sophisticated technology, a routined driver at the wheel of the
911 Carrera S is now able to lap the "Nordschleife", the Northern Circuit
of Nürburgring, some 20 seconds faster than in the former 911 (996).