Technology mandates and the new Porsche 911, how could it be otherwise, is the most technological ever conceived. However, the objective of the Stuttgart brand has been to maintain the essence of its most iconic model: thus, past and future go hand in hand, staying true to its philosophy but opening a window to the future and with an eye on Hybridization.
After telling you the first details, it is important to know the Porsche 911 992 technologically. For this we have gone to Stuttgart, heart of the German brand, where we have revealed many of the secrets of the new generation of 911. Technology is the main protagonist in this new release, which has taken a qualitative leap in dynamics, connectivity and driving assistance, in keeping with new trends.
But all this, seeking to maintain the sporting essence and enjoyment at the wheel, a path marked by that first Porsche 911 born in 1963, whose name, by the way, had to change from 901 to 911 because Peugeot denounced Porsche, as it had the rights of the denominations with figures that contained a zero …
1. New platform with an eye on hybridization
To make the new Porsche 911 a reality, the German automaker has developed a completely new platform with an eye on the future. Its name is MMB, acronym that in German is translated as Modular platform of Central Motor.
This new architecture, on which the whole 911 family will be conceived as well as the 718, will host two generations of the 911, the newly launched and the next, so it is planned to be active for the next twelve years.
From the brand we are confirmed that it is ready to accommodate hybrid mechanics, so it is expected that in the not too distant future, the Porsche 911 will be hybridized, either as a hybrid variant or incorporating this technology in any of its many versions.
Do not forget that the Taycan, the first electric production of Porsche, will share factory with families 911 and 718: the new zero-emission sports car will be manufactured in the Zuffenhausen plant, which in essence is the heart of the German brand where it gives out its sports models.
2. Most powerful engine and new eight-speed PDK gearbox
Yes, the rear propeller that gives life to the Porsche 911 992 is, in essence, the same as the previous generation mounted, so we speak of a boxer type of six opposite cylinders. However, this has been optimized to increase its power and improve efficiency.
Thus, this new generation of Flat Six 3.0-liter engines increases its power to 450 HP compared to the 420 hp of the previous Carrera S, as does the torque, which goes from 500 Nm to 530 Nm, available between 2,300 and 5,000 rpm. This is a step forward as a power, putting up with the outgoing 911 GTS.
This is achieved thanks to the new turbocharging system, consisting of two symmetrical turbos, which increase slightly in size, in addition to having an electric discharge valve instead of mechanical and optimize the intake flow in the catalyst.
Also, the intercooler is now placed above the engine, which delays its position, so it is now larger and improves cooling. In this way, the turbo offers an improved response when the engine has not yet reached the optimum temperature.
On the other hand, Porsche has also improved its Vario Cam Plus technology, with a new asymmetric variable distribution with up to five differentiated injection phases, which, according to the brand’s engineers, has contributed to improve consumption and emissions of the new 911, offering in addition a greater smoothness of operation.
The mixed consumption of the Porsche 911 992 is estimated at 8.9 l / 100 in the case of the Carrera S and in 9.0 l / 100 km in the Carrera 4S, with an emissions of 205 g / km and 206 g / km of CO2 respectively.
To all these developments is added the new eight-ratio PDK change (released in the Porsche Panamera ) that, compared to the previous seven-speed, offers new rates of change, being the first gear shorter and the octave rather longer compared to the seventh previous.
This helps an improved dynamic response, as well as greater efficiency, supporting a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm. The new 911 is capable of reaching its maximum speed, 308 km / h, in the sixth gear.
In addition, the 911 992 makes use of predictive data so that the change reacts at the precise moment before a slope, ascending or descending, or before a vehicle that finds its way, reducing or increasing gait as the situation requires.
Finally, the exhaust system now incorporates, as required by the regulations, a particulate filter. For this reason, the system has had to be calibrated to compensate for the back pressure of the exhaust gases and, likewise, to maintain the emotional sound required by 911.
3. Asymmetric wheels
For the first time in its history, the Porsche 911 mounted different diameters for its tires, being 20 inches in the front and 21 inches in the rear, on which are mounted a high performance Pirelli P-Zero tires.
Thanks to the greater diameter of the rim, as well as the exterior of the tire, the Porsche 911 992 improves in stability, offering a more linear behavior on the asphalt and a better dynamic and braking response, both dry and wet and reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
In the Stuttgart sports car, the diameter of the brake discs is also increased by 20 millimeters, in addition to the thickness. As standard, the Porsche 911 Carrera S and Carrera 4S have cast iron brakes whose dimensions are 350 x 34 mm and 350 x 28 mm, which differ, as usual, from their red six-piston front calipers and four behind.
Optionally, PCCB carbocerámicos brakes can be mounted, which are distinguished by yellow clamps (also six and four pistons), which have larger dimensions: 410 x 36 mm and 390 x 32 mm.
The Porsche 911 992 reduces its braking distance by 1 meter when driving at 100 km / h and by 12 meters when going at 300 km / h.
4. Mechatronics and wet mode
The new Porsche 911 incorporates a good handful of benefits that combine mechanical and electronic and that help improve your dynamic response automatically and intelligently. Equip five sensors capable of reading the different situations faced by the sports car and act automatically on its advanced PTM traction system (in the case of the Carrera 4S), the direction of the PSM stability control, the change or in the new system of damping with electronically controlled Bilstein DTX technology.
In addition, one of the main technological innovations of the Porsche 911 992 is the incorporation of the Wet Mode driving mode, which comes in addition to the already known Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual (personalized). Automatically, thanks to the sensor located inside the wheel arch, the system detects if the firm is wet, so it automatically adjusts both the PTM and the PSM.
Also, the 911 alerts the driver, advising to activate the Wet Mode. In doing so, it acts directly on the propeller, reducing the total power by 20%, the gearbox, the aerodynamics and the self-locking differential. We were able to test its effectiveness at the Hockenheim circuit in the 911 Carrera S and we were surprisingly surprised, especially in the high-speed cornering, where there was lost griping, it stopped doing so.
5. More assistive technology and night vision
With respect to the previous generation, the Porsche 911 992 equips numerous benefits in regard to assistance to driving that add to the systems that already had.
Among them stands out the warning assistant and automatic braking for collision risk with pedestrian detector, the lane maintenance system with signal detector, the alert for cross-tracked traffic or the blind spot assistant, as well as parking attendant both front as back. The latter improves thanks to the new environment cameras that allow adjusting the environment display from the new 911 display with up to three different positions.
The new 911 is equipped with ultrasonic sensors and four environment cameras, to which is added a long-range front radar and an infrared camera. All information collected by these systems is managed from an advanced central processor.
Adaptive cruise control has also been optimized, which now incorporates the stop and go function and is also more accurate thanks to the built-in radar.
In the same way, although optionally, the Matrix LED headlights incorporate PDLS Plus adaptive lighting technology. Each matrix has 84 points of light, which turn off or on depending on what you find in your path, avoiding other vehicles that may come in front or even, if a pedestrian detects, flashes to alert you of our presence.
Another of the main novelties is the night vision assistant, which collects the information taken by the infrared camera and detects both pedestrians and large animals (with a cat or a dog, a priori does not work). The image is shown to the driver in one of the four clocks available to his new digital instrumentation, with pedestrians or animals marked in yellow, which turn red if there is a risk of imminent collision.
The infrared camera works perfectly at low temperatures, but disconnects when the outside temperature exceeds 27º.
6. More connected and with intelligent voice assistant
The new Porsche 911 has continued the path of that first 911 in terms of instrumentation, offering up to five different clocks. However, four of them are digital and customizable (they are integrated into two 7-inch screens) and only the tachometer is analog.
To this is added a gigantic 10.9-inch full-HD touch screen from which the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system, compatible with Apple CarPlay, is operated. This has proximity sensor, through infrared, which displays the menus and more information when it detects that we are approaching the hand. Meanwhile, the screen offers the information as clean and minimized as possible, showing what is essential for the driver.
This system has configurable quick access widgets and equips an advanced navigator with real-time traffic information and points of interest. In addition, if we click on them, for example at a gas station, a parking or a trade, it shows us the prices of the service station or parking lot as well as the opinions of customers, which takes both Google and a database own. In addition, they confirm that in the future they intend to expand this information with the integration of other platforms such as TripAdvisor.
Added to this is the intelligent virtual assistant Connected Speech, which includes voice commands such as “I’m cold”, increasing the temperature automatically, or “I’m hungry”, showing the nearest restaurants in the browser. Finally, Porsche launches the Porsche Connect App, allowing to manage some parameters of the car remotely.
