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New Porsche 911 Carrera headed for SA

Johannesburg - The 911 Carerra, one of the world's best-selling sports cars, has gone turbocharged in 2015.

That's the biggest news from Porsche as it launches a new generation of its iconic rear-engined sports car.

The new 911 Carerra sports new turbo flat-six engines, an advanced chassis and a new infotainment system. 

Get used to a turbocharged Carrera

Porsche says the new engines feature bi-turbocharging. The Carrera is capable of 272kW/450Nm (up from 257kW/390Nm) and Carrera S produces 309kW/500Nm (up from 294kW/440Nm). Both use a three-litre flat six unit with a boxer layout.

Porsche boasts efficiency gains too but will buyers care?

Rear-axle steering, is now available as an option for the Carrera models for the first time. The Carerra's steering wheel is based on the 918.

Performance

What fans of Zuffenhausen really want to know are the sprint times: the 911 Carrera Coupe with PDK and sport chrono pack takes 4.2 seconds to hit 100km/h, marginally quicker than the outgoing version.

The 911 Carrera S (with PDK and sport chrono) package reaches 100km/h in 3.9 sec (also 0.2 sec faster).

This makes it the first 911 in the Carrera family to undercut the magic four second mark. Top speeds for both models are higher: Carrera now has a top speed of 295km/h, with the Carrera S topping out at 308km/h.

Sport chrono pack

The optional Sport Chrono Package, used in the 918 Spyder, allows the driver to switch between four driving modes via a button on the steering wheel; normal, sport, sport plus and individual. A 'sport response button' provides maximum acceleration for 20 seconds.

The new Carerra uses four-point daytime running lights, a redesigned rear with new tail lights.

Inside, the new sports car is equipped with an updated Porsche communication management (PCM) system with a multi-touch display which now offers handwritten gestures.

PASM, now standard

Porsche now offers Porsche active suspension management chassis, which drops the ride height by 10mm (standard on all variants). Wider rear tyres on the 911 Carrera S are increased from 295mm to 305mm.


You can expect the new Porsche 911 Carrera models in February 2016. Prices will be made available closer to launch. 

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