Page 88 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

COTY

Finalists

PRO Responsive powertrain • Communicative chassis • Well-executed design CON Tiny shifter • Shiny black plastic • Pricey options

2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S

amiliarity breeds contempt: That’s a lot of improvement. upped, more precise injectors
It’s easy to dismiss the 2020 It starts with the body. The fitted, and the variable valve
FPorsche 911 as … just another structure is just 30 percent steel, control system now opens one
911. But look closer. This is as compared with its predecessor’s intake valve farther than the other
beautifully rendered a 911 as has 63 percent, yet rigidity has been under partial load to reduce emis-
ever been built. improved by 5 percent. sions and improve smoothness.
The exterior—its surfacing The front fenders are 1.8 inches Larger turbochargers have elec- Perfection? Close to it. But
and detailing and proportion—is wider to accommodate a wider tronically controlled wastegates some will find the ride very firm,
simply sublime. “I couldn’t have front track and make room for the and unique housings for the left- even with the shocks in the softest
done it better,” said Callum, a forthcoming 911 hybrid’s battery and right-side units that ensure setting, and there’s always lots of
man no stranger to designing cooling system. equal-length intakes. road noise. The shiny black plastic
beautiful sports cars. The interior The wide rear fenders previ- It all comes together beautifully on the center console reflects sun
can look a bit dour unless you ously reserved for the Carrera on the road. There’s more preci- harshly. The stubby little gear-se-
spend some money, but the focus 4S are standard on all Carreras, sion in the chassis than ever, a lection lever polarizes opinion:
is the driver. And the drive expe- and overall length has increased more direct connection between “It’s for e-gamers, not serious
rience is tighter, tauter, and more 0.8 inch, all at the front of the car the road and the driver. The drivers,” Rechtin said.
communicative than ever. to meet pedestrian protection steering is delicate and precise, Oh, and it’s expensive, with few
The philosophy behind the regulations. the transmission smooth and standard goodies for the money.
design and development of The 96.5-inch wheelbase is alert, and there’s a lovely nuanced “I get making radar cruise control
this eighth-gen 911 was simple, unchanged, but chassis upgrades feel through the brake pedal. an option,” Markus said, “but I find
R&D chief Michael Steiner said: include the adoption of 20-inch “I feel a part of the car, not it obnoxious that Porsche wants
“We ignored short-term trends front wheels and 21-inch rears. apart from the car,” Walton said. me to pay extra for keyless entry.”
and focused on things we The EPS has been recalibrated to “As if by intuition, I know exactly For decades, the Porsche 911
could improve.” The 992-series be more responsive, and spring how much brake to apply, how has been the unrivaled king of
911 is longer, wider, and more rates have been stiffened. much steering to dial in, when the affordable, everyday supercars.
powerful than the car it replaces. The 3.0-liter turbo engine right moment is to apply throttle, But with launch of the accom-
It also unveils a revised engine shares crankcase, cylinder heads, and at what rate. I’m struggling to plished—and much less expen-
and suspension, plus a new oil system, and valvetrain with compare it to another car in this sive—mid-engine C8 Corvette,
transmission, new interior, and the previous 911’s powerplant. way, and I’m not sure there’s one uneasy rests the crown.
new driver assistance tech. Compression ratio has been as good as the 911.” Angus MacKenzie

SPECS 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S
Base Price/As Tested $114,650/$122,640
Power (SAE net) 443 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 390 lb-ft @ 2,300 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 2.9 sec
Quarter Mile 11.2 sec @ 124.3 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 96 ft
Lateral Acceleration 1.09 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 22.7 sec @ 0.94 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 18/24/20 mpg

Vehicle Layout Rear-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe Engine/Transmission 3.0L twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve flat-6/8-speed twin-clutch auto
Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 3,369 lb (36/64%) Wheelbase 96.5 in Length x Width x Height 178.4 x 72.9 x 50.8 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 187/140
kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.96 lb/mile

88 MOTORTREND.COM JANUARY 2020