Porsche 911 is a legend, because, for over five decades, every successive iteration of the rear-engined sports car has upped the ante in performance and handling. The eighth-generation Porsche 911 has gone on sale in India in Carrera S Coupe and Cabriolet forms. The range will expand with the arrival of more hardcore versions in the future ensuring there will be a 911 for every type of sportscar buyer. Porsche 911 is iconic in shape and is identifiable as one from a mile away. As ever, the latest 992 series car is evolutionary in its design through the standard wide-body look and the light strip at the rear does give it some distinction among 911s. You sit low in a 911 but the view out is exceptional, all the controls are perfectly positioned, and everything is well thought out and feels built to last.
For 2021, Porsche makes a handful of small changes to the 911. The flashiest update is the newly introduced Python Green paint. The standard 911 also inherits options from the pricier and more powerful Turbo and Turbo S variants. These include the 930 Leather package that spruces up the interior as well as lightweight insulated glass that both saves weight and reduces noise. Porsche also gifts the 2021 911 with programmable GPS capability for the optional front-axle lift system that knows when to raise the nose at specific locations.
As beautiful as it looks, the Porsche 911 new model is a relatively small sports car. While the overall design has been updated to match the modern scenarios, the lines and the overall stance still reminds that of the original 911 from back in the day. Therefore, you still can’t mistake 911 for something else on the road, be it in any generation.
Under the hood, the Porsche 911 comes with a sole engine-gearbox combination. It’s the company’s 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged engine, which is good for 444bhp and 530Nm of torque. It comes mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as a standard fit. The engine is mounted at the rear and rear-wheel-drive configuration is standard across the range.
The front-end looks intimidating with its large air dams and long bumpers. The headlamps sport a retro-circular design but are replete with LEDs. The flared wheel arches and massive wheels give the Porsche a nice and purposeful stance. The rear gets a single-piece LED taillamp – with 3D Porsche lettering – and quad exhausts.
As is the case with any Porsche, the 911’s interior exudes sportiness and a sense of unmatched quality. The driver sits facing an analogue rev counter, which is further flanked by two digital screens. A steering wheel is a three-spoke unit, which also houses various controls for the infotainment system and cruise control. The infotainment system, in itself, is extremely informative and offers crisp graphics.
