PORSCHE RELEASES NEW 911 PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Porsche has released a few details of the brand new 911 Carrera and Carrera S, set to debut in South Africa in 2012. Pictures of the car were leaked a few days ago ahead of its debut at Frankfurt International Motor Show.

The two motors mentioned are a 3.4-litre Carrera and a 3.8-litre Carrera S, both naturally aspirated boxer types. The 3.4-litre has a power output of 257kW, and averages a claimed 8.2 litres per 100km when mated to the optional PDK transmission. Performance takes 4.5 seconds from naught to 100km/h and speedo stops at 288km/h. Power provided by the Carrera S is a meaty 294kW (same as the old 4.9-litre V8 BMW M5) and is said to go 0 – 100km/h in 4.2 seconds. That one achieves 8.7 litres per 100km.

The new 911 is about 45kg lighter than its predecessor, thanks to an aluminium-steel composite construction body. Still, it has a 100mm longer wheelbase and a lower overall standing height.

Carrera will start selling in the USA from February 2012 at a base MSRP of US$82 100 (R589 300), while the Carrera S will go for US$96 400 (R692 000). They are US$3 100 and US$4 500 more expensive than current respective models.