Porsche 911

New for 2017

The Porsche 911 has undergone a major update for the 2017 model year with an all-new turbocharged engine, standard active dampers, new styling with improved aerodynamics, new safety features, optional rear axle steering, and a new entertainment system.

Vehicle Summary

The 911 is Porsche’s flagship sports car. Offered as a coupe and convertible in myriad variations, it slots above the 718 Boxster convertible and 718 Cayman coupe in Porsche’s sports car lineup.

Overview

Heavily updated for 2017 but not all-new, the 911 features a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-6 engine producing 370 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque in standard trim and 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque in higher-performance “S” trim. The rear-mounted engine then drives a standard seven-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which drives either the rear wheels or all four wheels in all-wheel drive “4” models. Both the “4” all-wheel-drive system and “S” performance package can be added to the Carrera coupe, Carrera soft-top convertible, and Targa power-folding targa-style hard top models.

Also updated for 2017 is the 911 Turbo, which can be had in either coupe or soft-top convertible body styles. The Turbo model is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine making 540 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque in standard trim and 580 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque in “Turbo S” trim. All Turbo models utilize a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

EPA-estimated fuel economy ranges from 19 to 22 mpg city and 28 to 30 mpg highway for Carrera models depending on body style. Fuel economy for the Turbo model is estimated at 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway regardless of body style.

All other 911 models, such as the GT3, carry over unchanged for now as the company shifts production from the outgoing model to the new, updated model.

Safety

As Porsche elects to crash test its cars exclusively in Europe, the Porsche 911 is not crash tested by either the NHTSA or the IIHS. Despite that, the car is designed in accordance with the latest crash safety regulations and best practices. The 911 has several optional active safety features including automatic braking, active cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. New for 2017, the 911 features Porsche’s multi-collision brake system, which automatically applies the brakes again after a crash has already occurred in case there’s a second crash (common in rear-end collisions), reducing the severity of the second crash.

What We Think

In our First Drive of the 2017 Porsche 911, we found very, very little to complain about. We lauded the new engine’s improved response, the standard active damper’s enhance road holding and ride quality, and the rear steering’s noticeable contribute to improved handling. We found the turbos muted the classic Porsche engine note, as turbos typically do, but this can be partially cured with the optional sport exhaust. In our First Drive of the 911 Turbo, we found Porsche’s engineers had effectively vanquished the car’s twin demons of snap oversteer and turbo lag.

Cool Fact

All turbocharged 911s (which is most of them now) these days employ a feature called “Dynamic Boost,” which keeps the throttles open but cuts fuel flow when you lift off the gas. This keeps air flowing through the engine, which keeps the turbos spooled up, minimizing turbo lag when you get back on the gas.

Key Competitors:

Chevrolet Corvette
Audi R8
Jaguar F-Type
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
Acura NSX