Porsche 911 Turbo: Review from Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson takes on the new 911 Turbo. A nice read.

This becomes obvious when you look at the new Porsche 997 Turbo in the 911 series. You’ll note it’s the 997, which means it’s one newer and one better than the 996. But it isn’t one better at all. It’s millions better. If I’d made it, I’d have called it the Porsche Jesus Christ Almighty Would You Look At That Bastard Go.

Of course, it’s the same basic shape as all previous 911s but the engine is completely different. In fact it’s completely different to any engine we’ve ever seen before because the turbos have variable vane technology. This means they work like small boosters when the revs are low — good for immediate response — and rockets when the revs are high.

The upshot is 473bhp, which doesn’t sound like much. But if you put your foot down, I promise, all thoughts of a power shortage will be gone immediately. Because this car doesn’t accelerate. It teleports. Bang, and you’re in the next space and time continuum.

The figures suggest there are faster cars, and on a track there are. The Ferrari 430, for instance. There are cars, too, that are more fun to drive; the Pagani Zonda springs to mind here, and the Ferrari again for that matter. But on a normal everyday road, where a Zonda’s massive rear flanks don’t fit and a Ferrari’s low nose keeps graunching, you can exploit all of the Porsche’s power and torque all of the time. In the real world nothing could hang on to the tail of a Turbo. Nothing.

Related news: GermanCarBlog, P4MR, Porsche 911 Turbo

Source: Times Online

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