Monday, February 8, 2010

PORSCHE 911 TURBO S DESCRIBED


Porsche pegs the acceleration of its new 911 Turbo S at 3.3 seconds to 60 miles an hour. If Porsche says 3.3, auto enthusiast publications are bound to see the Turbo S come in at 3.0 seconds or less. 0-60 isn't everything, as I always say, but those numbers are still staggering for a car that's significantly less expensive than much of its opposition.

530 horsepower (up 30) and 516 lb-ft of torque (up 36 lb-ft) are startling numbers for any variation of the Porsche Turbo. As recently as 2001, the garden variety 996 Turbo generated "just" 415 horsepower. Once horsepower figures rise this high there is an element of ambiguity, like government deficits of $1Trillion or $1.2Trillion invoking the same guttural response despite the truly vast difference. To be sure, 415 horsepower was more than plenty; which makes 530 in the new Turbo S absolutely OTT.

Not that I'm complaining. Although no fan of the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet - or the droptop option on this new Turbo S - the Porsche 911 in all trim levels.... from every generation.... no matter the designation, is an effective and practical and iconic means of traveling.

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