Preview: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera

Apparently there is a market for those that can’t decide between the Carrera S or the 911 GT3. Well, Porsche will cater to that group at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Positioned above the current Porsche Carrera S and below the 911 GT3, the new 2011 Porsche 911 GTS  gets 23 more horsepower than the Carrera S and 27 less than the GT3.

The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera

Power comes from a 3.8L flat 6-cylinder engine making 408-hp with a maximum torque of 310 lb-ft. A sport exhaust system with two dual-tipped tailpipes with their outer shells painted black with polished inner tubes comes standard.
Transmission choices include either a 6-speed manual gearbox or Porsche’s 7-speed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK). 0-60 mph comes in 4.0 seconds for the GTS Coupe with PDK and Sport Chrono Package Plus. Top speed is clocked at 190 mph. For those worried about saving some money at the gas pump, the 2011 Porsche Carrera GTS returns a fuel-economy of 19/27 mpg (city/highway).
Prices for the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Coupe start at $103,100 and $112,900 for the 2011 Carrera GTS Cabriolet. Sales start in early 2011.

Specifications

Many of the details we have so far on the 2011 Carrera are only speculative, but here are the specs that are most likely for the new model year:

• Pricing: the 911 Carrera should start at about $78,000 MSRP and around $70,000 invoice
• Fuel economy: Porsche has not released any data on fuel economy car ratings for the new Carrera, but they will likely be similar to the current city/highway rating of 18/26 mpg
• Engine: Porsche insiders indicate that the carmaker will enhance both the power and displacement of the 2011 911 Carrera’s engines, possibly offering an inline six-cylinder with 350-360 horsepower on the base model and a 400-horsepower inline six on the S model
• Drivetrain: the existing options of a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed PDK manual/automatic transmission will probably remain the same, and Porsche will continue to offer all-wheel drive on one or more Carrera models for 2011
• Acceleration: standard model completes 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds; Carrera S completes 0-60 in 4.3 seconds. Times may get a bit faster in 2011 due to a lighter-weight body and stronger powertrains.
• Model lineup: 911 Carrera (coupe or cabriolet); 911 Carrera 4S (coupe or cabriolet); 911 Carrera 4 (coupe or cabriolet); 911 Carrera S (coupe or cabriolet)
• Car safety features: existing safety equipment, such as dual front and side airbags and stability control, will transfer to 2011 Carrera
• Suspension: active suspension management system optional
• Competitors: Mercedes-Benz CL; Mercedes-Benz SL; Jaguar XK; Nissan GT-R
• Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty

 Breath taking 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera Interior

Exterior Features

Spy photos of a heavily disguised 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera are readily available online. The first pictures of the new Carrera show a vehicle that is largely the same in the front and significantly revised in the rear. The 2011 Carrera is substantially wider and plumper in the back than the existing model, and it boasts an all-new deployable spoiler. Porsche also appears to have added a roof-mounted spoiler on the new 911 that pops up from the rear window. Rumor has it that the 2011 Carrera, also known as the 998, will include front active spoilers as well to enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamics.

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera

Interior Features

So far, what we know about the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera mostly concerns the outer styling of the car. We’ll know more about the cabin when we write a full car review closer to the launch date. Drivers can expect features like the standard Porsche Communication Management system with a 6.5-inch color touchscreen and Bose sound system to carry over.

Cool Ride

Performance

Major powertrain changes are improbable for 2011, but drivers can expect at least slight boosts in power and performance. Porsche has put a great deal of effort into making the 2011 Carrera lighter than ever, thanks to its liberal use of aluminum. The lighter weight coupled with muscled-up engines should make for better 0-60 times and overall handling. The standard Carrera model should have about 350 horsepower, while the Carrera S could easily surpass 400 horsepower. Braking power should stay about the same for 2011, with ceramic brake pads remaining an option. Look for more information when we conduct our formal road test of the new 911 Carrera.

Comfortable steering of the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera

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