The All-New Supercar

Pull open the light aluminium doors,step into the comfortable interior and you understand the dual appeal the 911 has always had. The cabin feels better built than even an Audi,and the driver’s seat has exactly the right blend of support and cushioning.

What’s new on the inside is the Panamera-like raised central tunnel. This new arrangement has allowed Porsche to banish the fiddly buttons that earlier infested the tightly packed central console and there’s a larger screen in the central console too. The downside is that the shiny black plastic buttons don’t share the same quality as the car.

The new aluminium chassis feels as tight as a drum,and performance from the 3.8-litre motor,even in the midrange,is good. A big surprise is the all-new electric steering system,which is so accurate you can drive precisely,with almost no conscious effort.

The new 911 also drives much better in normal or street mode. While the earlier motor had quite a gutless bottom end and a PDK box that was reluctant to downshift,this one feels far more energetic and willing. There’s more muscle at regular driving speeds and the ride quality seems better too. Despite the 20-inch rims,there’s more suppleness in the suspension and the 911 now thumps through poorly paved sections rather than crashing through them.

The real difference is how much more punchy and stable the new 991 feels at speed. The familiar 3.8 flat six may make only 15bhp more but,coupled with the lighter body and the improved gearbox,performance has taken a leap forward. The performance strengthens the harder you rev,and visiting the last 1,000rpm of the power band,especially in one of the higher gears,is grin-inducing.

To explore the performance of this car fully,you need a track. Luckily,we have the Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Formula one circuit. It takes only a couple of laps to prove that you might miss the extra feel and feedback of the hydraulic steering. However,the new steering works so well in every other area,you soon overlook this. The accuracy of the system is so high,there’s almost never a second or third movement of the steering required. The new car’s handling also allows you to use the weight in the rear to your advantage. You can feel the heavy rear come around in tighter corners on the track but,far from being intimidating,the new 911 encourages you to flick the steering wheel gently and help the car change direction.

The new 911 may be designed for a cleaner,greener era,but Porsche has engineered the fun-to-drive factor into every nut and bolt. The new 911 blends strong performance and incredible poise with practical usability. With a little care and smaller rims,you could use this car every day even on our roads. Without doubt this is one of the best sports cars in the world. The question is,how many Indian sports car buyers will buy the new Carrera S,which even at an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.13 crore is surprisingly good value. Can any other car here,deliver a similar blend of supercar-like performance and near-everyday usability?

The writer is deputy editor,Autocar India