Timeless icon looks better than ever

WELL, that’s the script crumpled up and chucked in the wastepaper bin.

I had it all figured out for this new Porsche 911. Too wide, too weighty and fussy, with complicated controls and more power than necessary. Buy the old one I was going to say.

Several of those things are true because the latest iteration of Porsche’s 56-year-old legend is a bit wider than it used to be and faster than it needs to be but, after having driven the car for five minutes, I’ve fallen for it.

Our test Carrera S is painted in Guards Red, the classic Porsche colour that every stockbroker and advertising executive chose for his or her 911 or 944 in the 1980s. With gold wheels.

It’s a combination that, in my opinion, makes this new car the best-looking 911 since the classic 1960s models. There are lovely details all over the car, from the rear lights to the cooling vents, but the best is the view from the driver’s seat when you look in the door mirror. The rear wing is such a sexy shape.

Inside, there’s no starter button, instead you get a stubby key-like Porsche 911 Carrera S two-door sports

Price: £93,110

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 450bhp 0-62mph: 3.5sec Fuel consumption: 31.7mpg

knob in the style of the company’s racing cars. Once the keyless fob has done its communicating you just turn the ‘key’ to start the engine. Also very traditional is the analogue rev counter right in the middle of the otherwise digital instrument pack.

The engine that you’ve just started is the latest version of Porsche’s flat-six 3.0-litre twinturbo unit. It has bigger turbos