The 2020 911 is new, but you can’t tell by its looks
‘992’ generation brings the wide-body to all
What is it? Looking for drastic changes to the iconic Porsche 911? Look hard, because the new model pretty much adheres to the timeworn principle of staying true to the classic original first introduced in 1964. In other words, still gorgeous.
And while the 2020 Porsche 911 resembles the outgoing one, the changes are numerous, starting with an all-new interior that does away with many of the buttons and switches of its predecessor in favour of digital touch controls. Sure, the tach is still centrally located — and it’s still analog — but it’s flanked by digital screens left and right. There’s still a few hard buttons too, but nothing like the 991 versions.
Dubbed the 992-generation 911, the eighth-generation car gets a standard widebody that was previously reserved for higher-end models such as the turbo, GTS and 4S. The wider rear hips, which necessitated a wider front track, tuck into a revised rear fascia with an LED light bar that runs horizontally across the rear. Other parts of the rear fin have been tidied up. The rear has possibly never looked better. There’s also new wheels with staggered sizing front and rear, with up to 21-inchers in the back. Why does it matter?
Like all 911s before this one, the engine sits between the rear wheels and it’s still a flat six, now a turbocharged 3.0-litre, that produces 443 horsepower in the 911 Carrera S and Carrera 4S. (Porsche did not reveal other numbers at the car’s debut at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles on the eve of the L.A. Auto Show.) The 992 cars come standard with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but a seven-speed manual will follow.
According to Porsche, the two-wheel-drive Carrera S can hit 98 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. The all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S will hit the same benchmark in 3.4 seconds, almost as quick as the current GT3. Some new tech has been added as well, including night vision and wet mode for better control in the rain. When is it coming?
Porsche was coy with details, but expect the car to arrive in time for spring 2019 as a 2020 model. Should you buy it? It’s a Porsche 911. One that’s faster than before. One that will always be a joy to drive. It’s a supercar that’s not priced like one. Of course you should.