992 TURBO S LAUNCHES
This is where things start to get tricky. By now, the pandemic is in full swing, forcing Porsche to temporarily halt production following government advice warning of accelerating COVID-19 infection rates. Porsche steps up its social commitments, deploying specialist staff (such as IT technicians and medically trained personnel) where needed in the local community. The manufacturer also offers support for employees carrying out voluntary work, arranges donations to food banks and issues grants for organisations in need of support during times of trouble.
While this stop in factory activity frustratingly coincides with the launch of the Taycan at exactly the time production of the all-electric sports car is supposed to be in full swing (leaving many of the world’s planned product launches in disarray), the highly anticipated launch of the 992 Turbo S proceeds, albeit online, as opposed to the real-world fanfare planned for the regrettably cancelled 2020 Geneva International Motor Show.
The car’s engine boasts the largest leap in performance ever achieved in the history of turbocharged production 911s. Centred around a 3.8-litre flat-six bolstered by two new large symmetrically mounted Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) turbochargers — helping to deliver almost 70bhp more than the outgoing Turbo S and registering torque up to a whopping 590lb-ft — the new Turbo S’s hike in horsepower is assisted by a completely redesigned charge
air cooling system (radiators which water-cool air after it passes through the turbochargers before entering the engine) featuring a larger charge air cooler to improve efficiency. Temporary overboost is no longer required thanks to maximum torque permanently available between 2,500rpm and 4,500rpm.
Unlike the aforementioned Belgian Legend Edition, which is essentially a Carrera 4S in fancy dress, the new Turbo S is a powerhouse of performance and a distinct model entry in the 992 line-up. The included eight-speed PDK transmission has been custom-tailored to transfer the higher torque forces of the Turbo S, which boasts the yardstick sprint from rest to 62mph in an astonishing 2.7 seconds, topping out at 205mph. Adaptive electronics include cooling air flaps in the nose, while a huge rear wing generates higher levels of downforce and aerodynamic pressure than previously seen on a 911 — the pneumatically extendable front spoiler and the larger surface area of the rear wing deliver fifteen percent more downforce than the previous 911 Turbo S.
The 992 Turbo S’s live online launch was presented by racing driver and Porsche brand ambassador, Mark Webber, and was hailed as a step forward for automotive brands using innovation in digital media to communicate with their audiences.