TURBO S PROVES YOU CAN HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

Now I’ve driven the new Porsche 911 Turbo S I’ve come to a conclusion. It’s too fast. Way too fast. In fact, it’s too everything. Wide, heavy, complicated, grippy and quite frankly, computer game-like. Oh, and expensive.

Porsche’s latest heavy artillery weapon has a 3.8-litre flat-six twin-turbo engine that produces 642bhp that drives to all four wheels via a new 8-speed PDK semi-automatic gearbox to a top speed of 205mph.

It’ll do 0-62mph in 2.7sec and 0-125mph in 8.9sec. None of those numbers were of much relevance as I intended to drive the Turbo S over some lovely roads in Berkshire with a max speed limit of 60mph.

Like many of us, the 911 has grown wider with age. And none more so than this Turbo S version which has a track 45mm wider than the standard 911 at the front, and 20mm wider at the back. Wide is bad, skinny great as you have more road to play with. It’s that obvious.

Apart from the original 3.0-litre 911 Turbo launched in 1975, and the 3.3-litre version that followed it, I drove every generation of the ‘Turbo’ when new – including a

Porsche 911 Turbo S two-door sports Price: £155,970

Engine: 3.8-litre six-cylinder, 642bhp

0-62mph: 2.7sec

Fuel consumption: 23.9-25.0mpg

Co2: To be announced

964 3.6 Turbo while at Autocar magazine in the late 1990s. It was fitted with the rare X88 power kit which lifted the horsepower to 385. Doesn’t sound much now, but don’t be fooled – that 964 3.6 was the last of the rear-wheel drive 911

Turbos and the last time they used a big, single turbocharger. It meant lots of lag but a big kick in the trousers when the boost arrived.

With the new Turbo S, Porsche should supply the business card of a hotshot defence lawyer. Because

You’re looking at the most powerful motor ever produced by Mercedes-benz. The car is the Mercedes-amg GT Black Series and it’s powered by an extreme example of the firm’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 730bhp. The engine has a 180-degree or flat-plane crankshaft (as opposed to standard 90 degree one). A flat-plane crankshaft gives high torque at low speeds and makes for a smoother running engine – but you’ll notice the sound most. A V8 engine with a 90 degree has a rumble – like a Mustang – but one with a 180 screams like a Ferrari (whose V8 engines use 180s). Enough nerdery. Simply put, the GT Black Series is going to be one special car. Stand by for an equally impressive price.