New 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S first drive
Get your head around this if you can. The 2.9 seconds that Porsche quotes it takes the 991 Gen II Turbo S to reach 62mph is ‘conservative’. It has to be repeatable, the S able to better it by around 0.5 seconds in perfect conditions.
That’s ridiculous, the Turbo S’s performance defining mighty. What’s now a Turbo signature remains too, for all its ludicrous ability and speed, the Turbo S is a car of remarkable civility and usefulness.
Following the extensive revisions to its mere Carrera relations it’s easy to overlook the work that’s gone into the Turbo and Turbo S. The changes aren’t as defining, but they do make a difference to the Turbo S.
There’s 20hp more, for a 580hp total. Torque on the S hasn’t changed, but then at no point with the ‘old’ 991 Turbo S did 750Nm of twist ever feel in any way lacking.
The Turbo has adopted some of the kit that have been introduced on its Carrera relations, notably the addition of the Mode Switch and Sport Response button, giving quicker access to the Normal, Sport, Sport+ and Individual drive modes, and the ability to pre-load the car for 20 seconds to allow it its most explosive performance.
There’s a new dynamic boost function, too, which keeps charge briefly when you lift off, to improve immediacy of response when you get back on the pedal. It’s only momentarily available, to the tune of up to 1.5 seconds, but that’s useful if you want to get back on the power quickly in a bend.
You’ll be doing well to find occasion when you need that Sport Response button, quarter throttle in any gear enough to have the Turbo S produce other-worldly performance, push the accelerator to the floor and it urge is scarcely believable.
Certainly enough to distract you from the relative lack of aural charm, if Porsche’s latest Carrera engines have proved one thing it’s possible to make a forced-induction engine sound good. The Turbo S retains a boomy, sometimes gaspy note that’s not really in keeping with its status as the exotic model at the top of the range.
Still, you cannot argue with the numbers. Porsche’s amusing in-fighting with its GT department means the Turbo S is able to lap the Nurburgring faster than the GT3 RS, which says everything you need to know about how fast it is.
It’s the usability that it brings with it that remains its unique identifier, the Turbo S, and its Turbo relation simply unrivalled in offering supercar pace in a few compromise package.
It’s not perfect though, the steering feel that’s apparent in the Carreras just isn’t there, despite some minor geometry revisions to the front suspension. A mightier Turbo S, of that there’s no question, but with its Carrera relations catching up in the real world, those numbers need to keep getting smaller to really justify it, no matter how irrelevant they really are.
What do you make of the new 2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S? Has our first drive convinced you to get one on your driveway? Join the debate in the comments below or head to our Facebook and Twitter pages now.
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