Porsche Taycan Coupe
The Porsche 911 Turbo is still the best City super-car
King’s Road, Chelsea: a Wednesday evening in 1995. Sebastian (also called Sebastian) is braying loudly in to a brick sized Motorola phone.
He takes-off his Ray-Bans(Italian/American brand of luxury sunglasses), dusts-off his shoulder pads and enters into a bistro(a small restaurant). Nouvelle cuisine (French, “new cuisine”) is on the menu and Spandau Ballet is on the stereo. A person joins him at the bar. Filofaxes(a type of notebooks in the UK) are checked out, business-cards are interchanged, and deals are done. Seb leaves climbs in to his red Porsche 911 Turbo and blasts in to the night.
The 911 Turbo has been the quintessential City supercar – also called an exotic car. Yet like Seb – who, right after a short stint in rehab, retired quietly to Provence – it has matured with age. The air-cooled ‘930’ original was a heady cocktail of all or nothing boost and dicey on-the-limit handling. Nicknamed the Widowmaker, it was more risky than buying shares in Polly-Peck.
6 generations later, those vices have been firmly ironed out. But do not think for just a moment the Turbo has gone soft.
Porsche Taycan Concept
This ‘992’ Turbo S has a lot more than twice the electrical power of the 930, for starters. And it’s ferociously-fast. A 650hp(650 Horsepower (hp)) 3.7-litre flat-six and eight-speed twin-clutch PDK gearbox deliver 0-62mph in 2.8 secs: quick enough to worry some seven-figure hypercars. Peak torque (Engine’s maximum torque) is 590lb-ft at 2,500revolutions per minute, and top speed is 205miles per hour.
The other big number may be the cost: £155,970, or £165,127 for the Turbo S Cabrio driven here. Therefore it’s still a car for special players on big bonuses.
In place of the original’s trade-mark whale’s tail, the new Turbo features a pop-up-wing that also works as an air-brake. You can not miss those shapely center lock wheels or the hungry air intakes in the swollen-haunches; however, the 911 is not cat-nip for car-spotters, just like a Lamborghini. In my opinion, that’s a huge part of it’s appeal. I really like the way the Cabrio roof follows the classic profile of the vehicle, as well.
New Porsche Taycan
The retractable roof usually takes Twelve secs and increases the pneumatically-driven gasps as well as hisses of the twin turbos. Moreover, it shows off the 911’s cabin: an outstanding blend of vintage (analogue rev counter, tactile toggle switches) as well as modern (widescreen infotainment, configurable digital dials).
There are even two child safety seats, of course, though most will treat them as some where to sling-bags.
Behind the wheel, the Turbo feels crushingly capable: almost omnipotent. Such as Gordon Gekko auditioning for The Trainee, it’s absurdly overqualified for the job. The engine serves up elastic acceleration, while four-wheel drive and steamroller tyres mean tenacious-traction.
The huge Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) ceramic composite brakes – greater than the 930’s 15-inch alloys – also merit a mention. They’re progressive and confidence-inspiring, with tire less stopping power from silly speeds. Factor in an arsenal of chassis tech, which includes adaptive air suspension and active aero, and the Turbo feels laser-guided.
Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Point-to-point, I’m unsure any thing is faster. And no rival offers higher band-width either. The Turbo is easygoing enough to drive every day and comfortable enough to cross Europe in a single bound. It is another richly successful sports car, with nuanced-steering, unflappable body control and malleable brake balance.
Porsche’s purist GT division lent a hand with vehicle frame progress – also it demonstrates. Where the amazing 991 Turbo felt slightly sterile, the 992 is modern and engaging.
Eventually, the flagship 911 is nigh-on twice the price of a Carrera, and chances to use its prodigious extra performance are few and far-between. Moreover, the upcoming 992 GT3 will likely be more visceral to drive – particularly on the track.
But perhaps that is missing the point. The Turbo has been about having much more, is the very best and epitomizing excess. Mission achieved, then. I think Sebastian might approve.
