Rescue 911

Porsche Philippines pulled a fast one. Quite literally.

While we weren’t looking – sans fanfare, fireworks, and statuesque models – the next generation of Porsche’s iconic G-force generator took over the showroom on Greenhills in Mandaluyong City.

PGA Cars invited clients and members of the media to partake in some good ol’ fashioned noodles. But aside from aforementioned noodles, guests took in the sight of the equally (if not more) tasty 911 Carrera S Coupe and 911 Carrera S Cabriolet variants – comfortably boarded up away from plain sight and basking in colored lights.

The private preview mirrored Porsche AG’s own recent low-key move to unveil the all-new 911 via an exclusive dealer launch in Lisbon, Portugal. “Dealer principals from various Porsche Centers worldwide flew into Lisbon to experience the new iteration of the iconic sports car,” said Porsche in a release.

Held in the former civil parish in the municipality of Cascais, the reveal started with a product and technical orientation for dealers, and fittingly culminated with a hands-on experience at the storied Autodromo do Estoril racetrack where participants were able to push the 911 to its performance limits. Afterwards came a more relaxed drive in the scenic streets of Lisbon.

While we wait with bated breath to give you the lowdown on the 911, an ocular inspection satisfies most nicely. First things first with this car: Staying the same is as important as changing. One does not simply reimagine the 911; it is car that already captures the imagination.

Porsche designers and engineers obviously kept that dictum in mind – blending the old with the new in the Stuttgart carmaker’s cauldron. Physically, the 911 Carrera is “further sharpened” to into a more pronounced wedge. Taking inspiration from an aircraft wing, Porsche says the “sculpturally formed profile of the front spoiler” now extends over the whole width of the car. Some light and shadow play are also in order as “prominent light-refracting edges emphasize the new flaps” on the air intakes. Yes, Porsche people obsess about such stuff – like the “three-dimensional form of the front spoiler lip” and how it evokes “even sportier aerodynamics.”

Under the hood, the familiar flat six is still there, albeit with more horses. Three liters of displacement goodness with bi-turbo charging corrals 370hp in the 911 Carrera and 420hp in the Carrera S – a 20hp bump over the previous generation. Torque is in no short supply either: 450Nm and 500Nm, respectively.

And as the appellation of this drool-worthy rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe suggests, there is utmost attention on how urgently it can get north of 100kph. It gets practically Steph Curry-like in breaking its own record. The Porsche Carrera Coupé with Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) and the Sport Chrono Package gets from standstill to that velocity in 4.2 seconds (0.2 sec quicker), while the S-model is the first 911 Carrera to reach 100kph in under 4.0 seconds (at 3.9 seconds, also 0.2 sec faster than the previous generation).

Since Porsche folks are nerds about both performance and fuel economy, the 911 owners get the best of both worlds. Fuel consumption declines by a whopping 12 percent per 100 kilometers. Speaking of nerdy pursuits, tech toys are also in the premises, such the new Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. The carmaker insists the “state-of-the-art touchscreen is as easy to operate as a smartphone, and offers new Porsche Car Connect features.”

Don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the need for speed. After some noodles, perchance?

For more information, contact (0939) 937-72-88 or visit Porsche Center Philippines at 201 EDSA Mandaluyong City.