New Porsche Models?

Well, it’s been 60 years of Porsche and what a journey.  Few cars have managed to sustain such a motoring evolution through their history, rather than a revolution.  Even fewer have the same setup as Porsche – that being the rear drive, rear engine setup that is a peculiarity to the German automotive giant.

Mentioning evolution, these new Carrera models (the standard and the S respectively) are a perfect example of just that.  Things have been improved both under the bonnet and above, providing an even better reason (not that you need one) to own one of the most iconic cars ever built.  But what’s different for the extra £1,500 across the range (now priced at £63,070-77,650)?

Well for the body you get a lovely reprofiled front bumper and grille.  There’s also xenon headlamps, indicators and taillights that use LED bulbs.  You’ll still get those lovely (and exclusive I hasten to add) coloured alloys as well as the funkily chosen brake calipers (if you buy a blue for instance you’ll get these in yellow).

Of course it’s the engine that’s the real pull in a Porsche and the Carrera is no exception.  Expect to be flung from the rear to sixty MPH in only 4.7 seconds, or an Aston equalling 4.5 seconds if you buy the more expensive S variant.  These great performance figures are down to the reworked powerplant at the back that has 345BHP – 20 more than the previous incarnation.  The S has 30 more, so that’s where you’ll get your extra kick.

The technology itself is somewhat improved, with direct injection technology being available for the trademark flat six engine.  This has allowed, apart from the power improvement, a lowering of the emissions from the car by 12% – don’t think however that this is going to be an eco-friendly model.  The taxman will still love you for buying it.  Your bank manager might still wince at fuel consumption too.

For the first time in its range, Porsche is offering a new slick-shift in the form of a wonderfully named Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe.  This is, funnily enough, the german for double-clutch gearbox.  It’s a great development and offers (as with F1 cars) seven gears and the opportunity to change ratios with the paddles on the steering system.  Shifts are apparently much faster than the old Tiptronic – but then things have moved on significantly since then.

Should you buy it?  Well that depends how you feel about cars.  Purists still love Porsches, and if you’ve driven one then you’d understand why.  The handling is superb, easy to push to the limit and the engines are really, really sweet.  However, do modern racers expect more?  No doubt they want more space, less drama and arguably a much lesser price tag.  They’ll no doubt look at the new Subaru Impreza WRX or the Mitsubishi Evolution X.  Do they have the same pedigree though, the same level of history?  You pays your money you takes your choice.