Porsche 911 Turbo S (992.2) overview: sit down, shut up and maintain the hell on Opinions 2025

What is it?

The latest, strongest, most technical and calmly psychotic model of the legendary Porsche 911 Turbo. This time there’s simply the ’S’ somewhat than a base and a separate model with the added consonant, and there’s a good bit extra stuffed into this automotive than simply the same old twin-turbos and gobs of enhance. As ever there’s all-wheel drive, a mid/rear-mounted flat-six and the same old practicality afforded a 911. But it’s bought secrets and techniques. Dark secrets and techniques.

It doesn’t look that out-there although?

Don’t be fooled. This just isn’t your GT-series automotive with a large wing, with which you are inclined to appear like a little bit of a prat when popping to Asda for teacakes and milk. Instead, it’s comparatively refined, conservative and unlikely to be remarked upon when handed on the street. But it’s additionally a bit like a serial killer that everybody describes as ‘quiet’ simply after some form of bloody rampage: it would look regular, nevertheless it’s able to murdering a backroad with little or no conscience.

Powerful, then?

Very. But not in the identical approach that 1,000bhp isn’t unusual today. This just isn’t performative bhp. Basically there’s a 3.6-litre flat six within the again, nevertheless it seems to be prefer it’s been steamrollered flat – Porsche engineers doing their greatest with new applied sciences and packaging. The turbos are electrical – they characteristic an electrical motor aft of the impeller on the shaft – which, though smaller than the one turbo within the T-Hybrid 911s, double up for max enhance.

The motor permits effective management, spinning up the compressors with no need to attend for sufficient exhaust fuel to pressurise the system (as would a conventional turbine), slicing lag. They additionally act as mills when off-boost, siphoning energy again to a 1.9kWh battery. That battery powers the revised T-hybrid system, which options an 80bhp/139lb ft motor spliced into the eight-speed PDK transmission, once more one thing that aids response instances.

The ‘natural’ engine produces one thing within the area of 630bhp and 560lb ft, however with every thing on, the official aggregated numbers are 701bhp and 590lb ft – they don’t simply add every thing collectively due to the best way the Turbo S utilises the additional shove. Numbers are simply the appropriate aspect of startling – 0-62mph in 2.5 and 200mph high finish. Although it may possibly punch that 0-62 ticket on slippery tarmac and really probably within the moist. And the mid-range will shock an electrical automotive. Plus, it makes energy from 2,000rpm all the best way to 7,200, with graphs just like the define of a desk high. Typically, Porsche is just a little coy and understated about this motor, nevertheless it’s a belter.

One assumes it’s not on beam axles and monotube dampers?

Electro-hydaulic chassis management to handle the damping, Porsche’s all-wheel drive system that may enable as much as 369lb ft of torque to the entrance axle, Porsche traction administration to finagle the grip if it does. There’s rear-wheel steer and lots of Scrabble-sounding acronyms that begin with the phrase ‘Porsche’ and 4 primary drive modes. What it provides as much as is a automotive that’s completely able to tootling round city with the – wonderful – stereo taking part in one thing Enya-adjacent, after which ripping the backbone out of no matter racetrack is silly sufficient to let it in.

Ten-piston/420mm entrance brakes and four-pot/410mm rears imply it’ll cease 50ft earlier than your mind will, nevertheless it’s probably not the overarching expertise right here. The large information is how steady, lightfooted and confidence inspiring the set-up is. Bluntly, the Turbo S makes you are feeling like a superhero, after which doesn’t punish you for unintentionally carrying your pants exterior your trousers.

You can’t put absolute inventory by Nürburgring Nordschleife instances, however this Turbo S is a few 14 seconds sooner than the final one at about 7m 3s. FOURTEEN. And that’s a scary little bit of tarmac that’s extra like a highway than a racetrack. That can’t be ignored.

What’s it like inside?

It’s a 911. So there’s embossed ‘Turbo S’ stuff on the electrical and really cozy sports activities seats, one other little badge on the sprint, a smattering of particular carbon weaves and the Turbo S-only Turbonite accent color additionally used on the window surrounds and exterior badging, nevertheless it’s not night time and day from a well-specced GTS. There’s a good frunk which swallows greater than you would possibly assume, and though the Coupe comes as customary with out rear seats for further storage, you may add them again in as a no-cost possibility. The Cabriolet is launched on the identical time, and that comes with the again seats as customary. The gross sales cut up between Coupe and Cabriolet is roughly 70/30, apparently. But you actually need the Coupe. After that, there’s every thing you want by way of tech, little or no you don’t, and high quality is superlative.

It’s not that aggressive wanting – what’s gone on on the skin?

The level of the Turbo was all the time that it wasn’t as visually aggressive because the GT-series vehicles, and the brand new one is similar. So you’ve bought particular wheels (with choices), a front-end that options lots of energetic parts, a brand new rear bumper and Turbo energetic spoiler, plus arches which might be wider by 45mm within the entrance and 25mm within the rear. The entrance has vertical vanes within the decrease factor that may open for cooling or shut for aero, an extendable entrance splitter (as per the previous-gen), plus flaps within the underside that may both cut back front-end elevate or channel cooling winds to the brakes.

Interestingly, if it’s raining, the diffuser flaps will keep shut in order that the discs don’t get moist and cut back efficiency. The rear wing extends up and again relying on want, and there are upticks within the extremities which might be a bit just like the flicks within the ends of aeroplane wings.

There’s a brand new titanium exhaust and suggestions, that are hexagonally angular as customary, or you may possibility oval twin pipes, and the badges and window surrounds are tinted within the bespoke Turbonite color. It’s fairly refined, all advised.

What’s it prefer to drive?

‘Fast’ feels like a very petty approach of describing it. It’s not as exact or scientific as a GT3 RS round a racetrack, nevertheless it’s actually good at magic methods. As in turning ‘over there’ into ‘here’ with out anybody noticing. The engine simply kicks the lungs out of human beings, the suspension calmer than the speeds would recommend. You arrive at each nook 20mph sooner than you thought, after which cease earlier than you imagined you could possibly due to the brakes. It’s a massively steady, flattering and confidence-inspiring automotive.

But that in itself finally will get fairly harmful as you think about that you may get away with something. Which you in all probability can’t. Eventually. All it’s important to do actually is bear in mind to maintain the facility on inside motive – the Turbo S wants optimistic affirmations from the throttle to permit the suspension and techniques to function correctly. After that, it’s sit down, shut up and maintain the hell on.

The sheer linearity of the engine in all probability robs some final character, and it does sound a bit industrial, plus the gearbox paddles are too small for consolation, however by way of getting it achieved, there’s not a lot to match it.

The impression is that you just prefer it?

It’s superior. And that’s a literal description somewhat than weak hyperbole. The duality is de facto the spectacular factor right here; you may trawl by way of city, on a motorway, an A-road and don’t know what this automotive is able to. You can park it and never have it keyed (in all probability), use it as a every day. And it’s even higher on a B-road as a result of it’s not too large. But give it demise and it’ll chew tarmac and spit out the bones.

The greatest bit? The 911 Turbo was all the time extra a roadcar, and that’s actually the place the brand new Turbo S shines. Yep, it’ll go round a racetrack sooner than most – and I really assume it’s sooner than a GT3 RS for regular folks – however on an unknown highway, the mix of confidence and functionality can’t be overwhelmed. This is the quickest automotive down a highway whenever you don’t know what’s coming, bar none. And meaning it’s fairly the factor. It additionally sits in a barely unusual place the place 200k appears like worth.

A superlative machine – simply don’t get too carried away with the configurator.

Price: £199,100
Engine: 3.6-litre twin-eturbo flat six (+electrical motor)
Power: 701bhp, 590lb ft
Transmission: 8-spd PDK ‘field, all-wheel drive
Performance: 2.5 seconds 0-62mph, 200mph high velocity
Weight: 1,725kg