The world of sports cars is that of exhilaration, innovation, and pure speed. There is one name that stands out as an icon that has truly stood the test of time, again and again proving that it is the car to beat. The Porsche 911 has been around for six decades and has broken records, pioneered engineering, and won the hearts of countless enthusiasts.
From the moment it was birthed into existence in 1963, the 911 was more than just a mode of transportation. Porsche created a living legend that has constantly pushed the bounds of what is possible, delivering precision engineering and cutting-edge technology. Then, in 1975 the German firm released the first ever turbocharged model and once again raised the bar.
The current generation of the Porsche 911, the 992, lives up to the badge’s legend in every possible way. We find it almost impossible to fault, even if we tried. We take a look at ten of the reasons why the Porsche 911 Turbo is the ultimate sports.
Porsche's press releases were used as a source to bring you this list of the 10 reasons why the 911 Turbo is the ultimate sports car.
10 The 911 Turbo Boasts An Unrivaled Boxer Engine
While other sports cars opt for engines in the V format, Porsche goes against the grain. At the heart of the eighth generation 911 Turbo sits Porsche’s latest iteration of the DOHC, 24-valve flat six-cylinder engine. At standard this 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged monster outputs 573 horsepower, upgradable to 640 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque if you go with the more powerful Turbo S.
Engine Specs
| 911 Turbo | 911 Turbo S | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.8-Liter Twin-Turbocharged Flat-Six | |
| Horsepower | 572 HP | 640 HP |
| Torque | 553 lb-ft | 590 lb-ft |
All this horsepower makes the 911 Turbo an absolute rocket. The base model is rated for a whopping 199 miles per hour according to Porsche while the 911 Turbo S pushes that figure up to a mind-boggling 205 miles per hour.
Porsche has also placed its insane engine behind the rear-axle, once again turning away from what is popular, the mid-engine layout. Its unique weight distribution offers an unmatchable driving experience.
9 Porsche’s Anti-Lag System Is Beyond Cutting-Edge
The 911 Turbo of yore, while still an excellent car, came with a major fault. It packed a huge punch of power, but it took some time to kick in thanks to dreaded turbo lag. What essentially would happen is that the turbocharger would take some time to spool and, thus, you would wait a noticeable amount of time to feel all of the car’s power.
In comparison, the newest 911 Turbo is a complete rocketship. Porsche have managed to completely eliminate the feel of turbo lag. The Germans have utilized a Variable Geometry Turbo, which balances the amount of boost and power in a way that allows the peak torque of 590 pound-feet to be reached at as low as 2,500 revs per minute.
8 Porsche Has Developed A Godly Automatic Transmission
We know to a lot of car enthusiasts the idea of not having the option of a six-speed manual is nearly blasphemous but there is a good reason why the automatic gearbox in the 911 Turbo is still an excellent choice.
Porsche’s PDK double-clutch system is beyond the realms of human thinking. It shifts faster and smoother than any person ever could. When you are traveling around a track at the speeds that the 911 Turbo is capable of and you need both hands on the wheel, you will be thankful for.
Thanks to Porsche’s incredible transmission the 911 Turbo has reported zero to 60 mile per hour speeds of between 2.5 and 2.7 seconds, which is already among the fastest production cars out there. Porsche claims the Turbo S achieves a zero to 60 time of about 2.5 seconds, however, there are tests where it has made the run in 2.1 seconds, an absolutely otherworldly level of acceleration.
7 Still Not Convinced? The Limited Edition Sport Classic Lets You Keep The Manual Transmission
While the Porsche 911 Turbo has remained pretty similar in 2023 compared to its 2022 model year, there is a special limited edition for those who want a more classic Porsche experience.
The 911 Turbo ditches two things that a lot of people see as being essential to the Porsche experience, it’s all-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive and it has an automatic gearbox. That’s where the limited edition 911 Sport Classic comes in. It is essentially a 911 Turbo with rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed manual transmission.
To achieve this, Porsche had to detune the 911 Turbo engine down to 543 horsepower, but many people would happily ditch the extra power and speed for some classic fun. Rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox have always been a recipe for incredible fun.
6 The 911 Turbo Has The Aerodynamics Of A Jet Aircraft
With power comes great aerodynamics. For any sports car outputting the kind of power that the 911 Turbo does, going the speeds that it can achieve, aerodynamics is an absolutely essential element, not just to performance but also safety.
Porsche have fitted the 911 Turbo with the latest Porsche Active Aerodynamics system, an intricate harmony of air flaps, a rear wing, and a retractable front lip that work together to produce up to 365 pounds of downforce.
The system is so incredibly clever that it can tweak the aero depending on the needs of the driver. On top speed runs, it can create low drag and around tight corners it’ll generate the most amount of drag. All the air tunnelled through the car can also be routed towards the 911 Turbo’s brakes to help cool them down.
5 There Are Few Things As Beautiful As The 911 Turbo’s Silhouette
Whilst it would be inaccurate to say that Porsche has kept things relatively the same in the decades that the 911 Turbo has been around, there are a number of design elements that have become synonymous with the beautiful sports car.
The current generation has definitely put on some muscle when compared to the 911 Turbos of the past but it has also retained its sleek and sexy silhouette. The German automakers have captured their past and their heritage yet at the same time have made their iconic sports car a thing of the future.
Regardless of where you are or what cars are around you, if you’re behind the wheel of a 911 Turbo you’re going to turn some heads.
4 The Interior Of The 911 Turbo Is Beyond Premium
There are few feelings like the one you get sitting behind the wheel of a Porsche, the 911 Turbo providing the tingliest of sensations. The blend of technology, luxurious trims, and sporty elements come together like an orchestra.
Interior
| Notable Extras | Price USD |
|---|---|
| Extended Exclusive Manufaktur Leather Interior | $2,920 |
| Extended Heritage Design Leather Package | $3,850 |
| Heated GT Sport Steering Wheel with Trim in Matte Carbon Fiber | $680 |
| Burmester® High-End Surround Sound System | $3,980 |
The base 911 already comes with a stunning interior and the Turbo and Turbo S models turn it up a notch. Despite being a car that was definitely built for the track, the Porsche has fitted it with a fine level of luxury.
Even better is that each interior is almost entirely customizable. You can wrap the entire interior in high-quality leather with fine stitching if it so pleases you. You can even decide what kind of seats you’d like, with options for memory foam or 3D-printed body-form bucket seats.
3 For A Car In Its Class, The 911 Turbo Is Surprisingly Practical
When you’re spending easily around $200,000 on a sports car that is manufactured for the track, practicality is not something you particularly expect. While we’re not claiming that the Porsche will beat out a Kia Sportage, the level of daily comfort in this track-day car is pretty impressive.
The cabin is packed with a ton of technology to keep you comfortable, including noise canceling that keeps the hum and drum of the outside world outside. It also has adaptive dampeners and features a surprisingly smooth ride.
The frunk offers a decent amount of space for a weekend bag or two and you can get even more in the Porsche if you count the two back seats as storage, which is probably what they’re best used for anyway.
2 The 911 Turbo Cabriolet Offers All That Performance In Drop-Top Form
For most gearheads, having a car with a drop-top was always a childhood dream. A sports car that you could take the roof off of was one of the coolest concepts ever. In adulthood this hasn’t changed in the slightest.
What is so impressive about the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is how little performance it sacrifices for the sake of its super light retractable roof. For those who want that extra wow factor and love to feel the breeze as they cruise around in their German work of art, the Cabriolet offers everything you could ever dream of.
1 Every Generation Of The 911 Turbo Has Been An Instant Classic
It's fair to say that there isn’t a single 911 Turbo that has been widely disliked by the public. Porsche have managed to enshrine their sports car in a perfect glow, combining nostalgia and innovation in the perfect balance to keep everyone happy.
This means that a 911 Turbo is a brilliant investment. Compared to other luxury cars and sports cars, the 911 Turbo has historically held its value exceptionally well over the short term. If you plan to keep your Porsche even longer, say ten to 20 years longer, then you’re practically guaranteed to see the value of your 911 Turbo go up rather than down.