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The most basic version of the Porsche 911 Carrera has now been unveiled. Porsche chose to detune the twin-turbocharged flat-six engine and downgrade some of the chassis components. These cars offer very good performance and driving dynamics for a slightly lower price. While marginally larger and heavier than the 991-generation model it replaced, the 992 is also more advanced. Power climbs by 15 bhp from the 991 Carrera, to 379 bhp @ 6500 rpm, which is more than enough horsepower for the street.
The 992-era 911 GT3 confirms that Porsche is prepared to go to astonishing lengths to keep the hardcore faithful happy. The engine is a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre that revs to 9,000 rm and has little in common with the unit found elsewhere in the 992 range and a lot to do with the one in the GT3 Cup car. Power is up a modest 10bhp to 503 bhp, torque to 347 ft lbs. That’s more than enough. It’ll accelerate to 62mph in 3.4 seconds. It is the best sports car on the planet.
Removing the roof the car is supposed to have little impact on its chassis stiffness and curvy road prowess, but Porsche tells us that the current generation 911 Cabriolet drives just as well as the coupe. Powering the base Cabriolet is the same impressive turbocharged flat-six engine that makes 379 bhp @ 6500 rpm and 331 ft lbs of torque. The base cabriolet can do the 0 to 60 mph run in 4.2 seconds flat. With the optional Sport Chrono Package that drops to 4.0 seconds.
In 1972 Porsche Design was founded. The celebratory car is a 911 Targa 4 GTS, painted and finished to commemorate the Chronograph 1, which Porsche says was the first all-black watch. Gloss black paint is highlighted by a Satin Platinum finish on the targa bar and wheels. Inside, the Edition 50 Years Porsche Design—as English majors, you have no idea how painful it is for us to type that—gets black-and-gray checkered upholstery, a slate-gray steering wheel, and plenty of limited-edition badging, including F.A. Porsche's signature embossed into the center armrest. The powertrain is standard for the Targa 4 GTS.