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| Fleck, Mauer and Wills with the new Porsche 911 Carrera |
The new Porsche 911 Carrera, described by the German luxury carmaker as the “best ever version of the iconic sports car” with a history spanning almost five decades, has made its Middle East and Africa media debut.
“We have more than 600 pre-orders for the new 911 Carrera,” Porsche Middle East and Africa managing director George Wills told a select group of journalists at the event held in Abu Dhabi.
“The 911 Carrera is the re-definition of what a sports car should be.”
The first deliveries of the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S Coupé, which had their international debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, is set to start on February 11 for left-hand drive markets and March 10 for right-hand drive markets.
Pointing out that the 911 has been a design icon since its debut in 1963, Porsche’s head of design Michael Mauer said that it is the core product of the automaker.
“A combination of increased wheel size, 100mm extension of wheel base and a lower roof line gives the car a much more sporty appearance,” he said.
The new 911 sits lower to the ground and offers even better handling dynamics.
“No fewer than 90% of all components are either new or have been fundamentally revised,” explained Porsche Middle East and Africa volume and sales planning manager Steffen Fleck.
The aim of building “the best 911 ever” has been fulfilled, he said, while referring to the new lap time of just seven minutes 40 seconds on the famous Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit – 14 seconds faster than the previous model.
Boasting of a top speed of 289kph for the standard version, the new 911 Carrera is the first passenger car in the world to feature seven-speed manual transmission.
“It is also the first sports car equipped with an auto start/stop function, electro-mechanical power steering and a new ‘coasting function’, in vehicles equipped with the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK),” Fleck said.
The new electro-mechanical power steering offers even better precision and response, while increasing efficiency and reducing general fuel consumption.
The 350hp, 3.4-litre boxer engine on the 911 Carrera consumes 8.2 litres of fuel per 100km, which is 16% less over its predecessor.
“With an emission level of 194 g/km CO2, it is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km mark,” Fleck added.
The Carrera S, featuring a 3.8-litre boxer engine, produces 400hp and accelerates from zero to 100kph (0 to 60mph) in 4.3 seconds.
Pressing the “Sport Plus” button on the optional Sport Chrono package cuts that to 4.1 seconds.
Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control is now available in the Carrera S and Porsche Torque Vectoring makes its debut in the 911 Carrera S as standard.
The all-new, lightweight body is an aluminium-steel construction, providing an overall weight reduction of up to 45kg, and greater rigidity.
Aerodynamic optimisation measures, including a wider, variably extending rear spoiler, results in further reducing the lift of the new 911 Carrera.
“We have created a completely new interior based on cues from the Porsche Carrera GT with the new upward inclined centre console,” Mauer said.
Porsche Middle East and Africa sold 7,949 cars in 2011, a 16.2% increase over 2010.
The model mix comprised 61% Cayenne and 24% Panamera, with the rest taken up by sports cars.
