2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S review: More, more, more

When Porsche introduced a go to turbocharging across approximately the complete 911 vary for the 991.2 era, there was some worry that it could possibly just undermine the legitimacy of the correct Turbo. That is, the just one with the funds T and the swollen fenders and the swollen MSRP to match.

Table of Contents

Like

  • Outrageous speed and electricity
  • Reputable practicality
  • Might just fly below the radar

You should not Like

  • Not as ostentatious as some may like
  • Expensive, natch

To allay these issues, Porsche did the only natural matter: It turned up the wick on the Turbo to epic proportions. And the 991.2 Turbo S was indeed epic. What to do for an encore, then? Somehow, Porsche dialed points up even further more, making this, the $204,750 (including $one,250 desired destination), 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S. It truly is quicker than most supercars, as cozy and useful as a lot of luxury coupes and, as considerably as $200k-furthermore autos go, is essentially in a position to fly considerably underneath the radar. At least, in contrast to a little something like a McLaren GT.

If that comparison appears to be like a stretch then you, pricey reader, are tremendously undervaluing the merits of this Porsche. It truly is an simple matter to do considering the fact that it appears to be like so a great deal like any other 911. It truly is wider than a Carrera S, with 255-portion-width, 20-inch front tires and 21-inch rears measuring a large 315 millimeters across. 10-piston front calipers squeeze conventional carbon-ceramic brake discs and there is a movable wing out back again, but you can simply see how a non-enthusiast would miss out on all that.

The common appears to be like below, even so, never signify it truly is any a lot less a performer than the McLaren GT. The 992 flavor of the Porsche 911 Turbo S has extra electricity (640 horsepower vs. 612 in the McLaren), extra speed (205 mph vs. 203) and considerably extra acceleration, sprinting to sixty mph in 2.six seconds vs. the McLaren’s 3.one. It even beats the GT’s gas use by a hair — 24 miles for each gallon blended in contrast to 23.7 — and its starting up price tag is $six,500 a lot less. 

There are no histrionics demanded for entry into the Turbo S, you simply just open up the doorway in a flawlessly standard way and reduced by yourself into a flawlessly cozy seat. Similarly, there are no theatrics to firing up the 3.eight-liter, twin-turbo flat-6. Just twist the ignition and the car or truck comes to live with a growl that, even with the sport exhaust, is purposeful but very well brief of daunting.

The conventional eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission is linked to a revised differential set up, beefed up to take care of the large electricity the Turbo S has this yr. Once again, 640 ponies are on offer, an enhance of sixty more than the outgoing car or truck. To place that in context, the legendary 1960 Porsche 356B only created sixty hp. In overall.

When you happen to be conversing about electricity figures higher than 600 it can be hard to detect improves but, possessing expended a lot of satisfying miles with my foot to the flooring in the prior 911 Turbo S, I can guarantee you that the difference below is extra than perceptible. It truly is impressive. It truly is borderline terrifying. Right after executing a examination start I pulled more than, took out my notes, and wrote down two terms: “Holy shit.”

I am not just one to swear frivolously, but this is eye-opening, neck-snapping stuff you happen to be not liable to practical experience everywhere else this side of an EV. Not like an EV, you have a beautiful sound to go with it. Indeed, both the Carrera S and Turbo S are spinning impellers now, but this machine provides a suitably louder, further observe although continue to delivering that distinctive 911 snarl. This is a excellent-sounding machine.

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S

The 911 Turbo S’ interior is dark, but clean up and purposeful.


Tim Stevens/Roadshow

It truly is just one that can take care of, as well. The all-wheel-travel Turbo S weighs 3,636 lbs, just shy of 350 extra than the manual-equipped 911 Carrera S I reviewed not long back. Indeed, you can perception that added weight when the roads commence to get appealing, but the Turbo in no way feels awkward. It hoovers up highway imperfections just like each and every other flavor of 911, even though the sensation of speed is a little bit extra muted, producing the practical experience a contact a lot less lively.

A good deal of that has to do with which driving manner you happen to be in, toggled through the conveniently placed knob on the wheel, as it is in other 911s. In Activity manner the car or truck is engaging and entertaining, but continue to calm and workable. In Activity Moreover points get considerably extra energetic — and, thanks to the pop-up wing, your rearward watch relatively extra constrained.

When all that gets as well a great deal, a twist of the knob dials the 911 Turbo S back again into sedate, grand-tourer territory. The eight-speed PDK transmission is approximately as slippery as an vehicle. The sport exhaust quiets, but would not go mute. If you like a little something a little bit extra symphonic, the $3,980 Burmester sound method is chic. There is certainly a excellent-sized frunk to swallow your roller baggage and, although the rear seats are as questionable as at any time, they do at least fold down to variety a awesome parcel shelf. Seriously only a considerably punishing ride more than broken roads ruins the entertaining, but I am guessing that opting out of the ten-millimeter reduced PASM suspension would assist.

As it sits, this 911 Turbo S fees $233,680.


Tim Stevens/Roadshow

That’s just just one of the tasteful variety of solutions outfitted on the car or truck you see below, including $one,510 for that suspension and $3,490 for the sport exhaust with chrome recommendations. Incorporate in $2,000 for adaptive cruise command, the aforementioned Burmester method and a few other odds and ends, furthermore the $one,250 supply cost, and you happen to be wanting at $223,680.

That’s approximately two times the starting up price tag of the divine 911 Carrera S I recently reviewed. 2 times as entertaining? Unquestionably not, but we both know that sporting activities car or truck economics never perform that way. Things only get thoroughly appealing when you happen to be very well earlier the level of diminishing returns, and yet this car or truck delivers oh so a great deal. In the grand plan of autos offering substantial speed and practicality, the 911 Turbo S — just like its Cabriolet counterpart — is king.