2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S: Perfection Just Got Better

It negotiates corners like it has an endless amount of grip. Its transmission is always in the right gear. Its brakes can effortlessly shed speed with extreme force. The ride can be comfortable enough for long-distance road trips, but also firm enough to deliver feedback like a proper supercar. Its practical characteristics make it easy to drive every day and many owners do. Its acceleration is brutal — no, it is utterly devastating — at any speed. By all accounts, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S is a champion’s car. It performs flawlessly on every supercar metric, except for the ostentatiousness category (which we think is fantastic), and also comes with a daily-driver demeaner. This is the level of performance expected from a car with 911 Turbo pedigree.

At the rear of the new 992-generation Turbo S lies a potent twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter flat-six engine. A shorter stroke slightly reduced the previous model’s 3.8-liter displacement. The new powerplant includes a revised air intake with an increased air flow rate along with larger variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbos that spool up 22.5 psi of boost. The compressed air is cooled more effectively through larger and more efficient intercoolers. These improvements help the new powerplant produce a robust 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. That is a 60 horsepower and 37 lb-ft of torque improvement over its 991-generation predecessor. Power is translated through an eight-speed dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission.

Porsche’s performance estimates for its latest German four-wheeled land torpedo are, as usual, conservative. Even on the modest side, the company’s claims of a 2.6-second 0-60 mph run, 10.5-second quarter-mile time and 205 mph top speed are absolutely exceptional by any measure. The new 60 mph dash is done two tenths of a second quicker than the previous model. For the Cabriolet version, the 60 mph sprint is done in 2.7 seconds. The added horsepower, sophisticated launch control and advanced all-wheel-drive system, which can deliver up to 368 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, has proved to be a vigorous combination for extreme acceleration.

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Porsche increased the width of the new 911 Turbo S by 1.8 inches and gave it a larger rear wing that boosts downforce by 15 percent. The staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are attached with a center-lock nut. Pirelli P Zero NA1 provides plenty of grip with 255/35 front and 315/30 rear tires. The all new Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) option monitors road conditions and driving style and individually adjusts the wheel damping accordingly. The available feature also lowers the 911 Turbo S by 0.4 inches. Stopping power has been increased with 16.5-inch front and 15.3 inch rear ceramic composite rotors. The front brakes also benefit from 10-piston calipers. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and Rear-wheel steering are standard and provide precise turning.

Despite its extreme hypercar performance, the 911 Turbo S is incredibly pragmatic in almost every way. From its docile driving characteristics to the comfort of its 18-way adjustable seats, the car leaves you with a very unassuming impression. Its doors open horizontally, not vertically like some other supercars. A pair of rear seats are included (although not suitable for adults), which officially makes it a four-seater. The front trunk has enough room for a couple of small suitcases and even more can be stored behind the front seats when the rear seats are folded down. Its Porsche Traction Management (PTM) system coupled with a highly advanced all-wheel-drive setup make the 911 Turbo S a highly capable all-season car, even during inclement weather. It even comes with a large cupholder in the center console.

These sensible features give it an everyday-vehicle character, but this utilitarian supercar amalgamation does come at a cost. At a starting price of $203,500 for the coupe version, the car isn’t exactly economical. However, considering its performance and some of the other cars in its class, such as the Lamborghini Huracan, its price isn’t wildly unreasonable either.

On the inside, the cabin is well-designed and sophisticated, but not overly complex. Stylish elements such as the piano-black trim, elegant switches, quilted seat centers and door panels, deviated stitching and analogue clock help create a very luxurious atmosphere. There is no shortage of technology either. The car is well-appointed with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital gauge cluster, Bose audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and an optional Night Vision Assist feature. There are plenty of interior color schemes and design packages to choose from, including a nicely done Bordeaux Red with Chalk Stitching interior color.

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The 992-generation 911 Turbo S is built on decades of world-class engineering and refinement from one of the best supercar manufacturer’s in the business, so the incredible performance and overall finesse from Porsche’s latest example comes as no surprise. No matter how far ahead of its class, Porsche is always able to enhance and further develop the 911 Turbo into the quintessential supercar that doesn’t force too much compromise.

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S

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