PORSCHE 911 Carrera S
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
The newest Porsche 911 brings more fun and pleasure to drive than the generation it replaces.
It was always like that except for 996 generation. Now they are offering only turbocharged engines, regardless the version.
The new 992 generation is wider by 45 mm (1.77 in) on the front and the all-wheel-drive model is also wider with 44 mm (1.73 in) on the rear than the generation it replaces. A new feature may be noticed at the front headlights, which are full LED. No more xenon or, even worse, regular halogen lightbulbs.
The interior was reworked and features two LCDs inside the instrument cluster, flanking the classical rev-counter, which has been kept analog. Also, on the center console, there is a 10.9-inch display used for the PCM (Porsche Communication Management) and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also supports an online navigation system, with real-time data for the traffic ahead.
The engine is, as usual, a flat-six cylinder with twin-turbochargers. The total output is higher with 30 HP than the previous generation, reaching an impressive 450 HP. Imagine that the last air-cooled Porsche 911 (993) had 408 HP.
The transmission used exclusively is an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox (PDK), and ensures faster gear changes. The new 911 Carrera S lapped the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7minutes 25 seconds. A time that, only 10 years ago, was available only for race cars.
The Porsche 911 was the best selling sports car in the world and each and every newer generation was better than the one it replaced it and the 2015 Carrera S was no exception.
Even though it wasn’t a completely new model, the 2015 Carrera S had so many parts changed that it was hard to say that it wasn’t a new vehicle. The basic 991 bodywork (code-name for the generation launched in 2012) remained the same, but some minor changes were noticed. The bumpers were slightly different, with bigger air-intakes. On the rear spoiler, the engine vents were longitudinally placed instead of transverse.
Inside the cabin, the Carrera S featured the same two bucket seats in front and two cramped seats in the rear. The dashboard was modified and featured a Porsche Communication Management System (PCM) that included a 7” touch-screen display. It could be connected to an iPhone via Apple CarPlay and the interior designer assigned a special place for the phone in the center armrest where the phone could have been charged.
The real changes are under the bodywork. The Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM) was a standard-fit for 2015 911 and that included a lowered ground clearance by 10 mm (0.4”) when compared to the 2012 911. The engine displacement was decreased to 3 liters but added two turbochargers. The standard transmission for the Carrera S was a 7-speed manual, but a PDK (Porsche Dual-Clutch) was available.
The Porsche’s 911 roots started in 1963 and it continuously evolved ever since.
It grew in size, engine and power. It evolved from a sports car to a luxurious super-car. And the 2012 Carrera S Coupe was no exception.
The seventh generation of the 911 was launched in 2012 and it sit on a new platform, with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs. It also featured new headlights and taillights. The overall shape of the car didn’t change that much since 1963 and that is one element why the 911 became an iconic car, same as the VW Beetle and the Land Rover Defender.
The round headlights with the white DRLs strips underneath, installed on the bumper were one key-feature of the 2012 Porsche 911. The three air-scoops in the bumper amplified the sport look of the vehicle. With its rounded greenhouse that was continued by the engine hood in the back, the seventh Porsche 911 kept its original shape. Behind the engine lid there was an active wing that was risen on highway speeds to keep the car better planted on the road. Porsche stated that the wing was tested up to 300 kph (186 mph) and the car had zero lift.
The interior was more about luxury than about performance. The new instrument cluster still had the center tachometer but on its left there was a TFT display installed into the round circle of the former analog gauge.
The 2012 Porsche Carrera S featured a 3.8-liter flat-six engine. It was mated as standard to a world’s first seven-speed manual transmission. An automatic, PDK (dual-clutch) transmission was offered as an option.
In 2008 facelift for the Porsche 911 – 997, also known as the 997.2, was a serious improvement over the 2004 model. It brought changes in all departments: from the exterior to the engine.
After four years into production, a mid-life cycle refresh was ready for the market. Porsche had to improve its engines to make them cleaner and to respect the new pollution norms in Europe. It meant that it had to build its cars more fuel-efficient. As usual, the rest of the car suffered some minor changes too.
On the outside, the first difference was on the front bumper, where larger air-intakes were sculptured. The headlights were fitted with LED daytime running lights and an option for bi-xenon lamps was added to the list, while the taillights were fitted with LEDs. The rearview mirrors were slightly redesigned.
Inside, Porsche installed a new infotainment unit that featured a 6.5” touch-screen display. It featured an optional hard-drive navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity. Besides the standard, manually adjustable, front seats, there was an option for 12-way adjustable seats, adaptive sport seats, and new for the 2008 model were the sport-bucket seats. The instrument cluster featured five dials with a silver background.
The 355 hp, 3.8-liter engine, gained 30 more hp than its Carrera sibling, and with the help of the X51 options, it reached 381 hp. It was fitted as standard to a 6-speed manual, while a 6-speed automatic (Tiptronic S) was on the options list. The braking system was enhanced with the introduction of the 330 mm (12.99”) disc brakes on all four corners. The Carrera S featured standard PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) which enhanced cornering speeds and decreased the ground clearance by 10 mm (0.4”).
Along with its sibling Carrera, the 2004 Carrera S offered a rear-wheel-drive system for the Porsche 911, but as usual, it was more powerful.
The 997 Carrera S was based on the same platform with its predecessor but enhanced. Its wider body by 88 mm (3.5”) than its non-S sibling, made it look meaner. It offered better performances than most of its siblings, apart from the Turbo and the GT versions.
From the outside, the new round headlights were back, wiping off the tears from the Porsche fans. The turn-signals and the fog-lights were in the front bumper, above the apron. In the lower side, a wide center grille and two side-scoops with a horizontal slat were typical for this generation of the Porsche 911. In the back, the Carrera S featured four round exhausts under the rear apron, unlike the Carrera 2 which featured only two wide exhausts.
Inside, the Carrera S offered four seats but cramped in the rear. It offered four seating options: standard, electric, sport, and adaptive bucket-seats. For the instrument cluster, it featured the classic five-dials layout, with a black background. The Porsche Communication Management was fitted as standard, but the navigation system was optional.
For the engine, the 2004 Carrera S featured a 3.8-liter engine that offered 355 hp, 30 more than the non-S version. It was mated as standard to a 6-speed manual, while a 5-speed automatic with manual override (Tiptronic) was on the options list.
The Carrera S was the ultimate, naturally aspirated version of the Carrera 2.
It was fitted with the more powerful version of the 3.6-liter engine available for its sibling.
Porsche decided to offer something more to its customers when it launched the Carrera S version. It featured a stiffer and lowered suspension. Its wider tires made it better in the corners and faster around a race-track than its Carrera 2 sibling.
The Carrera S took its bodywork from the Porsche Turbo. But it didn’t get the turbocharger or the all-wheel-drive system. Its wider rear fenders and lowered stance than the Carrera lineup made it a desirable car for the Porsche fans. The windshield was not very raked and the sloped back toward the end of the car made a curved line along with the engine lid. A rear spoiler was installed and it was automatically extended over 80 kph (50 mph), or via a button installed in front of the gear-stick.
The interior featured better sport seats with better support on the shoulders to keep its occupants in their seats while hard cornering. There were two seats in the back, basically only to place some bags, not humans, since they were very small and there were limited legroom and headroom. The instrument cluster featured five dials, with the tachometer in the middle and the Carrera S logo on it. The climate controls and the stereo were mounted in line with the steering column.
The engine was the same 3.6-liter naturally aspirated, but it was offered in the higher power output of 285 hp. The only transmission available was a 6-speed manual.