Porsche is a brand associated with it’s sleek, compact yet powerful sports cars, but their models haven’t changed much in the in intervening years. That’s what makes the new 2020 911 so exciting — Porsche is finally biting the bullet and improving the 911s model, even though the fans seem to think it doesn’t need changing. What is Porsche doing with the new 911 in 2020, and when can you add one of these sporty little cars to your collection?
First, It’s Actually the 992
News outlets are referring to the new model as the new 911, but this new model is an evolution of the 911, codenamed the 992.
The 992 shares a wheelbase with the previous year’s model, but the car is slightly longer and broader than the last 911. Both the front and rear tracks have been widened by about 40 millimeters, giving it a slightly wider footprint — but that doesn’t detract from the sleek design lines. The wheels are also somewhat different in size, with 20-inch wheels in the front and 21 inches in the rear. The difference is enough to give the car a slightly staggered look without throwing the aerodynamics off.
It’s also got a bit of sparkle on the rear end — a tail light strip of LEDs that feels like a throw-back to the 1970s incarnation of this vehicle.
Fun Under the Hood
While the exterior hasn’t changed much, there is plenty of excitement hiding under the hood. A 3.0L Twin Turbo Flax Six engine sits between the front wheels — typical of 911’s in the past — that is tweaked and tuned to put out a lot more power. The injectors have been swapped out with new high-volume models. The valves have an asymmetrical stroke pattern — meaning one set of valves opens more than the other — and the turbos underwent a complete overhaul.
The engine’s intercoolers, which Porsche got a lot of flack for when they switched from air to water cooled engines in the mid-90s, are now located on either side of the engine, increasing their footprint and improving their cooling capacity.
All told these changes to Porsche’s 3.0L bring its power up to 443 horsepower — 23 more than the previous year’s model. All this power is paired with a PDK transmission dual-clutch transmission that burns less fuel by only engaging one gear at a time.
Configure Your Own 992
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Well, customization is the mother of empty wallets, especially when it comes to the Porsche 992. The base model — the S — starts at $114,550, which is a pretty penny for the average car collector. However, that doesn’t include any of the customization options Porsche showcased at the 2018 LA Auto Show.
The 4S coupe raises the price to $120,850, with the ragtop convertible climbing to $127,350 and the droptop costing $134,650.
For an additional $13,000, you can add the Power Kit, which increases the vehicle’s horsepower even more. Or, you can spend $3,210 for an automatic transmission. The car comes standard with an 8-speed manual transmission.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to 992 add-ons. Rear axle steering, anti-roll bars, carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive suspension and front axle lifts will all add to your price tag — and we haven’t even started talking about the interior upgrades.
If you’ve ever wanted a custom Porsche, now’s the time to order one. These new 992’s will be hitting dealerships during the summer in 2019, so start planning today.
