Porsche's 911 Gets a Major Overhaul: Has it Ruined the Car's Appeal?

The Porsche 911, one of the most iconic and beloved sports cars in the world, has just received its biggest overhaul in 40 years. With this significant update, Porsche has made several changes that are intended to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and enhance the overall driving experience. However, some fans are worried that these modifications might have come at the cost of the car's character and appeal.

One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of a seven-speed manual gearbox. On paper, this sounds impressive, but in reality, the extra gear is primarily for fuel economy rather than speed. The new gearbox is designed to optimize fuel efficiency, which may not be as exciting for petrolheads like us who value raw performance and driving thrill. Additionally, the 911 Carrera S, the bestselling model, now costs £5,000 more than before, making it a significant investment.

Another notable change is the stretching of the 911's body by adding an extra 4 inches between the wheels. This modification aims to improve interior space and accommodate taller drivers. While this may be beneficial for some, it might alter the car's dynamics and handling, potentially affecting its overall performance and driving experience.

For the first time, the 911 is equipped with electric power steering. This system is designed to save fuel compared to the traditional hydraulic system, but some enthusiasts might worry that it will lack the real feel of the road. However, the reviewer notes that this new system feels just as good as the old one, providing a smooth and connected driving experience.

One of the most significant benefits of the updated 911 is its weight reduction. Despite being slightly longer, the car weighs 30 kg less than before. This reduction in weight allows the 911 to accelerate faster, with a 0-62 mph time reduced by a fifth of a second.

To put this into perspective, let's take a look at another extreme example: the Nissan GT-R Nismo. This beast of a car is one of the fastest on earth, with an astonishing acceleration and handling capabilities that are comparable to those of a modern-day Formula 1 car. When we heard about Nissan's latest upgrade, which adds 20 BR horsepower, we simply had to take it for a spin.

The result was awe-inspiring. This car is truly unstoppable, capable of tackling even the most challenging terrain with ease. Its performance and handling are simply unmatched, making it one of the most impressive machines in motorsports. Whether you're a seasoned racing enthusiast or just a petrolhead looking for an adrenaline rush, this car is sure to deliver.

In conclusion, while Porsche's 911 overhaul may have introduced some changes that might not appeal to traditionalists like us, the overall result seems to be a well-rounded and improved driving experience. With its updated gearbox, electric power steering, and reduced weight, the 911 is still very much a Porsche through and through. Whether you're a fan of raw performance or just looking for a thrilling driving experience, this car is sure to deliver.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enPorsche have given the 911 the biggest overhaul of its 40-year life and I'm worried they might have messed it up reason one is the gearbox the world's first seven-speed manual sounds impressive but the extra gear is for fuel economy not speed and then there's the price this Carrera S the bestselling model cost £5,000 more than before but that's not all the 911 has been stretched in the middle adding a full 4 in between the wheels to improve the accommodation and for the first time there's now electric power steering the reason for that saving more fuel today I'm going to see if making it bigger pricier and more frugal has ruined the 911s appeal to petral heads like us starting with that gearbox one rather niggling thing about the system if I'm down in fourth gear and accelerating out of the motorway and then want to go straight to seventh I can't it puts me to fifth and then I've got to go to seventh but once through the lower ratios the gearbox feels just as good as the outgoing one the instant wonderful manual gear changing so what about the steering the 9/11's electric power steering does save fuel compared to the old hydraulic system but does it feels good you're always worried that they're going to be a bit artificial you won't be feeling the real feel of the road you just be feeling some invented electric impulse but this steering feels just as good the old one it feels like I'm connected directly to the grip on those front wheels and I don't mind it at all finally despite the car's extra length it's actually 30 kg lighter than before oh that means we can get to 62 a fifth of a second faster so the added fuel economy and refinement hasn't come at the expense of the car's character this is still a Porsche through and through the 75,000 000 Nissan GTR is one of the fastest cars on earth so when we heard that Nissan had updated it with an extra 20 BR horsepower we wanted to take it to the extreme some of the most awe inspiring machines in Motorsport it's as powerful as a modern-day F1 car it'll drive across pretty much anything that you pointed at and it lives in the building right behind me you'vePorsche have given the 911 the biggest overhaul of its 40-year life and I'm worried they might have messed it up reason one is the gearbox the world's first seven-speed manual sounds impressive but the extra gear is for fuel economy not speed and then there's the price this Carrera S the bestselling model cost £5,000 more than before but that's not all the 911 has been stretched in the middle adding a full 4 in between the wheels to improve the accommodation and for the first time there's now electric power steering the reason for that saving more fuel today I'm going to see if making it bigger pricier and more frugal has ruined the 911s appeal to petral heads like us starting with that gearbox one rather niggling thing about the system if I'm down in fourth gear and accelerating out of the motorway and then want to go straight to seventh I can't it puts me to fifth and then I've got to go to seventh but once through the lower ratios the gearbox feels just as good as the outgoing one the instant wonderful manual gear changing so what about the steering the 9/11's electric power steering does save fuel compared to the old hydraulic system but does it feels good you're always worried that they're going to be a bit artificial you won't be feeling the real feel of the road you just be feeling some invented electric impulse but this steering feels just as good the old one it feels like I'm connected directly to the grip on those front wheels and I don't mind it at all finally despite the car's extra length it's actually 30 kg lighter than before oh that means we can get to 62 a fifth of a second faster so the added fuel economy and refinement hasn't come at the expense of the car's character this is still a Porsche through and through the 75,000 000 Nissan GTR is one of the fastest cars on earth so when we heard that Nissan had updated it with an extra 20 BR horsepower we wanted to take it to the extreme some of the most awe inspiring machines in Motorsport it's as powerful as a modern-day F1 car it'll drive across pretty much anything that you pointed at and it lives in the building right behind me you've\n"