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Even a somewhat casual observer would peg the 992 as a different breed from the outgoing 991.2 generation. As mentioned, the body itself is noticeably wider—both front and rear—on the S model. (The other variants are the 4S and the cabriolet versions of the S and 4S.) Its overall aesthetic harkens back, visually, to the 930 Turbo from the 1970s. The hood is longer, almost elongated, and the rear is more ample than before, with a new light bar that runs the entire width, just below the retractable spoiler.
The latest interior is a home run. The layout gets a total rethink, with an orientation of gauges and digital screens that layer along the horizon of the dash, rather than in an ugly stack. The result is a more cogent and handsome space that allows your eyes to sweep along its span. In other respects, this gen gives the kind of safety and convenience technology one might expect in an executive-style machine such as the Porsche Panamera. There’s adaptive cruise control, which reengages even when the vehicle comes to a full stop, and piloting aids such as Lane Keep Assist and road-sign recognition. There’s even night vision, which scans the road for animals and pedestrians.
It’s hard to argue with increased safety, but the 911’s ethos has always hewed toward escaping the slings and arrows of the regular, plodding world: a performance car that lets you focus on the experience. Traditionally, 911 drivers are skillful and attentive, so it’s a shame to think that they too may have succumbed to digital distractions and need electronic reminders to keep them in their lanes.
But the dread of ever-creeping tech rips away when you dip into the accelerator on roads like those I found in Spain. The car surges, and a sensation of promise and freedom rings in your brain.
After the Carrera S has effortlessly diced through a series of complex turns, and the flat-six is crying out from behind, you’ll be smiling deliriously. That’s the cry of the 911, and it hasn’t faded.
BY THE NUMBERS
>1 million: 911s produced through 2018
70: Percentage of Porsches still on the road
8: Number of 911 generations
992: Porsche’s internal designation for the latest 911
1.7: Inches the front end has been widened
168,000: Price of the 911 Carrera S driven in Spain, in dollars
23: Increase in hp compared to the predecessor
3.3: Time the Carrera S goes from zero to 60 mph, in seconds (with Sport Chrono Package)
191: Top track speed, in mph
12: Seconds it takes for the cabriolet variant to lower its fabric roof
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