2019 Porsche 911 Review

The base model 911 Carrera is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine (flat-six) that produces 370 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission is standard, and Porsche's dual-clutch (PDK) automatic transmission is optional. Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer tires, an adaptive suspension (PASM), automatic bi-xenon headlights, parking sensors, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, four-way power-adjustable front seats (for the backrest and seat height; fore/aft is manual) and leather upholstery.

Technology features include Bluetooth; two USB ports; two SD card slots; Porsche Communication Management, which has a 7-inch touchscreen interface with navigation, Apple CarPlay, onboard Wi-Fi and Car Connect remote vehicle services; and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player and satellite and HD radio.

The Carrera S has an upgraded version of the same engine that produces 420 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. It also has 20-inch wheels and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The optional Powerkit ups the engine to 450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque.

The Carrera 4 and the Carrera 4S, as well as the Targa 4 and the Targa 4S, feature all-wheel drive and wider rear fenders, plus the engine that corresponds to their rear-wheel-drive counterparts above.

The GTS variants have the Carrera S engine with the Powerkit upgrade (450 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque). The GTS also has a wider rear track, 20-inch center lock wheels from the Turbo S, a PASM sport suspension (coupe only) that includes a ride-height reduction, a sport exhaust system (optional on all lesser versions), special exterior styling, sport seats with a combination of leather and simulated suede upholstery, and a sport steering wheel. The GTS also comes with the Sport Chrono package, which includes dynamic engine mounts, a stopwatch, turbo overboost function for temporarily increased torque, and additional performance driving aids. This package is available on lesser versions.

The 911 Turbo has a turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six good for 540 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. It comes only with the PDK automatic and all-wheel drive. It also comes standard with a power-retractable front spoiler, a fixed rear spoiler with articulating wing elements, various other aesthetic and functional body revisions, a rear-wheel-steering feature to tighten the turning radius and improve high-speed stability (optional on the Carrera S family), and a more advanced torque-vectoring rear differential (PTV Plus). Also standard are adaptive LED headlights, the Sport Chrono package, 10-way power seats with four-way power lumbar and memory settings, extended leather trim and a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.

The Turbo S is uprated to 580 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It also gets active stabilizer bars (PDCC), carbon-ceramic brake rotors, 14-way power front seats with adjustable side bolsters, and carbon-fiber interior trim.

Finally, the track models. The Carrera T is based on the standard Carrera and uses the same 370-hp engine, but it features lightweight door panels with nylon door pulls, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and shorter final drive ratio for better acceleration.

The GT3 is a lightweight, track-focused performance model. It has a 4.0-liter non-turbocharged flat-six that produces 500 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. PDK is standard and a six-speed manual is optional. It also gets its own special suspension tuning, rear-wheel steering, the carbon-ceramic brakes, lightweight body components (including a carbon-fiber fixed rear wing), a rear underbody diffuser and special styling elements. For the GT3 RS, Porsche takes a GT3 and sharpens it further with more power (520 hp, 346 lb-ft of torque), aerodynamic enhancements, and more trick lightweight parts, such as a magnesium roof and carbon-fiber trunklid and fenders.

For the ultimate 911 track experience, the GT2 RS takes the GT3 RS's body and aerodynamics and swaps out its non-turbocharged flat-six in favor of an uprated twin-turbo engine from the 911 Turbo S that produces 690 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful and fastest street-legal 911 ever produced.

Many of the higher-end items, especially those included on the Turbo, are available as options on lesser trims. Other add-ons include alternative wheel designs, a front axle lift system, a rear wiper, power-folding auto-dimming mirrors, a solid or glass sunroof (coupe only), keyless entry and ignition, adaptive cruise control (with automatic braking for forward collision mitigation), a blind-spot warning system, various sport seats, heated seats, ventilated seats, a multifunction steering wheel (heating can be added), a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system and a 12-speaker Burmester audio system.

As with any Porsche, you can also customize the 911 to your heart's (and hopefully wallet's) content, with numerous paint colors, upholstery types and trim selections. You can also specify everything from colorful Porsche crests on the seats to leather trim on the climate vent slats.