Monday 19th October 2009

Video And Pics: New 911 Turbo

Walter Rohrl, a 935 and the new 911 Turbo in mixed media fest!

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Walter Rohrl, before nicking 'our' car...

"Whenever there's a new 911 Turbo, I always say it's got the smoothest power delivery yet. Here I am saying it again, but it's true," quipped rally and race legend Walter Rohrl at the press launch of the new model at Estoril last week.

Porsche chose the famous Portuguese circuit for the launch as it marks the spot 25 years ago where Austrian driver Niki Lauda clinched the F1 world title using the first Porsche (TAG) turbo racing engine in the McLaren MP4/2.

As the assorted media hacks tried out the new 911 Turbos on the circuit, Walter Rohrl wheeled out a trio of classic racers to get our nostalgia glands working overtime.

"The difference is the turbo power delivery from the old cars is incredible," he said, after a brief re-acquaintance with a gorgeous 935. "It is now so smooth, it really is almost impossible to distinguish the latest Turbo from a normally aspirated engine."

Amusingly, when PH was about to leave the circuit for Lisbon airport in our allocated 911 Cabrio, we were held up for a few minutes as Mr Rohrl had unexpectedly nicked our car to give a hot lap to a rather glamorous blonde lady from the German press office. On his return, he very generously made up for it by taking me for a spin round the Estoril circuit as well - the most amazing display of silky-smooth sideways skill I think I've ever seen. No wonder Niki Lauda once called Rohrl 'a genius on wheels', and the new 911 Turbo is quite a machine, too!

A full report on the new 911 Turbo is coming soon. Meanwhile, check out this terrific Porsche promo video and a picture gallery taken at the circuit.

 

[DP 1]

HMM loving the bigger exhausts- always thought the 997 turbo was quite understated in the exhaust department- almost like the standard carrera ones!

[edo]

Cant say that colour is top of my list...

[[AJ]]

I wish they made the aero kit look better though.

[anniesdad]

The new RS Spyder style wheels are to die for...

I love the car in that colour.

[Tiny12]

edo said:

Cant say that colour is top of my list...

On 993 GT2 it takes some beating!

do you think I could get a remap to "bump out" the power curve....I quite like the boot in the arse tubo coming feeling...keeps the fear there!!

[benny.c]

No amount of dramatic music is ever going to make a man flicking a lever on a steering wheel seem exciting

The video did briefly get interesting at 2:30 though.

[hornetrider]

edo said:

Cant say that colour is top of my list...

Get out!

Riviera is

[KingJeff 4th]

benny.c said:

No amount of dramatic music is ever going to make a man flicking a lever on a steering wheel seem exciting

The video did briefly get interesting at 2:30 though.

Agreed, video is utterly poncey

[PJR]

I love the car But I agree, that colour is vile.

P,

[kentmotorcompany]

I liked the video.

However are Porsche telling us that its good to drive with your wker lights on during the day, and with no fog?

[steelej]

kentmotorcompany said:

I liked the video.

However are Porsche telling us that its good to drive with your wker lights on during the day, and with no fog?

Those are the new daytime driving lights

John.

[Insight]

Great music!

[KrissJ]

Ey up, that Turbo's the same colour as my 182.

Edited by KrissJ on Monday 19th October 15:29

[kentmotorcompany]

steelej said:

kentmotorcompany said:

I liked the video.

However are Porsche telling us that its good to drive with your wker lights on during the day, and with no fog?

Those are the new daytime driving lights

John.

I think the daytime driving lights are the horizontal LED lights below the main headlights. The Foglights are the small round lights below and to the outer edge(the lights that are on in video).

However, having not driven a facelift 997, I would'nt bet my house on it.

[PascalBuyens]

I'd still take that 935, given the choice

[ermoalfa]

I am bored stiff of this car, looks always the same fettling here and there but at the end of the day same old 911.

Time to move on this design has reached the end of it's family tree....

[enioldjoe]

That video's interesting! Is it just me or does that bridge bare an uncanny resemblance to the bridge going over to Skye?

Bit of the old 'photo shoppy', bit of artistic licence, and hey presto! Nah, couldn't be.......

Then again, I did see a yellow 911 Turbo hooning around when I was over there recently. No joke!

[Dr S]

Interesting how much footage is dedicated to the driver pulling the paddles behind the steering wheel. So much for the stupid "shift blocks" of the regular PDK steering wheel...

[i remember]

Has anyone else seen a car accelerate as quick as that

ofc

[enioldjoe]

i remember said:

Has anyone else seen a car accelerate as quick as that

ofc

Artistic license ?

Yep - that's the Skye Bridge! http://images50.fotki.com/v1529/photos/6/182156/76...

I didn't do badly that week! First time I've been around Scotland (something I've always wanted to do) and I come across this and Evo doing there CotY shoot around Glencoe/A82. There is a God..........

Edited by enioldjoe on Monday 19th October 18:25