Lighter, more powerful and more aerodynamic than the previous version. Reshaped, refined and retuned, the Porsche 911 performs more like a thoroughbred than ever -- faster, nimbler, sharper. A few numbers hint at its potential: Acceleration from 0 - 100 kph (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds. From 0 - 100 mph in 11.5 seconds. The standing kilometer in 24.2 seconds. A top track speed of 174 mph.
Of course, the true performance of a sports car is not defined merely in numbers, but also in the way it feels. The litmus test not being a few ticks of the clock, but a few rapid beats of the heart as you feel the car's powerful rhythm at speed.
At its press introduction in Weissach, Germany, a select few of the world's automotive journalists -- some of the foremost judges of automotive excellence -- drove the new Porsche 911. Following are their reactions:
"After sampling a pair of prototypes - stretching their legs on Autobahn A81, pushing them to the edge of sanity on rural German lanes - we can say that, even without its momentous heritage, this car deserves royal pageantry." -- Motor Trend, November 1997
"Its highly invigorated powerplant feels very potent ... The [new 911] is gutsy from just off idle all the way to its 7200-rpm redline." -- Car and Driver, November 1997
"The new engine is quite spectacular ... There's no mistaking the turbine-like whine overlaying a deep-throated raspiness." -- Motor Trend, November 1997
"As on previous 911 variants, the brakes feel powerful, consistent, and immensely reassuring." -- Car and Driver, November 1997
"The suspension communicates comprehensive information about the road's surface, shape, and texture while somehow managing to round the sharp edges of severe bumps and holes." -- Car and Driver, November 1997
"The [new 911] has taken the art of cornering to a new level ... The strong roadholding allows for incredible cornering speeds, but even at the limit of adhesion the new power assisted rack-and-pinion steering relays only the essential information between car and driver." -- Automobile Magazine, November 1997
"The steering ... is still wonderfully communicative and precise. Delightfully, the new Carrera goes exactly where it's pointed -- even more so than before." -- Road & Track, October 1997
"The new 911 is like a drug. Drive it once, and you'll like the experience. Drive it again, and you'll be hooked." -- Automobile Magazine, November 1997
"The latest Carrera is quieter, more rigid, roomier and more comfortable, plus faster and more stable than the current model ... And every bit a 911." -- Road & Track, October 1997
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