You have to be older to remember the Kyalami circuit. South Africa's only Grand Prix circuit is just over half an hour's drive outside Johannesburg and flourished in the 70 and 80 years. From 1967 to 1993, Kyalami has been the venue for the Formula 1 twenty times, including Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda and Alain Prost. But in the middle of the 90er it was quiet around the circuit, which is located in a residential area and had repeatedly to do with noise control problems. After the premier class of motorsport here some motorcycle races, but also found that 2010 an end.
The racetrack was finally auctioned in an auction and the contract was awarded to none other than Porsche South Africa, the importer of the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer, who has now comprehensively refurbished and rebuilt the course and provided it for the first few laps with the revised Porsche 911 Turbo. The race car was able to show on the demanding four and a half kilometer track that the refreshing track has done it noticeably good: agile and faster than ever fats the at least 174.669 Euro expensive powerhouse on the track.
It has not changed much at first glance with the facelift, which has already happened to the now also turbo-driven ex-Sauger-Elfern: Visually, the so-called Phase II Turbo differs from its predecessors by revised headlights and taillights, a new boot lid and slightly modified aprons and tailpipes. As usual, with 1,88 meters it is the widest 911, as the 305 tires on the rear axle need space as well as the air duct.
Standard on board, in addition to the Sport Chrono package, which provides, among other things, a boost function with 50 Extra Newton meters and a new sport mode for the ESP, also the rear axle steering. It is thanks to her that the Elfer makes a sharp and direct turn and directs with the utmost precision on the ideal line over the circuit. Corrections are rarely necessary. The new 36 centimeter steering wheel fits well in the hand, the driving mode switch (Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual) is conveniently located directly on the valance, as well as the shift paddles. However, that rarely needs it, because the standard seven-speed dual-clutch transmission works fast, precisely and always finds the right gear. If you still want to switch yourself, you can also do this via the selector lever on the center tunnel, in which the shifting logic has been changed analogously to the racing models: When pulling down, the 911 turns up, down you go by pushing the lever forward.
As much fun as the cornering with the turbo makes, even more joy comes on the long start-and-finish straight. Here, the extremely snappy response to gas commands 3,8-liter boxer throw his whole temperament in the balance. And that means: 397 kW / 540 horsepower in normal turbo, 427 kW / 580 horsepower in - always fully equipped at least 202.872 Euro expensive - Turbo S. These are each 20 horses more than before and in order to elicit the S-model, differentiate For the first time the turbocharger of the two variants. It has a larger compressor wheel in the top model. Together with powerful 660 or 710 Newtonmeter torque the 911 goes on command from like Schmitz 'cat and roars loudly out of the double tailpipes. That there was something like a turbo lag, the engine seems to know only by hearsay.
The extra power cuts the sprint time by 0,2 seconds, the hundredth mark drops in the turbo after 3,0 seconds, in the Turbo S even after 2,9. Thus, the S-model is the first penalty, which creates a two before the decimal point. Even in terms of top speed, the S-model shows clearly strengthened, whopping twelve km / h, it creates more and must now only at Tempo 330 sails auszen.Zehn things less creates the base turbo, which could gain at least five points. In the case of the Turbo S, negative brakes are always provided by ceramic brakes that powerfully grip the front with 410er discs; for the normal turbo they are available at extra cost - for just 9.200 Euro.
Standard on board for both models, which are also available for about 13.000 Euro extra as a convertible, the all-wheel drive. Here, too, the engineers have put their hands to one another, among other things, clutch plates with higher coefficient of friction for an even more precise transmission of power to the front axle. In addition, the control system has been revised, so that the force distribution is even faster than before. Traction problems are the turbo a foreign word, as he has demonstrated us every time accelerate out of the curve again.
Even if it seems like the developers did not just have the racetrack in their heads. Finally, the penalty in normal mode should and can be operated by hand. Everyday turbo drivers can therefore look forward to a new infotainment system with online access, which also supports Apple Car Play. Android Auto is currently not in the planning, as most Porsche drivers, such an internal investigation, anyway an iPhone in the bag. For the first time there is also a multi-collision brake, which is to prevent consequential accidents in a crash and a blind spot warner, but only works up to 250 km / h. And in order to avoid ugly damage to the bodywork even at steep underground parking entrances, the turbo can now also be ordered with the lift system, which lifts the front by about four centimeters. Anyone who, delighted at all these amenities, also withholds when accelerating, even has chances to at least come close to the standard consumption of a good nine liters - all others may continue to allow double.
