This year marks fifty years of Porsche Turbo in Stuttgart. They undoubtedly have something special in store for the brand, but no one is revealing any details. On a beautiful summer day, we took a brand-new Porsche 992 Turbo S Cabriolet for a spin to the beach to relive that Turbo feeling.
The life of the Porsche Turbo began in 1975 with the 930 Turbo. Soon, other models with Turbo engines followed, and today the Porsche Turbo is an integral part of the brand. Just think of how many models with the Turbo name are currently available: Panamera Turbo, Taycan Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, and of course, the most beautiful and fastest of them all, the 911 Turbo. Recently, we were in Stuttgart to drive various Turbo models from the past, but we'll cover that in another piece. For now, it's the 992 Turbo S Cabriolet that takes the spotlight. The perfect daily car, perhaps?
The 992 Turbo S has been around for a number of years and is nearing the end of its run. The next generation is almost ready. Nevertheless, we had one more chance to take it out and experience just how perfect this car can be. Because that is what the Turbo S essentially is. Thanks to the Drive Selector on the steering wheel, you can give this car the characteristics you need at any given moment. It's fascinating how a car can change just by turning one knob. The comfort mode won't give you any trouble. All systems are set to the most comfortable setting, and if it weren't for the sporty thin steering wheel in front of you, you might think you were driving a Volkswagen Polo. The 650 hp boxer engine doesn't flinch, and at speeds around 60 km/h, the gearbox is already in seventh or even eighth gear. The exhaust valves are closed, producing a gentle hum. Perfect for moments when you're driving home quietly with the setting sun.
We turn the knob a notch further and switch to Sport mode. The computer recognizes that the driver is ready for some action and makes various adjustments. The throttle response becomes quicker, the gears hold longer to allow higher revs, the damping gets firmer, and, of course, the exhaust valves open to let the boxer engine unleash its full power. This mode is still perfect for driving without causing your fillings to rattle. That changes when Sport Plus mode is activated. Now the computers know you’re foaming at the mouth behind the wheel and tighten everything up another notch, with the active aerodynamics also set to maximum. A spoiler extends from under the front bumper, and an additional spoiler rises at the rear. This is insane, and the Turbo S becomes a beast of a car in this mode. It handles corners with razor-sharp precision, allowing us to enjoy its full potential. This is also the danger: the Turbo S can be driven so insanely fast and so perfectly that you almost don’t know your own limits as a driver. The Turbo is essentially a car that brings out the best in you but also makes you feel overly confident. It seems like there are no limits.
Experience is, of course, everything, and that is what the Turbo S also offers. However, appearance matters too, and this is where the Germans excel. The wider hips were already appreciated in 1975, and they have never disappeared from the 911. Generation after generation, the hips on the Turbo models have been widened to make room for broader rubber on the wheels to handle the power. Over the years, air intakes have been added to the hips, which will always be characteristic of the Turbo models. Additionally, the interior is what we have come to expect from every Porsche. A well-functioning multimedia system with a touchscreen and physical buttons to control the car's most important functions. Think of the exhaust, damping, hazard lights, and the front lift.
The cautious conclusion could already be read in the first paragraph. The Turbo S Cabriolet is unparalleled and has a number of different personalities, depending on what the driver desires. This vehicle is so perfect that the price of over 370,000 euros is justifiable. For daily commuting, racing on the track, or vacationing in the Dolomites, you name it, and the Turbo S is ready for you and won't falter. Does a vacation in the Dolomites offer the same experience as it would with a GT3 with a naturally aspirated engine? No, but it comes close because the boxer engine sounds wonderful, and remember, you have to drive back and forth. All in all, the Turbo is a fantastic car to have parked at your house, and we can't wait for the new generation. Porsche will undoubtedly perfect it even further.