In 1998, Porsche forsook air-cooled engines and joined the modern auto world by equipping its 911 with water-cooled engines.
For the 2017 model year, Porsche’s iconic 911 sports car will forsake naturally-aspirated engines and join much of the sports car business in forging ahead with turbocharged powerplants.
Yes, the 911 Turbo won’t be the only 911 with a turbo.
This group of images releases today by Porsche show more than just the new, 2017 911 – which, not surprisingly, looks very much the same as the current 911 – but also the new 3.0L twin-turbocharged engine. In basic Carrera form, the new 3.0L generates 370 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque at just 1700 rpm. The 3.0L turbo revs to 7500 rpm.
In 911 Carrera S form, the same 3.0L turbo boxer six-cylinder will produce 420 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. Two generations ago, or a dozen years ago, the 996 911 Turbo produced 415 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6L twin-turbo.
In terms of handling news, rear-axle steering will be an available option on the 911 Carrera S.
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As for the interior, the 911’s new touchscreen enables Apple CarPlay.
Moving on to pricing, base 2017 911s will be on sale in the United States in March 2016 at $89,400.
Plus options.
The Carrera S adds $14,000 to the sticker. In either base 911 Carrera or 911 Carrera S trim, lopping the roof off to create a 911 Carrera Cabriolet adds $12,300.
911 pricing in the U.S. currently starts at $84,300. The new cars will be more fuel efficient, but not so efficient as to account for the 6% USD price increase.
Overall 911 sales in the United States are down 3.5% to 6789 units through the first eight months of 2015. In 2013, 911 sales rose to a six-year high and fell by only nine units last year. The 911 accounts for one out of every five Porsche sales in America and 46% of Porsche’s non-Cayenne/Macan U.S. volume.
North of the border, Canadian pricing for the 2017 911 will begin at $102,200, up $6000, or 6%, from the current 911’s base price. The Carrera S will add $16,000 for a $118,200 starting point. Cabriolets in both trims add $14,000.
In Canada, 911 sales are up 10% to 640 units through 2015’s first eight months, equal to 47% of Porsche’s passenger car volume and 21% of Porsche’s total Canadian sales. At the current pace, Porsche Canada will break the 911’s one-year-old Canadian sales record.
Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook.
