The successor to the 993 Turbo, the new Porsche 911 Turbo type 996 was unveiled at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show, instantly winning over the public.
What an arrival! The Porsche 996 Turbo was the unattainable dream model. Even today, the 911 Turbo represents the ideal model that many would like to afford.
The Porsche 996 Turbo features a 3.6-liter flat-six engine delivering 420 hp at 6,000 rpm. The 3.6-liter Turbo borrows its power from the Porsche GT3, based on the 911 GT1.
It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, but some owners opted for the five-speed Tiptronic S, available as an option at the time.
The Turbo’s suspension is naturally firmer than that of the other 996s, and is lowered by 10 mm. Weighing in at a hefty 1,540 kg, the supercharged Porsche is fitted with four-piston 330 mm diameter calipers, larger than on naturally-aspirated models.
Aesthetically, the 911 Turbo’s headlamps have a different shape, while the bumper features three large air intakes. The rear fenders are widened by a total of 65 mm, and each features an engine inlet. The 18-inch wheels are specific to the Turbo, as is the discreet spoiler. The latter is unique in that it automatically splits into two above 120 km/h, with only the upper part rising.
As tradition dictates, the Porsche 911 Turbo is fitted with top-of-the-range equipment. For example, it comes as standard with metallic paintwork, full leather upholstery, electrically adjustable seats and a special three-spoke steering wheel with coloured Porsche badge.
If you’ve got a big heart and can keep your foot to the floor all the way to the red line, i.e. over 310 km/h on the odometer, you’ll notice that as you pass 5,500 rpm, the sound becomes less turbocharged and more like the GT3’s flat-six atmo, only quieter. Silent running is one of the 996 Turbo’s great qualities, as is its comfort.
To shake it up a bit, it’s best to deactivate the PSM, which allows the 996 Turbo to offer all its generosity. It’s got a lot to offer, but you’ve just got to get to grips with it. On small roads, it will stay in its comfort zone until you make it show what it’s got. But her favorite playground is wide roads and long, fast curves. That’s when its power and efficiency shine through, firmly planted on its supports.
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