Porsche 911 Carrera Facelift Review

The Porsche 911 is easily the most recognisable sports car ever - since its debut in 1963, the 911 has retained a familiar silhouette. While the evolutionary design principle has led to the car's iconic status, it has also made identifying these cars a challenging task for many.

What you are looking at is the latest 911 (992.2) Carrera. Originally introduced in 2018, the 992 is the eighth generation 911, and it has just been updated after almost seven years. While it will require a serious 911 aficionado to be able to identify the changes in a glance, the new car has been updated on many fronts, including a bump in power.

Slight stylistic updates gives the 992.2 a bump in aggression while still looking very recognisable

Subtle aggression

The updates to the exterior, while light, have given the 911 a sportier look. From the front, you'll notice that the turn indicators are no longer found on the front bumper - they have been integrated into the pair of redesigned head lights. The 911's front bumper now sports a pair of enlarged side air intakes - the resulting effect is a dramatic and even more aggressive front-end.

These optional Carrera Classic wheels are my favourite parts of the car

Here's one way to identify the facelifted 992.2 - the rear grille has fewer slats on it

This unit has also been configured with more than $100,000 worth of options, including the set of optional Carrera Classic wheels, which are a nice throwback to the original's Fuchs wheels, and a favourite part of mine. At the rear, the biggest change can be seen from the taillights, which no longer narrows in the middle, along with a redesigned rear grille with fewer vertical slats.

The increased aggression from the front end, and the taillights that reminds vaguely of the 993-generation 911, are subtle but welcome design evolutions that Porsche has made to create the 992.2.

The 992.2 lost the last analogue component within the instrument cluster, in its place is a 12.6-inch digital display that offers a virtual rendition of the former dial

Analogue no more

The 992.2 has lost the analogue tachometer that its predecessor had, opting for a fully-digital 12.6-inch instrument cluster that offers a virtual rendition of the former dial. The engine-start knob, a well-loved and unique component, has also been replaced with a plebeian start button on this latest rendition of the 911.

The 10.9-inch central infotainment display is where you can adjust various car settings; wireless smartphone connectivity is also supported

Meanwhile, the 10.9-inch infotainment display remains. This is where you can adjust the drive modes, along with various car settings. Wireless smartphone connectivity along with the standard Bose Surround Sound system ensures a fuss-free and quality multimedia experience on the go.

The optional Sport Chrono Package adds the iconic dashboard clock and the Porsche Track Precision App within the infotainment system to offer real-time telemetrics

Porsche offers a vast array of interior customisation options to allow owners to create their own personalised space. This unit has been specified with the $12,000 Sport Chrono Package that includes the iconic dashboard clock, along with the Porsche Track Precision App and tyre temperature display within the infotainment system. It also has a classy two-tone leather interior, which is a $26,000 option.

Costly options aside, the 911's cabin is ergonomically designed for driving enjoyment, with every touch point optimally positioned. It is also very well-insulated, keeping wind and external noise well at bay, even when driven at high speeds.

Sitting behind the rear-axle is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six with upgraded ancillaries; the stout powerplant belts out throaty roars through the optional Sports exhaust system

Inimitable 911 driving experience

The 911 Carrera remains powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine seated behind the rear axle. It has, however, been upgraded with turbochargers from the previous 911 GTS and fitted with the intercooler from the 911 Turbo. As a result, output has increased to 389bhp and 450Nm of torque - all sent to the wide rear wheels.

Equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, this unit completes the century sprint in 3.9 seconds (4.1 seconds standard) and accelerates to a top speed of 294km/h, and it does so with a throaty roar through the optional Sports exhaust system. In today's context, these performance figures, while impressive, aren't exactly out of this world. 

The rear-heavy configuration gives the 911 immense rear-end grip and its unique handling characteristics

But what's inimitable is the driving experience of the Porsche 911. And it starts with the highly-responsive flat-six situated rearwards of the rear axle. The rear-heavy configuration on the rear-wheel drive 911 gives the car immense rear-end grip, and its unique handling characteristics.

The 911 experience starts with a tinge of understeer, followed by a neutral cornering characteristic, and you'll have to push it even further for it to loosen up

When you roll on the throttle aggressively after turning-in, a tinge of understeer can be felt as the rear of the car squats as power is sent to the ground. The car then quickly settles into a neutral and controllable state - give it even more power and the rear gets a little loose, coaxing the car to turn in even more sharply (traction control takes over at this point and keep you in control).

Driven on public roads at moderate speed, the 911 doesn't come off as the most fun to drive due to its immense rear traction and initial understeer. However, do not be mistaken, this is a fast car that is also approachable and easy to drive quickly, but I suspect that maximum driving enjoyment of the 911 could only be experienced when driving on the limits, on a race track.

The perfect daily performance car

Porsche probably knows that you'll likely spend more time on the roads than on race tracks, and the brand's priority with this model is clear.

The suspension on the 992.2 Carrera is soft; in fact, it felt softer than the outgoing model's from what I remember. While this means a secondary oscillation can be felt when driving over larger bumps or dips, the 911 remains confidence inspiring on corners.

The 992.2 encapsulates the essence of the 911 while offering everyday drivability

Combined with the features and amenities-filled cabin, great insulation and the compliant ride quality, the 992.2 Carrera is definitely something that I'll gladly drive on a daily basis. With its powerful engine, I would imagine road trips to be a breezy affair as well.

After almost seven years, the 911 (992.2) Carrera's update might be on the lighter side, but you can't fault Porsche for it - the car was always a well-rounded proposition and the brand has stuck to an evolutionary approach with it. The result is an approachable sports car that's comfortable and fast on the road.

If you are willing to part with almost $700,000 ($569,268 for the base car, or $692,429 for this exact specification - both COE exclusive) for a high-performance sports car, this could be one of the best choices that you can make.

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