A26 • Monday, December 24, 2012 • Burnaby NOW
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WHEELS Deals Another A+ for iconic Porsche David Chao
NOW contributor
There is no other car as iconic as the 911. It’s on every automotive enthusiast’s list of “top things to buy before you die.” It wins awards, it turns heads, it makes everyone jealous – what else can you ask for? The 911 didn’t get to this status just by being a B+ car – it got here because it gets A+ in almost every possible performance category year after year, generation after generation. Since its inception in 1948, the 911’s appearance has evolved gracefully. You can still drive it fast and furious – unsurprising considering Porsche is the most successful brand in motor sport. As we said, there’s little surprises coming from the new package. However, people buy Porsches for this very reason and this has resulted in a very loyal fan base. The 911 is a symbol of German engineering. Positioning the engine behind the rear wheels, which is where the 911’s engine belongs, makes achieving a balanced weight distribution an almost impossible task. Sports car designers agonize over where each ounce sits within the chassis because a balanced car corners easier and faster. Early 911s, carrying the bulk of their weight on the rear axle, required a delicate dance on the pedals, nimble hand manoeuvres and a mouthful of prayers to go around a corner fast. But Porsche refused to give up on the idea and continuously tinkered with the chassis to eventually produce a car that feels neutral to the driver regardless of the body bias. While playing with the mechanicals, the designers didn’t ignore the car’s more mundane elements. Over the years, the Carrera has become more comfortable and easier to drive in the real world. It truly has become a sports car
911 Porsche is all about performance on the roads – and looking good at the same time.
you can use every day. 911 is and will always be the benchmark by which other brands measure themselves.
Design
Contributed/ burnaby now
The 911 is one of very few cars whose design has remained a timeless classic. However, if we are to nit-pick the details, the 2012 Carrera has a wider stance than the outgoing model. This means the windscreen is longer and a little less steeply raked and the side mirrors are mounted further out on the doors. Also, the front gills are wider and sharper, the headlamps are ever so slightly rounder, and the taillamps are narrower and longer. But let’s be honest, these changes are subtle and this model is unquestionably the Porsche icon. Another hallmark of this icon has been its cabin. Unlike more ostentatious exotic cars, entering the 911 never required performing a contortionist act. It also provided enough cargo space to allow you to enjoy a scenic drive on a weekend excursion. To further encourage you to use your Carrera daily, the new interior is the most user-frendly yet. And while traditional Porsche elements remain, such as the left-mounted key ignition and fivegauge instrument panel, the cabin feels very modern and contemporary. Sitting in a 911 has never been an “econobox” experience but this version is the most luxurious version we’ve seen. The new 911 currently is available in eight trim levels, the Carrera and Carrera S, the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, with cabriolet versions for each of those models. All models are available with a seven-speed manual transmission or the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. Enthusiasts can also opt for the Sport Chrono package on PDK equipped models which gives you a small analog clock on the dash and a Sport+ button along with other dynamic enhancements. Porsche Page 27
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