Porsche just revealed its all-new 911 Carrera last week at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, which means we鈥檙e now ready to embrace all the glorious follow-up models. We鈥檝e caught numerous 911s testing for many months now, including preproduction versions of the new Turbo Cabriolet similar to what we see here. However, this model could be the fearsome Turbo S droptop, and what better place to sample such a beast than a snow-covered back road? Actually, our racing-tuned minds would love to tell you this is actually a 911 development car getting ready for World Rally Championship competition. The lightbar is in place, and this car is almost certainly all-wheel drive. Unfortunately, such a scenario is just the stuff of dreams, but we imagine the driver of this particular test car is enjoying no small amount of opposite-lock while guiding the 911 down the road. In fact, some of the spy photos show exactly that.
That鈥檚 especially likely considering there鈥檚 probably more than 600 horsepower (447 kilowatts) hiding under the rear spoiler. The current Turbo S makes 580 hp (433 kW), and the Exclusive Series actually passes the 600 hp mark already. Such motivation would be a handful in dry conditions, never mind on the snow. Still, the testing must go on in all weather. With the 911 Carrera unveiled, Porsche has dialed back some of the camo tape on the Turbo tester showing more of its straight lines. That鈥檚 not to say previous test vehicles were hidden behind miles of camo wrap - exterior changes between the old and new 911 are extremely subtle, and Porsche hasn鈥檛 been particularly interested in covering things up. Still, there are some masked areas around the air intakes up front, and the rear fascia has a few key areas concealed as well. When will the hairy-chested Turbo make its appearance? We don鈥檛 know a specific date, and it's likely we'll see the 911 Carrera Cabrio first.
Put together, these measures balance out the additional weight created by the installation of the gasoline particulate filter (GPF). In the interior, the character of the 718 T is highlighted through a number of emphatically sporty touches: luxurious padding and leather covering means the convenient, 360-millimetre GT sports steering wheel with Mode switch offers a particularly secure grip. Other 鈥淏oxster T鈥?or 鈥淐ayman T鈥?logos adorn the black instrument dials. The decorative trims of the instrument panel and central console gleam in a glossy black finish. 鈥淏oxster T鈥?or 鈥淐ayman T鈥?logos also appear on the door entry strips. The exterior of the Porsche 718 T is characterised by its powerful appearance. With 20-inch alloy wheels painted in high-gloss titanium grey, combined with the PASM sports chassis with 20-millimetre lowered body, it simply looks outstanding on the road. Agate grey mirror shells and 鈥?18 Boxster T鈥?or 鈥?18 Cayman T鈥?logos on the sides declare the model variant, which can also be identified from the rear, by the centrally positioned sports exhaust with black, chrome-plated twin tailpipes.
In terms of exterior colours, buyers can choose from black, Indian Red, Racing Yellow and white as well as Carrara White, Deep Black and GT Silver metallic colours. Porsche is also offering Lava Orange and Miami Blue as special colours. Adjusted for equipment, 718 T buyers can enjoy a price advantage of 5 - 10% compared to a similarly equipped basic model. The 220 kW (300 PS) turbocharged flat engine accelerates the Porsche 718 T powerfully and boasts up to 7,500 revolutions. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine reaches its maximum torque of 380 Nm at 2,150/min and has an unladen weight of 1,350 (PDK: 1,380) kilograms. Thanks to a weight-to-power ratio of 4.5 (4.6) kg/PS, it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 (4.7) seconds. The vehicle鈥檚 top speed is 275 km/h. The Sport Chrono package, included as standard for the 718 T, offers Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual driving modes, which can be selected using the Mode switch on the steering wheel. Sport and Sport Plus activate sportier characteristics in both the engine management system and the accelerator, with the automatic dual-clutch function supporting you as you move down the gears in the manual transmission.
Sport Plus further hones the handling of the 718 T by ensuring sportier configuration of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounts (PADM) adaptive body positioning and the optional Porsche dual-clutch transmission. In combination with PDK, the Launch Control function and the Sport Response button in the centre of the Mode switch are also available for use. One special feature of this model is its dynamic gearbox mount - the PADM system, which minimises vibrations in the engine/gearbox area and reduces movements that could affect driving dynamics as a result of the total mass of the drivetrain. This combines the advantages of hard and soft gearbox mounts: driving behaviour becomes noticeably more precise and stable during changes in load and on fast curves. Driving comfort is unaffected on uneven roads. The Porsche 718 Cayman T costs from 63,047 euros in Germany and the 718 Boxster T from 65,070 euros, including value added tax and country-specific equipment. The new models are available to order now in EU28 and other markets applying the same standards.