2019 Porsche 911
Porsche is getting to ready to reveal the new generation 911 but apparently has some trouble keeping its new model away from prying eyes. Our spies were able to snap an uncovered bright yellow example being pushed by three people. This is the second time we get to see the design of the new 911鈥檚 rear end, following a leak a few months ago. As you can tell, Porsche opted for a pair of slim LED taillights connected to each other via an LED bar mounted over the classic Porsche lettering. The car also sports quad exhaust tips that are neatly integrated into the rear bumper. The new Porsche 911 -codenamed 992- is expected to make its world debut at the Los Angeles motor show this November. The biggest change of the new generation 911 is its underpinnings, as Porsche moved its core model to a new scalable architecture that will be shared with models like the next-gen Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Huracan. The new architecture will be stronger and stiffer than before while the engine will be positioned more inboards for a better weight distribution.
The seat's H-point (the intended location of an occupant's hip) is low and aggressive, and along with my tester's optional, two-piece performance buckets, the cockpit is plenty able to gear one up for a proper thrashing. Those optional thrones, by the way, are must-haves, offering adjustable bolstering and lumbar to deliver plenty of support without being too aggressive or uncomfortable. The driver-oriented cabin is separated not just by the transmission tunnel and center console, but by an "oh crap!" handle for the passenger. This segmentation of such a compact space adds to the business-minded alignment of the cabin, leaving the interfaces for the (still lackluster) touchscreen infotainment system, climate controls, vehicle systems and shifter easily at hand for the driver. Flip forward the reverse-opening bonnet of the F-Type and look past the pedestrian plastic cladding of the engine, and you'll find Jaguar Land Rover's corporate 3.0-liter supercharged V6 on my BRG test vehicle.
In S spec, it manufactures 380 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, with peak twist available higher in the rev range, from 3,500 to 5,000 rpm. I've sampled this engine in the Land Rover LR4 and Jaguar XJ, and I'm pleased to report that it's far better in this sporting application. These chromed tubes may as well have been plucked from mortar launchers, as much like their military counterparts, they excel at making people far away take notice. Set to Dynamic mode, tipping into the sharpish throttle requires a degree of care at first, as there's enough power at your disposal for the car's nannies to sic the traction control on you. Dig in carefully, though, and the engine's power is eager to make its way to the road. The tach can and will climb quickly if you're assertive with the skinny pedal, and before long, you'll find yourself reacting with a tug of the right paddle.
60 miles per hour arrives in a manufacturer-estimated 4.8 seconds, although it feels quicker than that - 4.5 to 4.6 seconds seems a bit more reasonable. The top speed, meanwhile, is 171 mph. Despite this quickness, the F-Type is very much in the Goldilocks zone when it comes to speed - it's never so fast as to scare its driver, yet it can and will set your heart aflutter on every outing. A large part of this sensation can be attributed to the stupendous sound emanating from the F-Type's active exhaust system and the twin, center-mounted pipes. These chromed tubes may as well have been plucked from mortar launchers, as much like their military counterparts, they excel at making people far away take notice. With the exhaust's baffles set to open, the sound is positively primal, bellowing loudly and grandly under hard acceleration and then belching with all the grace of a beer-swilling frat bro on upshifts.