Porsche 911 (2008-) Review

Overview

• Next: Reliability and Quality

It seems time is incapable of killing off the 911 and, despite many attempts over the years, somehow, the immortal rear-engine supercar lives on.

The 911 in all its guises is 45 years old and, as the current four-year-old 997 iteration is nearing middle age, it must be time for a facelift. Redefining the word subtle, the surgeons in Stuttgart have been gentle. Look close and you might just recognise the new lower-profiled nose, front bumper with driving lamps and wider twin air intakes, plus the enlarged wing mirrors: meanwhile at the rear, only a pair of LED lamps betray the 2009 model year.

So while you might be a bit disappointed with the evolutionary changes, under the rear bonnet there's been a technological revolution.

In comes new direct injection engines and a cutting-edge, dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Both have been developed to make the 911 quicker than ever before, but, perhaps surprisingly, these developments make it cleaner and more fuel-efficient too.

The standard Carrera proves how incredible an accomplishment these changes are. Power is now 341bhp (up 8%) with the new double-clutch gearbox, meaning it can crack nearly 180mph and average 29.4mpg, with CO2 emissions pegged at just 225g/km - unheard of for a member of the supercar fraternity.

Prices start at £63,070 for the 3.6-litre Carrera and stretch to £70,360 for the Carrera S. So do these incredible advances make up for the Porsche's lack of innovative styling compared to more contemporary - and equally accomplished - cars such as the Audi R8?