2010 Porsche 911 Turbo: First Look

• Competes with: Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Maserati Gran Turismo, Audi R8
• Looks like: Every other 911, silly
• Drivetrain: 500-hp,3.8-liter turbocharged six-cylinder with six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: January 2010

Cayenne, Panamera, 911 GT2 and now this: the 911 Turbo, Porsche’s latest addition to the 500-horsepower club. Thanks to a larger six-cylinder engine — 3.8 liters versus 3.6 in last year’s Turbo — and direct injection, the new 911 Turbo puts nearly double the Boxster’s chutzpah to the road via standard all-wheel drive. A six-speed manual is standard, with Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission replacing last year’s five-speed Tiptronic as the automatic option. When it hits dealerships early next year, prices will run $132,800 for the coupe and $143,800 for the convertible.

Get the dual-clutch transmission with Porsche’s launch control feature, and the automaker says zero to 60 mph takes just 3.2 seconds. (Forget the gym membership: This is really how we want our abs flattened.) That’s a couple ticks ahead of the Corvette ZR1 and few more out front of a V-10 Audi R8. It’ll kick the stones out of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage or a Maserati Gran Turismo.

Through Ian's Lens: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

How cold is it? 14 degrees? Sure, I’ll go out and take some photos of the car. It’s a convertible you say? Oh...

During a Chicago winter, there are very few cars that beg to be taken out on a gusty 14-degree day. The 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet just happens to be one of them. The slightly redesigned 911 brings an updated touch of class to a rather static line of cars, with new bi-xenon headlights up front, interior upgrades inside, some new bumper lines in back and new LED taillights to let drivers you pass know they’ve been passed.

The exterior design of this car has remained virtually the same for many, many years, and while Porsche has left the traditional 911 shape intact, the interior is what caught my attention. Deep tan-colored leather dripped from floor to ceiling, giving this car an incredibly high-end feeling from both the driver and passenger seats. The attention to detail in the stitching is impeccable, and the soft feel of the steering wheel and the entire dash made for a luxurious atmosphere. But then again, people don’t buy Porsches for the ambiance, they buy them for the driving experience. There were no exceptions here.

Please leave your remarks in the comments section; a full set of photos is below. Feel free to use the full-screen mode on the photo browser.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Porsche 911

Poor Kelsey Mays: Our intrepid reviewer had to go to the Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City to test-drive different variants of the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S on breathtaking mountain roads. Some guys can never catch a break, you know? Mays reports back on the Porsche flagship, which got a full update for 2009. Check out his full review to find out if this update will mean something to non-car geeks, and if the 911 can impress our reviewer with comfort and styling as much as it does with performance.

2009 Porsche 911 Expert Review

First Drive: 2009 Porsche 911

You’d have to be a serious car geek to notice the styling changes on the latest Porsche 911 models — a clipped taillight here, a widened air dam there. The major changes are under the hoods — er, tails — of the 911 lineup, where Porsche shoehorned a pair of new direct-injection six-cylinder engines with more horsepower and better gas mileage than their predecessors.

The automaker invited journalists to Salt Lake City’s Miller Motorsports Park for a day of track time in the 345-hp Carrera and 385-hp Carrera S. Racing veteran Hurley Haywood sat shotgun and offered timely advice as we took to the corners, driving home the point that (shhh!) professional writers are not, in fact, professional drivers. We also logged several hours in a Carrera S on some of SLC’s freeways and mountain roads.

The early verdict: The 911 remains a stunning track performer that’s quicker than ever, and its improved cabin controls have many competitors beat. But in drawing the line as a serious enthusiast’s car, it continues to come up short in comfort and convenience – not drastically so, but enough that casual drivers who just want a weekend cruiser should know what they’re getting into.

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2009 Porsche 911

This year, Porsche updates the 911 with some significant engine technology. The four 2009 911 models – 911 Carrera coupe, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S coupe, 911 Carrara S Cabriolet – get new engines with direct fuel injection and optional seven-speed double-clutch transmissions. The base Carrera gets a 3.6-liter flat-six with 345 hp. The Carrera S gets a 3.8-liter flat-six with 385 hp; those are bumps of 20 and 30 hp, respectively. And guess what? They’re all 13% more fuel-efficient. The outgoing Carrera coupe is rated at a very respectable 18/26 mpg city/highway.

The biggest news is the double-clutch transmission, which replaces the old Tiptronic. It allows for very rapid shifts and is .2 seconds faster to 60 mph than the standard six-speed manual. Top 0-60 speed for the Carrera S is a blistering 4.1 seconds with the double-clutch and optional Launch Control system.

On the outside, the 911 looks just like the last generation to most folks, and that’s the point. The front bumper actually has larger air intakes, and the side mirrors now have dual-arms. LED daytime running lights and taillights are also new. The 2009s go on sale this September. Targa and 911 Turbo models will probably be updated at a later date.

Check out more photos of the 2009 911s below.

Be Afraid: 530-hp Porsche 911 GT2 on the Way

Porsche will unveil its most powerful incarnation of the 911 this September in Frankfurt. The 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 has a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine producing 530 hp, up from a measly 480 hp in the last GT2. More amazing still is the fact that the new GT2 will get some 15% better fuel economy despite the power upgrade.

Just remember, this 3.6-second zero-to-60 mph monster is for the uber Porsche-file only — it comes in at a hefty $191,700. The 2008 GT2 should be available in late 2007.

Porsche 911 Turbo Drops Top, Cabriolet Debuts Online

Just in case the world didn't have enough $100,000-plus convertible sports cars to choose from, Porsche added one more today as it unveiled photos and details on the new 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. We'll admit no price has been released, but the coupe starts at $122,900 and it's a safe bet the Cabriolet will be more.

The six-cylinder turbo engine is still in the back and pumps out an impressive 480 hp and 460 pounds-feet of torque. That gets the convertible to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds — 3.5 seconds if you opt for the five-speed Tiptronic transmission. Its top speed is a measly 193 mph.

You'll have to wait until September to get your hands on one, but for now you can check out more photos below.