Porsche 911 facelift to be launched in India tomorrow

Porsche is all set to launch the 911 facelift series in India tomorrow. These models were showcased at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany and get cosmetic changes with a new 3.0-litre twin turbocharged flat-six engine.

This 2016 iteration of the Porsche 911 gets exterior changes including new bumpers, active air ducts, redesigned cooling vents, optional full-LED headlamps and new three-dimensional tail-lamp clusters. The changes in the interior are minor as the layout remains the same. However, prospective buyers can opt for the sports steering wheel from the 918 Spyder supercar, and in addition, the new drive-mode selector on the steering itself. Other updates include an updated PCM touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

The biggest and the most important change is seen under the redesigned engine cover at the back. The Carrera and Carrera S feature 3.0-litre engines, which are downsized from the 3.4- and 3.8-litre engines respectively. And despite the small capacity, forced induction ensures 370bhp of power in the Carrera and a humongous power output of 420bhp in the Carrera S. Transmission options include the seven-speed manual or Porsche’s seven-speed PDK automated manual gearbox, which transmits the power to the rear wheels. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) comes standard to adjust the height of the car by 10mm.

The German automaker will bring the 911 models in India through the CBU market and so we can expect a huge price tag for these. However, now that the engine capacity is below 3,000cc, it will have to be homologated here and will fall in the lower tax bracket. So it would be interesting to see how Porsche India will price these updated models in our country.