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The Porsche 911 Turbo. Say it again. Has a certain ring to it, no? Of course it does. This car is by far one of the most iconic performance cars in the history of the performance car. Porsche remains one the most winning car manufacturers and from that racing experience comes great road cars.

The Porsche 911 reaches back just over 50 years and in that time has impacted the car world with blistering performance despite its counter-intuitive powertrain layout. The level of engineering that has gone into every 911 in the last half-century set new standards every time.

This latest 991 series 911 Turbo is no different. In fact, this is the most advanced piece of kit to ever sport the fabled "Turbo" moniker. The car is simply a wonder.


What is a Porsche 911 Turbo?
It is a 911 on steroids, speed, acid, and weed. Insanely powerful and fast, the 911 Turbo is but one narrow layer below the ultimate AWD 911, the Turbo S.

As Porsche's flagship sports car (not to be confused with the flagship hyper car, the 918), the 911 carries the brand's image while the Cayenne continues to fill its coffers. This may change soon with the arrival of the Macan.



2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Price and Specs
The Porsche 911's lineup may be one the broadest, price-wise, in the business. A regular Carrera retails for $96,200. At the other ends sits a $222,000 Turbo S cabriolet. Both are 911s...

My Turbo sports a base price of $172,400. With options such as Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and Sport Chrono Package, and the High End Infotainment Package to name a few, the grand total sits just under $189,000.

At the heart of every 911 lies a flat 6-cylinder engine. The 3.4L develops 350 horsepower while the highly versatile 3.8L can put out anywhere from 400 to 560 horsepower. The Turbo sits near the top of that scale with 520 at 6,000 rpm. Accompanying torque, rated at 487 lb-ft, comes on full-tap between 1,950 and 5,000 rpm. The overboost function will put 524 torques in your lap between 2,100 and 4,250 rpm. The 911T will reach 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds (3.2 with SPORT PLUS). And these are typically conservative Porsche numbers...

The level of technological wizardry that is included with this car is mind boggling. Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and rear-axle steering are only a few of the systems that make the 911 Turbo nearly infallible.

Driving the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo
I've experienced acceleration. I take four to eight flights any given month and I've nailed go-pedals on a Gallardo, 458, SLS AMG, various M cars, GT500, GT-R, and other supercars, including the 911 Turbo S; and yet this 991 Porsche 911 Turbo feels every bit as fast (or faster) than all of the above. Yes, as fast as the Turbo S.

A launch in this car will, for the uninitiated, rapidly increase heart rate, turn legs into putty or make giggles uncontrollable. In any drive mode (normal, Sport, Sport+), the 911 Turbo makes short work of time and distance with such conviction that nothing seems impossible... Have I mentioned how fast the Turbo is?

Power is nothing without control. Porsche has thought this through and endowed the 911 Turbo with every trick up its sleeve to ensure that the car will always be true to the driver's intentions. All of the "Porsche-this-and-that" work flawlessly and seamlessly: All the driver will notice is the stunning level of adherence to the road's surface. From where I sat, the mechanical grip felt watertight and seemed only augmented by the car's wide rubbers.

As expected, the brakes are phenomenal while steering is uncanny in its precision. It could use a little more touchy-feely-ness but this lack is explained by the presence of a front differential.

Next, the PDK: Seriously, a more in-tune transmission I've never experienced. This is bar none the best transmission currently on the market for a light-duty vehicle. It'll slide and glide from gear to gear or pound and snap to and fro, depending on the driver's intent. It'll never skip a beat.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo
How does one properly describe the 911's aesthetics? When I think about it, really remove myself from my feelings and appreciation for the brand (next to impossible), it could be conceivable that this is an ugly car. ...Gimme a break... I'm trying to be different unsuccessfully. The 991 may not be the best iteration of the fabled 911, but it's sweet and then some: it is an event on four fat wheels and tires.

The Turbo is especially lovely thanks to its wide rear-end, retractable spoilers (front and back), 20" wheels, and everything else that makes the 911 a 911.

Sliding into the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo's cabin is quite the event too, equal to that of standing by the car, keys in hand, anticipating what is yet to come. The driving position feels tailored to my exact specifications and becomes a place that I never want to leave.

The 911's cabin is superbly crafted and features the long front-to-rear flowing centre console loaded with buttons that will be loved and appreciated. The rear seats, although snug, will fit an Evenflo, one of the smaller front-facing baby seats currently on the market. And BTW, kids love the Porsche.

Comparing the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo
In this price range and category of cars, emotions run deep. A Porsche 911 is purchased because a 911 is desired. Same goes for an Audi R8, the upcoming Acura NSX, Chevy Corvette, and countless other performance cars.

The 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo is an exceptional piece of kit. Period.

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