Hang on, that looks... not different, not changed, damn, what's the word?

Utterly and completely the same?

Yup, that's what I was thinking of.

Well, it's hardly surprising. It's the new Porsche 911, or at least the major update of the 991 model of the classic, rear-engined sports car. And if it doesn't look different, well, they never do, do they? It's a 911 - Porsche isn't going to suddenly start turning the design department upside down and ask for some sort of wacky reinvention. On the outside all you get is new lights (with the cool four-point LED daytime running lights lifted from the 919 Hybrid Le Mans racer), new bumpers and a subtly altered engine cover.

What about inside?

Ah, yes. The inside. No, no change there really. There is a new centre console, with a bigger Porsche Communications Management (PCM) infotainment screen. That can now be controlled, mobile phone style, with swipes and slides and pinches. It also has a wifi hotspot, Google Maps and Streetview integrated into the satnav and an armrest that not only houses a phone charger, but also improves your phone reception. Oh, and it has Apple CarPlay too.

There must surely be some mechanical changes, right?

Oh yes. Both the Carrera and Carrera S now get Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard and the suspension is lower by 10mm all round. The rear tyres are a little wider, and taking inspiration from the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar (and a bit from the Ferrari Mannetino switch) there's a new steering-wheel-mounted button that allows you to toggle between Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes. Plus there's another function called the "Sport Response Button", which, when fitted with the PDK automatic gearbox, sharpens the throttle response and down changes for maximum possible acceleration for up to 20 seconds, to make overtaking faster, easier and safer. A push-to-pass button then...

Come on. I know you're holding something back.

Oh, OK, you got me. While it might not look all that new on the outside, this is actually one of the most significant changes to the 911 since it switched to water cooling with the 996 model in the early 2000s. From now on, you won't be able to buy the naturally aspirated 3.4- or 3.8-litre flat-six engines anymore. They've both been replaced by a new 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six, that comes in either 370hp (for the Carrera) or 420hp (for the Carrera S) forms. Both of those power outputs are up by 20hp, and torque has risen too, by 60Nm to 450Nm for the Carrera and 500Nm for the Carrera S.

The 0-62mph times have fallen too. The Carrera now does the benchmark sprint in 4.2 seconds, while the Carrera S, when fitted with the PDK transmission and the Sport Chrono Pack (which includes launch control) can do it in 3.9 seconds, the first Carrera model to break the four-second barrier. Top speeds are 183mph for the Carrera and 191mph for the Carrera S.

Mind you, for all the extra performance, this switch to turbocharging is actually all about saving fuel and if Porsche's figures are to be believed, that has been achieved in spades. The official combined economy for the Carrera is a staggering 38mpg, while the Carrera S is rated at 36mpg. Remarkable figures for cars with this sort of performance. Porsche is also promising that the turbos won't lose the classic 911 howling noise either. Let's hope not.

Wow, so many changes. Whatever next? Air cooling for the engines? A massively powerful turbo with a four-speed gearbox?

Now, now. Let's not get carried away...

Neil Briscoe - 8 Sep 2015