Overall rating:

Performance cars and sensible economy shouldn't mix, but Porsche proves that power and planet friendliness don't need to be mutually exclusive with the PDK-equipped 911 Carrera S.

Key Facts

Pricing: £83,629
Engine: 3.8-litre flat-six petrol
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body style: two-door coupé
Rivals: Aston V8 Vantage, Mercedes-Benz SL, Audi R8
CO₂ emissions: 205g/km
Combined economy: 32.4mpg
Top speed: 187mph
0-62mph: 4.3 seconds
Power: 394bhp at 7,400rpm
Torque: 325lb.ft at 5,600rpm

In the Metal:

Porsche's 911 might not offer the dramatic style of some of its rivals but customers seem to appreciate the Stuttgart firm's evolutionary design strategy. So more of the same here, then. The new 991-generation 911 might not look radically different from its predecessor, but under those familiar lines there are some seismic changes over its predecessor. The wheelbase is longer, the front track is wider and the roofline is lower. That's all been incorporated into a familiar 911 silhouette, though detail changes like the abrupt juncture above the rear lights, the wider front wings and the more curvaceous flanks make for a more visually appealing 911.

Those dimensional alterations make for a more accommodating cabin, but it's not the small amount of additional space that's most apparent; it's the quality. Gone is the need to make excuses for a lacklustre interior in your 911, the new car retaining the old 997's functionality, but adding style and high quality materials.

Driving it:

We'd typically suggest buying a manual 911, but the new car undoubtedly works better with the PDK transmission. You'll need to pay an extra £2,387 for it, and to that you must add £283 for the Sports Steering Wheel. It comes with paddles rather than the infernal dual-role wheel-spoke buttons, allowing you to better take control yourself. PDK brings with it a few other advantages, not least PVT Plus, an upgrade on the standard manual Carrera S's torque vectoring system, with the addition of a variable, electronic limited slip differential - over the manual car's mechanical one. The quicker gear changing of the PDK adds performance too, dropping 0.2 seconds from the manual car's 4.5-second 0-62mph time to record 4.3 seconds - that dropping a further 0.2 seconds if you option Sport Chrono Plus.

Like its manual relative the PDK-equipped 911 is more efficient too, though even more so. This PDK car is 40kg lighter than its predecessor and features stop-start technology to enhance economy. The result is a 911 that can not only reach 62mph in 4.1 seconds, but also return 32.4mpg on the combined economy cycle.

The 3.8-litre engine's character has changed slightly thanks to its peak power and torque arriving further up the rev range. There's more of both too, with 394bhp and 325lb.ft arriving at 7,400rpm and 5,600rpm respectively. It's still a flexible unit, but its best is produced at high revs. That's where the PDK delivers, its rapid fire shifting allowing you to exploit the engine's performance more readily whether you're changing gear via the paddles or leaving it to the electronics.

The result is a quite ridiculously rapid car, that's backed with enormous grip levels, fine balance and supple, roll free suspension - especially if you option the trick PDCC active damping for £2,185. Do. The brakes are as mighty as ever, though the electro-mechanical steering lacks the rich communication that made the 997 such an enjoyable drive. It's quick and well weighted, but just doesn't deliver the fine feedback we'd expect from a 911. It sounds great though, Porsche using a 'Sound Symposer' to channel engine noise through the rear shelf. Press the standard Sport button and the result is a rousing, flat-six soundtrack - and the 911 now cackles and pops on the overrun.

What you get for your Money:

PDK does add more cost to an already expensive car, but the economy gains, PVT Plus and quick shifting technology and convenience are worth the extra. All examples of the new Carrera S come with a Sport button and 20-inch alloy wheels while the must-have Porsche Communication Module with satnav is no longer just an option. Leather seats are standard too, though you'll have to pay £202 for electric mirrors and £1,772 for the Sports Exhaust.

Worth Noting

The PDK-equipped 911's ability to use less fuel and emit less is enhanced by its ability to coast, or 'sail' in Porsche-speak. Disconnecting the transmission from the engine and idling when at a cruise, the engine is instantaneously re-engaged when you want more power or to maintain speed.

Summary

The 991-series Porsche 911 is a triumph of the company's progress, and emphasis on efficiency makes the PDK the better choice over its manual alternative. We cannot deny that saddens us hugely, as the 911 was one of the last bastions of the heel-and-toe shift and a crisp, precise manual gearbox, but the PDK's rounded performance, accessibility and ease just edges it over its relatively disappointing manual Carrera S relation. It's progress for sure, but it doesn't mean we have to like it.