The interior in the new 911 is just as special as I’d imagined it to be. The black leather, alcantara and quality material dominate the view. The yellow stitching and seat-belts add more than a touch of contrast, and the Sports Chrono package, again part of the car we had, adds excitement to the dash with that yellow clock-face dead centre. The sports seats are incredibly supportive and complete that special feeling of the whole experience. The glass roof, definitively Targa, is what sets this 911 apart from the rest.
The 996 was the last Targa, the 997 didn’t have one, and this time round, with the 991, Porsche have managed to merge glass sunroof and convertible top, and the result is a smart contraption which can fold and park itself above the engine. With those rear glass windows, that canopy looks straight out of the Jetsons too. The only drawback thanks to that roof is that the cooling fans are the only visible bits of that glorious Boxer engine.
That engine is a 3.8-litre signature naturally-aspirated flat-six direct injection motor. The Carrera S exclusive powerkit boosts power to 430 PS, 30 more than the standard ‘S’ spec motor. The torque, 440 Nm of it, stays the same. Good to know. The elegantly finished centre console holds the gear selector. Although I would’ve loved to try the seven-speed manual, the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK, or Porsche double-clutch gearbox) is standard for India. Another thing I’d have liked to get a feel of is the hydraulic power-steering system of yore. However, the new electric system, from what I’ve heard, is a departure from all that was considered sacred 911. Even so, the new system is there for a reason.
Another aspect of the interior is the five-dial information console. The big rev-counter dominates, but the dial to its right, the one with switchable displays, is probably the most interesting. AWD distribution and G-force metering in particular were the ones which had me hooked; I remember involuntarily peeking into it every time I exited a corner. Speaking of which, the drive is main reason you choose a 911, isn’t it?
