2012 Porsche 911 Overview Change Vehicle

2012 Porsche 911 review with specifications, fuel economy data, safety information, reliability ratings, a photo gallery, and The Vehix View

The iconic Porsche 911 has defined this German sports car manufacturer since it first debuted for the 1963 model year. Though Porsche has expanded its lineup during the past decade, with the popular Cayenne sport/utility and the recently arrived Panamera sedan, it is the 911 that people instantly picture whenever the word Porsche is uttered.

Rarely does Porsche completely redesign the 911, but that’s what is happening for 2012. Longer, lower, wider, and equipped with a redesigned rear suspension, the new 911 adds power and performance while simultaneously improving fuel efficiency. As we write this, the all-new 911 Carrera and Carrera S models are on sale, in coupe or cabriolet format.

Highlights include automatic stop/start and “sailing” technology that shuts the engine off when idling or coasting, electro-mechanical steering, and the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission. Porsche also offers its Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) technology on the 911 Carrera S for the first time, and all 911 models come standard with a Sport Mode and can be equipped with Porsche Torque Vectoring technology, the latter feature previously reserved only for the 911 Turbo. Fans of a parking brake lever will be disappointed to find that the new 911’s parking brake is operated using a button near the ignition switch, which remains to the left of the steering wheel.

Cabriolets are a little heavier than Coupes, which affects acceleration and top speed to small degree. The Z-folding top is constructed of magnesium and fabric, opens and closes in 13 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph, and includes a glass rear window. Rain channels are designed to prevent water from leaking into the car when the door is opened on a wet day. A wind deflector is integrated into the car, and can be raised in just two seconds.

As the year progresses, expect new variants to be announced until the entire 911 lineup is revamped.

For now, the 2012 Porsche 911 is available in Carrera and Carrera S models, in a choice of coupe or convertible body styles. The standard equipment list is long, and the options list is even longer. We strongly urge you to visit the official Porsche website to learn more detail about how a new 911 can be equipped.

For now, know that selected highlights for the Carrera models include 19-inch aluminum wheels, four-way power front sport seats, a 50/50-split folding rear seat, leather upholstery, an Alcantara headliner, dual-zone automatic climate control with active filtration, and a nine-speaker sound system with a CD player and MP3/DVD playback capability. Porsche Communication Management with a seven-inch in-dash touchscreen, a navigation system, Bluetooth, an iPod connection, and a USB port is also included, and the 911 is equipped with a high-resolution configurable information screen embedded into the gauge cluster. Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic range control are also standard on the Carrera, while the Carrera S, in addition to more power and performance, is equipped with 20-inch wheels with more aggressive rubber.

Key options for the 2012 Porsche 911 models include several technologies designed to improve driving dynamics. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV – on Carrera) or PTV Plus (on Carrera S), and Power Steering Plus are all available. Enthusiast drivers will definitely want the Sport Chrono Plus Package, which includes a Sport Plus button to modify engine and transmission response for performance driving, a Launch Control system, dynamic engine mounts from the previous 911 GT3, and both analog and digital displays that can be used to chronicle lap times, g-forces during cornering, and other performance metrics. With the Sport Chrono Plus Package, the PASM and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) systems switch to firmer suspension tuning, the Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system provides a greater handling threshold before engagement, and the optional Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission adopts a motorsport-derived shift strategy.

As we mentioned before, the options list is a long one. Those worth mentioning here include 14- or 18-way power front sport seats with memory settings, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and a SportDesign steering wheel with paddle shifters for the PDK transmission. Two optional premium audio systems are available: a 445-watt Bose system or an 800-watt Burmeister system, and the new 911 can be equipped with HD Radio, satellite radio, and real-time traffic, weather, stock, and news reporting. The optional power sunroof offers a 30-percent larger opening than before, while the cabin can be trimmed in carbon fiber, aluminum, or wood as the buyer sees fit. Additional features include front and rear Park Assist, Porsche Entry & Drive keyless access and ignition, a Porsche Dynamic Lighting System, and auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors with a power folding side mirror function.

We’re just scratching the surface with this level of detail. Again, we strongly recommend visiting the Porsche website to get all the details associated with the redesigned 2012 Porsche 911.

Mounted in the rear, as is tradition, a direct-injected, 3.4-liter six-cylinder “boxer” engine makes 350 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 287 pound-feet of torque at 5,600 rpm. A seven-speed manual gearbox, a global first, is standard. A Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox with automatic and manual shift modes is optional, and can be further upgraded with shift paddles on the steering wheel.

Performance is best with the PDK and the optional Sport Chrono Package, a combination that produces acceleration to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 178 mph. With the manual gearbox, 60 mph arrives in 4.6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 179 mph. Cabriolets are slightly slower due to added weight.

The 2012 Porsche Carrera S has a direct-injected, 3.6-liter six-cylinder “boxer” engine good for 400 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 5,600 rpm. With PDK and the Sport Chrono Package, acceleration to 60 mph takes 3.9 seconds and the car tops out at 187 mph. With the seven-speed manual, it takes 4.1 seconds to get to 60 mph, and the Carrera S tops out at 188 mph. Cabriolet models are slightly less speedy.

Official fuel economy numbers are not final as we publish this report. But since Porsche is claiming double-digit improvements over the old car, combined fuel economy ratings should be about 25 mpg.

The 2012 Porsche 911 is equipped with dual front airbags, side-impact airbags for front seat occupants that inflate to the top of the windows and cover the side glass, and knee airbags for front seat occupants. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is standard, and the Carrera’s brakes are cross-drilled and internally ventilated 13-inch discs with four-piston calipers (the Carrera S has six-piston front calipers). Porsche Carbon Composite Brakes (PCCB) are optional on both models.

Given that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concentrate on providing crash-test ratings on less expensive and more mainstream models, it’s not surprising that neither agency offers ratings for the new 911.

Reliability predictions are also unavailable, but Consumer Reports thought the previous model would return average dependability over time, while J.D. Power and Associates expected much better than average reliability from the 911.

The new seven-speed manual gearbox is based on PDK, with six close-ratio primary gears and a tall seventh gear for fuel-efficient cruising at speed. Purists might decry the new upshift indicator in the instrument cluster, which recommends shift points for the most economical driving, but they’ll get over it.

Auto Stop/Start technology comes standard on the new 2012 911. To engage the system on models with the standard manual gearbox, the driver must shift into Neutral and release the clutch. The engine fires back up when the clutch is depressed and a gear is selected. Models with PDK don’t require such deliberate action, as Auto Stop/Start automatically kicks in after the 911 has been stopped for a second or two.

The 2012 Porsche 911’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than before, but overall length is up just 2.2 inches thanks to reduced front overhang. The new 911 sits a little lower, too, by a quarter of an inch, and the front track is 1.8 inches wider on the Carrera and two inches wider on the Carrera S.

The new Porsche 911 exhibits near zero aerodynamic lift while slicing through the atmosphere with a .29 coefficient of drag (.30 for Cabriolet). Assisting in this endeavor is the 911’s new adaptive rear spoiler, which automatically adjusts height and angle depending on vehicle speed. With the 911 Coupe, as much as 200 pounds of rear downforce is available at maximum velocity with the optional sport suspension.

Thanks to aluminum construction for the hood, roof, doors, and rear engine lid, the new 911’s body weighs about 100 pounds less than the previous-generation model.

Porsche offers an optional Power Steering Plus system on the new 911. At speeds under 31 mph, the steering effort levels can be tailored to the driver’s specific comfort requirements.

The new 911’s 19- and 20-inch wheels are bigger than before, but lighter to reduce unsprung weight and save gas. Performance tires are specifically engineered to reduce rolling resistance by seven percent.

The new 911 weighs as little as 3,042 pounds in Carrera Coupe trim with a manual gearbox. The Carrera S Coupe with PDK tips the scales at 3,120 pounds. The 911 Cabriolet starts at 3,197 and rises to 3,274.

If you need to expand the front trunk’s 4.75 cubic-feet of cargo capacity, simply fold the 50/50-split rear seat to add up to 7.2 cu-ft of interior storage space.

The 2012 Porsche 911 is the ultimate expression of performance, design, efficiency, dependability, and exclusivity. We want.

-- By Christian Wardlaw