Launched back in 2011, the 991 generation was hailed by the brand as one of the biggest developments in the history of the breed. To the lay man, the Porsche 911 hasn’t really evolved all that much in terms of appearances but with Porsche, the engineering ‘magic’ lies beneath the surface. The 991 was the most progressive generation of them all save for the introduction of liquid cooling in the 996 generation.
“Porsche stands for both tradition and innovation. This is reflected nowhere more clearly than in the core of the brand – the 911. The 911 replaced the 356 in 1963 and, in the decades that followed, our rear engine model grew into an unrivalled sports car icon. The 991 generation in particular has set new standards in terms of performance, drivability and efficiency. It fills me with pride, as well as a touch of sadness, to have to send it off into retirement. For myself, I can say that the 991 has given me enormous pleasure” said Michael Steiner, chief research and development officer.
The 991 boasted nearly 90 percent of its components were either new or significantly developed for the generation. This included a body that was constructed from an aluminium steel composite, which meant it weighed less than its predecessor. The wheelbase too was 100mm longer than the model it replaced which allowed engineers to equip the chassis with (optional) tech such as the PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control) roll stabilisation system.
In the 8 plus years that the 991 has been on sale, the brand has manufactured well over 200,000 units (233,540 to be precise) in all body styles and variants. A 911 Speedster was the final specimen to roll off the 991’s assembly line.
The 991’s generation also saw the millionth 911 produced in May of 2017. The not-for-sale commemorative Carrera S painted in Irish Green with leather and Pepita seats lives in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. The 50th anniversary of the 911 was also celebrated in this generation. However, unlike the millionth 911, the 50th anniversary edition saw 1,963 examples built.
The same generation also gave us one of the most powerful production road-going Porsche 911 ever made – the GT2 RS. The 515kW twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre monster was then followed up by its naturally-aspirated sister, the GT3 RS.
Even though the 991’s production has just ended, Porsche has already started selling 992 generation entry-level variants such as the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4 Cabriolet for the 2020 model year. In Australia, the two previously mentioned variants are on sale for $245,600 and $267,100 respectively.
The 992 will receive Porsche’s new Wet Mode assistance system which detects water on the road and alerts the driver. Further, the system will also adjust the ABS and stability control settings accordingly as well.
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