History of the Porsche 911, part 7. 991 Series: one code, two generations

The history of the Porsche 911 includes generations that are continuous and others that break the mold, but what had not been foreseen until the arrival of the Porsche 911 991 family is that two models would share an internal code yet be so far apart from each other. Let us explain.

In 2011 the world got to know the new Porsche 911, a new generation known as the 991 that offered an arsenal of novelties. Starting with its chassis, completely new, a longer wheelbase, active aerodynamics supported by a flat underbody and a reduction in displacement: the engine of the Porsche 911 Carrera 991 displaced 3,400 cc, yet its power was greater than that of its predecessor in the previous generation, the Porsche 911 997, although only by 5 CV, but its behavior was even more dynamic and sporty thanks to dynamic chassis control and a seven-speed manual gearbox.

Aesthetically, the inclusion of daytime running lights in the indicator housings and sharp rear light clusters, together with the lines of the silhouette, left no doubt that in the history of the Porsche 911, the 991 would be one of the most elegant generations.

991 Generation, a new stage in the history of the Porsche 911

The arrival of the Porsche 911 Carrera S 991 did not take long and, with it, the first record: at 400 CV it would be the most powerful version of this variant. To achieve this, the engine had a displacement of 3.8 litres and its 0-100 time was an impressive 4.7 seconds. In addition, with 20-inch wheels fitted, not only was comfort improved but dynamism was gained as well. A novelty appeared in the form of the Start/Stop system, which improved consumption by about 8.9 litres per 100 km (according to the now-defunct NECD cycle, not the WLTP).

In spring 2012 the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet 991 appeared, and its roof folds or unfolds in just 13 seconds, and can be operated on the move up to 50 km/h. At the end of that same year the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet were unveiled.

2012 will be remembered as the year of the Porsche 911 Club Coupé, an ultra-limited edition of just 13 vehicles, one of which would be displayed in the brand’s museum. Based on the aforementioned Porsche 911 Carrera S, they were allocated by lottery among the different members of various clubs registered with the brand.

These examples were 30 CV more powerful and offered a 0-100 acceleration of 4 seconds and a top speed of 303 km/h. In addition, they were distinguished by an array of optional equipment and an aesthetic where the exclusive Brewster Green body colour and the characteristic “duck tail” spoiler provided the distinctive touch. The price of the Porsche 911 Club Coupé was almost 143,000 euros.

Before the year ended, the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S was presented ahead of welcoming the new icon of the 991 generation…

If 2012 was a year of unveilings in the history of the Porsche 911 991, 2013 was no less impactful.

The most exciting 991s

At the Geneva Motor Show the long-awaited new Porsche 911 GT3 dazzled everyone thanks to its imposing presence and its performance: with an engine capable of producing 475 CV, the top speed of 315 km/h could only be bettered by a 0-100 acceleration in just 3.5 seconds. In addition, as a novelty, this Porsche 911 GT3 991 featured a rear-axle steering system which made it more effective through corners while increasing stability and, to the chagrin of purists, it was only available with an automatic gearbox.

Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the first Porsche 911 Turbo, the German brand presented to the world the Porsche 911 Turbo 911 and Porsche 911 Turbo S 991, a vehicle capable of producing up to 560 CV and channelling its power to all four wheels thanks to all-wheel drive, whose rear wheels had an active steering system.

And if anniversaries were the theme, 2013 was also the year celebrating 50 years since the designation Porsche 911 was commercially introduced (in place of the Porsche 901 of the first generation).

The Porsche 911 50 Jahre 911 was a Porsche 911 Carrera S but with a wider track, as were the all-wheel-drive versions, of which 1,963 units would be built. All of them took inspiring elements from the original, such as the upholstery or the green numerals on the instrument cluster while the needles were white. Their wheels evoke the legendary “Fuchs”, and the chrome trim appears to recall the touches the 1963 Porsche 911 displayed.

But if one of the most exciting “nine-eleven” models were to be singled out, the balance of the 2014 Porsche 911 GTS 991 version elevates this vehicle.

As a foretaste of the beginning of the end of this first phase of the Porsche 991, the world was stunned on meeting the most radical naturally aspirated Porsche 911 designed for track-day use ever built: the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Not only for its aesthetics, even more potent and flamboyant than that of the equivalent Porsche 911 GT3 RS 997, this supercar was presented at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show as the generational finale.

As a major novelty it is distinguished from the Porsche 911 GT3 991 by featuring a 4-litre naturally aspirated engine that, for the first time, is capable of reaching 500 CV in one of the GT3 versions of the 911. Its 0-100 was set at 3.3 seconds and its top speed at… Aesthetically it was clearly distinguished by the rear wing and air intakes on the rear axle similar to those already featured on the Turbo versions.

And, having shaken the foundations of the old guard, the Porsche 911 GT3 could only be purchased with an automatic gearbox, so Porsche sought to satisfy the demands of a select group of customers by producing the closest thing to a manual version of the 991 GT3, the Porsche 911 R, a product of which only 991 units were sold.

Porsche 911 991.2: evolution or revolution?

And if producing a 911 GT3 with only an automatic gearbox was a difficult pill to swallow in the history of the Porsche 911 for those who enjoyed the most extreme models with three pedals, the arrival of the new engines of the second-series Porsche 991 or Porsche 991.2 was even harder to accept.

The incorporation of twin turbochargers into the 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera broke with convention in the distinction between naturally aspirated Porsche 911s and those with additional systems, that is, between the naturally aspirated and turbocharged Porsche 911s.

Thanks to the turbochargers, the most basic models delivered power from 370 to 450, leaving only the subsequent 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 which, with its 3.8-litre naturally aspirated engine, managed to produce 500 CV, matching the power of the previous GT3 RS. A Porsche 911 GT3 RS which, in its new 2018 evolution, would offer not only more power, 520 CV, and a maximum engine speed of 9,000 rpm, but unrivalled performance and efficiency.

Only the long-awaited Porsche 911 GT2 RS would be more radical, a GT2 which was produced directly under the RS designation and was announced in 2017.

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS would feature the 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine producing 700 CV and 750 Nm, capable of a 0-100 time of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 340 km/h, thanks, among other things, to the weight-reduction work that set the car at 1,470 kg (or 1,440 kg with the special Weissach package), a car that, among other achievements, has managed, with a little additional help from Manthey Racing, it must be said, to become the fastest registered road car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

As the culmination of this generation, Porsche has planned the delivery of two very special editions of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS: the new Porsche 935 and the definitive Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport, not to mention other spectacular variants such as the Porsche 911 Speedster.

Another delight of the Porsche 991 generation was the Porsche 911 Carrera T from late 2017. A simplified version intended for driving enjoyment which, with a 3-litre twin-turbo engine inherited from the Carrera, produced 370 CV and 450 Nm, and a sport suspension (PASM), earned it a place as one of the best in the history of the Porsche 911 991.

And if the 991 generation was magnificent, the new Porsche 911, the eighth generation, was presented in November at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. A new Porsche 911 992 joins the history of the Porsche 911, and you can learn all its secrets in the article we have dedicated to it.

Technical specifications of this car

CoupePorsche 91119 versions · from 157,835 €