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Introduction
The new 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo sat within yards of the Mediterranean’s crashing surf, pinging and humming as it settled down after miles of hard driving. It was tough to pry myself out of the body-hugging leather sport seats and take a rest (not least because they’re actually lower than in the previous model), but a few minutes of repose seemed prudent and the scenery was compelling. Just eight miles away, across the Straight of Gibraltar, lay the coast of Africa. The Rif Mountains of Morocco seemed close enough to touch. They looked dusky-purple, mysterious and exotic.
But the schedule wouldn’t allow a visit to Africa; Porsche lent me the new 911 Turbo for the day to drive around southern Spain and it was overdue back at the hotel in Benalup, a small town about 30 miles inland. Not that we would have visited Morocco anyway. The U.S. Department of State recommends that Americans visiting Morocco keep a low profile and cruising around a poor country in a $122,900 sports car is hardly traveling incognito. Besides, I’ve seen Casablanca, and you can’t be guaranteed that when you enter Morocco you’ll be able to leave Morocco.
So, I left the beach and turned inland, resuming my joyride on the winding roads of Andalusia, pressing the 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo hard, reveling in the song of its 480-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six, and taking full advantage of the tenacious grip provided by the new Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system. It’s a ride I’ll never forget.
Overview
Purists may cringe, but the assistive technology that comes standard on the new 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo goes a long way toward making this one of the greatest sports cars extant. Porsche Traction Management (PTM) ensures that power is split perfectly between the front and rear wheels and also helps to keep you between the white lines. Also included, but somewhat redundant due to PTM’s comprehensive vehicle control, is Porsche Stability Management (PSM), which uses the brakes to prevent oversteer and understeer and other forms of unwanted directional change. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) allows the driver to select either the still-dynamic-but-slightly-more-cushy Normal mode or the I’m-going-to-thrash-this-road Sports mode, the system automatically adjusting the suspension dampers accordingly. Each of these high-tech helpers enhances the 911 Turbo experience.
Leather upholstery and trim is also standard in the new 911 Turbo, fitting given the price tag. Thankfully, it decorates the more attractive and comfortable interior that debuted on the current generation 911 Carrera two years ago. To separate the 911 Turbo from its plebian brethren, it also includes a specially-designed gear shift and “Turbo” logos on the door sills. Porsche also replaced the old audio system with a 13-speaker Bose surround sound audio system and added a navigation system, too. Of course, Porsche would be remiss if it didn’t imbue its super machine with a generous array of safety features, including the same braking system as used on the Porsche Carrera GT supercar – six-piston fixed caliper brakes with pads and discs that are larger than the previous model’s. There are also six airbags, including side-impact protection that consists of a thorax and head airbag for the driver and front passenger.
Like all Porsches, there’s an extensive option list and a 54-page ordering catalog from which you can choose myriad items to customize your new 911 Turbo, with features ranging from ceramic composite brakes ($8,840) to the Porsche crest embroidered on the headrest ($270). It’s possible to spend tens of thousands of dollars on Porsche options, so think carefully about whether you really need a Sycamore wood steering wheel ($620) before signing your order form. One tempting item is the Sports Chrono Package Plus ($1,850), which, at the push of a button, makes all sorts of wonderful things happen, including increasing the turbo boost by 2.9 psi for 10 seconds, bumping torque by 10 percent and taking 0.2 seconds off the Turbo’s already sizzling 0-60 acceleration time of 3.7 seconds.
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