The Porsche 911 continues to fascinate sports car fans, more than 50 years after it was first launched. The legendary silhouette and rear-mounted, charismatic flat-six engine remain distinctive features that set the benchmark coupe apart from its rivals.
Auto Express magazine recognised this last evening at its annual New Car Awards ceremony in London when the Porsche 911 GTS scooped the top prize for Best Performance Car.
Since being unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, the 911 GTS has received an enthusiastic reception from customers and media alike. The uprated 430 hp 3.8-litre flat-six engine, eye-catching wide-arched body design and sharper chassis responses combine to deliver a high level of sporting dynamics, together with impressive everyday versatility. In short, the very essence of a 911.
And the Auto Express judges clearly agreed, saying the Porsche GTS enhancements “help push it towards truly iconic status.
“A 3.8-litre flat-six – rear-mounted, the 911’s defining characteristic – pumps out 430 hp and a spine-tingling soundtrack….It’s sharp to drive, too. The front end is ultra-pointy and the electric power steering delivers just the right feedback so that you can place the GTS with pinpoint accuracy. That extra weight over the rear axle helps boost agility into corners and traction on the way out.”
The intelligent performance that imbues every Porsche is also particularly distilled in the 911 GTS, according to Auto Express; “This isn’t only a hardcore track car, though. Adaptive dampers and active exhaust mean you can soften its edges for cruising. It’s perfectly comfortable on the motorway and, for a 2+2 coupe packing this much power, relatively efficient, returning 32.5 mpg.”
The magazine concluded; “In every respect this is the sweet spot of the 911 range, and one of the best Porsches ever.”
Emphasising the broad appeal of the Porsche range, the mid-engined, two-seater Boxster S was Commended in the Best Roadster category of the Auto Express Awards, the Cayman was Commended in the Best Coupe category, the 911 Cabriolet was Commended in the Best Convertible category, and the new Macan continues to assert itself with a commendation in the Best Compact SUV category.
