This did not sit well with critics or owners of the brand. Now, six years after the 996 arrived, the redesigned 997 debuts and rights that wrong, while improving the car across the board. For 2005, the new Porsche 911 will be initially available as a Carrera and a Carrera S in coupe format only. In keeping with Porsche tradition, the Carrera S is the higher performance model.
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Features
The 3,131-pound 2004 Porsche 911 Carrera S gets a similarly configured 3.8-liter flat six engine making 355 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm. Not only is the displacement greater, but also the intake manifold and intake camshaft lift pattern have been modified. The Carrera S also gets a higher performance cooling pump and an oil/water heat exchanger with two additional cooling layers. Porsche says that acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 4.6 seconds.
A new six-speed manual transmission is standard on both models. Steel synchronizing rings (carbon-coated in first, second and third gears) help manage the engine power increases and ensure top performance, making the first two forward gears triple rather than double synchronized. From the driver’s seat, the result is reduced shifting force and shorter travel between gears. Standard 911 Carrera models have a single-disc dry clutch while the 911 Carrera S gets a new self-adjusting clutch.
Optional is a manually interactive, five-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. The driver can change gears using switches on the steering wheel or the shift lever between the seats. Software updates help Tiptronic to better mimic the way enthusiast drivers use the accelerator, brake and clutch in cars with a manual gearshift. Additionally, when the standard Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system is shut off and the transmission selector is in manual shift mode, Tiptronic no longer upshifts at redline like before. The transmission has also been upgraded to hold gears longer, shift smoother, improve cooling, and require less maintenance.
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What's New
Porsche Stability Management has been upgraded for faster reaction times. Also, when the driver shuts PSM down, it no longer reactivates as soon as the brake pedal is depressed. Now, the driver must exceed the threshold at which the ABS will engage before PSM steps in to save the inexperienced.
For the first time, 18-inch wheels are standard on the Porsche 911 Carrera, shod with 235/40 tires in front and 265/40 rubber in the rear. There is no spare tire: instead an on-board air compressor and tire sealant allow the driver to limp the 911 to the nearest service area at speeds up to 50 mph. Brakes are cross-drilled and inner-vented all around, measuring 12.5 inches in front and 11.8 inches in back, and calibrated to provide quicker response than the 2004 model. A new variable rack-and-pinion steering system quickens the steering ratio the further off center the steering wheel is spun for better low-speed maneuverability.
In addition to more engine power, spending extra for the 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S adds Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), upgraded brakes with red-painted calipers, bigger wheels and tires, bi-Xenon headlights, a multi-function steering wheel, simulated aluminum interior trim, and a silver decklid logo. Carrera S models also have round dual exhaust outlets rather than the ovals on the base car. Inside, the gauges have aluminum, rather than black, faces, and the engine cover is painted silver.
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Performance
Performance upgrades for the 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S include 19-inch wheels with 235/35 tires in front and 295/30 treads in back. The brakes are 13 inches all around, with larger brake pads. Optional on both 2005 911 Carrera models are Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), previously only offered on the 911 Turbo. Benefits include a 50-percent reduction in unsprung weight, less wear for brake pads, and more consistent braking performance.
Porsche Active Suspension Management uses active damping to provide a more civilized ride for daily driving and optimum handling response when the road turns twisty. Normal and Sport models are available, and in Sport mode the 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera circles the famed Nurburgring race course five seconds faster than the standard MacPherson strut front and five-arm independent rear suspension setup on 911s without PASM.
With PASM, the shock absorbers continually adjust to road and driving conditions, while accelerometers measure vertical body motions. In tandem with sensors that monitor steering angle, road speed, brake pressure and engine torque, PASM is able to adjust the suspension according to road and driving conditions. Furthermore, the system has five special software settings for lane change, vertical control, lateral acceleration, braking, and load changes to accommodate the most frequently experienced ride and handling situations.
Not only is the new 911 more powerful and a better performer; it looks the part. Porsche has widened the 2005 911 Carrera’s track by nearly an inch while retaining last year’s wheelbase and tapering the body in the middle. The new 911 Carrera is also taller top to bottom, wider fender to fender, and shorter stem to stern, and slices through the atmosphere with more grace than before. With the return of traditional round headlamps and a more curvaceous body, Porsche provides its flagship sports car with a more traditional appearance that enthusiasts are likely to embrace.
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