Porsche 911 (992) Carrera 4S

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Is that the cabin of the 992 is more spacious and comfortable than ever, but we must never forget that we are facing the most emblematic Porsche model. It has the mission of being a sports car that can be used every day. It was always like that, although with an important nuance: the "sport" spirit always has to be well above the "daily-driver" philosophy.

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During the first half of the day I turned into the Mouras with the 992, 991, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan and 718 Cayman / Boxster. But I always did it with an instructor traveling in front of me, in a Porsche always more powerful than mine.

However, at lunchtime, the track was completely emptied. In the VIP of the Autodrome they were serving raw ham, goulash and vegetable woks. It was the moment that the people of Porsche had reserved so that MiuraMag could turn on the circuit, with total freedom.

Although not so much. It was raining intermittently. The track was wet. And it was just the first of six days of the Porsche World Roadshow. The yellow 992 Carrera 4S they lent me had to go through the hands of 300 guests. And that was not all. From the windows of the VIP, a few dozen participants were going to see how I drove on the circuit reserved for me, while discussing my driving technique, fork in hand.

I felt a void in my belly and it wasn't because of the decision to skip lunch. Anyway, I went to the track.

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The only condition they gave me was not to disconnect the Porsche Stability Management, the system of stability and traction controls known by the acronym PSM, which also allows a second interpretation: "Please, save me!" Anyway, it is a Porsche and the level of interference of the electronics in the operation is minimal, especially when you activate the Sport Plus operating mode.

The first laps were to acclimatize to the car and the layout, now without tutors. The 992 is larger than the 991, but it doesn't feel heavier. In fact, the average weight dropped by 12 kilos, thanks to the use of aluminum on the side panels of the body.

In addition, they also improved the engine: the six-cylinder Boxer is still a 3.0 biturbo, but the power increased from 420 to 450 horses. The torque climbed from 500 to 530 Nm. To that is added a new double clutch gearbox (PDK), which now has eight speeds. The first six gears are very short, with the last two reserved for fast travel - but with the engine very relaxed - on highways. Dresses? It is much more complex than a Braun shaver.

And here comes the trick that Porsche applies with each new generation of 911. The dimensions and comfort in the cabin grow, but -to keep it current and fun to drive- the most important improvement is not in sight: it is in the balance and The engine bank.

That key, that trick, is in the power to weight ratio. With each new generation, the equation becomes increasingly efficient: the first 911 had seven kilos per horsepower and, since then, that figure never stopped shrinking. The new 992 has, on average, three kilos for every ‘donkey’ in the engine.

And that feels on the track. The engine response and the agility of the chassis blow your head. The new address is more direct and accurate than ever. To that is added the rear axle, which now comes standard in all versions. It makes this 992 four and a half meters long seem more compact and nervous.

But always with a lot of control. The Carrera 4S version they lent me has permanent four-wheel drive. In addition, the level of adherence of the Michelin Pilot Sport is very high. Tires 245/35 ZR 20 front and 305/30 ZR 21 tires. It is the first time that the "normal" versions of 911 have wheels of different diameter on each axle.

I was feeling more and more at ease with the car. And every time I was encouraged to spin a little faster. I tested the acceleration: 0 to 100 km / h in 3.6 seconds. Porsche declares a maximum speed of 306 km / h, but it would need two Mouras and one Galvez of space to corroborate it. Communication between the engine and the box is a relationship that falls in love. It can't be so perfect. It is not possible for a car to make you feel so stuck inside the machine.

I gained confidence. And I even allowed myself the luxury of playing with the different set-ups offered by the suspension, aerodynamics and engine response.

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It started raining a little harder. I knew that, at any moment, they will notify me by radio to return to boxers. So I took the opportunity to try the “Wet Mode”. Through sensors located in the fenders, the 992 detects that the road is wet and activates safety systems preventively, but without cutting off the fun. Although you will feel it in the body.

Wet Mode and other vehicle sensors interpret perfectly when you're looking for the car's limit. Yes, I confess: I started looking for the border.