Porsche has released pictures of the new 911 Carrera GTS that will be revealed in the metal at the Paris motor show next month. It's said to be the current 911's 'last hurrah' before a replacement for the 997-series arrives in a year's time.
The new Carrera GTS 'ascends to the pinnacle of the Carrera model series' say Porsche, with a power output of 408hp, 'outstanding vehicle dynamics' and 'a specification that emphasises the character of the iconic sports coupe'. Not to mention a price tag (from) £76,758 for the Coupe and £83,493 for the Cabriolet version when it goes on sale here in December.
Powered by a 3.8-litre direct injection flat six engine that has been tuned to produce 23hp more than the 911 Carrera S, its extra urge comes from a modified resonance intake manifold featuring six vacuum-controlled tuning flaps that switch between power- and torque-optimised geometry. (In a Carrera S power unit there is only one tuning flap - as if you didn't know...) As a result, the 3.8-litre engine also develops maximum torque of 310lb ft at 4,200rpm, 200rpm earlier than the Carrera S.
A sports exhaust system with two dual tailpipes is said to generate a unique sound, and the outer shells of the exhaust pipes are painted in black while their inner tubes are polished on the outside and nano-coated.
As standard, the Carrera GTS has a six-speed manual gearbox with the seven-speed PDK 'box available as an option. In comparison with the Carrera S, the top speed of the GTS with manual transmission rises by 2mph to 190 mph, while acceleration from zero to 62mph improves by 0.1 seconds - which means a GTS Coupé with PDK and a Sport Chrono Package Plus in 'Sport Plus' mode will knock off the benchmark sprint in 4.2 seconds.
For the extra cash, and uniquely within the 911 Carrera family, the rear-drive GTS combines the 44 millimetre wider body of the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models - including the widened rear track.
You also get 19-inch centre-locking RS Spyder alloy wheels, painted in black with high-gloss finished rims, with 235/35 ZR 19 tyres on the front axle and 305/30 ZR 19 tyres on the rear. There's a SportDesign front apron with spoiler edge painted in black, special side skirts also in black, and the Carrera GTS logotype on doors and rear lid, in black or silver depending on the body colour. The area between the two tailpipes on the rear apron is also finished in black.
In combination with the standard black interior colour, the centre sections of the driver and passenger sport seats are covered with black Alcantara, which also features on the rim of the new three-spoke SportDesign steering wheel and on the gear lever and handbrake.