We open a new chapter in our look back at 50 years of the Porsche 911 , this time reaching the sixth generation of the sports car. We arrive at 2004, the year the Porsche 911 (997) was launched , considered by some to be the best in the series.
It may be a little early to talk about better or worse with the new 911 almost fresh out of the oven, but we cannot deny that it far surpassed the controversial 996 and took the title of the Porsche 911 with the most versions, specifically a total of 24.
The exterior returned to its origins, with a body that maintained the basic shapes but brought back the classic round headlights , which had been more oval since the 993. The turn signals were once again located on the bumper. What didn't evolve was the rear, which maintained a design very similar to its predecessor.
Mechanically, the Porsche 911 once again offered its boxer engine, this time in two versions. The Carrera and Carrera 4 used a 3,6-liter engine producing 325 horsepower , while the sportier Carrera S and Carrera 4S had a 3,8-liter engine delivering 355 horsepower . These figures were sufficient for the Carrera to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just over 5 seconds, and for the S models to achieve even faster times.
The 911 Turbo arrived in 2006 with 480 horsepower under the hood, distilled from its supercharged 3,6-liter boxer engine, capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3,4 seconds and reaching a top speed of 318 km/h. This 997 Turbo also has the honor of being the first production car with a gasoline engine to feature a variable geometry turbocharger, yet another milestone achieved by this model in its history.
The chassis also received updates, and PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) was offered for the first time, allowing for variable suspension settings depending on the road and driving style. As for body styles, the 911 Coupé, Targa, and Cabriolet were available again.
In 2008, the Porsche 911 underwent a facelift to keep it fresh and, incidentally, to give it a more muscular appearance. All models received a power boost , with the Carrera versions reaching 345 hp, the Carrera S 385 hp, and the Turbo 500 hp, the latter gaining displacement to 3,8 liters. The Turbo S surpassed the 500 hp mark , offering an additional 30 horsepower.
This facelift also affected the car's appearance, giving it new headlights and taillights , and offering new body styles until the end of its production run. Personally, I consider this restyling the worst in the 911's history, solely in terms of aesthetics, with a rear view that is neither harmonious nor pleasing to the eye. But this is purely subjective.
Over the years, special versions arrived, some of them unprecedented. The Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS returned , embodying the racing spirit that had always inspired the RS versions. With aerodynamic enhancements and a distinctive rear wing, the 911 GT3 initially offered 415 horsepower , accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds. The RS models dispensed with all comfort features to save weight while also incorporating a roll cage . A true customer racing car.
The 911 GT2 also returned , the most radical version in the range, now debuting an RS variant. The standard model offered 530 horsepower , extracted from the 911 Turbo's engine with some modifications. It could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,6 seconds , all with enviable handling thanks to chassis tuning and revised aerodynamics. The GT2 RS pushed the engine even further, offering no less than 620 horsepower.
Other versions of the Porsche 911 (997) appeared, such as the GTS , an intermediate step between the Carrera and GT3, with 408 hp. The 911 Sport Classic appeared in 2009, with a look that took us back to the 70s with the Carrera RS 2.7. A limited edition of 250 units with 408 horsepower, a ducktail spoiler, and Fuchs-style wheels.
Later came the 911 Speedster , which evoked the 356 Speedster with a chopped windshield and a hump instead of rear seats to store the soft top. The engine remained the 408 hp unit, and it was offered only in white and blue, reminiscent of the first, second-generation 911 Speedster.
The last to arrive, and a grand farewell, was the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 . As its name suggests, with a 4-liter engine and 500 horsepower , this ultra-powered version of the GT3 RS was the grand finale in the form of a limited edition for the 997, proudly being the first 911 of the 21st century.
All that remains is to take a closer look at the current generation Porsche 911 (991), which has already made waves with its GT3 and the more recent Turbo. As usual, we'll be providing a very brief overview of this seventh and current generation of the king of kings in the coming days .
More information – We review the 50 years of the Porsche 911, goodbye to the “air-cooled”
Source – Porsche