How do you improve an icon?
Very carefully and with incremental changes — if Porsche were to weigh in on that question, referencing its eternally fashionable 911.
Part of its enduring appeal lies in the fact that fundamentally, it has hardly changed at all. Each iteration was merely refined, judiciously tweaked, in accordance with the requirements of the day.
While in recent years some carmakers trumpeted big reinventions for familiar nameplates, the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer continues to keep it real with its two-door mainstay.
Consider that only very recently did the 911 adopt a degree of electrification: the latest GTS model is a mild hybrid. But even then, the purpose of added voltage there is to boost performance rather than bestow greener credentials.
The current 911 (the 992 series, to get technical) made its local appearance back in 2019. Now, you would be forgiven for doubting that the specimen shown here is new, but it is: meet the updated 992, a delicate, prudent evolution in typical Porsche fashion.
We grabbed the keys to a unit in standard Carrera trim. There are many ideas as to which 911 derivative is the best representative of the breed. Some say that the pared-down T model delivers the goods. Others are more partial to the motorsport-themed GT models.
But if you were a 911 virgin, really the best place to begin your journey towards enlightenment would be with the basic Carrera. It showcases that traditional recipe without the frills.
If you forgot, the original recipe is simple: rear-wheel drive, a stout six-cylinder boxer motor in the boot, wrapped up in an instantly recognisable shape, with a snug, driver-centric cabin.
Before we go on about the Carrera’s endearing sensations (and quirks), we should talk about the changes made to the updated 992.
Keep an eye out for standard matrix LED headlamps, larger front cooling vents, a redesigned rear light strip and new alloy options. Basically the extent of it.
As expected, there is more in the way of digitisation inside — just like that updated Panamera we tested in October last year. Gone are the analogue instrument dials, in favour of a 12.6-inch curved display. This is also the first time a start button is found in a 911, doing away with the old insert-twist key fob.
It is annoying that you have to navigate through the screen to access certain climate control functions, turn off the start-stop function, or deploy the rear spoiler. Physical buttons would have served better.
Although the updated 992 was designed as a two-seater as standard, buyers can still specify a pair of rear seats as standard. Our car was so-equipped — but there is truly zero legroom there, even for children. The other option our tester sported is a sports exhaust system with a loud button on the fascia.
It amplified the burly 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged unit on start-up. The motor was given a rework, including an intercooler from the Turbo derivative, resulting in 290kW/450Nm.
It makes for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 4.1 seconds, plenty quick in real life terms, easily achieved through the foolproof launch control function. Simply twist the driving mode selector into Sport Plus, hold the brake, flatten the accelerator and off you go.
But when the novelty of hard, fast driving has worn thin, one finds that the Carrera settles into daily life quite happily. Cruising on the freeway at 110km/h, it feels as agreeable as a Volkswagen Golf.
Still, there are compromises. Rear visibility is one of them, scouting for cross-traffic while backing out of a parking bay is a challenge. And having to stretch up to grab parking garage tickets can grow tiresome. To be fair, these are issues you will experience with any low-slung sports car.
Those practical trade-offs are forgotten when you plant the power pedal. Savour that endearing, rev-happy characteristic of the flat-six, with charming acoustics and a level of vibration you can feel right in the viscera.
Grip is excellent, with a hint of squirm off the line that is so well-contained by the electronics, you may not even notice. The 911 Carrera has the feeling of a wearable item, in the way its cockpit fits around the driver, with a razor-sharp steering system that is responsive to the most subtle of inputs.
In the modern era of cars that are hushed, anodyne and clinical, the Porsche 911 Carrera stands out as a soulful performer. Long may the recipe endure.
PRICE: From R2,477,000
