2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S, car review: Porsche performance at its most princely

Acceleration just explodes - the power pours in like a tsunami

The figures actually do speak for themselves. From standstill to 60mph in 2.9sec, on the way to 205mph. What was always a pretty special car doesn’t seem at first glance to be that different, but in so many ways the new Turbo S has matured. The result is absolutely blistering performance in a package that is simply stunning.

Power of itself isn’t that much higher in this new incarnation. It’s up 20bhp to 572bhp with 553lb ft of torque. The twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat six petrol engine works through a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch auto box, taking power to all four wheels. The whole system reacts remarkably quickly to any input.

Obviously, this is now hardly the only turbocharged 911 but the engine has reached new heights. Acceleration just explodes. The power pours in like a tsunami, carrying you faster and faster with the sort of thrust you won’t find in many supercars.

That speed doesn’t seem to dissipate much in the corners. The car stays ferociously flat through the turns, having turned in with unhesitating commitment. You can slingshot out of the corner without apparently having lost any speed at all. The four-wheel drive system along with upgrades to the chassis mean you can push this car far further than most other cars, and indeed further than most people’s abilities to push it. You’re still pushing when you reach your limits. The Turbo S is still not near its outer limits.

Porsche 911 Turbo S

On sale: Now
Price: £147,773
Engine: 6cyl horizontally opposed, 3800cc, turbocharged, petrol
Power: 572bhp
Torque: 553lb ft at 2250-4000rpm
Gearbox: 7spd dual-clutch automatic
Kerb weight: 1600kg
0-60mph: 2.9sec
Top speed: 205mph
Economy: 31mpg (combined)
CO2 rating & BIK tax band: 212g/km, 37%

On the track it’s truly outstanding, but it is too on the road. It’s accessible, amenable when you need it to be. It doesn’t look that different, with some minor cosmetic changes to the exterior like different door handles and front bumper. Inside the changes are equally minimal, although the Porsche Communication Management infotainment system has a new screen and functions, which is very welcome.

This is simply an outstanding car taken even further, which you wouldn’t have thought was possible. Outrageous performance has been ramped up even further, by more than just a tiny increment. The whole package handles that power and torque with consummate ease, flattering most drivers with its capability under all conditions. You run out of superlatives really.

Adding the S to the 911 Turbo costs £18,848, which could be hard to justify if you were being sensible. This isn’t transport. This is a transport of delight. If you have the money then this is actually brilliant value for money.