Porsche's cleaner 911

Introduction

Porsche's sportscars might not spring immediately to mind when considering a green purchase, but the German firm is working very hard to reduce emissions across the range. So much so, the latest generation of its famous 911 model offers a CO₂ figure of just 225g/km in standard Carrera guise. That's hugely impressive for a 345bhp sports car that's able to sprint to 62mph in a touch under five seconds.

What is it?

The 911 is a survivor - a sports car that should really have been replaced many decades ago thanks to its unusual rear-engined layout. But Porsche has persevered, and to good effect, the 911 now an icon in the sports car world, not just for its odd engine layout, performance and driver interaction but also its day-to-day usability and relative practicality. Porsche has continually tweaked its flagship car to ensure it is bang up to date, the latest car getting direct fuel injection to improve economy and emissions.

How does it drive?

Any 911 is a thrill, and just because we're looking at the 'entry-level' Carrera with its 3.6 rather than the S's 3.8-litre flat-six engine doesn't mean you will feel short-changed. The 3.6 Carrera is still a remarkably rapid car, capable of sprinting to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds and onto a 180mph maximum speed. Its 3.6-litre unit produces 345bhp, and even though the introduction of the direct injection has slightly muted the characteristic sound of Porsche's unusual flat-six engine it's still a real treat to hear the noise from the rear of the car. There's huge traction and throttle response is instant, the 911 an enormously entertaining car to drive. The steering is beautifully weighted and precise, Porsche being one of the few companies left today that can provide a steering system that is able to deliver messages to the driver. As ever, the brakes are amazing, being more than capable of washing off any excess speed should your excitement get the better of you.

The six-speed manual gearbox is brilliant, crisp and light: it's a pleasure to use. New for the 911 though is Porsche's 'PDK' seven-speed twin-clutch system, it removing the clutch pedal and utilising wheel-mounted manual control or fully automatic modes. Unlike conventional automatics the PDK system doesn't use more fuel, increase emissions, or rob performance.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

Verdict

Sure, a Porsche might not be a conventional green choice, but if you're after a sports car then you'll be a lot less damaging to the environment if you buy a 911 than one of its competitors. Going green need not be boring after all.

Kyle Fortune

Thursday July 31