Do 911 purists become entrenched by their strict fixed terms? These high ideals shackle fanatical ideologues in an outdated belief system that clashes with the reality of the times. The progression of the Porsche 911 can't move forward by living and thinking in the past.
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | CrackersCal
There are those amongst the Porsche fan base that aren’t all that keen on modern 911s. This rare breed of fan is select and scarce in number nonetheless their opinions do resonate distinctly. In their perspective, the modern 911 has become so far removed from its original blueprint that it simply doesn’t connect to their personal emotional pallet that human beings are wired to.
The red lines to this belief deepen purists’ convictions to such an extent, that I feel it blinds them from the reality before their eyes. Even so, the new 992 variants will undoubtedly ratchet predisposition even higher. As a result, this faction of purist ideologues could be referred to as nothing more than delirious fantasists who don’t move with the times in automotive advancement, but this notion can only be floated to an extent. Are modern 911s really so cold, so clinical, so loathsome that they don’t conjure up the same emotional attachment compared to say, the 2.7 RS 911 from 1973?
In my efforts to remedy this perilous scenario, I insist that there are exceptions to this modern 911 ho-du. The Porsche GT department pump out variants that continue to set the benchmark for sports car performance whilst still shaking the flask of human emotion, connection and feeling; the current 991 GT3 reflects my case in point. With a manual gearbox and rampant 4.0 litre flat six, the GT3 offers an intense experience of extreme emotions resulting in addictive cravings you never thought would have such a hold over your desires. It is a meticulous and measured avalanche of drama that you want again and again; the potency and poise raise your dopamine and adrenalin chemicals to boiling point.
Detractors can’t help but marvel at its capabilities. The manual gearbox highlights the interactive engagement the GT3 is capable of, sure, it isn’t quite as instantaneous changing gears as PDK, but that matter is rather trivial on public roads. Its capability is amplified through the sensations transmitted from a manual transmission, it makes the GT3 such a buzz. Yet resentment about the modern 911 still persists in fanatical Porsche Purist factions. This thinly veiled contempt runs far deeper below the surface than just cosmetic and aerodynamic progression. It spreads to the heart and fundamentals that make a Porsche 911 distinguishable.
A specific few of these changes have radically altered the 911’s DNA in the eyes of hardcore 911 Purists. The 996-variant launched in 1998 featured a significant change in engine functioning: a water-cooled flat six engine replaced the popular air-cooled unit that had been used in the 911 for 34 years. This was to improve efficiency, emissions and performance. But it didn’t replicate the linear potency of the previous air-cooled generation, much to the disgruntlement of Porsche Purist Perfectionism.
Then fast forward to 2012 to the most recent generation of 911 (the 991) and further changes have been made to the 911s internal underpinnings. In constant pursuit of excellence and progression, Porsche changed steering technology from hydraulic to electromechanical power steering. From a feeling and sensation perspective, this hindered and reduced the precise steering feedback that was famed and adored with the hydraulic technology. These changes, combined with the gradual bloating of proportions through the years, purists argue have eroded the purpose, substance and identity of what a 911 should be fundamentally built from.
But that’s not all. Porsche announced that from 2017 their entire 991 range - apart from the GT models - would feature turbo engines, citing efficiency and eco-friendliness as the influential factor behind the change. This impacted the sound of the engine from a guttural, high pitched scream to a more monotone snorting whoosh – the characteristics and sensitivity of the turbo engine altered the ambiance of driving. The engine didn’t neglect or overlook performance though: the turbo engines produced more power, more torque and did more mpg and emitted less CO2 than the previous naturally aspirated unit. Swings and roundabouts? Insert your own aphorism here.
This derision of what a 911 has evolved into comes with a begrudging acceptance, it is a 911 after all. Maybe this ideology driven faction is all to consumed and immersed in their own tunnel vision idealism and resentment to not realise just how inclusive the latest 911 range is. The number of variants the current 911 is available in indicates the strength in depth that the original 911 innovation had; the platform is versatile to engineer and adaptable to new technological ideas: the chassis is capable of moving with the times.
This is where Porsche Purists who pine after the good old days of 911’s should be rejoicing in the immense success that their icon is heeding; the plaudits silencing the sceptical and cynical critics, and that the 911 is considered one of the jewels in the crown of performance cars. An old saying is worth a mention here: you don’t know what you’ve got, until it’s gone. The 911 should be recognised for what it has come to represent and not be taken for granted; its cunning design to stand the test of time makes the legacy of the 911 special, a consistant act of defiance and test of resolve in engineering conviction .
All the same, the yearning for simplicity, the desire for emotional engagement and to feel instrumental in driving and extracting pure car performance resides, I get it. The intervention and overreliance on technical driver aids is argued by Porsche puritans to have skewed this pastime. I understand that, too. But this clever technology makes driving fast easier; in more refined performance 911 models like the Turbo, their breath of capability is beyond public road. This justifies their inclusion as it is best to explore their top end performance on track. Plus, depending on your talent level, these driver modes can be dialled up to flatter your driving skill or nipped in the bud entirely to reveal your deficiencies.
These tricks represent evolution in the 911, the very signature upon which it was first created. This philosophy, backed by significant stubbornness has meant the 911 has defied imposed, pre-determined conventions for what a performance car should be. It is a difficult balancing act, merging new technology into the old template but one Porsche is very much accustomed to and very accomplished at executing. The 911 design has not just stood the test of time but moved with the times: the genes of the 911 have survived for more than 50 years. That alone speaks volumes about the stamp it has imprinted on the automotive world, and the respect Porsche yields.
This vision and unique approach are what sets apart the Porsche 911 from rivals, and often the benchmark performance car. The more brutal 911 models in the GT range offer such a complete, cohesive package, they are simply too tempting to resist. It is this simplified blueprint that exposes weaknesses in your driving and challenges growth in your ability and makes the passion for driving rewarding.
I personally don’t stand in the way of progression or development and nor do I turn my back on the past. That is why I believe there is room to accommodate the combining eras of 911 enthusiast; the solution is in the form of the current 911 variants because even for Porsche, change is a constant and unavoidable truth: nothing lasts forever. By embracing change and the future, with car characteristics being central in development to appease sensual needs from humans, it is possible to retain driving pleasure in a convoluted automotive industry.
For these reasons, my feelings are not reciprocated as strongly by those of the Porsche Purists, who reminisce after classic 911s like some factions of older generations do about the days when there was no internet, smart phones or European Union. In light of this, looking at the bigger picture, I believe Porsche fanatics have never had it so good. I admit, this has been a love letter of sorts to Porsche, but I am no sycophant; Porsche are hitting the sweet spot overall with the trend of the 911.
The 992 911 Carrera S is the latest incarnation accentuating Porsche’s profound philosophy: hone, refine, and subtly evolve the exceptional 991 chassis and powertrain; not change direction due to industry peer pressure. That would radically veer the 911 model template off into another tangent, crashing the reputation on which the 911 has been built and sits so resoundingly on. Rival manufactures can only wistfully dream after an iconic car with a legacy that has endured the test of time through changing eras.
The upcoming 992 GT3 will strip out grandeur comforts down to the core - exposing the 992 911 soul – only then can its untamed potential be harnessed for an authentic modern 911 driving experience. If the 991 GT3 was any reference point to go by, then the upcoming 992 GT3 will undoubtedly offer the tingling sensations that puritan 911 ideologues crave. I can’t wait to find out if the hype and hysteria of the new GT3 bears fruit.
The Porsche 911 has been engraved in automotive folklore, it features are so distinguishable that the visionaries who have pioneered the design of the 911 deserve merit for the courage and resolve in their convictions, in spite of the continuing backlash stemming from its unconventional yet uncanny design. The tale of the 911 is not conformity but reinvention - it has evolved with the automotive criteria of the time. It is rather perinent of saying from a certain Charles Darwin: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent… It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Espousing this saying, that makes the Porsche 911 an automotive icon, able to master transitional hurdles through time, elevating the 911 into legend.
The evolutionary change has diluted the original Porsche 911 identity; this has upsetted hardcore fans. But, this is the exact trait that will be needed more than ever to preserve the 911 linearage in the rapidly changing automotive climate. It is undeniable and incontrovertable: cars will be powered by electricty, and internal combustion will cease and fade into the pages of history. The new era is rapidly approaching.
How Porsche will tackle this impending inevitability will be fascinating: will there be a gradual transition or a radical evolution? Will the new 992 911 be the first to feature a hybrid variant? And when will the eventual grasped clench on internal combustion relinquish, rebirthing the 911 with an electric powertrain? If Porsches' track record is anything to go by, I'd say they are assured to deliver with aplomb. Will this be received by the cult of puritanical Porsche ideologues with overt optimism? Time will tell.
But for the here and now, I feel there is a satisfactory solution to a rather niche predicament. There is a modern-day compromise that allows old and new elements of 911 to mesh harmoniously in a retro guise. To some enthusiasts and purists, it might fly under the radar compared to classic, naturally aspirated 911s, but when was that ever a bad thing.
The solution: a company called Singer Vehicle Design. It restores Porsche 911s made between 1989 and 1994 and I believe they offer the service purists demand. Nostalgic details can be gawped and yearned after on these restored icons - finished examples have the ability freeze you in position, jaw gaped like a wax work model. They can also be customised in a bespoke style, spawning the very specific and rigid 911 purist vision into reality. An amicable resolution to appease this finicky, pernickety faction? I do hope so.
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | CrackersCal
Photos: Porsche
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