Two point seven seconds. That is the 0-100 km/h time for the Porsche 911 Turbo S in coupe form. It is a number that requires some context to appreciate: this is a car with seats for four people, a usable boot, a full suite of driver assistance systems, and air conditioning. It is practical in a way that a McLaren 720S or Ferrari F8 Tributo simply is not. And it is faster.
How the Turbo S Achieves What It Does
The 911 Turbo S uses a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine producing 478 kW (650 hp) and 800 Nm of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, managed by Porsche’s Traction Management (PTM) system. The PDK dual-clutch gearbox gets the power to all four wheels with minimum delay.
The 0-100 km/h time of 2.7 seconds places the Turbo S among the fastest-accelerating production cars you can buy at any price in Australia. The 0-200 km/h time of 8.9 seconds is equally impressive. Top speed is 330 km/h.
The chassis uses rear-axle steering as standard – at low speeds the rear wheels steer opposite to the fronts to reduce turning circle; at high speeds they steer in the same direction to increase stability. The result is a car that parks like something smaller and corners with a composure that its power output would not suggest.
The Everyday Nature of the Turbo S
What distinguishes the 911 Turbo S from the supercars it outperforms at traffic lights is the sheer normality of the experience. Get in, adjust the seat, connect your phone, and drive. The PDK gearbox manages itself perfectly in city traffic. The suspension absorbs road imperfections in Normal mode. The climate control maintains a consistent cabin temperature.
None of this is unusual until you need to pass on a freeway or accelerate onto a motorway – at which point the Turbo S delivers performance that most sports cars cannot match, then returns immediately to composed, refined grand touring.
Australian Pricing and LCT
The Porsche 911 Turbo S is priced from approximately $430,000 to $470,000 in Australia before options. LCT applies to the amount above $80,567, adding approximately $115,000 to $125,000 in tax. A well-optioned Turbo S – with Burmester sound, PCCB ceramic brakes, extended leather interior and the sport package – regularly lands above $550,000 on Australian roads.
The Turbo S Cabriolet (convertible) adds approximately $30,000 to $40,000 over coupe pricing, with no meaningful performance penalty.
On Australian Roads
Australia is an interesting environment for the Turbo S. The car performs best on long, fast sweeping roads where its stability and composure at very high speeds make it feel at home. Freeway overtaking manoeuvres become effortless. Mountain driving is more limited by the Turbo S’s character than by the Carrera S – the Turbo S is more about raw performance than the nuanced dance that the Carrera rewards.
For buyers who want performance, practicality, and the ability to run children to school on weekdays and record lap times on weekends without changing cars, the Turbo S is arguably the most practical solution available in Australia.
Comparison to Competition
The Turbo S competes with the Ferrari Roma (more character, less practical), the McLaren GT (more exotic, less day-to-day capable), and the Aston Martin DB12 (more grand touring, less performance). None of them accelerate as quickly, and most are more expensive.
The AMG GT 63 S is a legitimate rival in the grand tourer space but does not match the Turbo S for driver engagement. The Bentley Continental GT Speed is more expensive and slower.
Verdict
The 0-100 km/h time in the Porsche 911 Turbo S tells you the numbers. What the numbers cannot convey is that this is a car you can use every day without fatigue, arrive at your destination in perfect comfort, and still have the fastest car in any given postcode. For Australian buyers who want one car that does everything, the Turbo S is very hard to argue against.