From its lightning-fast acceleration to its flawless handling, the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S remains unmatched, showcasing an exceptional level of performance never witnessed before. It sets a new standard for performance excellence, outshining its competitors on the road and overall design, among many other aspects. Numerous words such as bullet train, king of the 911s, and a road missile have been baptized onto the 911 Turbo S, but none describes its outstanding performance competently. According to Porsche, it will do 0-60 in 2.7 seconds, but there are instances where the 911 Turbo S has done it in as low as two seconds! Maybe you don't understand how fast that is, so we'll put it into context.
The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, the current holder of the fastest car in the world title, will do 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. And the Rimac Nevera, king of EVs, will do it in 1.7 seconds, which is three-tenths of a second quicker than the 911 Turbo S. These cars are far ahead in rank and engineering, but the 911 Turbo S makes them seem like regular competition which they aren't. For roughly $220,000, you can have a brand new 2023 911 Turbo S in your driveway as you sip your tea, thinking of which drag strip to terrorize after work. It's not a car you should think twice about buying, but before we add more reasons why you should buy one, let's delve into the Turbo S' beginnings.
Porsche unveiled the first turbocharged 911 in 1975, and although it was one of the best performance cars they made, it soon earned itself the name "The Widowmaker" due to its wild handling characteristics. The 911 Turbo saw three generations before a more powerful variant, the 911 Turbo S, was introduced for the 993 911 generation. This is where the "S" in Porsches would start, signifying higher performance. The 993 911 Turbo S got larger turbochargers and a new ECU, increasing power from the 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine to nearly 450 horsepower compared to the 911 Turbo's 408. This enabled the Turbo S to do 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, going on to achieve a top speed of 184 mph, which was insane for 1998 and would give a considerable number of sports cars serious competition today. Manufactured by Porsche's Exclusive department, production was limited to 183 units, and all had more upgrades than the upgraded turbochargers and ECU. For example, Porsche offered bespoke features such as carbon fiber and leather inserts in the interior, a larger wing, quad-tip exhaust, and a front wing with front brakes cooling ducts.
The 993 Turbo S' predecessor wouldn't arrive until 2004 when Porsche made the 996 911 Turbo S with an almost similar power output as the 993 Turbo S. However, Porsche added interior comforts such as a 6-CD changer befitting the 21st Century and increased production numbers to 1,500 units. 2010 saw the 911 Turbo S get some of its biggest upgrades while being produced under the 911 997.2 generation. While the 997 911 Turbo made 486 horsepower, the Turbo S made a staggering 523 horsepower from the 3.8-liter turbocharged engine, sending power to all four wheels. Porsche's new all-wheel-drive system and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission made the 997 911 Turbo and Turbo S forces to reckon with. The 997 911 Turbo S paved the way for the 991 911 Turbo S, which remains a favorite among enthusiasts today. It didn't have a significant increase in power output, but torque was turned up to 553 lb-ft, which closely matches the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S' 590 lb-ft. Now that we've arrived at this point, what makes the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S unique?
The Porsche 911 has always been known to be good, punching above its weight. But the 911 Turbo S surpasses its expected capabilities, dominating over anything that dares to challenge its remarkable performance. It does all this without an aggressive aerodynamic body kit, large wing, and carbon fiber body panels. It might seem like we're referring to the 911 Turbo S' bigger sibling, the 992 911 GT3 RS, but we're not. Compared to the 911 Turbo, the 911 Turbo S is quicker, and there's a notable difference in power delivery, driving feel, and handling, unlike when comparing the GT3 and GT3 RS. Even Doug DeMuro couldn't tell the difference between the GT3 and GT3 RS unless both cars were taken on the track.
It's no doubt that Porsche put their best men to work, and they did more than deliver accordingly, but not only in giving the 911 Turbo S the gaptism superpower. The 911 Turbo S' exterior displays well-sculpted curves, and the meticulously crafted interior with an assortment of creature comforts showcases thoughtful details that elevate the driving experience.
Utilizing the same engine in the 911 Turbo, a magnificent 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine sits at the 911 Turbo S' tail. However, with a power output of 640 horsepower, compared to 572 in the 911 Turbo, it's the most powerful 911 you can lay your hands on. The power increase is due to new VTG turbochargers, which mainly enhance low-speed torque, reduce turbo lag, and maintain boost pressure throughout the RPM range. Speaking of power, the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S' German ponies are sent to all four wheels via a Turbo-specific 8-speed Doppelkupplung dual-clutch transmission. The high-performance engine and quick shifting transmission allow the 911 Turbo S to reach 60 mph in a claimed 2.6 seconds and achieve a 205 mph top speed.
Increased track length at the front and rear combined with optimized aerodynamics contribute to the 911 Turbo S' magnificent handling and stability even in the trickiest driving conditions. Also, it features an entirely new lowered and retuned chassis and Porsche Active Suspension Management with extended control on the front and rear axle shock absorbers. Ceramic brakes are standard on the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S, and so is four-wheel-steering.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S might look like an ordinary 911 to the untrained eye, but its visual characteristics convey the performance lurking beneath its surface. At the front sits a wider front bumper with larger air intakes that enhance the 911 Turbo's front-end look, and they are more than functional as they direct air to the radiators and front brakes. The air intakes have active flaps that open halfway at 90 mph and fully open at speeds above 105 mph, enhancing the car's aerodynamic stability.
Porsche added a new pneumatically extendable front spoiler/lip and an active larger rear wing in the 992 911 Turbo S, increasing downforce by 15% more than the 991 911 Turbo S. Also, the rear wing functions as an air brake during emergency braking, and the front lip extends lower to do the same while increasing stability at the front end. As you move towards the car's rear, you'll notice that the rear fenders on the 911 Turbo are a bit more muscular than the ones on the 911 Turbo S, concealing the air intakes perfectly when viewed flush from the side. The wing complements the 911 Turbo S rear end like a crown on a King, and you can't fail to notice the LED tail light running across the rear bumper's length and rectangular gloss-black tailpipes.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S interior offers luxurious standard equipment such as black leather seats, with the trims being layered in carbon, aluminum, and seat-matching leather. Customization options are plentiful if the standard Porsche offerings aren't enough. You can opt for solid colors, Leather Exclusive Interior Manufaktur, or Leather Interior Heritage Design Pure, the last two options adding spicy two-tone color options to the interior.
Standard Equipment seats are the Adaptive Sports Seats Plus with 18-way adjustability, but you could opt for the 4-way or 14-way adjustable seats at no extra charge if you want to downgrade. However, downgrading the seats won't lower the 2023 911 Turbo S' price. Most buyers who downgrade usually have aftermarket seats on order since the optional full carbon bucket seats aren't that accommodating, plus they are expensive and uncomfortable when driving long distances. They're best suited for track driving, which you can have plenty of in the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S.
Porsche has a way of making buyers pay for some tech features, such as adaptive cruise control, which is an extra $2,000 on the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S. However, the standard features such as stability control, traction control, and four-wheel ABS are more than enough for the car's everyday use. In the cabin, you get a 10.9-inch LED infotainment display with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, which is not standard in the 911 Turbo. The audio system features a 12-speaker system with a 100-watt subwoofer planted into the vehicle's bodyshell, but it can be swapped for a Burmester High-end Surround System.
Last but not least, the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S has a tire temperature indicator showing individual tire temperatures alongside tire pressure on the driver's tire information display. Primarily intended for track and long-distance driving use, the tire temperature indicator warns the driver of reduced grip and alerts when the tires are too cold or at optimum temperature. The only downside is that this feature does not work with winter tires.
There are numerous compelling reasons why you should buy a 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S, but we'd be lying if we told you there's a better reason other than its performance. It provides an exhilarating driving experience like no other sports car does. If you'd like to drive it daily, the 911 Turbo S is comfortable and practical enough to drop off your kids at school, do a mall run in the evening, and hit a race track or a drag strip as dinner is ready. Talk about versatility.
Porsche will send you a new 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S for around $220,000, exclusive of delivery and handling fees. But if you can't bear to wait, you can buy a used 2021 or 2022 911 Turbo S. The price of a used unit varies on the model year, spec, and options bought with the car, among other determining factors, but expect to pay more or similar prices as a new 911 Turbo S.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S exemplifies automotive engineering excellence, blending exceptional performance, legendary design, and cutting-edge technology. It does this while integrating everyday usability into an extraordinary driving experience that is rare in most modern sports cars.
Exotic Car Trader is the fastest growing marketplace built specifically for automotive enthusiasts. Click below to learn how you can sell your car with us.
LEARN MORE
