The latest in a long line of greats

The eight-generation 911 has just been revealed at the L.A. Auto Show and the evolutionary nature of Porsche’s development philosophy means that it gets the usual incremental improvements in just about every area without rocking the boat too much. This is, after all, still the core model in the entire Porsche range, changing too many things at once would have everyone up in arms. Just ask the 996.

So most of the press releases are of the cut-and-paste variety where you just replace the 991-model number with 992. Larger dimensions? Check. New PDK gearbox with quicker-shifts? Of course. Wider track to tame the rear end even further? You guessed it. 

On the engine front, the big change happened during the 991’s mid-life facelift and the twin-turbo 3.0-litre flat-six is still there, although now with incrementally more power (444 bhp for the S) allied with better economy. Who would have guessed?