Don't be tempted to dismiss the 1995
Porsche 911 as just another version of the familiar sports car. It would be far too easy - and also dead wrong - to label the car as a basic re-skin, tagged onto an illustrious 31-year history of supreme performance and exquisite styling.
This latest 911 is completely new, incorporating the most sweeping changes in the model's long run. It is, without a doubt - at least in our eyes - the greatest 911 ever to come down the line.
The classic 911 badge now comes with two different drive systems, and in either coupe or cabriolet body styles.
The Porsche 911 Carrerra features conventional rear-wheel drive; the 911 Carrerra 4 is driven by all four wheels for optimum power delivery and traction. In any guise, however, the 1995 version of the Porsche 911 is one of those singular automobiles that boasts the all newest technology yet retains distinctive, gratifying ties to the generations of cars that preceded it.
For our test we drove a Carrerra coupe, with no options attached, that came in at a price of $60,625 - a pretty good deal, as we'll discuss later.
The 911's overall shape is drawn from familiar lines, yet there isn't a single body panel left over from past versions.
The most noticeable changes include a slightly sloping front fender, ellipsoid headlights integrated into that fender, flush-fitting rear-quarter and back windows, and a restyled rear end with a larger, speed-dependent extendible rear spoiler.
Aiding these visual aerodynamic improvements is underbody sheathing for cleaner airflow, plus a pair of air outlets ahead of the front wheels that act as invisible spoilers to keep the front end from lifting at high speeds.
And high speeds are indeed the domain of the 911, courtesy of that marvel of an air-cooled engine tucked under the rear deck. Its 3.6 liters of displacement deliver 270 hp (up from last year's 247 hp), but the engine's displacement is just as critical to this car's character as it is to its output figures. The six cylinders are opposed and lie flat, which allows the engine to sit low in the chassis for a superior center of gravity. Also, the engine's location over the rear axle means plenty of grip at the rear wheels.
Two other notes on the engine: New hydraulic valve lifters eliminate the need for periodic valve adjustments, and the recommended oil-change interval has been increased to 15,000 miles.
Transmission choices include either a standard 6-speed manual transmission or Porsche's slick Tiptronics dual-mode automatic gearbox. The latter possesses five distinct shift-program maps that adapt to all styles of driving.
The drivetrain's prowess is enhanced by Porsche's traction management system, called Automatic Brake Differential, which is optional on Carrerra models and standard on Carrerra 4s. This system senses wheel spin and automatically assigns more of the engine's power to those wheels with the most adhesion. This results in an increase in the car's ability to cover slippery surfaces without upsetting the chassis' exquisite balance.
Standard running gear includes 16-in. wheels in front mounted with 205/55ZR performance radials, and 16-in. wheels in back with 245/45ZR radials.
Drivers with more serious needs can opt for the 17-in. alloy wheels that are standard on the Carrerra 4.
