The Porsche 911 Carrera, true to its identity as a brand emblematic sports car, is equipped with powerful driving performance and various advanced technologies. In adverse road conditions, such as rain or snow, the driving assist features warn of dangers and adjust settings.
The exterior, reminiscent of a crouching frog, has been maintained since the 911's initial launch in 1963. The round headlights and wide front seamlessly connect with the curved roofline, showcasing a dynamic silhouette. The rear-engine, rear-drive (RR) configuration leads to a voluminous rear design.
I test drove the 911 Carrera coupe model. Entering the cabin is somewhat challenging. The body is closely attached to the ground, requiring adult women to bend their heads and waists considerably to sit in the driver's seat, and the car door is fairly heavy. The interior design is overall clean, centered around a horizontally extended dashboard. The analog clock and physical buttons add to the classic sports car appeal.
Turning the rotary key located at the lower left of the steering wheel, a powerful engine sound erupted. The deep, resonant sound captures attention just as much as the striking exterior. Among Porsche enthusiasts, there's a saying that one can distinguish a 911 just by hearing its engine sound from afar.
The vibrations transmitted through the seat and steering wheel, accompanied by the engine sound, enhanced the driving enjoyment when speeding, but they became bothersome during slow driving in urban areas. The shaking vibrations were burdensome when starting the engine in echoing underground parking lots or quiet dwelling alleyways.
The accelerator pedal felt heavier than expected, but it responded quickly to rapid acceleration and deceleration. When driving at high speeds, the pulling force was so strong that it pushed the body backward. The vehicle is equipped with a 6-cylinder gasoline engine combined with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivering a performance of 392 horsepower. The time taken to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h is 4.2 seconds.
The vehicle's powerful driving performance was further highlighted by the advanced driving assist features. A notable example is the 'Wet' mode, which automatically detects wet road conditions and adjusts driving settings to prevent skidding. During the test drive, heavy rain and snow made the roads slippery and uneven, yet the vehicle moved swiftly without any sway.
Due to adverse weather, there were many instances of traffic congestion or narrow roads, but the cameras installed throughout the vehicle warned of dangers, and systems like brake assistance helped ensure safe driving. The response of the climate control system was also immediate, providing clear visibility within seconds amidst heavy raindrops, snowflakes, and humidity.
Activating the Wet mode allows the vehicle to adjust settings automatically, resulting in faster and more agile operation of the overall driving system, according to Porsche. While it can respond flexibly during sudden direction changes or when strong power is temporarily needed, it is noted that drivers should still be cautious of speeding, as it does not limit engine output or maximum speed.
The price for the 911 Carrera coupe starts at 171.1 million won. The prices for different trims are as follows: Carrera 4 at 180.3 million won, Carrera S at 188.5 million won, and Carrera 4S at 197.7 million won. The high-performance Carrera GTS coupe starts at 216.9 million won, while the Carrera 4 GTS coupe is priced at 226.1 million won.