A few months ago, Porsche revealed the 992.2 911 Turbo S with a staggering 701 hp, and as always, certain styling cues that differentiate it from a regular 911. But what if you don’t want that much power and that much attention? Well, it seems that Stuttgart is about to have you covered, as spy shots of a new prototype on the Nürburgring hint at the first 911 Turbo Touring. The development mule has a deployable rear spoiler rather than the fixed wing found on the regular GT3 and Turbo models, hence the supposition that this is a Turbo Touring, but it’s also got a sleeker body, with the side intake scoops taped over. This presents a puzzle for us to solve.
911 Turbo Touring or Non-S Turbo Variant?
SH Proshots/Autoblog
On the one hand, the smoother body might be a way of Porsche offering customers the same performance as the raucous Turbo S, with the full 701 horses, in a sleeker ‘Touring’ body. On the other, taping up those side intakes in preparation for a smoother form in production could be an indication that Porsche is aiming to differentiate the non-S Turbo, which will doubtless have less power. With less strain on the engine, perhaps the 911 Turbo doesn’t need as much cooling capacity. But this is Porsche, and that means we need to be cognizant of a third, similarly plausible possibility: This might be a special edition.
Related: This Limited Edition Porsche Is A Personal Tribute To The Inventor Of The 911
Porsche already introduced 992.1 Turbo-based 50 Years and Sport Classic special editions, and while a third limited variant might seem like overkill, it would be the first based on the 992.2 update. Porsche has a rich heritage from which to draw inspiration, and if this is a special edition, it would surely be quickly snapped up by collectors. Still, fingers crossed that this is a Touring.
The 911 Turbo S Platform Delivers Plenty of Innovation
SH Proshots/Autoblog
Using a similar T-Hybrid setup to that of the 911 GTS, the recently revealed Turbo S features two turbochargers with electrified turbines connected to a 3.6-liter flat-six boxer engine. There’s also an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The result is 701 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque that can be accessed almost instantly, almost anywhere in the rev range; the electric turbines practically eliminate lag. 0-60 mph takes just 2.4 seconds, and in a lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the 992.2 Turbo S is a massive 14 seconds quicker than its predecessor. In a nutshell, this car has bombastic performance, and we can certainly see the case for a slightly less ballistic alternative. We’ll just have to wait for the new year to see what form this prototype finally takes and how much power Porsche will deliver.
SH Proshots/Autoblog
