If nothing else, the 2012 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder wins the contest for the Porsche with the longest and perhaps clumsiest name ever. But after a day of driving it on good roads all around Stuttgart's farm country and blasting along the no-limit Autobahn, however, we break down like always and decide it's pretty damned cool to possess any 911 Turbo S whatsoever.

                                                        2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe
       

      We’re at the world introduction of the seventh-generation Porsche 911, whose iconic silhouette, rear-mounted flat-6 engine and round headlights are touchstones to more than 700,000 enthusiasts who’ve put a 911 in their garage since the first one rolled off the Zuffenhausen production line in September of 1964. And as we roll through Santa Barbara’s sleepy tree-lined streets, we have the undivided attention of a BMW 328i driver directly ahead, recording this moment for posterity with his iPhone—arm thrust straight up, Statue of Liberty style, through an open sunroof. 

                                                       2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe 

       

        The new 911 is larger, but incrementally so. Overall length grows by 2.2 in. and wheelbase grow by 3.9 in. (now 96.5). Yet overhangs are trimmed, and most important, the rear axle moves aft roughly 3 in. relative to the engine (made possible by new 3-shaft transmissions whose output flanges are moved closer to the engine), resulting in a significant tweaking of the proportions, and a slightly less rear-heavy weight distribution. Add a wider front track—a full 2.0 in. wider for the Carrera S models we drove—and you end up with a significant challenge for the design team headed by Michael Mauer. Traditionally, the 911 has had a narrow front, wide rear look, so with the new car’s extra girth up front, some deft manipulation of rear flare radii took place to retain the iconic Coke-bottle contours. Do you miss the more exaggerated (and less aero-friendly) fender forms of earlier 911s? “Just wait for the 911 Turbo,” says Mauer. “You will not be disappointed.”

Pricing Information
MSRP: $160,700
Invoice: $144,450

Technical Specs
Engine
Standard Engine: 3.8L H6
Standard Transmission: 7 Speed Manual
Cylinders: 6
Horsepower @RPM: 530@6250
Fuel Economy Cty/Hwy: 17/25
Combined Fuel Economy: 19
EPA Class: Mini-Compact
Number of Valves: 24
Torque @RPM: N/A
Fuel Type System: Gas Engine / Multi-Port Fuel Injected
Turbo (Yes/No): Yes
Overdrive Transmission: Yes
Battery Output: N/A
Compression: 9.8:1
Displacement: 3800/232
Bore X Stroke: 4.02×3.05
Cruising Range: 336.3 miles
Final Drive Gear Ratio Opt: N/A
Power to Weight Ratio: 6.5
Final Drive Ratio: Yes
Valves Configuration: Dual Overhead Cam/Twin Overhead Cam
Supercharged: No
Electric HorsePower RPM: N/A
Electric Torque Feet Per Pound: N/A
Electric Torque RPM: N/A
Electric HorsePower BHP: N/A

Standard Features
Anti-Theft & Locks
Power Door Locks Operated Via Remote and Internal Switch
Locking Fuel Filler Cap
Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Alarm, Engine Immobilizer, Exterior Monitoring and Interior Monitoring
Programmable Selective Locking/Unlocking

Braking & Traction
Brake Assistance
Hill Start Control
All-Wheel Drive
Porsche Torque Vectoring (Ptv) Mechanical Rear Locking Differential
Limited Slip Differential
Yellow Brake Calipers
Enhanced Porsche Stability Management (PSM) Vehicle Stability Control System
Porsche Traction Management (PTM) All-Speed Traction Control
4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
Porsche Ceramic Composite (PCCB) Front Power 380-mm Ventilated Disc and Rear Power 350-mm Ventilated Disc Brakes

Electrical
Front Cigarette Lighter
Battery
2 Front Power Outlets, 1 Integrated With Cigarette Lighter
Drive-By-Wire Control For Throttle and Shifting

Engines & Emissions
Roadside Assistance Warranty For 50000-Miles, 48-Months
Oil Cooler
Turbocharged 3.8-Liter, H6, VarioCam(R) Plus VVT 24-Valve, DOHC, MPFI Engine; Rear/Longitudinal Mounted With Horsepower Of 530@6250, Torque Of 516@2100; Alloy Block and Alloy Cylinder Heads
Extended Service Interval
Twin-Turbocharger With Intercoolers

Entertainment, Communication & Navigation
Front iPod(R) Auxiliary Audio Input Jack Includes Portable Audio Connectivity
AM/FM Radio With 385-Watts, AudioPilot(R) Speed Sensitive Volume, Centerpointe Bose(R) Surround Sound and 13 Speakers Total; 6-Disc CD Changer; MP3 Player
Radio Antenna
GPS and Hard Drive Navigation Aid With 6.5-In Touch Screen
Front Auxiliary Audio Input Jack
Wireless Communication Access For Bluetooth(R) Enabled Devices
USB Port
Pre-Programmed Equalizer
Radio Data System
DVD Player Located In Front Row
Subwoofer

Exterior Lighting
Low Beam and High Beam Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge Headlights With Automatic Leveling
Perimeter Lighting
Cornering Lights
Headlight Washers
LED Daytime Running Lights
2 Front and 1 Rear Foglights
Automatic Headlights

Exterior, Design, Paint & Finish
Front Air Dam
Air Intakes
Rear Air Dam
Metallic Paint (If Selected)
Front and Rear Body Color Bumpers
Retractable Rear Spoiler

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Interior Active Carbon Air Filter
Rear HVAC Ducts
Automatic Climate Control

Instrumentation
Tire Pressure Monitor
Exterior Temperature Gauge
Sport Button
Service Interval Indicator For Brake Wear
Trip Computer With Average Speed, Average Fuel Consumption, Miles To Empty, Stop Watch, Trip Odometer, and Lap Counter
Oil Pressure and Temperature Gauge
Tachometer
Cruise Control
Voice Activated Controls For Bluetooth(R) Wireless Enabled Devices
Compass
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls For Cruise Control and Transmission
Digital Clock
Porsche Communication Management (PCM) Centralized Control Instrumentation For Audio and Trip Computer Includes 6.5-In. Touch Screen Display

Interior Lighting
Illuminated Entry Includes Footwell
Delayed Courtesy Light
Front Reading Lights

Interior, Design, Decor & Floor Covering
Leather Steering Wheel
Carpet Located In Passenger Cabin
Front Carpeted Floor Mats
Alcantara(R) Located On Headliner
Rear Carpeted Floor Mats

Remote Controls & Remote Releases
3-Function HomeLink(R) Universal Garage Door Opener
Remote Fuel Door Release
Keyless Entry Operated Via Key Fob
Multi-Function Remote Operates Anti-Theft, Door Lock/Unlock, Fuel Door, Perimeter Lighting and Trunk
Remote Trunk Release Located Inside Vehicle and On Multi-Function Remote

Safety
Passenger Airbag Cutoff Sensor
Porsche Side Impact Protection System (POSIP)
Side Guard Door Beams
Passenger Airbag With Stage Deployment
L A T C H
Driver Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment
Front and Rear 3-Point Seatbelts
Trunk Anti-Trap Device
Door and Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags
Front Dual Seatbelt Height Adjusters
Crumple Zones
Front Pretensioners With Force Limiters

Seats
Front Dual Power Lumbar Support
Two-Tone Leather Seats
Driver Power Seat Adjusts 12 Ways Total
Rear Split Folding Bench Seat
Front Dual Reclining Bucket Seats With Adjustable Seat Height and Integral Headrests
Front Passenger Power Seat Adjusts 12 Ways Total

Steering
Tilt Steering Column
Telescopic Steering Column
Power Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering

Storage
Cargo Area Cover
Front Dual Door Mounted Storage
Front Covered Lower Console Storage Located On Floor
2 Front; 2 Cupholders Total
Lockable Glovebox

Sunroof/Moonroof & Removable/Convertible Top
Front Power Glass Sunroof

Suspension
Independent Multi-Link Rear Suspension With Coil Springs, Shock Absorbers and Selectable Sport Ride Type
Independent MacPherson Strut Front Suspension With Coil Springs, Shock Absorbers and Selectable Sport Ride Type
Rear Stabilizer Bar
Front Stabilizer Bar

Transmission
Manually Interactive Automatic Transmission
7-Speed Electronically Controlled Manually Interactive Adaptive Automatic Transmission With Overdrive and Floor Mounted Shifter
Adaptive Automatic Transmission

Wheels & Tires
RS Spyder Alloy Wheels, Front 19-In. X 8.5-In. and Rear 19-In. X 11-In.
Inflatable Spare Tire Kit
Front SBRP235/35ZR19 and Rear SBRP305/30ZR19 Tires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
Green Tinted Glass
Power Sunshade Located Sunroof
Rain Sensing Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Front Dual Sunvisors
Body Color Folding Power Adjustable Heated Electrochromic Exterior Rearview Mirrors
Rear Window Defroster
Front Dual Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
Electrochromic Interior Rearview Mirror
Heated Washer System
Power Windows With One-Touch Up, One-Touch Down and Pinch Protection