Porsche has a blast with the past

Porsche enthusiasts will notice cues from previous models in the new 911 Carrera GTS. Photo / Supplied

Porsche has looked to the past for its latest 911 model, the Carrera GTS.

The car for the immediate future shows off classic cues that Porsche enthusiasts have admired since the 1960s.

A wide new backend emphasises the classic rear-engined profile, while a new exhaust puts the roar back into the flat-six powerplant's soundtrack.

Porsche even looks to the past for the Carrera GTS name - it is borrowed from the famous 904 racer of the 1960s.

As well as tweaks for a sportier sound and more low-down torque, the 3.8 flat-six also puts out an extra 17kW over the Carrera S to send around 300kW to the rear wheels.

That's enough to complete the zero to 100km/h sprint in 4.2s, when fitted with the optional PDK gearbox, and take the car to a top speed of 307km/h.

Porsche claims town-and-around fuel economy for the GTS of 10.2 litres/100km, or 27.6mpg.

The Carrera GTS stands out from other 911 Carrera models with the 44mm wider Carrera 4 body of the all-wheel-drive models, including a wider track.

But it retains the classic rearwheel drive layout. Other details which distinguish the GTS from regular 911 Carreras include 48cm centrelock RS Spyder wheels, painted in black, with high-gloss finish rim flanges and 305/30 R 19 tyres at the rear.

Body highlights include the front apron with the spoiler edge painted in black, black sideskirts and the Carrera GTS logo on doors and rear bonnet, in black or silver, depending on the body colour. The area between the two tailpipes is finished in black.

The standard interior colour is black alcantara. The driver and passenger seats use the material and it also appears on the steering wheel and gear and handbrake levers.

The 17kW power gain to the 3.8-litre flat engine is courtesy of a special resonance intake manifold where six vacuum-controlled tuning flaps switch between power- and torque-optimised geometry, whereas in the Carrera S power unit there is only one tuning flap.

While maximum torque is unchanged at 420Nm, it is now available at 4200rpm - 200rpm earlier than the Carrera S.

The 911 Carrera GTS coupe and cabriolet will be available in New Zealand from next January. Pricing will be known nearer the launch.