Preview: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera
02/23/1998
Erick Loven
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. has unveiled a redesigned 911 Carrera for the first time since its introduction back in 1965. Porsche is touting this as the combination of basic concepts from the old 911 along with new development and manufacturing techniques. Several new advancements in automotive technology can be found within the new design of the 911.
Few car manufacturers can be viewed as competition when you are talking about a $65,000 traditional sports car. The Mitsubishi 3000 GT Spyder and Acura NSX fall in the same price range, but seem to draw from a different, more contemporary crowd. The latest version of the Corvette is more traditional, yet lacks the small roadster feel of the 911. The old cliche of "being in a class by itself" seems very fitting for the Porsche 911 Carrera.
The 911's body has received a face lift. The windshield has been angled lower and the side flanks have been smoothed out. That, along with flush windows and smaller body joints, have reduced the drag coefficient in wind tunnel tests from 0.34 to 0.30. Other changes include a 3.2 in. longer wheelbase, 1 in. lower ground clearance, and 6.8 in. longer body. These three provide for more interior space for both the passengers and storage.
The standard Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe prices out at $65,030. The addition of a Tiptronic 5-spd Automatic transmission will increase the cost to $68,450. Many other options are available that increase the price tag. These include 18-inch wheels, heated seats, supple leather upholstery, and other necessities.
The 6 cylinder engine has also been redesigned. The compact engine still remains horizontally opposed sitting just behind the drive shaft, but now is completely liquid cooled. The 3.4 L engine has double overhead cams with variable valve timing to improve performance. The total output has been increased to 296 hp @ 6800 rpm and 258 lb.-ft.. of torque @ 4600 rpm.
Porsche's 6-spd manual transmission is more compact than in previous years. The shift mechanism is cable actuated to keep transmission movement from transferring to the shift lever. The Tiptronic, 5-spd, automatic transmission has several settings for the driver to choose from, depending on road and driving conditions. While in fully automatic mode, the transmission utilizes five separate shift patterns to determine when to shift. The patterns are part the control unit's programming and are selected based on the driver's style. The driver may also place the transmission in a semi-automatic mode and shift the transmission using buttons mounted on the steering wheel itself. This allows the driver to shift up and down through the gears without removing either hand from the wheel.
The 4-wheel disc brakes are large, cross-drilled, vented discs. The front brakes measure 12.53 inches in diameter and the rear brakes are just slightly smaller at 11.78 inches. The braking system is Bosch's latest ABS 5.3 anti-lock system.
For some extra cash, an automatic brake differential (ABD) traction control system may also be added. This system will apply and release the brakes in cycles less than a second on slippery surfaces. This will prevent each driving wheel from spinning and help the car to start moving on snow or ice.
The 1999 Porsche 911 still has a 4 wheel independent suspension. The rear suspension now has a new 5-link suspension arm setup that Porsche calls the "Weissach toe-in/toe-out correction". This will help to keep the rear end in line during sharp cornering.
The rack and pinion steering has been revised on the new 911 to place the steering gear in front of the front axle. The turning radius has been reduced to 34.8 ft. And the steering wheel itself now has a telescoping feature, which allows the driver to pull or push the wheel 1.6 inches. This was added to make all drivers feel more comfortable.
Specifications
General
4 Passenger, 2 door
Basic 911 Carrera: $65,030
911 Carrera Tiptronic (auto): $68,450
Engine
3.4 liter, Horizontally opposed fully water-cooled 6-cyl
double overhead camshaft, 4-valve per cylinder;
Chain driven - variable valve timing
11.3:1 compression ratio
3.78 in. Bore; 3.07 in. Stroke
Digital Motor Electronics fuel injection
296 hp @ 6800 rpm
258 ft. lbs. @ 4600 rpm
7300 rpm Redline
Drivetrain
6-spd manual or 5-spd Tiptronic Auto
Gears & Ratios
1st: 3.82:1(man) 3.66:1 (auto)
2nd: 2.20:1(man) 2.00:1(auto)
3rd: 1.52:1(man) 1.41:1(auto)
4th: 1.22:1(man) 1.00:1(auto)
5th: 1.02:1(man) 0.74:1(auto)
6th: 0.84:1(man)
Reverse: 3.55:1(man) 4.10:1(auto)
Final Drive Ratio: 3.44/3.45 (man/auto)
Interior
Storage Volume
Front Trunk: 4.6 cu.ft.
Behind Rear Seats: 2.3 cu. ft.
Rear Seats Folded: 7.1 cu. ft.
Fuel Economy
city: 19 mpg
highway: 32 mpg
(manual and auto are equivalent)
Measurements
Weight: 2910/3009 lbs. (man/auto)
Width: 69.5 in.
Height: 51.8 in.
Ground Clearance: 3.94 in.
Wheel Base: 92.6 in.
Length: 174.5 in.
Coefficient of Drag: .30
Suspension
Front: Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Rear: Independent multi-link with LSA, self-stabilizing toe characteristics, stabilizer bar
Steering
Type: Rack and Pinion, force-sensitive, hydraulically-assisted
Turns lock to lock: 2.98
Turning circle: 34.8 ft.
Brakes
Front: Vented cross-drilled discs, 12.53 in. diameter
Rear: Vented cross-drilled discs, 11.78 in. diameter
Power Assist Type: Dual circuit, four piston aluminum alloy monoblock fixed caliper, AMS 5.3
Tires
Front: 205/50 ZR-17 (225/40 ZR-18 opt)
Rear: 255/40 ZR-17 (265/35 ZR-18 opt)
Wheel Size & Type
Front: Pressure cast alloy 7J x 17 (7.5J x 18 opt)
Rear: Pressure cast alloy 9J x 17 (10J x 18 opt)
At a Glance
After 34 years of selling the Porsche 911, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. has come out with a redesigned 911 Carrera. The improvements include a long list of automotive and technological advancements. The engine is smaller, yet more powerful. The suspension is more complex to improve cornering. The overall dimensions have been increased slightly to provide more room for the passenger and storage, yet still keep the drag coefficient low. With all these advances, the 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera is still the familiar, traditional roadster that has provided 34 years of success.