For most cars, it wouldn't make sense to trot out each of its predecessors to introduce the next one — but then again, the Porsche 911 isn't "most cars." As each of the previous seven generations drove by me to introduce the newest, eighth-generation 2020 Porsche 911, the intent was clear: to show that what's new is still grounded in something old.
Cars.com photo by Brian Wong
The new car's styling is noticeably tweaked when plopped next to the outgoing 2019 911. The 2020 911's rear lower valence takes up more real estate on the rear bumper, and the stance is tweaked thanks to more prominent fenders and wheel arches. The rear spoiler is wider, and the taillights now stretch across the rear in a single line a la the 718 Boxster and Cayman. But out on its own in the wild, these changes will be less noticeable.
Despite subtle exterior changes, the interior updates are anything but. The interior of the previous generation, while nice in terms of materials, left something to be desired on the technology front. It didn't quite matter, as the 911's drivability and road manners tend to make drivers wax over its faults, but it did need an update.
Cars.com photo by Brian Wong
The new 911's interior is a big step forward, with a cleaner design and improved technology with more coherent ergonomics. It has more screens, starting with a pair of configurable instrument cluster displays that flank the center-mounted analog tachometer, which is a 911 must-have. The highlight of the center console is a new 10.9-inch touchscreen display, which dwarfs the outgoing, dated 7-inch screen. The new 911 also appears to have the same updated menu and screen structure found in the Panamera, a system we've found a bit heavy on menus but quick to respond with helpful sensors that call up the lower shortcut controls when your hand approaches the screen.
Even better, the touch-sensitive controls that drove us crazy in the Panamera and Cayenne aren't used here. Instead, there's a mix of traditional switches and buttons for the climate-control and drive settings. This is a more sensible approach that Porsche says preserves some of the old-school, tactile feel of the 911; I hope this approach also spreads to other vehicles in the lineup.
Cars.com photo by Brian Wong
There are also the requisite powertrain changes, including more power, a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and even a system that uses sensors in the wheel well to detect road dampness and adjust the traction control accordingly.
Porsche Carrera S and Carrera 4S variants of the 2020 911 reach dealerships in the summer of 2019, but there's no word yet on pricing or release dates for the other 911 trims, which are sure to be coming considering the 2019 911 was sold in no less than seven forms.
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