German Car Zone

Introduced in 1963, the Porsche 911 is one of the most successful competition cars ever built. Despite its unconventional rear-engine platform, the 911 Carrera holds recorded wins in nearly every type of automotive competition. Continuously upgraded and refined, Porsche has introduced a mid-cycle refresh for the 2009 model year. While the cosmetic changes are immediately apparent, the most significant improvements – two new engines and a new double-clutch transmission – are hidden under its sleek skin. We spent a long day putting the 2009 911 Carrera through its paces on a race track near Salt Lake City framed by the spectacular snow-capped surrounding mountains of Utah.

With more than 40 years of lineage buried within its chassis, the current-generation of the venerable Porsche 911 Carrera continues the traditions initiated by its earliest predecessors. The engine is still a flat-6 "boxer" configuration, and it continues to hang out behind the rear axle. Although its now-famous "snap oversteer" has been tamed, the 911 continues to seduce enthusiasts who are drawn to its refined chassis and sporty character, yet docile daily-driver mannerisms. While Porsche offers blazing fast GT models such as the 911 Turbo, and race-ready high-performance derivatives like the GT3 and turbocharged GT2, we flew to Utah to sample the entry-level 2009 911 Carrera and its more powerful sibling, the 2009 911 Carrera S.

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What a timelessly desirable car.

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