We take the wheel of THE new GT of the year : the type 991 version of the Porsche 911 Carrera S.

When Porsche undertook to define the 991 platform, three fairies congregated around the cradle: the designers, guardians of the temple, the chassis engineers and the motorsports department. The chassis and racing fairies were adamant that a sizable increase in wheelbase was a must. In the ensuing horse trading, the style fairy ended up agreeing on 100 millimeters, confident that she could still pursue her endeavor: to conjugate tradition and modernity on a 50 year old canvas.

The scene is set in a large city, somewhere in the world. A pedestrian spots a familiar shape in traffic, a pair of circular headlights. In an instant, current flows through synapses. It’s a Porsche, a 911, no doubt. The gaze follows the silhouette as it drives by.  The horizontal line connecting front and rear fenders, the characteristic C pillar contour. A fifty years old trademark in automotive design. Now comes the rear. Sharper, squinting tail lights linked with a straight undercut. Without a doubt, it is a new 911, thenew 911. This narrative – easily transposed on a freeway – imaginary but so plausible, sums up the design brief. Unequivocal recognition of brand and model, clear differentiation from the outgoing car.

Seen in isolation, the new car sticks to this storyboard to a surprising extremity. Walking towards the front of the car, it is easy to mistake the 991 for a 997, while the rear is more boldly designed with tense horizontal lines. It is when you compare the two cars side-by-side that differences hit. The wheelbase of the 997 now appears comically short, the roofline bulbous, its nose long and pointy. The 991 appears wider, longer and taller, while it really isn’t. The rear wheels are now 100mm (4 inches and change) more distant from the front to reach 2450mm, but the overall length has grown by 56mm only. Front overhang is shorter, the boot cover has gained curvature. The waist line is considerably higher while the roofline has sunk by 5mm, shrinking the glass surfaces. Driving elbow out requires unnatural stretching of the elbow and wrist joints, a good way to shake out a bad habit.

On the front facia, clues are subtle. The V lines of the 997 mk2, drawn from the headlamps down to the radiator vents are now trapezoidal to give the car a broader visual stance. The easiest change to spot is the mirrors, which have migrated from the A pillar base to the crest of the doors. The longer wheelbase is designed to benefit taller drivers with 20mm extra in adjustment length and 10mm more in steering column reach (now electric), the space left to rear passengers remains very tight. Seating an adult, even for a short distance, remains an unrealistic or sadistic undertaking. The 911 remains a strict 2+2, sparse for passengers but generous for luggage.