With all the positive feedback received by the new 911, Porsche will want to let the good times roll with the upcoming 911 Turbo and Turbo S, too. At this stage, we have no doubt that ze Germans are working hard to perfect the Turbo recipe as the 992-generation Neunelfer Turbo & Turbo S will debut this year.

When it finally hits the showrooms, the Turbo will be forced to face stiff competition from the likes of Lamborghini Huracán Evo, Mercedes-AMG GT R, and Audi R8. Looking at how much horsepower these three pack, it’s pretty obvious that the new Porsche 911 Turbo has to up the ante in this department. That, however, won’t be the only change from the current 911 Turbo.

Engine and Gearbox

This is still a 911, so the engine-gearbox duo makes up for more than half of the car’s spirit. Back in November 2019, Porsche took to Instagram, where it posted pictures of pre-production 911 Turbos undergoing testing in France, around Nice and Monaco. The mules included coupé and cabriolet body kits but most importantly, Automobile Magazine got the chance to ride shotgun in these cars.

The outlet reports that the 911 (992) Turbo will be fitted with a re-tuned 3.8-liter flat-six unit and among the new goodies, Porsche’s engineers brought new turbos, new direct-fuel injectors similar to those found in the Carrera models, and new intercoolers.

Power output remains a mystery, but we’re guessing 640 horsepower should be a likely number here for the Turbo S. If that gets confirmed, the new Turbo S will pack 60 horsepower more than its predecessor, which churned out 580 horsepower. Automobile Magazine also estimates that torque should go up from 553 pound-feet to 580 pound-feet.

Looking at the bigger picture, the power bump is both desired and needed. The 2020 Audi R8 cranks out 602 horsepower in V10 Performance guise (562 horsepower for the standard model), the Huracán Evo is good for 630 horsepower, while the AMG GT-R is blessed with 577 horsepower.

Handling the power and torque boost will be an eight-speed PDK gearbox (most likely slightly reworked). The same unit can be found inside the current-generation Porsche Panamera and 911 Carrera.

As you’d expect, Porsche is coy on revealing performance figures at this stage, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the new 911 Turbo S sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds or even less, especially since all-wheel-drive will be a standard feature. Top speed should take a hike too, from the current 205 mph to 211 mph.

Exterior

A set of spy shots published in December 2019 by British outlet Car Magazine show a 911 (992) Turbo test mule wandering around with absolutely no camouflage on. Although the 911 Turbo will retain the better part of the Carrera’s design, the spied prototype flaunted large vents cut right in front of the rear wheel arches, a fixed wing (which also incorporates the LED light strip that serves as brake light), and an extra air outlet next to each exhaust pipe.

The front end is also expected to offer extra creases and edges, maybe even some sort of air intakes that would help cool the front brakes, perhaps? New wheel designs are also a certainty, while a redesigned hood remains an unconfirmed possibility. We don’t expect the new Turbo S to be significantly heavier than the outgoing model, so it should tip the scales at around 3,600 pounds, give or take.

Interior

Even with the Turbo badge slapped on its derriere, the musclier 911 will still have to deliver daily drivability. This means the interior won’t go into spartan territory and is more likely to be a finely improved version of the cockpit found inside Carrera models.

Sportier seats are a must, as is the presence of a GT steering wheel, and leather/aluminum/carbon fiber detailing. The current 911 Turbo makes quite a generous use of Alcantara, so that’s also in the cards for the 922-generation 911 Turbo. Given the lack of official info in this regard, we’re not ruling out two-tone combinations and even special colours solely available for the Turbo. Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur division will also provide a hefty list of personalization options as well.

On the tech front, the number and size of displays should be carried over from the Carreras, together with Apple CarPlay compatibility. In the 911 Carrera, the digital package includes a higher-mounted, 10.9-inch screen that serves the multimedia setup. Just below it sits a group of toggle-switch buttons. The instrument cluster is also digital.

Launch & Price

Car and Driver reports that the 911 Turbo coupé will start at roughly $165,000, while the Turbo S coupé could demand at least $195,000. A launch is expected in the first quarter of 2020, with deliveries kicking off towards the end of the year.