How Does The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S Fare Against The Mercedes-AMG GT R And Audi R8?

Refined exterior and unmatched aerodynamics

Since the beginning, Porsche has been careful not to go overboard with the design of its vehicles. This is still true for the latest generation of its vehicle lineup. The new 911 Turbo S coupe arrives in style with a few subtle and noticeable exterior designs and equipment upgrades over the regular models.

The first thing to notice is the dual front air intakes on either side of the front bumper, which are bigger than the regular Carrera to let in more air into the radiators.

Porsche also has a cool mechanical bit hidden neatly below the front bumper: the active front spoiler. While the outgoing Turbo S model also features this, the 2021 model’s unit has been increased in size but deploying it takes less time now. The spoiler is separated into three parts and is made of a special and elastic polymer or elastomer. As such, the spoiler’s middle section can be extended or retracted with the outer sections remaining in a different position.

It offers three positions according to the car’s speed. In the basic position, it remains fully tucked within the car’s underbody, while in the Speed position, only the outer sections of the spoiler are extended. In the most sportiest Performance position, the spoiler is fully extended to bring down the lift on the front axle significantly. Other than this, the car also features an active rear spoiler which also adjusts in three positions depending on the car’s speed. As compared to the outgoing model’s rear wing, this one provides a wider speed range so that you can drive the car with minimal drag and maximize fuel economy.

The AMG GT R looks more aggressive than the “regular” GT coupe with blacked-out exterior trims and a fixed rear wing. But that outlandish front grille prevails its dominance in road presence, and it’s the widest among the rivals here. It is the longest one, too, which is surprising since Porsche manages to squeeze in two extra seats within the 911, which has about a similar length. Moving on, we still think the Audi R8 is among the best-looking ones in the entire segment, with a fine balance of elegance and aggressiveness on the outside. It has the lowest roofline here and the shortest length. However, its wheelbase measures the highest.

New exterior design highlights

2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S exterior dimensions

A driver-centric cabin design

Inside the 2021 911 Turbo S, you won’t find significant tweaks over the non-turbo models. Still, it looks like a perfect modernized version of the outgoing Turbo S. The first thing you’ll notice is the sleek touches that go everywhere, starting from the dashboard.

The instrument cluster’s cowl’s arch has been flattened, and all the dials, except for the tacho at the middle, have been replaced with digital screens. A sizable 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display is standard throughout the entire lineup, running the latest version of the PCM interface. Standard features include integrated navigation and wireless support for Apple CarPlay. Starting from the Turbo model, the car receives a premium 14-speaker Bose audio setup, which is a treat to the ears.

Being the king of the hill, the Turbo S’s front seats have an 18-way power adjustment, allowing you to find just the right seating position. Also, the iconic Sports Chrono package is standard, and you get a dashboard-mounted analog clock as a visual confirmation.

The center stack has become thicker than the outgoing model, with a reduced number of physical buttons and a sleek and small gear selector stalk as compared to a traditional lever on the outgoing model.

Both headroom and legroom are ample for tall passengers in the front, and the extensive adjustments offered by the front seats are bound to make your time with the car easier.

Being the only 2+2 seater here, the rear seats are best reserved for your handbags or those extra items that might not fit inside the decent-sized 13.8 cubic feet frunk.

The Mercedes-AMG GT R’s cabin is quite performance-focused with a heavily driver-centric layout. Being a two-seat coupe, the GT’s shoulder room is adequate on paper, but big adults can find the legroom area a bit confining due to that thick center stack. Otherwise, the GT’s cabin is wrapped in a delectable choice of matte aluminum, Alcantara, and premium leather appointments.

The R8’s cabin is a nice place to be in and encapsulates a sedan-like comfort. Unlike the Porsche, the R8’s cabin layout is also driver-centric, with a cool cockpit-like design for the driver. Also, that steering-mounted engine start-stop button is even cooler!

Upgraded twin-turbocharged engine and new transmission

Under the 2021 911 Turbo S’s hood, Porsche has packed in the maximum upgrades. Based on the smaller 3.0-liter flat-six engine you’ll find on the Carrera models, the 2021 Turbo S’s 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged engine features slightly shorter strokes than the outgoing model’s unit. Hence, that 0.1-liter drop in displacement. However, things don’t end there. Porsche strapped in two identical and bigger turbochargers this time, which resulted in an increased boost pressure of 22.5 psi, which is a solid five psi more than the outgoing model’s 17.4 psi.

With that, the upgraded engine now makes a whopping 641 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. With that new eight-speed PDK transmission, shifts are blisteringly quick, and you’ll have an engaging manual control, too, via the steering-column-mounted paddle shifters.

Driving all the wheels, this new Turbo S is capable of hitting 60 MPH in just 2.6 seconds, giving you that thrilling pinned-to-the-seat effect instantly. In Normal mode, the car is super easy to drive around urban limits, and you’ll have no idea that the car is packing in enough grunt to chase some hypercars in a straight line.

The Mercedes-AMG GT R is a limited edition and high-performance variant of the already powerful GT coupe. And it comes with the goodness of AMG’s hand-built Biturbo V8. While both its power and torque figures are less than what the 911 puts out, and the fact that it’s a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, that 2.9-second 0-60 MPH sprint time is still impressive as compared to the Porsche, we’d say.

Coming to the much-loved R8 with its naturally aspirated V10, everything is not about straight-line performance and hitting the 60-MPH mark as fast as possible in this vehicle. You’ll still enjoy a pure and raw note of a naturally aspirated V10 screaming at over 8,000 RPM, and it does deliver its maximum power near its redline, too!

What’s it like to drive?

We already mentioned that the new Turbo S’s powertrain does everything almost perfectly. And so does the car’s handling department as well. Being the top-end trim of the entire 911 lineup, the 2021 Turbo S receives the brand’s revered PASM suspension tech as standard, along with a Dynamic steering system. To enjoy that hypercar-like performance from the Turbo S, you need to sacrifice a bit of ride comfort part, especially when the tarmac conditions deteriorate. Even in Comfort mode, going over a speed breaker fast will throw you off despite those immaculate bolstering from the seats.

Turn the knob to Sport or Sport Plus mode, and the ride stiffens further along with the dynamic steering relaying more information to you as well. Shodden with Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires on all four wheels, grip levels are almost perfect, yet, pushing the car to its limits will make you realize the tires are barely adequate to keep up with this frantic speedster. Furthermore, rear-axle steering and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system make things easier for you around the corners.

We’d say the 2021 Turbo S is so brilliant at what it does at some point you’ll feel a lack of thrill and exhilaration piloting it since all the electronic aids make sure nothing goes south. If you’re looking for the perfect driver’s car from Porsche, you may also want to consider the 918 Spyder.

Prioritizing performance over fuel efficiency

The outgoing 911 Turbo S is appreciated for its fuel economy figures other than its performance. With those substantial increases in output figures and a couple of bigger turbochargers, the 2021 Turbo S sees some considerable drop in its EPA ratings. Inside cities, the new Turbo S returns an average of 15 miles to the gallon as compared to 19 returned by the outgoing model.

Out on the highways, the number rises to 20 MPG, which is again down by four miles to the gallon from the 2020 model. With these, the driving range numbers have gone down too to 264 miles city and 352 miles highway as compared to 334 miles and 422 miles from the outgoing car.

The Mercedes-AMG GT R is almost close to the new Turbo S with its EPA ratings but impresses with driving range figures. All thanks to its sizable 19.8-gallon gas tank. However, we’d applaud the Porsche for returning those numbers despite featuring an AWD driveline layout.

The Audi R8’s EPA ratings are decent, too, considering the fact that it houses a sizable V10 that redlines over eight thousand revs. Still, it manages to stay at par with its peers by having a 19.3-gallon gas tank, allowing some doable driving range figures in both cities and highways.

Standard safety features and premium driving aids

Porsche’s vehicles in recent times arrived with slim driver assistance features as standard, and equipping the important ones costs a fortune through those bundle packages. The 2021 911 Turbo S shares a similar fate but comes with a forward collision mitigation system as standard.

Other standard safety techs include a post-collision safety system, four-wheel ABS, traction and stability control, emergency braking assist, and adaptive headlamps. Besides these, the car boasts a superb build quality like other vehicles from Porsche’s stable, and those carbon ceramic brakes help shed speed incredibly quickly with a 60-0 MPH distance of 98 feet only.

Conclusion - Luxury, performance, and precision

Porsche has always offered the best of both worlds when it comes to handling and performance. Even when the output figures of its vehicles measure less on paper than their rivals, out on the roads, they proved to be equally capable than their rivals, and sometimes even more. With the new 2021 Turbo S, the segment sees fresh competition.

With classy 911 styling, the Turbo S packs in significant improvements over its predecessor, the 2020 Turbo S. While the car’s interior has become sleeker with an abundance of modern touches, that rear-axle steering and an upgraded powertrain grabs all the attention.

With Porsche’s proprietary techs, such as PASM and PTV, taking care of the car’s handling duties, you need to worry less about the car going sideways and indulge more on the driving part, which isn’t exactly the case with its rivals, such as the AMG GT R and the R8.

To sum up, the new Turbo S might cost a fortune, but it can also give you a solid taste of hypercar-like performance and true sports car handling.

FAQs

What differentiates the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S from its predecessors?

The 2021 model boasts improved performance and better aerodynamics. Its 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine produces 641 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, a significant increase from the outgoing model.

How quickly can the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S accelerate from 0-60 mph?

The 2021 911 Turbo S can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, making it one of the fastest production cars in its category.

Has the interior of the 2021 911 Turbo S seen any updates?

Yes, the interior features the latest version of the PCM (Porsche Communication Management) system, a 10.9-inch touchscreen display, and a redesigned center console.

What about the handling and driving dynamics?

Thanks to its advanced aerodynamics, rear-axle steering, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), the 2021 911 Turbo S offers an exceptional balance between enthusiastic driving experience and comfort.

How does the 2021 model’s design differ from previous versions?

The 2021 model presents wider wheel arches, a broader front track, and redesigned LED headlights. The new adaptive aerodynamics system and bigger active front spoiler also differentiate it visually and functionally.

How does the Turbo S compare to the regular Turbo model?

The key differences between the Turbo S over the Turbo model include carbon ceramic brakes, enhanced suspension, and 18-way power adjustments for the front seats.

What are the wheel and braking options for the 2021 911 Turbo S?

The Turbo S comes with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels as standard. Braking performance is enhanced with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) as a standard feature.

How fuel-efficient is the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S?

Exact fuel efficiency may vary depending on driving conditions and styles. According to the EPA, the 2021 Turbo S returns an average of 15 MPG in cities and 20 MPG on highways.

What safety features are available in the 2021 Turbo S?

Porsche equips the 911 Turbo S with a forward collision mitigation system, post-collision safety system, emergency braking assist, and four-wheel ABS.

What is the starting price of the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S?

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S’s price starts at $203,500 for the coupe and $216,300 for the convertible model.