Is The 911 Turbo S Really Worth The Premium Over A 992.1 Turbo?

Performance comparison: Porsche 992 Turbo Vs 992 Turbo S

What hides behind the power difference?

There is a 68-horsepower difference between the current Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S, but where does it come from? Both versions of the Porsche 992 are motivated by the same 3.75-liter, twin-turbo flat-six. The Turbo and Turbo S engines feature identical cooling and fuel systems, as well as rotating assemblies. Similar to how Audi and Lamborghini played with the V-10 software for the different R8 and Gallardo/ Huracan variants, Porsche has tuned the 992 Turbo and Turbo S engines differently. However, it is not just the software that is responsible for the power difference between the two Porsche 911 variants.

The Porsche 992 Turbo S packs more serious turbocharging than the regular Turbo

There are a few reasons why Porsche will never give up the boxer engine, and they are most apparent in the 911 Turbo and Turbo S models. Both engines feature twin parallel turbochargers. While very similar, the twin-turbo setup in the 992 Turbo features 59 mm turbochargers while the twin-turbos in the 992 Turbo S feature larger impellers at 61 mm. This makes for a consistent difference of 68 horsepower and 47 pound-feet between the 992 Turbo and 992 Turbo S.

The power-to-weight ratios are 348.8 horsepower per ton for the 992 Turbo and 390.2 horsepower per ton for the 992 Turbo S. The 992 Turbo shows a reliable 540 wheel horsepower, which after calculating for a 20-percent powertrain loss results in around 670 horsepower at the crankshaft. Porsche often underreports its numbers, as seen from the 992 Carrera, and with the Turbo S reportedly making between 570 and 590 all-wheel horsepower... well, you can do the math.

Porsche 992 Turbo and Turbo S Price difference

2025 prices for the Porsche 992 Turbo show a difference of $33,200 between the regular Turbo and Turbo S. To get into a 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo, you have to part ways with $197,200. This is, likely, the last time we get to see a Porsche 911 Turbo with an MSRP of under $200,000. If you want to upgrade to the 992 Turbo S model, it starts at $230,400 while the Turbo S 50th Anniversary will set you back $261,100 The prices are without optional equipment.

In typical Porsche fashion, it is a challenge to highlight what’s different between the two, unless you look at the standard equipment lists for the Turbo and Turbo S variants side-by-side. Some visual cues include a more aggressive rear diffuser on the Turbo S and a chrome delete. You get a different wheel design with center-lock wheels and standard carbon-ceramic brakes on the Turbo S variant, made obvious with the yellow brake calipers. So clearly you do get some additional equipment on the ’S’, but in the real world, the Turbo should be plenty fast for most people. The Turbo range at the end of the day are everyday supercars that you can use on the road. The Turbo S meanwhile is ideal if you want the bragging rights when it comes to the numbers.

The future of the 911 Turbo

Porsche’s new, T-Hybrid powertrain is already showing great promise by rivaling the current 911 Turbo in terms of performance, despite having less power. Given the 992.2 Carrera 4 GTS performance, Porsche has no choice, but to go hybrid with the upcoming, 992.2 Turbo. So far, all the information points to a more powerful version of the T-Hybrid powertrain being fitted in the new Porsche Turbo, with power output expected to be around 710 horsepower for the Turbo S.

We still don’t have a full picture of the 992.2 lineup since there is no mention of a new Carrera S either. We have to wait and see what the new numbers will be. The good news is that the T-Hybrid powertrain adds only 110 pounds to the 911’s weight, so we don’t have to worry about the rear-engine sports car becoming as heavy as the Porsche Panamera Turbo Hybrid and its electrified rivals from Mercedes and BMW.