2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S: The Goldilocks Model Of The 992.2 Range

What’s New? The Key Upgrades

Standard Equipment Galore

The 2025 Carrera S comes loaded with stuff that previously required dipping into Porsche’s legendary—and wallet-thinning—options list:

• Sport Exhaust: Because no Porsche is complete without a soundtrack

• Brakes from the outgoing GTS: Larger discs (408 mm front, 380 mm rear) for stopping power that borders on the absurd

• Updated Dampers: Hydraulics optimized for both spirited drives and the occasional pothole

Optional Highlights

If you’re feeling flush, the options list offers plenty to tempt your resolve

• PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes): For those who consider mere steel discs "pedestrian"

• Front-Axle Lift System: A handy option for added peace of mind

• Rear Axle Steering: A godsend for low-speed agility and high-speed stability

• Exclusive Manufaktur Leather Interior: With up to 48 two-tone combinations, because sometimes beige and black just don’t cut it

The Engine: More Power, Same Heritage

We previously anticipated that Porsche would not take the hybrid route for the Carrera S and thankfully, it wasn’t the case. In the 2025 Carrera S, you get the same 3.0-liter mill as the base model (388 horsepower), but with 473 horsepower, a 30-horsepower bump over its predecessor’s 444. This is achieved by new twin turbochargers and a redesigned charge-air cooling system. Torque remains the same as before at 390 pound-feet.

Now, 473 horsepower may not seem earth-shattering in a world where family SUVs are flirting with the 700-horsepower mark, but context is everything. When equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, the Carrera S launches from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 3.1 seconds. That’s 0.2 seconds quicker than before and the top speed is rated at 191 mph.

Driving Dynamics: The Sweet Spot In The 992.2 Range?

Positioned between the base Carrera and the GTS, the new Carrera S embodies that Goldilocks zone. Not too tame, not too wild, just right. Rear-wheel drive for now (expect the 4S AWD model to join the lineup), an eight-speed PDK, (sorry folks no more manual) and staggered 20/21-inch wheels work in tandem to deliver the kind of driving experience that should keep the enthusiast crowd happy.

The optional PASM Sport Suspension lowers the car by 10 mm (0.39-inch), which should be just about enough to enhance cornering without making the ride punishing. Optional rear-axle steering (this one should be a no-brainer on the options list) adds a dash of wizardry to handling dynamics, shrinking the car’s apparent size around tight bends and making it feel rock-solid even at triple-digit speeds.

Exterior and Interior Highlights: The Luxury Pick Of The Carrera Range

Porsche hasn’t laid much emphasis on the exterior changes on the 2025 Carrera S, but from what I can see, the front facia is more or less identical to what we have on the base model. This also goes for the four-point HD Matrix Design LED headlights. The bits around the radar sensor on the front bumper are body-colored on the cabriolet. At the rear, the reflectors and rear bumper design is similar to the 992.2 GT3 Touring, but it retains the oval exhaust setup on the sides just like the outgoing 911 Carrera S. Besides that, even the wheels appear to be a carryover from the outgoing 992.1 Carrera S. We’ll have to wait for the configurator to go live to see what other options we have for this latest Carrera S.

Step inside, and this is where you’ll notice some big changes on the latest Carrera S. Porsche has expanded the use of leather, wrapping everything from the seats to the dashboard in supple hides. The optional full-leather interior extends the treatment to areas like the glovebox and rear tunnel and if you’re still unsatisfied, the Exclusive Manufaktur division offers an almost bewildering array of bespoke finishes. You also have some matte-wood finishes on the dash, which is a nice touch.

Notable tech upgrades include a wireless smartphone charger, and the obligatory Sport Chrono dial on the steering wheel, however, just like with most of the 992.2 range, the analog tachometer and the Le-Mans twist-style starter are now gone. In its place is an all-digital instrument panel and a generic start-stop button, from the VW parts bin. On a final note, a two-seat setup is standard, but rear seats can be added at no extra cost.

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S Price

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Is the 2025 Carrera S really necessary? After all, the base Carrera is no slouch, and the hybrid GTS is not much of a stretch away, especially with the Carrera S Cab. But here’s where I land: the Carrera S is the Porsche for the indecisive perfectionist. Personally, I think it’s the luxury variant in the entry-level Carrera range. Nothing but the essentials and in typical Carrera S fashion, that translates to more power, better suspension, and brakes over the base model.

So to sum it up, this latest 911 Carrera S is not just about splitting the difference; it’s about offering a blend of performance, luxury, and practicality that few cars can match. Would I buy one? Probably not as I’m still partial to the analog Carrera T for its old-school charm and manual transmission. Having said that, if I were in the market for a car that blends usability and unflappable competence, the Carrera S would be hard to ignore. The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe starts at $146,400 (a 20k premium over the 992.1) while the Cabriolet will set you back $159,600 before options. Expect it at a Porsche dealership near you in Spring 2025.