My blue Porker is also armed with the optional rear axle steering ($2,390) adopted from the 911 Turbo and GT3. It lasers from bend to bend with unflappable poise and new-found refinement.

But isn’t this exhaust note a tad too polite? Ah, this tester does not have the optional $3,370 Sport Exhaust System. You’ll be wanting that. It broadcasts a popping, crackling, blaring repertoire that puts to rest any worries of those turbos damping the aural experience. Carreras with Sport Exhaust have a pair of round exhaust tips jutting out from below the number plate.

The 2017 911’s interior looks familiar, but quality is up. Centre-dash we see the new standard Porsche Communication Management System interface screen with navi, pinch, scroll and swipe functions. I didn’t spend a lot of time with it (a bit busy driving…), but PCM appears vastly more user and smart phone friendly.

The steering wheel is inspired by the 918 supercar’s, and at about four o’clock is the new rotary drive mode selector with Normal, Sport, Sport+ (if equipped with the Sports Chono package) and Individual, which allows you to tailor your own dynamic cocktail. Additionally, press the centre “Sport Response Button” in any mode and you get 20 seconds of full acceleration for quick passing maneuvers, etc. This gizmo works a treat – much easier than poking away at the myriad console buttons of the outgoing 911.

There are a few visual changes to the 2017 911. Both the rear and front fascia have cleaner designs, the latter with active air shutters that close at 15 km/h, and only open when necessary. The engine cover vents now run north/south and feed a pair of intercoolers, somehow crammed into those rear haunches. The S models get standard 20-inch running stock, and as mentioned before, all Carreras now arrive with revised adaptive damping and sit 10mm closer to the earth.

The rear spoiler normally deploys at 120 km or when launch mode is activated, but will also rise if the engine needs more cooling, as it allows more air into the engine bay.

By the numbers, the new Carrera S with PDK is quicker than the old model by 0.2 seconds to 100 km/h (3.9 sec vs 4.1 sec). It also shaves a full 10 seconds off the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time, posting 7 min and 30 seconds.

Next up is a 370 hp base Carrera (starting $102,200) with PDK. While the outgoing 3.4L Carrera with its 350 high-strung horses could feel tad soft until the tach needle swung hard right, this turbocharged 2017 Carrera does not give up much in the way of perceived speed to bigger-brother S. There’s no yawning performance gap here as before. This car is damned fast too.

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