The new Porsche 911 – the eighth generation of the sports car – comes to the European market at the beginning of 2019. In advance of this, Porsche says the prototypes are complete the final testing program around the globe – putting the new sports cars under a great deal of stress. They are shuttling between climate zones with temperature differences of up to 85 degrees Celsius; sprinting across elevation changes spanning more than four kilometers; enduring traffic jams in major cities and setting new records on the racetracks.
By the time, testing is complete, the cars have been driven around three million kilometers in total. After all of this, every component of the car must function just as reliably as it did at the outset.
“In addition to its outstanding performance, it’s the 911’s suitability for daily use that has always put it in a class of its own,” comments Andreas Pröbstle, Project Manager for the Complete Vehicle of the 911. “That’s why we test the vehicle under all conditions, and in every type of weather and region. The vehicles’ drivetrain must function as flawlessly as its fluids, systems, operating processes and displays – it’s the only way we can be certain that the vehicle is able to travel through all regions of the world without faults,” he adds.
The testing first focuses on Porsche’s traditional areas of expertise, such as the chassis and engine, which have been enhanced to heighten both performance and everyday use. Additionally, there are function tests and stress tests for the entirely new operating concept in the cockpit, as well as instruments and displays. The new driver assistance systems and extended connectivity must also rise to the challenges of the strenuous testing marathon: Porsche Connect differs from country to country, so testing its operation and functions is resource-intensive.
- In hot countries such as the Gulf States in the Middle East or Death Valley in the USA, the air conditioning, thermal management, and combustion behavior need to pass functional tests in temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius – so the interior components must not expand or contract and make noises when exposed to heat, for example.
- In Finland’s minus 35 degrees temperatures, the test agenda focuses on areas such as cold start, heating and air conditioning, traction, handling and braking behavior, as well as the response speed of the control systems related to driving dynamics.
- The winding and demanding roads in the European Arctic Circle offer optimum conditions for testing a sports car, while endurance runs have seen the new 911 test cars sprinting over China’s roads and racing tracks in a traffic structure that is typical for that country, as well as proving that they run reliably on fuels whose qualities vary enormously.
The Nürburgring is traditionally a part of the Porsche test and development program. The engine, transmission, brakes and chassis must prove their mettle at the demanding racetrack located in the Eifel mountain region.
In Italy, the test cars are driven round the high-speed Nardò test tracks, where the focus is not only on top speed but also cooling and handling. The test vehicles reach the lowest point of their endurance run in Death Valley, which descends to around 90 meters below sea level; while the thin air on Mount Evans, Colorado – reaching heights of 4,300 meters – was the challenge for the bi-turbo charging and the fuel system.
A less spectacular component of testing, albeit no less important, is customer-oriented everyday testing on public roads in cities and cross-country throughout Germany. This portion of testing also sees significant mileage being covered, while complying with all traffic rules, in order to ensure that the complete vehicle and its systems are durable and suitable for daily use, so that the eighth generation of this sports car icon continues the tradition of being the best 911 of all time.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Gen Eight 911 Undergoing Final Testing
By the time, testing is complete, the cars have been driven around three million kilometers in total. After all of this, every component of the car must function just as reliably as it did at the outset.
“In addition to its outstanding performance, it’s the 911’s suitability for daily use that has always put it in a class of its own,” comments Andreas Pröbstle, Project Manager for the Complete Vehicle of the 911. “That’s why we test the vehicle under all conditions, and in every type of weather and region. The vehicles’ drivetrain must function as flawlessly as its fluids, systems, operating processes and displays – it’s the only way we can be certain that the vehicle is able to travel through all regions of the world without faults,” he adds.
The testing first focuses on Porsche’s traditional areas of expertise, such as the chassis and engine, which have been enhanced to heighten both performance and everyday use. Additionally, there are function tests and stress tests for the entirely new operating concept in the cockpit, as well as instruments and displays. The new driver assistance systems and extended connectivity must also rise to the challenges of the strenuous testing marathon: Porsche Connect differs from country to country, so testing its operation and functions is resource-intensive.
The Nürburgring is traditionally a part of the Porsche test and development program. The engine, transmission, brakes and chassis must prove their mettle at the demanding racetrack located in the Eifel mountain region.
In Italy, the test cars are driven round the high-speed Nardò test tracks, where the focus is not only on top speed but also cooling and handling. The test vehicles reach the lowest point of their endurance run in Death Valley, which descends to around 90 meters below sea level; while the thin air on Mount Evans, Colorado – reaching heights of 4,300 meters – was the challenge for the bi-turbo charging and the fuel system.
A less spectacular component of testing, albeit no less important, is customer-oriented everyday testing on public roads in cities and cross-country throughout Germany. This portion of testing also sees significant mileage being covered, while complying with all traffic rules, in order to ensure that the complete vehicle and its systems are durable and suitable for daily use, so that the eighth generation of this sports car icon continues the tradition of being the best 911 of all time.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.