2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S First Impressions

Park City, Utah - Anyone who has ever sat behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 will feel a shiver of excitement anytime they hear its name. And when people do get to turn the key and make the boxer engine roar, that little shiver becomes a huge storm.

With the latest evolution of the 911, the German automaker is louder about its plan to remain the master of pleasure.

I'll always remember the first time I drove a Porsche, much like I'll always remember other significant experiences in my personal life. In all cases, the first time was not necessarily the best time, but it was definitely one of the most memorable.

The feeling of power and the jubilation associated with the 911 since the very beginning (the car made its debut at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show and was actually called 901) are simply amazing. Over all these years, every generation and every change made to this Porsche have had a common goal: delivering that unique driving thrill.

New vision
With the latest generation of the 911 (an evolution from its predecessor), the German automaker is louder and clearer than ever about its plan to remain the master of pleasure. The 2009 911 Carrera S boasts all the features that have made the car a legend while adding some new ingredients.

Powerful yet flexible, the 3.8-liter, 6-cylinder boxer now generates 385 horsepower. To assemble such a massive cavalry, engineers completely rebuilt the engine and incorporated technologies like direct fuel injection -- a first for Porsche. The size of the block is also reduced, allowing it to be mounted lower in the engine bay, thus lowering the car's center of gravity and improving balance. Other details have also been modified; for instance, there's a new electronic oil pump and the redline now starts at 7,500 rpm.

Even the base Carrera benefits from these upgrades, with power jumping from 325 to 345 ponies.

The engine sits lower in the engine bay, thus improving balance.