Porsche 911 Turbo Longridge

Evolution involves the survival of the fastest – and here’s the car that proves it.

For the past 35 years, Porsche’s 911 Turbo has set the high-performance benchmark, with each generation quicker than the last – and the latest model is no exception.

The newcomer’s 3.8-litre direct-injection flat-six engine delivers 493bhp – that’s 20bhp more than before – while torque rises by 30Nm to 650Nm.

But that’s not all. In a first for the Turbo, buyers can specify the firm’s slick-shifting seven-speed PDK dual clutch transmission, while hi-tech chassis revisions promise sharper dynamics.

Externally, the changes are subtle. Look closely and you’ll spot fresh 19-inch alloys, LED lights set into the front grille, revised tail-lamps and larger, twin-exit exhausts.

Climb aboard, and keen drivers will be pleased to find that PDK versions of the Turbo are avaibable with optional paddleshifters in place of the counter-intuitive steering wheel-mounted buttons of standard 911 variants.

As you’d expect, the new model delivers explosive performance. The PDK car scorches from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds – two-tenths up on the manual model.

Equally awe-inspiring is its cornering agility. Porsche’s new Torque Vectoring system brakes each rear wheel individually to enhance turn-in, while the sophisticated four-wheel drive serves up incredible traction.

Although the Turbo can’t match the feedback of the stripped-out GT3, the mix of staggering all-weather pace, refinement and comfort makes it a supercar you can live with on a daily basis.

The £104,375 price for the PDK is expensive, but it undercuts slower rivals from Ferrari and Aston Martin.