2006 Porsche - The Car Connection
2006 Porsche
 

GET CURRENT PRICING

GET AN INSURANCE QUOTE

 

911

 

Porsche's sleekly styled flagship 911 recently added new Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S all-wheel-drive coupes. The AWD system has a multi-disk viscous coupling and transfers between five and 40 percent of the engine's power permanently to the front wheels, affording both cornering abilities that just about violate the laws of physics, and improved traction on slippery roads. Slightly wider at the rear than rear-drive 911s, the AWD versions are able to accommodate wider tires at the back for even more grip. Elsewhere in the line, the base 911 Carrera comes with a rear-mounted, 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that generates 325 horsepower and 274 lb-ft of torque. Top speed is a sensory-overloading 177 mph, with 0-62 mph times clocked in at a mere 5.2 seconds. The Carrera S versions, meanwhile, take this performance up a notch with a 355-horsepower 3.8-liter flat six that cuts the car's 0-62 mph run to 4.6 ticks of the stopwatch. Porsche's Stability Management System is standard on the S and available on the base Carrera 4 models; new functions this year improve the four-wheel disc anti-lock braking system's stopping abilities. Also available is an Active Suspension Management system that allows you to switch from what is already a sporty ride to ultra-grippy suspension settings with the flip of a switch. As if that's not enough, the 911 Turbo S comes with a turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter powerplant that provides an explosive 444 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Ceramic, composite brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels, and high-performance tires are added to the Turbo S as well. An amazingly long list of standard features includes four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes with Active Brake Differential, traction control, and front-side and side-curtain airbags. The options list is the longest in the industry, and affords almost total customization, albeit at a stiff price.

 

2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4/4S by Henny Hemmes (8/1/2005)
Enabling each and every wheel, Porsche-style.

 

Preview: 2005 Porsche 911 Cabriolet by Ian Norris (2/28/2005)
Is it finally the equal of the coupe?

 

 

Boxster

 

Porsche's least expensive convertible offers sleek styling, ample acceleration, and tenacious handling. It comes powered in its base form by a 225-horsepower, 2.7-liter six-cylinder engine, which is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The S version receives a 258-horsepower, 3.2-liter six-cylinder powerplant and a six-speed-manual gearbox. Both models can be equipped with a five-speed-automatic transmission that offers manual gear selection. A power-operated top, along with four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, automatic air conditioning with air filtration, a CD stereo, speed-dependent extendable rear spoiler, partial-leather upholstery, heated washer nozzles, and locking alloy wheels come standard. For customization's sake, an Aerokit Package with integrated front and rear spoilers is offered, along with one of the longest lists of available interior and exterior cosmetic tweaks in the business - for example, virtually every switch, button, and knob can be leather-wrapped in any of several finishes.

 

Cayenne

Porsche's first-ever truck, let alone its first four-door vehicle, shares its chassis and certain systems with the Volkswagen Tourareg, and truly puts the "sport" in sport-utility, while still being off-road ready. Porsche styling cues, especially at the front end, set this SUV apart from the pack. The base model comes powered by a 247-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 engine, while the S version includes a 340-horsepower, 4.5-liter V-8. For those who are able to indulge themselves for the sake of speed, the top Turbo model offers a twin-turbocharged V-8 that generates a stout 450 horsepower. There's a choice of a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes and Porsche's Stability Management and Traction Management systems are included across the line. It features a tow rating of 7716 pounds. A Drive-Off Assistant system, available on manual-transmission versions, helps the driver start off on steep grades without having to finesse the gas and clutch pedals. Few changes are in the offing for 2006.

 

Cayman

The new Cayman is essentially a curvaceous closed-coupe version of the Boxster convertible. The car derives its name from the smallest and one of the swiftest of crocodiles, the caiman. With a more powerful, 295-horsepower, 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine mounted at the middle of its chassis, the new model is able to launch from 0-60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, with a top speed of 171 mph. As with the Boxster on which it's based, the Cayman offers truly tenacious handling, with a choice of either a six-speed-manual gearbox or a five-speed-automatic transmission that offers manual gear selection. Four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes with Active Brake Differential, traction control, and a speed-dependent extendable rear spoiler head an extensive list of standard features. As with the other models in Porsche's line, the Cayman offers a staggeringly long list of add-ons.