2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S update skips hybrid tech, adds more petrol power
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Porsche has continued filling out the updated 911 line-up with the middle-of-the-range Carrera S, offering more power and sharper handling – but it has come with a $25,000-plus price rise.
The 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S is the latest variant in the German brand’s sports-car range to receive its mid-life update, due in Australian showrooms in the third quarter of this year (October to December).
Positioned between the 911 Carrera and Carrera GTS, the auto-only Carrera S is expected to be the most powerful turbocharged but non-hybrid variant in Porsche’s two-door range.
Prices have risen by up to $27,300 for the updated model, which now sees the Carrera S cost more than a GT3 did five years ago – $342,700 vs $326,000 – at the end of the previous ‘991’ generation’s run.
MORE: 2025 Porsche 911 goes hybrid – facelift brings more power, new look
The 2025 Carrera S is powered by an upgraded version of the pre-facelift model’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat six-cylinder petrol engine.
It is now tuned to develop 353kW and 530Nm – up 22kW – thanks to new turbos and optimised charge-air cooling “among other things.”
The outputs are now a match for the outgoing GTS, filling the gap between the 290kW/450Nm base Carrera, and new GTS T-Hybrid with a 398kW/610Nm 3.6-litre single-turbo flat-six and electric motor.
Porsche claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.3 seconds for a rear-wheel-drive Carrera S coupe, towards a top speed of 308km/h – compared to 3.7sec and 308km/h previously.
An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard in Australia. It’s unclear if the seven-speed manual offered overseas will continue.
The updated 911 Carrera S is said to be “based on the design of the 911 Turbo models of the previous generation.” Porsche does not state what this entails, and whether the Carrera S inherits the wider bodywork of the pre-facelift Turbo, or simply takes inspiration from its bumper designs.
Now standard is a sports exhaust system with silver tailpipes, and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus – which, along with its 20-inch front and 21-inch rear Carrera S wheels, are not available on the base Carrera.
Matching the GTS power upgrade are the enlarged brakes from the current GTS, with 408mm front and 380mm discs – up from 350mm front and rear – clamped by red brake calipers.
Further revisions include retuned damper hydraulics claimed to deliver “increased precision and refined responsiveness”, plus more direct steering, and adjustments to the front axle for “more agile and direct handling while also significantly increasing stability at high speeds.”
Carbon-ceramic brakes are available as an option, as well as sports suspension with a 10mm-lower ride height, and rear-axle steering.
Styling changes mirror other models in the 2025 911 range, with new bumpers, restyled tail-lights, and available HD matrix LED headlights in place of the standard matrix LED units.
The interior has been revised with widescreen digital instruments replacing an analogue tachometer flanked by two screens, while the wireless phone charger is now cooled, and the turn-key start switch has been replaced by a button.
A black leather interior is standard – which applies the material to the seats, headrests, dashboard and door panels – with rear seats a no-cost option in the coupe, and standard in the Cabriolet.
Compared to models sold overseas, Australian examples gain as standard equipment: keyless entry, 14-way power-adjustable sports seats with memory, a Bose surround sound system, digital radio, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.
They are also fitted with a tyre fit set, windscreen with grey top tint, Parking Entry Package with a 360-degree camera, 3D view and hands-free parking, and premium paint colours up to the ‘Dreams’ range.
Prices in Australia start from $342,700 plus on-road costs for the Carrera S Coupe with rear-wheel drive, or $365,400 for the rear-drive Cabriolet.
2025 Porsche 911 price in Australia
- 911 Carrera Coupe PDK auto – $280,500
- 911 Carrera Cabriolet PDK auto – $303,800
- 911 Carrera T Coupe manual – $306,800
- 911 Carrera T Cabriolet manual – $330,100
- 911 Carrera S Coupe PDK auto – $342,700 (new, up $25,700)
- 911 Carrera S Cabriolet PDK auto – $365,400 (new, up $27,300)
- 911 Carrera GTS Coupe PDK auto – $381,200
- 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet PDK auto – $417,400
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS Coupe PDK auto – $401,300
- 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet PDK auto – $437,900
- 911 Targa 4 GTS Cabriolet PDK auto – $437,900
- 911 GT3 manual – $446,700
- 911 GT3 PDK auto – $446,700
- 911 GT3 Touring manual – $446,700
- 911 GT3 Touring PDK auto – $446,700
Note: All prices exclude on-road costs.
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