Plenty of excitement surrounds the new Porsche 911 Turbo S, and with good reason. The team at MotorTrend test-drove the latest 911 and quickly determined it’s the second-quickest production car they’ve ever driven. Its incredible performance is turning the heads of industry experts and fans alike.

And what was the only car faster than the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S, according to MotorTrend? We’ve got all the details.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S at a glance

Based on the 992-generation Porsche 911, which was new in 2020, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S models are entirely new.

The new Porsche 911 reminds us of what a fast car feels like, Car and Driver explains. With the horsepower cranked up to 640, the latest Porsche boasts a pedigree none of its competitors can equal. Other high-performance cars, such as the Audi R8, Lamborghini Huracán EVO, and Mercedes-AMG GT R, can’t match this Porsche in horsepower either.

Available in cabriolet and coupe body styles, the Turbo and Turbo S offer standard features and options comparable to other 911 models. But the Turbos pack a more powerful twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter flat six-cylinder engine in the back. 

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S also packs insane acceleration, impressive handling, and incredible stopping power. It starts at $172,150.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S’s remarkable performance

A 0-to-60 mph split of 2.3 seconds is the standard by which the MT team measures all production cars. The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S was one of only two vehicles the team test-drove that achieved that benchmark. The other was the 2017 Tesla Model S P100D.

The new Porsche 911 Turbo S reached 60 mph in 2.384666958 seconds. It was a beat slower than the Tesla, making the run in just 2.275507139 seconds. According to MT, the difference was 0.073159819 second. 

When the team tested the Porsche’s limits, they were impressed because its performance is “nearly unmatched.” They said it was pure magic on the road. They compared its smooth, powerful motion to the natural movements of wild animals and star athletes. 

They also found it confidence-inspiring. It’s easy for any driver to climb in and feel comfortable hitting the gas.

Superior stopping power

Considering the Porsche 911 Turbo’s sheer power and acceleration, good stopping power is a must. It can go from 60 to 0 mph in only 97 feet. According to MT, that’s supercar range.

Through several tests, including skidpad and figure-eight tests, the results remained the same. According to the team, hitting a 1.10 average lateral gs on a skidpad test is not something you see every day. A 22.5-second figure-eight circuit at 0.96 average cumulative g is also extraordinary — and that was on regular Pirelli P Zero tires.

However, the Turbo S is not as dynamic and invigorating on the track. Maybe it’s the tires? Maybe it’s the Turbo genealogy, MT muses. Would different tires make a difference? We’d all love to know the answer to that.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S is knocking at the door of greats like the previous 911 GT2 RS. Can it match them? The folks at MotorTrend want Porsche to give its newest 911 better running shoes and put it to the test.