Porsche hasn’t offered an “S” version of the 911 since 2006. Sure there have been slightly hotter “S” versions of the Boxster and Cayman all along, but when it comes to the 911, that “S” is usually reserved for something really special. The 2011 911 Turbo S you see here definitely sounds like it deserves to wear that “S” proudly. This will be the first 997 S, and Porsche has waited just long enough to take advantage of the 2010 upgrades to the standard Turbo.

The car’s direct-injected twin-turbo flat-six gains 30 horsepower over the “base” Turbo with output now measuring a GT2-matching 530 hp. The extra power comes with no penalty in fuel consumption either. How does Porsche do that! The 3.8-liter turbo-six splits 516 pound-feet of torque between those four 19-inch, center-lug wheels, routed through Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual clutch gearbox. Porsche’s torque vectoring system helps keep it pointed where the driver wants it.

The 0-62 miles per hour dash should clock in at just 3.3 seconds while top speed is quoted at 195 mph. That compares favorably to the 911 GT2’s 3.7 seconds and 204-mph terminal velocity, with the same amount of power. The European price has already been announced and it looks like the Turbo S will rival the GT2 there as well. The coupe will cost €173,241 including 19 percent VAT (the actual base price is €145,400), while the Cabriolet stickers for €184,546, also including the 19 percent VAT (base price €154,900). It should go on sale in Europe this May, following its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The U.S. market should get theirs soon after. Full press release from Porsche below.

Porsche 911 Turbo S: Even More Dynamic, Top Equipment all Standard

Stuttgart. The engineers at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, have developed a new top-of-the-range sports car for the customer who will only settle for the very best in terms of power, performance and driving dynamics: the 911 Turbo S. The heart of this most exclusive high-performance athlete is of course a six-cylinder boxer boosted by two exhaust gas turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, with an increase in power over the 911 Turbo by 30 to 530 bhp (390 kW). Maximum torque is a most impressive 700 Newton-metres (516 lb-ft). At the same time this new top model comes as standard with all high-tech components available only as options on the “regular” 911 Turbo.

Despite its significant increase in power and dynamic performance, the new 911 Turbo S, at 11.4 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 24.8 mpg imp), does not consume any more fuel than the Porsche 911 Turbo, making it by far the most efficient sports car in its performance class.

The 911 Turbo S comes exclusively with seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) (Porsche’s Double-Clutch Gearbox) conveying drive power to Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive. Driving safety optimised to an even higher standard is ensured by Dynamic Engine Mounts and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) including a mechanical differential lock on the rear axle. In conjunction with Launch Control on the Sport Chrono Package Turbo likewise featured as standard, 911 Turbo S accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds

Top speed is 315 km/h or 195 mph. Extra-light and fading-resistant Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) provide the same outstanding performance in terms of stopping power and controlled application of the brakes.

The supreme level of standard equipment including Dynamic Bending Lights, 19-inch wheels in RS Spyder design with central locking, a three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles, adaptive sports seats, cruise control, a CD/DVD changer and exclusive twin-tone leather upholstery in Black/Crema or Black/Titanium Blue additionally underlines the outstanding class and calibre of this first Turbo S in five years.

The new Porsche 911 Turbo S will be at the dealership as both a Coupé and Cabriolet as of May 2010. The German market price of the Turbo S Coupé is Euro 173,241 including 19 per cent value-added tax and local equipment in the market (the Euro base price is Euro 145,400). The Cabriolet retails in the German market at Euro 184.546, again including 19 per cent VAT and local equipment/specifications (base price Euro 154,900).