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.

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