(2012) Porsche 911 Black Edition Coupe & Cabriolet (997.2) – Ultimate Guide
Based on the 3.6 litre, 345 horsepower (hp) 911 Carrera, the upcoming 911 Black Edition features a comprehensive list of standard equipment and is Limited to just 1911 worldwide. Exclusive to the Black Edition, black lettering on the stainless steel door entry guards provides the first hint of the high-quality interior design and continues the exterior colour scheme. Also included is a sport design steering wheel.
Available as a coupe and cabriolet, it comes only with rear-wheel drive and the standard 345-hp engine. In the US, it has a base price of $82,250, carrying a small $3500 premium over the base of all 911s; the cabrio’s sticker of $92,250 represents a $2500 premium.
The Black Edition adds more extra equipment than its additional cost would otherwise cover. Normally a $2440 option, 19-inch Turbo II wheels are included in the purchase. Also on the house are the Bose surround sound and a navigation system, plus a few other trinkets. Altogether, the extras in the Black Edition are worth about $10,000.
Porsche will build exactly 1911 Black Editions, of which about 25 percent are headed to the U.S. If you are in the market for a 997 and want a black one, this is one of the smartest choices out there. Theoretically, building cars in limited numbers makes them future collectors’ items, but if Porsche keeps turning out limited editions at this rate, the standard models might be the rarest of all.
The engine and performance is the same as the base coupe. The 3.6 L Watercooled Flat 6 (MA1/02) engine is rated at 339 bhp @ 6500 rpm and 287 ft lbs @ 4400 rpm. 0 to 60 mph is just 4.5 seconds with the optional PDK dual-clutch. Top speed is said to be 180 mph with the manual, 178 with PDK.
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Press Release
Extra valuable: The limited 911 Black Edition special edition
New special edition based on the 911 Carrera Coupé and Cabriolet
Stuttgart. In spring 2011, the world of the 911 will become even more attractive. Porsche is offering an extremely attractive special edition based on the 345 hp (254 kW) Carrera with a 3.6 litre engine. The 911 Black Edition features a particularly comprehensive equipment package, available as a Coupé or Cabriolet – and only in black of course. Exclusivity and price make this 911 Carrera all the more attractive. The 911 Black Edition is limited to 1,911 units and costs exactly as much as the Carrera basic models: In Germany that is 85,538 Euros for the Coupé and 96,843 Euros for the Cabriolet, including value-added tax in both cases. The market launch gets underway in April 2011.
The 911 Black Edition is painted in plain black as standard, with basalt black metallic also available as an option. The Cabrio hood is principally of black cloth. With the Black Edition, the colour highlights are provided by the 19 inch 911 Turbo II bi-colour wheels, their dichroic effect ideally complementing the discreet elegance of the exterior colour. In addition, the rims provide an unobstructed view of the brakes, naturally with black, four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed callipers. The grey top-tint in the windscreen is standard in the 911 Black Edition, rounding off the overall impression on a harmonious note.
The “Black Edition’s” black lettering on the stainless steel door entry guards provides a first hint of the high-quality interior design concentrating on purist sports car values.
The interior continues the exterior colour scheme. Already equipped as standard with high-quality partial leather seats, the 911 Black Edition can of course be upgraded with the option of an additional leather interior. Also included in the series version is a sports design steering wheel. The instrument cluster naturally remains in black. On the glove compartment lid, a badge testifies to the 911 Black Edition’s limited production run. Conversely, the decorative moulding on the dashboard, gear lever or selector and air vents provide a contrast with their aluminium look paint. The rear centre console is painted in the exterior colour.
An acoustic highlight of the 911 Black Edition’s enhanced equipment is the BOSE® Surround Sound-System, fitted as standard. It was specially coordinated with the interior of the 911 Carrera models and comprises 13 loudspeakers (twelve in the Cabriolet) including active subwoofer and centre speaker as well as a seven channel digital amplifier with a total output of 385 W for a brilliant sound experience. Coupé and Cabriolet are equipped with the Porsche Communication Management (PCM), as are 911 Carrera models. The GPS navigation module comes as standard in the 911 Black Edition as does the universal audio interface in the central console’s storage compartment. The 911 Black Edition’s enhanced equipment package also includes parking assistant, cruise control, automatic anti-dazzle interior and exterior mirrors and a rain sensor.
The 911 Black Edition’s technology conforms to the high Carrera standard: Under the rear lid is to be found the typical Carrera flat-six cylinder engine, producing 345 hp (245 kW) at 6,500 rpm from 3,614 cubic centimetres. Coupled with the six-speed gearbox, this output enables the Carrera to achieve a top speed of 289 km/h (180 mph) in both body versions. At its maximum acceleration the Coupé reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds, the Cabriolet in 5.1 seconds. Despite the impressive performance figures, fuel consumption remains moderate: The Coupé consumes a total of 10.3 litres of fuel (NEDC) per 100 kilometres (27.43 mpg imp.), the open top Carrera needs only a tenth of a litre more.
The 911 Black Edition enjoys all the same technical special equipment options that are offered for the Carrera models. First and foremost the Porsche-Doppelkupplungs-getriebe (PDK), that found its way into the worldwide sports car segment in the 911. The 911 Carreras with PDK turn in record performances thanks to their seven gears and quick gear changes with no interruption to the power flow. On the one hand fuel consumption: At 9.8 l/100 km (28.82 mpg imp.) and 9.9 l/100 km (28.53 mpg imp.) for the closed and open-top 911 respectively, the Carreras dip under the magical 10 litre limit. On the other hand dynamics: With PDK, the Coupé accomplishes the sprint in only 4.7 seconds, the Cabrio in
4.9 seconds. Responsiveness can also be further enhanced by the Sport Chrono Plus package, available as an option. It features the additional “Launch Control” function for the fastest possible acceleration from a standing start allied with a gearshift strategy for extremely sporty driving that enables very fast gearshifts. Launch Control shaves a further 0.2 seconds off the acceleration times of vehicles equipped with PDK.
The 911 Black Edition’s sportiness and comfort can be enhanced yet further if so desired. For example by means of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and as an additional variant for the Coupé the PASM sports chassis with bodywork lowered by 20 millimetres and mechanical rear differential lock. To further optimise braking performance, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) with ceramic disc brakes is offered as an option.
