Since Porsche debuted the 911 in 1964, it has been largely considered the benchmark for two-door, high performance, sports cars. One of the few remaining production cars to feature a rear-engine layout, Porsche has time and time again proven that the 911 doesn’t really have a worthy opponent. When 911 Turbo S debuted in 1997, Porsche was rubbing the competition’s nose in it by taking the fifth-best car of the 20th century, and forever changing the landscape of the 911 trim options.

2020 saw the arrival of the 992, 911 Turbo S, and it once again changed public perception about what the 911 could be. With its wider and more aggressive, yet familiar 911 styling, the 2021 Turbo S also saw a handful of performance upgrades, and was quickly dubbed the fastest 911 ever. 2021 brought another onslaught of tweaks and updates that continued to blur the line between sports car and hyper-car, for the 911. Let’s introduce you to the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S, as we identify its best feature.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S: An Introduction

As previously mentioned, the 992 Turbo S made its debut in 2020, and to no one's surprise, was met with critical acclaim. Its 3.7L, twin-turbo, flat-6 engine now produces 640 of the strongest Stuttgart horses, with 590 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an eight-speed, dual-clutch, automatic transmission, this prancing thoroughbred sees 0-60 MPH in just 2.4 seconds, and will top out around 205 MPH.

When it came to taking on the Nürburgring, the Turbo S lapped the massive track at a blistering, 7:17.3 minutes, making it the third-fastest, road-production vehicle, trailing only Nissan’s GTR and Lexus’ LFA. It takes a lot of serious technology and features to power a car this quick. From its electric differential, to its multiple driving modes, each application works in perfect balance in helping create the best 911 yet.

Even though the 992 compression ratio was lowered from 9.8:1 to 8.7:1, and the engine was 55cc smaller than its 991.2 predecessor, it creates 60 more horsepower and adds another 74 lb-ft of torque. Porsche was able to tweak its maximum boost from 18.1 to 22.5 psi by its variable-geometry turbos that had increased airflow, improved intercooler performance, and improved exhaust flow to the turbos.

RELATED: 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo: Costs, Facts, And Figures

The Best Feature Of The 2021 911 Turbo S: The Sport Response Button

As demonstrated above by Doug DeMuro, the sport response button was introduced in 2016 and sits smack dab in the middle of the drive mode wheel. When given a press, the engine and transmission are primed for a boost of “power and responsiveness” for 20 seconds. More than just a fun, bar trick, the sport response button is meant to give the driver a sudden burst of power to confidently make a pass, or merge at highway speeds, without having to switch driving modes for a better throttle response.

Not only does the sport response button serve a real-world purpose, but it gives the driver a sense of satisfaction to press a button, receive a shot of power, and watch your dashboard light up with a countdown timer as the 911’s flat-6 sings a glorious tune. Just take a moment to let that sink in, as your fast and the furious laden, childhood memories flood your hippocampus, you realize the sport response button might as well be a serotonin boost button.

RELATED: This Is What Makes The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo So Awesome

Other Unique Features

2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S Interior
Porsche

Porsche has developed a reputation for refusing to adhere to technological and mechanical advances, and sometimes, it’s their brand loyalists who cause an uproar if the Porsche tries to drag them into the 21st century. It’s almost as if Porsche knows more than the average carmaker, and if the 911’s decade-spanning success is any indication, then maybe they do.

In a day and age where carmakers have virtually phased out the use of analog buttons, Porsche instead leans into the enjoyment drivers get from the satisfaction of pushing buttons. In what may be considered a rudimentary view of technology, one could argue of the streamlined approach buttons offer. If you’ve been in a new car recently, you’ll have noticed how frustratingly long it now takes to perform simple tasks. Take this six-minute YouTube video explaining how to turn on the rear A/C vent of a Tesla 3, for example.

Another interesting feature of the 911 is the integration of analog and new-age technology, specifically in its dashboard cluster. Its floating tachometer, positioned squarely in the center of the gauge cluster, is nestled between two screens that offer a plethora of information for the driver. The right side displaying industry-standard information like tire pressure and GPS directions, it also displays elaborate performance figures like a G-Force counter, power chart across RPMs, and a stopwatch timer for those track day, hot-laps. The left side, featuring more industry-standard information like speed-limit and turn-by-turn navigation.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S is the perfect amalgam of a classic, 911, analog driving experience, with tasteful additions of cutting-edge technology. The addition of the sport response button is its prime example of how the two design ideologies intertwine.