First Drive: 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Editor’s note: First published in the Vicarious Summer 2025 issue, this story is a reminder that the sunny days of summer driving are never too far away. Subscribe today and never miss an issue!

Every time Porsche releases a new 911 variant, the pie gets divided into increasingly thinner slices. Yet each delivers the full-flavour 911 experience—distinctive, exhilarating, unmistakable. From the base Carrera to the GT3, the flat-six rear-engine 911 drives like nothing else. How fast, how raw, how luxurious do you want it?

Joining the refreshed 992.2-generation lineup is the 2025 911 Carrera S—third rung up the 911 ladder, nestled between the base Carrera and the GTS T-Hybrid. It’s also the best-selling 911 variant, accounting for 31 percent of sales worldwide. I’ve driven them all, and I’m curious how this upgraded S fills the gap.

The S badge goes back to 1965, when the original gained power, bigger brakes, and sportier suspension. The new one follows suit—now with 473 horsepower from its 3.0L twin-turbo flat-six (up 30 from last year’s S), matching the previous GTS. There’s no manual here—just the excellent 8-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. It rides on staggered 20/21-inch wheels with sticky performance rubber.

Underneath, the 2025 Carrera S keeps the spring rates of the outgoing model but adds damper tuning from the GTS T-Hybrid. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) now spans a wider comfort-sport spectrum, and brakes are lifted from the previous GTS. Optional rear-wheel steering enhances agility, and the sport exhaust—previously an option—comes standard.

Porsche always picks the right roads for its launches, and the serpentine stretches inland from San Diego are ideal—scenic, smooth, and lightly travelled. But driving any 911 is risky business—not for your health, but for your objectivity. The experience is so immersive, so intoxicating, that it’s easy to lose perspective. You start contemplating things like organ donation just to afford one.

Top down in a Cabriolet finished in Ice Grey Metallic with Bordeaux Red interior, I head into the hills. Within minutes, it’s clear the new S offers a remarkably refined, comfortable ride. In Normal mode, the 911 cruises with poise. Top down, wind blocker in place, cabin calm—it’s a legitimate grand tourer. You could rack up serious miles and arrive refreshed.

Switch to Sport or Sport Plus, and the car transforms. No one does electric steering like Porsche, and the PDK is still the best on the planet. In Sport Plus, the S becomes telepathic—responding instantly, fluidly, with a seamless flow of information between driver and machine. The 473-hp flat-six sings with escalating power and a mechanical wail. Peak torque of 390 lb-ft arrives earlier and sticks around longer. Porsche claims 0–100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. I believe them.

Jumping from Cabriolet to Coupe delivered more of the same—minus the sunshine and hair tousling. From behind the wheel, the differences are negligible. Both feel equally rigid, equally engaging. And while Porsche purists might lament the shift from analogue to digital for the central tachometer—or the replacement of the classic twist key with a push-button start—those are minor trade-offs.

Inside, the Carrera S is exactly what you’d expect: rock-solid build quality, perfect driving position, and one of the best sport seats in the business. Everything feels engineered with purpose. Porsche offers a dizzying array of personalization options, from 18 leather colours to 122 “paint to sample” exterior hues, plus multiple wheels and five roof colours for the Cabriolet.

A quick swap into a similarly speced Coupe underscores the consistency. It’s more of the same—thrilling performance, confident dynamics, and a cabin that’s as focused as it is refined. The PDK continues to dazzle. In Sport Plus, it anticipates your next move like a seasoned co-driver. Whether you’re hammering into a corner or exploding out of one, the shifts are perfectly timed, rapid-fire and intuitive.

With staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels, standard Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (unavailable on the base Carrera), and optional rear-wheel steering, the Carrera S is impressively planted. Front-end bite, cornering grip, and overall balance are outstanding. It flatters both seasoned drivers and newcomers alike. This is a car that builds trust—and encourages you to push harder.

Of course, the big question remains: is the S worth the jump from the base Carrera?

I drove the 388-hp “starter” 911 last year in Spain and was tempted to say it was all the 911 anyone could ever need. But back-to-back with the S, the differences come into sharper focus. It’s not just about the extra horsepower or torque—the base car is plenty fast. Where the S truly pulls ahead is in composure and refinement.

The Carrera, in Normal mode, feels a touch more unsettled—less buttoned-down, a bit more jittery over rough patches. The S, by contrast, filters out road imperfections with poise, thanks to its recalibrated PASM and GTS-derived damping. Body control is better, ride quality more refined, and steering response just that little bit sharper.

In short, the Carrera S delivers more of everything that makes the 911 magic: speed, comfort, control, connection. Whether in Coupe or Cabriolet form, it’s a car that deepens your appreciation the more you drive it. The 2025 911 Carrera S is the sweet spot in the lineup—fast, communicative, composed, and deeply rewarding.

If you’re in the market for a 911 and want something more special than the base car—but without going full GT3 lunatic—this is the one to get.

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo flat-six
Output: 473 horsepower / 390 pound-feet of torque
Transmission: 8-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive (AWD Carrera 4S available)
0–100 km/h: 3.3 seconds (PDK)
Top Speed: 293 km/h
Highlights: GTS-derived PASM tuning, standard sport exhaust, optional rear-wheel steering
Website: Porsche Canada

Competitor Snapshot: 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Why It Matters
The Carrera S occupies a unique niche: more performance and composure than the base 911 without leaping into full-blown supercar territory. Below are key rivals that either match its capability, offer alternative driving personalities, or target similar buyers.

2025 Mercedes-AMG GT (incl. GT 63 S E Performance)

Character: Plush, powerful, grand-touring sports coupe/convertible.
How It Compares: Larger front-engine V8 (or hybrid V8), more torque, roomy interior, but a distinctly different driving feel than the 911’s rear-engine dynamics.
Positioning: For those who want German performance with a bit more luxury and straight-line thrust.

2025 Chevrolet Corvette (Stingray / Z06 / E-Ray)

Character: Mid-engine American sports car with standout value.
How It Compares: Comparable acceleration and balance; excellent handling; typically less refined interior experience than the 911 but fierce performance per dollar.
Positioning: A rival for buyers who want supercar-like performance without European pricing.

2025 Aston Martin Vantage 

Character: Exotic British coupe with a muscular twin-turbo V8 and unique style.
How It Compares: Less symmetrical balance than the 911’s rear-engine setup but offers evocative character and presence; the upcoming Vantage S pushes performance even closer to Carrera S territory.
Positioning: For drivers seeking style and exclusivity as much as performance.

2025 BMW 8 Series (840i / M Sport variants)

Character: Larger grand tourer with a blend of luxury and performance.
How It Compares: More comfort-oriented, less focused than a 911, but roomy and refined; a good choice for long highway drives with sporty capability.
Positioning: Rival for buyers who want performance with luxury-GT versatility over pure sports driving.

Contextual Rivals Worth Mentioning

Audi R8: Similar high-revving feel and mid-engine balance, typically more exotic and pricier.

Lexus LC 500: Grand tourer with V8 power and luxury ambience, less razor-sharp handling than the 911.