2003 Porsche 911 Walkaround Review at Automotive.com
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2003 Porsche 911 Review: Exterior

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2003 Porsche 911 Review

It lives up to the legend.
Walkaround
With its classic lines, the Porsche 911 is a beautiful car. Porsche has refined the 911 body several times during its 40-year history, but the roofline and windshield remained the same as the original model until it was totally redesigned for the 1999 model year. The current Carrera body is longer, wider and sleeker than any before. For 1999, the roofline, windshield and all other body sections were new, representing the first clean-sheet redesign of the legendary sports car since its introduction in 1965. Nevertheless, it maintains the unmistakable 911 profile and classic styling cues.

Carrera models were restyled last year (2002) to look more like the 911 Turbo, which included a new headlight design, reshaped front end, widened rear quarter panels, and redesigned oval exhaust pipes. This better differentiates the 911 from the Porsche Boxster. The design changes were more than cosmetic, however. The new front air intakes increased airflow to the radiators by 15 percent. Reshaping the front wheel arches and adding small flexible spoilers ahead of the front wheels reduced aerodynamic lift by 25 percent at the front and 40 percent at the rear. New air intake ducts enhanced front brake cooling, while a new under-floor duct enhanced transmission cooling by 20 percent. The rear spoiler deploys automatically at higher speeds. Carrera Coupe comes standard with a power sunroof.

Standard aluminum alloy wheels measure 17x7 inches in front with 205/50ZR17 tires; the 17x9-inch rear wheels mount 255/40ZR17 tires. Optional packages mount 18x8-inch wheels with 225/40ZR18 tires in front, 18x10-inch wheels with 285/30ZR18s in back. Porsche Exclusive allows 911 owners to specify special limited-availability paint colors and custom interior trim.

Carrera 4 Cabriolet is distinguished from the C2 Cabriolet by plainly visible titanium-color brake calipers and a titanium-color "Carrera 4" logotype on the rear engine hood.

Turbo is distinguished from the Carrera models by three large intakes that dominate the lower front fascia to provide cooling air to the car's three radiators. The 911 Turbo also has a wider stance, particularly at the rear, where the Turbo is 2.6 inches wider to accommodate its massive rear wheels and tires. It comes fitted with 225/40ZR18 tires on 18x8-inch front wheels and 295/30ZR18s on 18x11-inch rear wheels. Air scoops integrated into the leading edges of the rear fenders channel cool air to the turbo intercoolers, while louvers in the sides of the rear cover let the hot air out. The engine compartment lid carries a two-piece rear wing, the upper part of which automatically rises at speeds above 75 mph and lowers at 50 mph.

Carrera 4S looks almost exactly like the Turbo. The Carrera 4S aggressive front spoiler differs slightly. Carrera 4S retains the automatic-deploying rear spoiler from the 911 Carrera instead of the Turbo's two-piece wing. Carrera 4S shares the Turbo's wide rear stance, but the side intake ducts are not present. From the rear, the C4S is distinguished by its own glass-reinforced plastic decklid with a reflector strip connecting the taillights.

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2003 Porsche 911
  
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