Motoring: Porsche's 911 Carrera Black Edition coming in Spring

The Porsche 911 Black Edition will have a limited run of 1,911 units worldwide and will be making an appearance this Spring. Already an iconic sportscar, the Porsche 911 Black Edition,  is a rear-wheel drive 911 Carrera Coupe or Cabriolet powered by a 3.6-litre engine. It will be available only in solid black or basalt black metallic. The coupe goes for $92,800 and the cabriolet rings in at $104,200.

The 911 Black Edition isn't only distinguished from standard 911 Carrera models by its paint colour. The most prominent exterior highlights are the forged 19-inch 911 Turbo II wheels with a two-tone finish that complements the discreet elegance of the exterior colour. They provide an unobstructed view of the brakes, with black, four-piston aluminum monobloc calipers. On the engine compartment lid, a chrome "911" badge replaces the standard "Carrera" lettering.

Opening the door reveals stainless-steel door entry guards emblazoned with Black Edition type. Naturally, the interior continues the exterior colour scheme. An extended list of standard equipment features a SportDesign steering wheel (including shift paddles for the optional PDK transmission), aluminum-look trim on the dashboard, gear lever and air vents. The rear centre console is painted in the exterior colour.

The 911 Black Edition comes fitted as standard with Porsche's popular Comfort and Infotainment option packages. It thus includes rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, heated, power seats, a 13-speaker, 385-watt BOSE® Surround Sound-System with universal audio interface, 13 loudspeakers (12 in the Cabriolet) and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with a GPS navigation module.

Under the rear lid is the same 3.6-litre flat-six engine fitted to the standard 911 Carrera, producing 345 hp at 6,500 rpm. Coupled with the six-speed gearbox, this output enables the Black Edition to achieve a top track speed of 289 km/h. The Coupé reaches 100 km/h from rest in 4.9 seconds, while the Cabriolet takes 5.1 seconds. Despite the impressive performance figures, fuel consumption remains moderate: Transport Canada's combined fuel consumption ratings are just 9.4 L/100 km for the Coupe and 9.7 L/100 km for the Cabriolet when fitted with the optional PDK double-clutch transmission.

The 911 Black Edition enjoys all the same technical special equipment options that are offered for the regular Carrera models. First and foremost, the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) allows the Black Edition to execute superior acceleration times and instantaneous gear changes while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption. Responsiveness can be further enhanced by the Sport Chrono Plus package, which adds a launch control function and an ultra-fast racetrack gearshift strategy.

Both sportiness and comfort can be enhanced yet further if so desired. The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system allows drivers to switch between two stiffness settings and provides a 10-mm ride-height reduction for a sportier look. Coupe buyers can go even further with a PASM sports chassis, which features a 20-mm ride height reduction and a mechanical rear differential lock. To further optimise braking performance, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are also available.