How much larger are new cars?

[ralphmusic]

I was reading a comparison of a Base 718 Cayman and a 911 Turbo 3.3, both being c300hp cars

What surprised me was the relatively small dimensional and weight differences between the two albeit one is a wide body shell.

The Cayman was 88mm (3.5in) longer, 26mm wider (1 in), 15mm (0.6in) lower on a wheelbase 203mm (8in) longer. The Cayman is shown as 75kg heavier, "even” with a PDK box although it doesn’t specify DIN or EU standard. Both of course have all the turbo plumbing.

https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/test/911-turbo-3-3-und-718-cayman-fahrvergleich-leistung/

 

[Brian_Innes]

Ralph,

An interesting comparison between the two models, albeit four decades apart in years of production. The respective weights of 1365kg for the 911 3.3 Turbo, against 1440kg for the 718 Cayman, owe much to current crash safety legislation, multiple airbags, side impact protection, deformable crumple zones, etc. Not forgetting air con, infotainment, electric seats, and PDK gearboxes.

Suspension and chassis subframe technology has also become ever more sophisticated over the past 40 years. PASM, multilink mounting points, and ever wider and larger diameter wheels, have all piled on the weight, even allowing for the proliferation of aluminium alloys in current chassis components.

As for the physical dimensions, comparing the 1978 911 3.3 Turbo, with the current 2019 992 911 3.0 Twin Turbo may have been a fairer comparison. As automotive design and technology has evolved, cars are currently much bigger today than in 1978. In 1970 I owned a Lotus Elan S3 S/E Coupe. At a recent classic car show I had the opportunity to once again inspect a pristine example of exactly the same model. By current standards, it appeared absolutely tiny. I could hardly believe the car seemed so small outwardly and with such a cramped interior cabin.

Such is progress.

Brian

 

[PaulJ]

Count me in the former owner of Seven/Elan/Europa club too - happy memories. Mind you I was a wearer of 30 waist jeans at the time... I now wear 36 waist jeans and run a suitable sized Cayman GTS! (The best car I've ever had IMO).