Porsche 997.2 Carrera S

The vehicle in detail

Aqua Blue Metallic is, as any dedicated Porsche enthusiast will know, one of the launch colours of the second-generation 997. It also became one of the most desirable choices for the 997 GT3 RS 3.8, particularly when paired with White Gold or red detailing. Compared with other blue hues such as Sapphire Blue Metallic, Aqua Blue has a more intense and slightly deeper character. Paired with the silver wheels, it gives this 911 a timeless elegance and a distinctly confident presence — a combination that is unlikely ever to go out of fashion, particularly given that the majority of 997.2 examples were specified in considerably more conventional colours.

Under the bonnet sits Porsche’s naturally aspirated 3.8-litre DFI flat-six, producing 385 horsepower and possessing a character all of its own compared with the earlier M97 engines. It delivers an exceptionally smooth power delivery, accompanied by a sharper, more evocative and increasingly vocal engine note as the revs rise.

The 997.2 also brought a number of significant improvements, particularly inside the cabin, where the perceived quality, materials and overall sense of occasion are noticeably elevated over the preceding generation.