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Updated 2016 Porsche 911 Test Mules Spied

As you may recall, we reported very recently on a revelation by Porsche Executive of Research and Development Wolfgang Hatz: that after the Type-991 mid-generational refresh, the 2016 Porsche 911 would make use of turbochargers across more of its lineup than just the Turbo and Turbo S.

Well, Mr. Hatz wasn’t lying; these 2016 Porsche 911 test mules carry all the characteristic signs of forced-induction.

Car and Driver released the spy shots, of two camouflage-wearing 911s spotted somewhere around the magazine headquarters in Ann Arbor, MI. The giveaway feature which tells us that these are turbocharged cars is the vents at the back of each rear fender. Those cool the twin intercoolers on the marque’s prior turbocharged models, and likely would have been padded and covered on these test mules if they weren’t functionally necessary.

On that note, how do we know that these aren’t simply an updated Turbo and Turbo S? Because, as the Car and Driver folks keenly point out, neither car has the characteristic center locking wheels of the “Turbo”-badged cars. Additionally, one of these 2016 Porsche 911s has the exhaust outlets of the Carrera S, while the other has a totally unique set of pipes.

Naming conventions for the 2016 Porsche 911 are sure to be confusing at first, i.e. “I don’t have the Turbo S, I have the Carrera S with the turbo.” But for Porsche, the “Turbo” badge has so much history – and value – that we can’t possibly imagine them dropping the word as their means of referring to their sportier, more top-tier models.

Aaron Birch is an automotive enthusiast and writer/filmmaker from Detroit, MI. As a rule, he only buys cars older than himself.

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