2009 Porsche 911's revealed

ATLANTA — Porsche has managed to infuse the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera with more power and better fuel efficiency, thanks to a pair of new direct-injection flat-6 engines and an optional seven-speed double-clutch gearbox.

The 2009 911 goes on sale in September in the U.S. Stickers are going up an average of 2.9 percent, which seems reasonable given the new hardware. The 2009 Carrera Coupe starts at $75,600, up $2,100; the Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S Coupe, $86,200, up $2,400; and the Carrera S Cabriolet, $96,800, up $2,700. Prices do not include shipping.

The 3.6- and 3.8-liter six-cylinder engines have been fitted with direct injection. The 3.6 now makes 345 horsepower, up 20 from last year, while the 3.8 delivers 385 hp, up 30. Torque on the 3.6 climbs from 273 to 288 pound-feet and on the 3.8 from 295 to 310 lb-ft. Top speed on the 2009 Carrera S rises to 188 mph. Porsche said the new engines, while more powerful, return up to 13 percent better fuel economy on the European driving cycle.

A new option for 2009 is a seven-speed double-clutch sequential automatic gearbox dubbed PDK (for Porsche Doppelkupplung, or "double clutch"). The PDK replaces the Tiptronic S automatic on the Carrera and Carrera S, enabling quicker acceleration and reduced fuel consumption.

The Carrera 3.6 with PDK accelerates from zero to 60 in 4.5 seconds, while the Carrera S 3.8 with PDK does the same sprint in 4.3 seconds — 0.2 second faster than with the six-speed manual gearbox. To further enhance performance, customers can order the PDK with Porsche's racing-derived Sport Chrono Plus system, which trims acceleration times to 4.3 and 4.1 seconds, respectively.

The 911's exterior for 2009 hasn't changed dramatically. There are LED daytime driving lights, taillamps and brake lamps, as well as bi-xenon headlamps on all models, with dynamic cornering lights available. There are larger air intakes in the front bumper, and the outside mirrors are slightly larger.

Inside, all Carreras get the latest PCM 3.0 Porsche Communication Management System, with a new touchscreen display, as well as such options as hard-drive navigation, XM Satellite Radio with NavTraffic capability, Bluetooth connectivity, plus iPod and USB ports.

What this means to you: A new Porsche with more power? Sign us up. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent