Former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter Richard Hammond has long been a devoted Porsche fan. Having witnessed and tested numerous models over the last two decades, his perspective makes him the sort of person car enthusiasts and potential Porsche customers would want to hear.
One could safely say that Hammond has been the most active on the Drivetribe YouTube channel, unlike the other two former Top Gear presenters, James May and Jeremy Clarkson, who also own it.
Now, Hammond has reviewed the 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S, which, according to him, is not as uncomfortable as the other sporty models and is made for the real world, filled with bumps and potholes.
That, despite the 911 Turbo S being more powerful than the Porsche GT3, which is high praise for a car. Hammond might be onto something here.
This is the Porsche 992.2
Specifically, the Porsche 911 Turbo S is the brand’s 992.2, which comes with 700 horsepower, good enough to hit 200 mph. Hammond gets straight to the point, saying this version is not as “angry” as the other track-focused 911s like the GT3 and GT3 RS.
The 911 Turbo S gets all that power from a clever hybrid system. Describing it, Hammond said:
“Under the bonnet, which is at the back, is a 400-volt system fed by a tiny 1.9 kW battery that drives three motors. One in the PDK gearbox, buried in there to deliver extra shove, and you can feel it.
“The other two are in the turbos, keeping them spooled up and ready, eager, desperate to cram more fuel-air mixture into the gaping mouths of the engine and get more power. It’s all about speed.
“Good god, it’s got it. It’s got it in spadeful.”
Hammond adds that the torque is spread between 2,300 rpm and 6,000 rpm, meaning all he needs to do is tap his foot lightly on the gas to do speeds that could be illegal in most places. He emphasizes that “you might lose your license if you stop concentrating for even a millisecond.”
Unlike a more technical track day car like the Porsche GT3, Hammond explains that the 911 Turbo S is not too serious — you can drive around all day with the roof down, grinning at the horsepower on tap. “It’s for having a laugh,” he said, revealing his regret for selling his Turbo S.
“They Love an Acronym to Porsche”
Hammond explains that the new 911 Turbo S comes equipped with clever technology, such as Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC). He said:
“They’re there. Those things. They love an acronym to Porsche.
“They’ve cranked them all up, and I can feel it. That’s why the steering feels different to the 992.1.”
For Hammond, this car is a non-serious tool to have fun with, unlike the GT3, which is great in his books but demands more from the driver with its precision and razor-sharp dynamics. He said:
“So, for me, the Turbo S is best summed up by the convertible because it’s fun and a bit funny, and that’s what this car is designed to be. It might be German, it might be Porsche, but it’s not serious.”
Hammond Sums It Up in His Way
Hammond, who is also the owner of a classic car restoration workshop based in Herefordshire, UK, known as The Smallest Cog, concluded that the new 911 Turbo S is not just a facelift version of its predecessor. It is an entirely new car. He said:
“This isn’t a facelift when a manufacturer changes an indicator lens. This is a new car. It feels younger, more agile, more sprightly, more lively, cleverer.”
“Oh god, this is so good,” he said with a laugh.