2012 Porsche 911 Carrera becomes first-ever 911 to dip below 200 g/km of CO2

The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera, set to say hello at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, is the German automaker's first-ever 911 with CO2 emissions that dip below the 200 grams-per-kilometer mark. That's not exactly "green," but it is progress.

Porsche says the improved fuel efficiency of the 911 Carrera comes via a reworked 3.4-liter flat six that put out 350 horsepower, yet consumes just 8.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (28.7 miles per gallon U.S.), a 16-percent improvement over the outgoing 911. Porsche says CO2 emissions checks in at 194 g/km.

Even the Carrera S model focuses on fuel efficiency. While output of its 3.8-liter flat six is listed at a monstrous 400 hp, its fuel economy rating rings in at 8.7 L/100km (27.0 mpg U.S.), when mated to Porsche's optional PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Again, this is progress.

Porsche says the 2012 911's improved fuel efficiency comes via its lighter body that combines steel and aluminum to slash weight by 99 pounds, the use of the world's first seven-speed manual transmission, its stop-start system and its electro-mechanical power steering. Look for more details on the 2012 Porsche 911 when it hits the stage in Frankfurt.