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2020 Porsche 911 Wet Driving Mode Explained, Drifting Takes Place

One of the ideas behind the 992 generation of the Porsche 911 is that the newcomer must appeal to a larger audience. Sure, the rear-engined layout is till there, but Zuffenhausen wants everybody to be able to enjoy the drive safely, even when the weather begs to differ. And one of the new active safety features that come to serve that purpose is the Wet driving mode.
2020 Porsche 911 Wet Driving Mode 5 photos
Photo: Autogefühl/YouTube
2020 Porsche 911 Wet Driving Mode Explained2020 Porsche 911 Wet Driving Mode Explained2020 Porsche 911 Wet Driving Mode Explained2020 Porsche 911 Wet Driving Mode Explained
We've brought along a piece of real-world footage that shows how the Wet electronic nanny works. As such, you'll get to see a 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S, the rear-wheel-drive model, playing on wet-dry surfaces.

The video, which comes from Autogefuhl, sees a Porsche instructor manhandling the sportscar, while the editor is in the passenger seat and the cameraman rides shotgun in the rear.

Note that we're looking at a comprehensive review that's almost one hour long. However, if you happen to be in a rush, you should know that the Wet mode demonstration awaits you at the 32:33 point.

You'll get to see the Neunelfer tackling a course in Normal and then in Wet, but the aficionado behind the wheel also puts the electronics to sleep for a bit of a slip angle adventure at the end of the demonstration.

As Porsche explains, the feature includes front wheel arch-mounted acoustic sensors to detect the weather's mood:

"The system uses acoustic sensors in the front wheel housings to recognize sprayed-up splash water, and in this way can detect wetness on the road. This makes it fundamentally different from windscreen wiper rain sensors, which only react optically to water droplets on the windscreen, independently of the road conditions."

Once the trouble is spotted, the car automatically adapts the control electronics and the driver is prompted, being invited to manually turn on the Wet mode. This brings stage two of the program, which makes things even tighter, while also involving the active aero and the gas pedal mapping (you can find a more technical explanation of the system at the 43:35 point of the video).

"If the driver activates this mode, the Porsche Stability Management (PSM), Porsche Traction Management (PTM), aerodynamics, optional Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) Plus, and drive responsiveness are adapted to the conditions in such a way as to guarantee the best possible driving stability. From 90km/h, the rear spoiler is adjusted to maximum downforce, the cooling air flaps open, the accelerator pedal characteristic is flatter, and PSM Off or Sport mode can no longer be activated," Porsche explains.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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