English poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer is credited with the phrase “all good things must come to an end.” Chaucer’s words from Troilus and Criseyde ring especially true today for Porsche fans, some 640 years later. The 991 series, the most commercially successful generation of the Porsche 911, is ending. The final variant, a 911 Speedster bound for the United States, rolled off the assembly line recently in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart.

At The Drawing Board

Before its 2011 debut, the 991 generation was viewed by Porsche as a massive undertaking. Nearly 90 percent of the components were either brand new or subjected to further, more rigorous development. Porsche’s leadership focused on cutting fat through an involved benchmarking process that saw, for the first time, a 911 weighing less than its predecessor. The unique aluminum-steel composite body deserves much of the credit.
Graphic: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Essential Foundations

At the time, Porsche’s Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) was a key element of the Cayenne and Panamera. The technology is, as Porsche describes, an anti-roll system that suppress lateral body movement during cornering. PDCC also helps a given vehicle remain stable over choppy or uneven pavement. For Cayenne and Panamera buyers, this meant a more composed and comfortable ride; a good and worthwhile benefit – but slapping PDCC on a 911"

Not so fast.

PDCC is standar...