Amazing technology: Why the 911 Turbo S has a microphone in the wheel house

The new Porsche 911 Turbo S not only shines with brute performance and a plugged-in turbo lag, but also with a special technology: A microphone in the front wheel arch ensures precise wetness detection. This technology, which is also found in sophisticated systems such as those in the Mercedes S-Class and EQS, ensures that the 911 Turbo S is more secure in wet conditions. How so?

The microphone in the front left wheel arch of the Porsche 911 Turbo S is a small but crucial component of the wet-weather detection system. It captures noises caused by water on the road and analyzes them in real time. It then offers the driver the stability program's Wet Mode. The 911 Turbo already does this. In the Turbo S, a front diffuser also extends based on the recorded data. Active aerodynamics controls therefore also react to wet conditions.

When Wet Mode is activated, the front spoiler extends downward, and the two front diffusers slide in front of the brake discs to protect them from excessive spray. The PCB brake disc in the top-of-the-line 11 has a diameter of 42 centimeters, which enables tremendous braking power but also offers a large surface area for spray. When the pads contact the wet disc during initial braking, the friction immediately dries the disc – time that is lost for the brakes to respond. The wetness also causes noise. Ultimately, the micros and, above all, the small spoilers, as part of the active aerodynamics, ensure improved braking performance in wet conditions.

Porsche isn't the only manufacturer using microphones for wetness detection. The versions of the Mercedes S-Class and the Mercedes EQS equipped with Level 3 semi-autonomous driving technology (Drive Pilot) have been using this technology for two years to optimize driving settings in adverse weather conditions. Wetness detection using acoustic sensors is said to be significantly more precise than optoelectronic methods. BMW, on the other hand, uses the traditional rain sensor in its Level 3 versions of the 7 Series (Personal Pilot L3).