For a vehicle too rank as one of the most iconic sports cars ever made, it has to have some features about it that are instantly recognizable and, while they can be refined over decades and new generations, remain intact.
The Porsche 911 is perhaps the most iconic sports car in existence. Since its debut in 1964, the Stuttgart sports car has gone through many changes but its core traits — its signature fastback shape and its rear-engine setup — have always remained in some fashion.
Yesterday, Porsche unveiled the 2025 911 model lineup. It’s a mid-generation refresh of the eighth-gen 911, also known as the Porsche 992. Stealing headlines was the debut of the first-ever hybrid powertrain in a street-legal 911, which is now available on the Carrera GTS. But there was another change, made across all 911 variants, that Porsche purists aren’t going to like.
The analog tachometer is no more
Since the very first 911 rolled off the assembly line in the 1960s, the model has been known for its five-dial dashboard, with a large analog tachometer always situated front and center. The prominent RPM display was a critical component of the 911’s visceral nature, but as of 2025, the feature has gone the way of the air-cooled engine.
From now on, there will be no analog tachometer on a Porsche 911. The 992.2 generation has swapped out the iconic instrument cluster for a fully digital one for the first time on all models and trims. The curved 12.6-inch screen has seven display modes, including one that mimics the classic five-tube analog design. But let’s be honest, it’s not the same.
