This is Porsche’s next-generation 911, spotted testing in the Arctic Circle in both coupe and cabriolet guises. These pictures are the first time the new 911 has been spotted with a production interior and bodywork (albeit heavily disguised) – previous spyshots have featured chopped-up current 997s. Internally dubbed ‘991’, we’ll see the new 911 make its debut in late 2011.
Technical details on the new Porsche 911, please
Unsurprisingly, the new 911 will remain rear-engined and rear-wheel drive – but that’s where the engineering similarities end.
‘The design can of course only be evolutionary, but beneath the skin, almost anything is possible,’ Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer told CAR. ‘There is no more need for old-fashioned protruding door mirrors, the pending pedpro [pedestrian protection] requirements will force us to make relatively obvious alterations to the nose of the car, and for aerodynamic reasons we are also going to reshape the rear end.’
You can see the result of these changes on the two new Porsche 911s in our spy pictures. On these two prototypes there’s a much higher but still shapely rear end to aid the aerodynamics, a slightly raised nose, and door mirrors that (for the first time since the 993) are actually on the doors. Expect further changes to these before production.
The extending rear spoiler will also still feature, though it’s heavily disguised in our pictures, plus Porsche is also working to develop an adjustable front spoiler. Stuttgart also wants to be able to selectively block the air intakes, and give the Turbo version active jet-vents in the wheel arches, contributing to a virtual ground effects floorpan.
Ah, the Turbo. Isn’t this just the facelifted 997 Turbo?
Nope. We’ve previously snapped that car undisguised at the Nurburgring. This is 100% the new 911.
The Turbo version of the 991 won’t be seen until at least 2012 – we won’t see the Turbo version of the current car until January 2010 – but it’ll still be a twin-turbo four-wheel drive monster with over 500bhp.
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Will PDK still be around?
Yes, and it’ll be Porsche’s transmission of choice until the end of next decade.
And as well as the double-clutch PDK system helping to improve acceleration and cut emissions, a reduction in the 911’s kerb weight will also help.
‘In this discipline, we learned a lot from the Carrera GT,’ said Dürheimer. ‘The supercar taught us plenty about carbonfibre, so that composite materials can soon be a serious alternative to aluminium. The secret to feasibility is automation, an area where we still have a bit of work to do.’
‘Together with other changes, the much more sophisticated material mix should help to reduce the kerbweight by ten percent and with it the fuel consumption – no mean feat in view of the more powerful engines and the more complex chassis set-up.’
Anything else?
Yes. ‘The next 911 will be equipped with a water-level sensor which acts as proactive aquaplaning warning device,’ says Dürheimer.
The engines themselves will be updated versions of the new direct-injection engines that first appeared in the 997 facelift.
In the meantime, we’ll see the Porsche GT3 and GT3 RS this summer, before the Turbo and GT2 variants arrives in early 2010.
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