Car Evolution: Latest shots of Porsche�s next 911

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Latest shots of Porsche�s next 911

Porsche�s cleaner, meaner 911 gets stuck in the snow during cold weather tests in Scandinavia.

Porsche�s next 911 is just eight months away from making its global debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Codenamed the 991, Porsche�s engineers are putting the finishing touches to the next 911�s next generation of PASM in snowy Scandinavia.

Unlucky for this development driver, he misjudged a slow speed right hander, burying this prototype in a snow bank. The driver�s misfortune gave our spy photographer chance to snap away, revealing more of the new car�s secrets.

The 991 model is a little longer and wider than the car is replaces, giving a little extra space in the 911�s snug cabin. The driver has been moved forward a little, and the wheelbase is now 100mm longer, giving more cabin space, particularly in the rear.

New design details include larger, composite front wing pontoons which house all-LED headlights, slightly deeper side sills and door-mounted wing mirrors, and a more significantly sculpted rear end, with design cues borrowed from the 918 Spyder concept.

The new 911 shares its front suspension and steering with the next Boxster, to cut costs. However, the rear suspension, and calibrations for the adjustable dampers remains unique. The car also gets the option of dynamic engine mounts and ceramic brakes for improved agility and reduced weight respectively.

The engine range follows the current car, with the 3.6-litre flat-six Carrera model�s power and torque rising 20bhp and 20Nm respectively, to 365bhp and 400Nm. The 3.8-litre unit in the Carrera S boasts the same gains, taking power to 415bhp and torque to 440Nm.

Despite the power increase, tweaks to the direct injection system and the addition of brake regeneration and stop start reduce fuel consumption by 12 per cent.

A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard, and the seven-speed PDK will be an option. Most buyers are likely to opt for the auto though, as around 80 per cent of current 911�s feature the PDK dual clutch gearbox.

The 991 911 will make its debut at next September�s Frankfurt Motor Show, and goes on sale in the UK the following month. More powerful 911 Turbo, GT3 and GT2 models will follow in 2012.