991 Almost Done & Dusted

[daro911]

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


Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/262372/latest_shots_of_porsches_next_911.html#ixzz1BZI0S8l0

 

[dereksharpuk]

Personally I really don't like this trend to bigger & heavier cars. It seems that all manufacturers do it, viz the new BMW X3. I once drove a very old 911 with just 160 bhp. It went faster round the track than my Boxster 3.2 at almost 300 bhp. I know that one can buy a marginally lighter 911 (a GT3), but that is only minor weight saving (at the expense of goodies). Why not make the car heaps smaller?

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: dereksharpuk

Personally I really don't like this trend to bigger & heavier cars. Why not make the car heaps smaller?

I think you will find the car is actually considerably "lighter" than the current model

Cars always grow bigger through each evolution as do the buyers of cars []

Personally I think it looks like one of Porsche's better attempts at reinventing the wheel and the scooped interior shots look equally impressive IMO

 

[dereksharpuk]

Lighter is one thing, size is another. We know that compared with cars in the 60's, modern cars are much lighter per cubic metre. This is due in part to new & stronger materials; carbon fibre being an obvious example.

However, I do prefer smaller cars. My Lotus Elan, circa 1970, was the perfect example and when I see one today I marvel just how tiny they are. Yet they were still great cars. Of course, modern regulations make cars larger. The initial Boxster project is a good example; when the car came into production it was considerbly larger than the concept car.

But, current safety regulations aside, why are cars larger? Smaller is better in my book!

 

[Alex L]

Not very good for already too small parking spaces or most garage doors is it. I typically have to limbo in and out of my Porsche as it is. I'd have to get out through the sunroof if the car got any wider!

 

[Oggy]

I like the look of the back-end...looks a bit "Aston-ish"...