997 facelifts looming

[Alex L]

I thought it was only going to be the Carreras that would get a facelift, seems now Porsche are testing changes on the Turbo too []

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9070918.006/porsche-911-turbo-facelift-spied

More Turbo follow-up...

http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=997turbo&Number=382940&page=0&fpart=all

The Carrera facelift pics/videos have been circulating for a while now and latest info I have heard is that it should be out next spring...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shWKW3LzSmI

 

[Sunil]

This is something I was concerned about when I was looking to buy a 997TT and again obviously when the OPC was steering me towards a GT3. I'm thinking of selling my 997S before the facelift and then buying a facelifted GT3 when it comes out.

 

[robert997]

Alex, you just know this is going to happen in August '08, probably with PDK gearbox, so don't get upset ! Remember that 5-year life you were talking about and just enjoy it !

Must admit the black with black wheels look on the turbo is good...!

 

[Rotorhead]

Pre-production 'facelift' models are often spotted a couple of years before they are introduced.

Many people were predicting the 'facelift' 997 would be here in 2007 (for 2008MY), but it was always destined for 2009MY.

It may well be that the 'facelift' TT will follow a year after that, and second run of GT3s is still pure speculation.

 

[Dylan1]

exactly
weve seen spy pics of facelift cayman for over a year and still no sign........

 

[Ronnie C]

According to Car Magazine, the usual obvious reporting... more power, more torque, better fuel consumption, lower emissions, and the biggest news is that the Turbo should finally have Porsche's new twin-clutch gearbox. Predicted for 2009.

 

[Alex L]

Yes, you might want to check out this link:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/secret_new_car.php?sid=1061&page=1

I'm sure we won't see a facelift Turbo for at least another calendar year. So I don;t think delaying my Production date is much of an option.

My views on what the face-lift TT may bring"¦

Direct Injection
I think the difference with DI will be too small to notice myself. Yes, 4% extra power would be nice, but will you actually feel that? Plus the 8-15% more fuel economy would be nice too, but frankly that won't make a large dent in my fuel bill and won't exactly save the planet either (not that I buy into 'CO2 = global warming' political bandwagon anyway). I also wouldn't be surprised if Porsche saved DI for the 998. There are a lot of rumours I have read that say the Turbo's engine won't be updated until 998 model.

The re-styling
For me, Porsche are restyling each component of the car separately these days without looking at the car as a whole. The Turbo and GT2 in particular look like they have been designed by 20 different guys who only come together with their designs at the assembly line. The face-lifted spy-shots look like Porsche has taken this to a whole new level.

LED rear lights
I personally don't see the huge need for LED rear lights myself. OK so they give the person behind you more warning when you brake. But if you break heavily in a Turbo at 70+mph then the person behind you better be a LONG way back anyway for you not to out-break them!

DSG gear-box
I am still not convinced Porsche has addressed the reported issue with a DSG box handling all that power. I think 1st generation in a Turbo is going to be flaky at best. Plus I love changing gears with a manual so DSG wouldn't interest me anyway.

Sports Exhaust
PSE as far as I know is not on the agenda for the 997 Turbo, so you are better off going after an after-market exhaust

Heads up display
This may actually be quite useful to Turbo owners who find themselves having to look more at the road than at the rev counter/speedo. I have hit the rev limiter myself every time I have driven a manual Turbo thus far"¦

By the time 2009 comes along, you will have only 3 years to wait until the 998 Turbo comes out and surely there will be a bigger technology leap here than going from 997 to 997.5.

So all in all, I think I would rather spend my money on a Ruf or Cargraphic exhaust + ECU for a 997 Turbo I can get my hands on ASAP.

 

[sotoole]

Asked my local OPC today about 997 refresh - 2wd cars launch in June 08, 4wd in Sept 08 and the Turbo won't be changed until 2009 (still 12 month wait on turbo coupes, 20 months on cabrio). So put in my LOI on 998 for 2010.

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: sotoole

Asked my local OPC today about 997 refresh - 2wd cars launch in June 08, 4wd in Sept 08 and the Turbo won't be changed until 2009 (still 12 month wait on turbo coupes, 20 months on cabrio). So put in my LOI on 998 for 2010.

998 Carrera yes about 2010 but 998 Turbo I don't think will happen until 2012.

Be interesting to see how the 998 is affected by the EU emissions targets for 2012. Unless Porsche massively decrease weight, reduce engine size, and add hybrid technology I think they will NEED to change the EU rulings themselves.

 

[YvesD]

Alex,

That will mean 997 only lasted 6 yrs whereas 996 managed 8 ? Why forshorten the lifespan of the best 911 to date ?

Turbo will lag well behind as you say.

As for the EU pagan nature worship nonsense ( only 30 yrs ago we were on the brink of an ice age which was to destroy life as we know it ! ), I think Porsche will get round that by introducing a hybrid Cayenne to the range and possibly Panemera to offset the normal cars.

Reality check, CO2 is not a pollutant, its a 'natural' gas which the planet has been designed to regulate in its own way.

I wonder what they will decide to control/tax us heavily with when eventually forced to admit they were wrong on the CO2 issue ?

Yves

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: YvesD

Alex,

That will mean 997 only lasted 6 yrs whereas 996 managed 8 ? Why forshorten the lifespan of the best 911 to date ?

Turbo will lag well behind as you say.

As for the EU pagan nature worship nonsense ( only 30 yrs ago we were on the brink of an ice age which was to destroy life as we know it ! ), I think Porsche will get round that by introducing a hybrid Cayenne to the range and possibly Panemera to offset the normal cars.

Reality check, CO2 is not a pollutant, its a 'natural' gas which the planet has been designed to regulate in its own way.

I wonder what they will decide to control/tax us heavily with when eventually forced to admit they were wrong on the CO2 issue ?

Yves

Well you wont be able to get Cow Leather intreiors on account they emit so much methane[8|],

However if they realise the real worriers are Sulpure Dioxide based gases and Nitrogen based multi element gases the should reduce the tax on Porsches, the emit less of these than normal cars

Nope cna't see it - they'll be taxing you for wokring hard and daring to earn money!


Wait until they realsie wter vapour is the most efficient of all greenhouse gases..........[]

 

[YvesD]

So true.

Or how about a really criminal, cynical, arrogant tax on inherited wealth ? Oh, no, we have got that one already. []

Bring back acid rain, all is forgiven ! []

Yves

 

[sawood12]

Not sure I agree with the comments about the pessamistic improvements direct injection will bring. It was direct injection that has produced a step change improvement in Diesel engine's performance making those filthy polluting monstosities so popular. The problem is that the piston is only accellarated over 45% of the stroke of the engine because you only have a fixed amount of fuel in your mixture. This means that the piston is providing resistance over 55% of its remaing stroke. The ability to inject more fuel into the cylinder while the gases are actally burning will bring about a dramatic effect -especially on turbo charged cars where you have plenty of O2 in there to burn the extra fuel. It all depends on how Porsche decide to tune the engines but if they are risk averse with their tuning i'm sure there will be plenty of tuning houses that will be stepping up with re-maps. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more performance can be unlocked.

 

[Dylan1]

pardon?[]

 

[YvesD]

The ability to inject more fuel into the cylinder while the gases are actally burning will bring about a dramatic effect -especially on turbo charged cars where you have plenty of O2 in there to burn the extra fuel.

Ah, thats why my new Beemer is so good then !

Bring on the Porsche version !

Yves