FACELIFT

[BLONDELAWMAN]

Does anyone actually know (or have good reason to believe) exactly when they're going to face-lift the 997?

I had always understood that the 997 model was going to be replaced by the new model 911 in 2010 and if that is the case, wouldn't we be looking at the face-lifted 997 next Spring, '07?

Are there likely to be any serious mechanical enhancements, e.g. engine upgrades with the face-lift, or are we talking exclusively cosmetic, body work changes?

Many thanks everyone.

 

[YvesD]

Don't know for sure but its almost certainly going to be cosmetic in the main with maybe a very small engine tweak.

Think of where the 997 C2S sits in relation to the new GT3 performance wise.

Given that the X51 power kit gives you near on GT3 performance levels in the real world, Porsche will not uprate the engine to the degree that it steals GT3 sales or that they can no longer sell the X51 kit.

The 'standard' car has no real competitors anyway so why do too much to the engine ? The only car I see on the horizon which might challenge the C2S 0-62mph wise is the forthcoming M3 but no matter how fast they make the engine, the overall package wont be as nice as the Porsche offering so relax.

I will not be changing mine on the basis of the spy shots leaked so far.

Yves

 

[Geoff_Fields]

I think that covers it! The clever money is on facelift tweeks appearing for 2008 m/y.

 

[Alex L]

I have heard 15bhp more for the S model, some subtle styling additions and release after next summer (2007). Here's some pics:

Notice the LED lights rear lights...

I dont think PDK will be out until 2008 (given rumours of the VW rights to this technology expiring then).

 

[Dapster]

The 'standard' car has no real competitors anyway so why do too much to the engine ? The only car I see on the horizon which might challenge the C2S 0-62mph wise is the forthcoming M3 but no matter how fast they make the engine, the overall package wont be as nice as the Porsche offering so relax.

I can see the new Audi R8 causing the Porsche sales guys a few headaches. Sure, it probably won't drive as well, but it's striking, will be beautifully put together, fast as hell and have a manual box.

 

[BLONDELAWMAN]

Thanks guys.

Don't know about you, but I really like the look of the rear end on those pics; just a touch more rounded fullness in the bumper.

That blue car on the spy shot, what's the name of that colour, anyone know?

 

[Black80XSA]

The rear end gets reviused lights with LED technology (about 3 years behind most other prestige car makers !), the front end will either lose the indicator/fog light unit in the front bumper completely or offer a smaller unit within the turboesque front bumper intakes.

 

[mbrands]

I like the back, but... the front looks awful [] !

It has BLAND written all over it. Are they reverting to making the 911 front end almost indistinguishable from that of the Boxster again ?

So far the new designer they hired from Saab a couple of years back to replace Harm Lagaay (sp?) is not very convincing.

 

[Alex L]

Lastest facelift rumours:

• Due out summer 2008 (MY2009)
• Will include dynamic bend lighting
• May include head-up display
• May include nightvision (will be available with distance control radar on Panamera)
• May include PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control), not 100% for 997 facelift but this will be available in the Panamera.
• May get direct fuel injection for engines
• Power 350 HP for the base 997 model, 380 HP for the "S" models, powerkit with possible 405 HP.
• Power figure on the 997 Turbo and GT3 stays the same but the powerkit should deliver aprox. 510 HP, the upcoming GT2 aprox. 520-530 HP.

Before the facelift introduction:

• PDK is rumoured to be shown in Frankfurt 2007 and then be in production shortly after.
• The electronically controlled AWD from the 997 Turbo could be available starting with MY2008 (summer 2007)
• The "new" improved Tiptronic from the 997 Turbo already made it to the 997 starting with MY2007

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: BLONDELAWMAN
That blue car on the spy shot, what's the name of that colour, anyone know?

Isn't that Lapis? It's too light for Midnight, and too dark for Cobalt I think.

 

[pvernham]

My car is Lapis Blue and it looks darker than the car in the photo, so I think it must be something else.

 

[Guest]

Front End looks slightly nicer, back end looks a lot worse in my humble opinion...

Anybody agree with me?

 

[YvesD]

Nope,

I think the other way around !

Just goes to show beauty is in the eye of the beerholder. [8D]

Honestly though, the facelift is yak and will definately consolidate the residuals on us current 997 owners cars....[]

Yves

 

[Alex L]

"the latest reports indicate that the 2008 911 will feature a few revisions"

"Don't expect anything drastic in the styling department, as the 911's design progression has fallen squarely in the evolutionary, not revolutionary category. And once again, we can forecast that only automotive enthusiasts and Porshephiles with a keen eye will be able to differentiate the new model from the old. Expect a bigger air intake in the front fascia and new tail-lights. Since Porsche designers appear to be hyperconservative when it comes to tinkering with the 911's overall look, that should be about the extent of the visible changes.

Pop the hood and...well, you can never see much under the hood of a 911, anyway, but rest assured there will be changes. We swear. For starters, as backwards as it may seem to derive technology from a sport-ute into a sports-car, the new direct-injection engines that debuted in the latest Cayenne will be turned around and shoehorned into the back of the 911. Porsche is claiming that will net a 10-15% improvement in fuel economy, which of course is the first consideration for most Porsche buyers "" read previous with sarcasm "" and a power increase of five to twenty-five horsepower across the range. The bigger news is the replacement of the lackluster and outmoded Tiptronic automatic gearbox with a dual-clutch transmission, like its cousins from the VW Group. That should help close the gap between the clutch-full and clutch-less versions, and we'd predict an accompanying spike in sales of auto/Tiptronic/DSG versions as compared to their stick-shift counterparts."

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/25/porsche-to-update-911-for-2008/

 

[Rotorhead]

I thought there was a semi-official statement that said the changes weren't due until Summer 2008 (ie 09MY)?

 

[nsm3]

ORIGINAL: robert997

From the 4car website - I've no idea if it's true, though we'll know by the time we visit HQ on 21st July...

'Clutchless 'box: The 'mainstream' models will also get a minor overhaul this autumn for the 2008 model-year; the Carrera S will gain an extra 15bhp for a 370bhp output, engines will gain DFI direct-injection technology and new options will include a DSG-style clutchless gearbox in place of the conventional auto.'

So we'd expect LED lights, direct injection, and DSG for 2008 model year (August production onwards). Plus Turbo Cab and GT2 this calendar year.

They could simply put the PSE and equal length exhaust manifolds on to get an extra 15 BHP, so what will that do to the X51 kit, reduce its gains to about 11 BHP??

 

[Adam2S]

Where on the 4car website have you read that?? I cant find the article anywhere to look at the date it was written....

My dealer told me categorically 4 weeks ago that he had called Porsche GB and was told there would be no face lift, no DKG and no DFI this August.

Have seen the recent GT2 pics http://www.leftlanenews.com/2008-porsche-911-gt2-997-future.html that are doing the rounds? They all show the car with the current rear lights i.e. not facelifted - the GT2 is due for realease from MY08 build. I do not believe that Porsche will facelift the whole range and launch the GT2 in the old shape at the same time.

I believe this is good evidence that the 997 facelift will be not be until coming in spring next year or even MY09. I suspect that the GT2 and GT3 may well then stay unfacelifted for their production run.

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Adam2S

...

Have seen the recent GT2 pics http://www.leftlanenews.com/2008-porsche-911-gt2-997-future.html that are doing the rounds? They all show the car with the current rear lights i.e. not facelifted - the GT2 is due for realease from MY08 build. I do not believe that Porsche will facelift the whole range and launch the GT2 in the old shape at the same time.

...

Ummmh, wasn't the Turbo the start of the facelift? the LED lights? So it makes sense that the GT2 would look similar to the new Turbo. The LED lights are now on Cayenne facelift and next getting on the 997s and the 987s facelifts. I can't see why Porsche would lose sleep over someone not wanting to buy a GT2 just because the 997s range have a different face.[8|]

 

[Adam2S]

No, no the Turbo is the current shape not the face lifted shape.

My point is that the GT2 hasits own a unique rear bumper design and the one in the pics show that it has been designed to match the shape of the current bulb rear lights. The new LED rear lights are a completly different shape and eat into the bumper, thus meaning the rear bumper also has to be redesigned on the facelift. If Porsche were planning to release the GT2 at the same time as facelifting the "mass" 997's then they would surely make the GT2 the with the same shape LED lights etc... It would cost no more to tool up GT2 production to the new shape from the start as it would to tool up to the current shape.

Therefore I conclude that if these pics of the GT2 are real, they are a sure sign that Porsche will not be facelifting the rest of the 997 range until a reasonable while after the GT2 is launched. I'm guessing that a reasonable while will mean 6-12months away - perhaps early 2008 or MY09 production?.