Porsche 911 (991) Unveiled In Frankfurt

After months of anticipation we finally get to see the new generation of the legendary Porsche 911 (codenamed 991). As you can see, the styling changes brought by the company’s design boss Michael Mauer are subtle, for both the standard Carrera and the hotter Carrera S.

Looking at the front of the car we notice a sleeker and cleaner front bumper that has a somewhat new look, along with revised headlights and air intakes, which were modified in order to increase the aerodynamic efficiency. They borrowed the LED detailing from the 918 Spyder concept while the door mirror housings sit outboard on the doors.

The most significant modifications can be observed at the back where we see a considerably sleeker design for those slimmed-down taillights. They also reshaped the electrically-operated rear wing for improving aerodynamic efficiency and also increase the downforce above 75 mph. The new model has only three engine cover openings, whereas the outgoing one had five of them.

Despite the fact that the design of the car remains pretty much the same, Porsche’s engineers modified the proportions of the new 911 in order to offer better stability and safety, while at the same time improving the interior space, especially the legroom in the back. The car’s wheelbase has been extended with the front & rear overhands reduced so that they could minimize the increase of the overall length. The new one measures 4491 mm long, 1873 mm wide and 1299 mm high, which makes it 56 mm longer, 65 mm wider and 11 m lower than the model it replaces.

No surprises as far as the layout of the engine as it still remains in the back, just like the first generation model which came out in 1963, but the mounting points have suffered some changes so that the weight distribution would be better.

The Porsche 911 (991) has a MacPherson front strut suspension which will also be used for the new generation of the Boxster which will be launched sometime in 2013. At the back it has a revised multi-link suspension. Most of the chassis is made out of aluminum which is a novelty for the 911. They used high-tensile steels for the crash structures while the bodywork also uses aluminum, with the exception of the rear which features a steel configuration. By using aluminum, Porsche’s engineers have managed to reduce the weight of the car by 45 kg, although it comes with beefier brakes, wheels and tires.

The hotter Carrera S is going to be motivated by an updated version of the company’s 6-cylinder 3.8-liter engine which was also used for the outgoing model, only this time the new one unleashes 400 hp while the old one churns “only” 380 ponies. The base 911 Carrera is going to be propelled by a 6-cylinder 3.4-liter, rather than the old 3.6-liter. However, it manages to produce more power than the 997 model as it offers 350 hp, whereas the old one can provide 341 hp. The entry-level Carrera comes with a twin exhaust pipe configuration while the S version has a quad pipe arrangement.

The car’s engine will be linked to a 7-speed manual transmission which is a novelty in the industry. As a matter of fact, this new one is basically a manual-controlled single clutch version of the company’s traditional PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Clients will be able to order the new 911 with an optional 7-speed automatic transmission.

The first units of the Porsche 911 (991) will reach the customers towards the end of this year. Prices will be revealed later on.

Source: Porsche via Autocar

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