2012 Porsche 911: First ride

By Richard Meaden

01st July 2011

	"The 991 forms the basis for all-new Boxser and Cayman models, it's the foundation of Porsche’s sporting future"

Reinventing an icon can’t be easy, which explains why there have only been three all-new Porsche 911s in the model’s 47-year history.

Remarkably, every 911 built from its introduction in 1964 to the last air-cooled 993 generation cars of the late Nineties shared something in common beneath the skin.

The first complete redesign came in 1998 with an all-new platform for the water-cooled 996 series range, and now after thirteen years that platform is about to be replaced by another all-new 911, known internally as the 991 series.

The 991 represents a complete redesign of Porsche’s rear-engined sports car. Its lighter structure promises greater performance and lower emissions, as well as finely resolved handling. Put simply it heralds a new era for the Stuttgart marque’s evergreen sports car.

We’ll have to wait until later this year to get behind the wheel, but thanks to privileged behind-the-scenes access to the 991 development team as they conduct final tests in the heat and wide-open space of South Africa we have been able to gain some insight into what the next-gen 911 has in store for us.

The big changes for the 991 start with an all-new platform made from a mix of aluminium and steel for the ideal mix of strength and lightweight construction.

Not only will it mean the 991 is lighter than the 997, but this new platform will form the modular basis for all-new Boxser and Cayman models, so it really is the foundation stone of Porsche’s sporting future.

The new 991 is longer, lower and wider than its predecessor, but not so much that it loses the 911’s sense of compactness. The body was heavily disguised (as was the interior), but we reckon the 991 will be prettier and more curvy than the 997, not to mention more luxurious inside thanks to a Panamera-style interior makeover.

Significantly, the wheelbase is longer too, which means the rear wheels have been pushed closer to the engine, further reducing the effect of that famous rear-biased weight distribution. Intriguingly this also creates extra space, which could be for a hybrid powertrain.

Porsche’s engineers would not confirm this, nor would they deny it, but in truth it’s inconceivable that Porsche – a brand that already has hybrid Panamera and Cayenne models - would commit to an all-new sports car platform without building-in the room for hybrid technology.

At launch, the 991 will be available in 3.4-litre Carrera and 3.8-litre Carrera S specifications. The former gains 5bhp despite a 200cc reduction in capacity, the latter gains 15bhp.

Torque figures are yet to be released, but we do know that emissions are down, making the 991 one of the cleanest sports cars of its kind.

The new platform has been designed around the current direct-injection engines and PDK gearbox casing, but enthusiasts will be pleased to hear Porsche has built a manual transmission that employs the PDK’s gear shafts, so fans of the stick can sleep easy.

This also raises the prospect of a 7-speed manual, although once again the engineers remained tight-lipped on the subject.

Other significant changes include a shift from hydraulic to electro-mechanical power steering and a new chassis set-up, which employs stiffer springs and softer damper settings than the previous 911.

More information will surface between now and the 991’s launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but from what we’ve already learnt there’s no doubt the 991 will outperform the last generation car on every objective level.

Some developments – most notably the steering and suspension changes - will certainly alter the character and feel of the car, but given Porsche’s skill in continually evolving the 911 without ever losing its magic, we’re confident the 991 will be something special.