Porsche 911

The final addition to the current 911 Turbo line-up has just been launched. But that doesn’t mean Porsche’s engineers can rest. As you can see, they’re already working on the model’s successor.

These images reveal the face­lifted 911 undergoing final tests, ahead of its launch at next March’s Geneva Motor Show. It will replace the current Turbo model when it goes on sale in the summer of 2008.

As with previous evolutions of the 911, this mid-life makeover is not a total redesign. Instead, the changes improve some of the car’s detailing and are expected to have a subtle impact on its specification and performance. The biggest visual difference is the new rear lights. These are sharper and have LED-style bulbs. Up front, the headlamps get more distinctive lenses and there are revised foglights, too.

The car pictured has yellow brake calipers, which signifies that it’s fitted with Porsche’s PCCB ceramic discs. These help drivers make the most of the spectacular performance.

With a projected 500bhp from its 3.6-litre twin-turbo engine, the new 911 is expected to sprint from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 193mph. A cabrio version – which could cost more than £100,000 – is also being developed.