2012 Porsche 911 photos leaked 18 | 08 | 2011
HEADS ARE LIKELY to be rolling somewhere in Germany today after the first official photographs of the new Porsche 911 were leaked on to the internet. The car is due to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, with deliveries to first customers in Scotland expected by the end of the year.
Of course, if you were expecting something radical, you'll be disappointed. The latest 911 — codenamed 991 — is another evolution, but its sleeker, simpler look immediately is evident.
Seen here in both Carrera and Carrera S guises, which are the two launch models for the 991, the new car gets fuller, more wide-eyed LED headlights, while the tail lamps have been slimmed down.
There's also a sleeker look for the front bumper, air intakes and headlights, all designed to boost aerodynamic efficiency. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted the door mirror housings now sit outboard on the doors rather than in the blanked-off quarter panel at the base of the A-pillar.
See more photos of the 2012 Porsche 911
But it's at the rear where the biggest differences are noticeable. As I mentioned, the tail lights are sleeker and slimmed down, but the rear wing has also been reshaped to improve aerodynamic efficiency and to increase downforce above 75mph.
Inside, the 991 has a look of the Panamera and Cayenne, though the strong horizontal ridge across the top of the dash — a trademark 911 interior design feature — remains.
Not surprisingly, the new model retains the rear-engined layout of every 911 since the original was introduced in 1963; but the standard Carrera gets a (downsized) 3.4-litre flat six with around 350bhp, with the S model getting a 3.8-litre version with about 400bhp.
Read our road test of the Porsche Cayman R
Power for both cars will be transmitted to the road via either a seven-speed PDK or a seven-speed manual gearbox.
The 991 has also had its propositions tweaked, with the result that safety and stability have been improved even further; interior space has also been boosted, especially in relation to rear legroom.
Its longer wheelbase means the front and rear overhangs have been reduced to minimise the increase in overall length. The new 991 — at 4491mm long, 1873mm wide and 1299mm high — is 56mm longer and 11m lower than the 997. The front track has also been marginally increased, which further improves the alrady excellent stability.
Watch our video of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS
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Jim McGill