According to both Porsche and as quoted in the magazine Auto Motor & Sport, the 997 turbo will be introduced in January of 2006 featuring 490 HP, and with Porsche Double Klutch (PDK) as standard.

 

I guess my dealer wasn't BS'ing me after all. Any more details?

 

You can get one from RUF in the US before that. Well, a RUF version, anyway.

What is the Porsche Double Klutch?

 

nothing to surprise about since u figured most rumors are BS. Porsche does not need to rush the TT while 997 C2/C2S is doing what it should be doing now. rush the product will only hurt the market later.

 

Walter Rorhl hints in this month's "Excellence" that the 997 Turbo will be something really special - taking the Turbo to a much higher performance level than the current version . We'll see ...

 

Back in the mid-80's, Porsche apparently developed this and used it in some racing cars.

"Before the works-Porsche team departed, it did bring in one new innovation - namely the PDK manual gearbox. This gearbox, named Porsche Doppell Kupplung (Porsche Double Clutch) was basically a semi-automatic manual gearbox with two clutches.

It featured an electronic controller unit to oversee the shift-process, while the driver needed only press buttons to shift gears quickly and faultlessly. The trick with this type of transmission was reducing the loss of drive associated by changing gears, making the shifts faster by working both clutches in a smart manner. "

Sounds like Porsche f-1 style shifting. Interesting...

 

I think even the basic 997 Turbo will return to the " bad boy " of the 911 family in looks and performance that got lost somewhere in the marketing strategy of the later 90s . Porsche knows that THAT is it's heritage and needs to enhance it in this era of ever faster/quicker but discrete sports sedans .
The 996 GT2 failed miserably in the marketplace in trying to fill that role .

 

MKW - I disagree on that one. If you have seen the photos of the upcoming 997 GT3, it's far less 'badboy' than even the 996 was. The shape of the 997 doesn't lend itself to body cladding that is rough and tumble - technologically attractive, and somewhat mean, yes, but not at all like the 'bad boy' it used to be. Even the new Techart 997 aerokits aren't really, truly 'bad boy', and their kits for 996 are much more so. The oval headlights just don't give off the 'tough' feel, as you can find them on the VW bug, MB E-class, etc. If all they do is stick aero body cladding on the 997, you'll think the GT2 looks like a big time bully in comparison.

 

Boy that Z06 is sounding better every day.

 

Shank, a Z06 is like an Aveo compared to what you have going on at Underground Racing...

 

Maybe I will keep my TT another year and a half and move right into a nice silver 997 TT

 

Whats the status on the viper Shank?

 

Thank God! This gives me time to sell my 996TT without taking even more of a dump!

 

I think ( or hope ) we will be surprised by the 997 performance envelope and I believe their will be a more aggressive look to the base Turbo's wing /fenders and front fascia. If there continues to be a 2 1/2 "width differential in the models , the 997 Turbo should be nearly 73 1/2 " wide at the hips - or 4 inches wider than current GT3.
Regarding the current normally aspirated 997 - nothing can be done with that goofy " Chevron Car" grin of a face, IMO.

 

GT2...did it "fail"? And if so, did it fail because it was too...dangerous/fast? That seems to be the defining characteristic with the GT2 most people discuss...that is just down-right dangerous. Are the types of folks that want Porsches satisfied (in general) by the slightly tamer, but much safer TT? Is the price point just too high for what Porsche people want to pay? Too much sexier competition in that marketplace?