Got this info from rennteam.com

According to german car magazine Auto, Motor und Sport, the 997 is coming Sept. 2004.
So keep your chequebooks ready, guys.
If someone wonders how accurate this information is: AMS has traditionally close ties to Porsche and they have their office in Stuttgart.
They wrote about the 997 introduction next year as a fact, not a rumor!
I'm still curious to hear what happens to the Boxster, I can't imagine they delay the 987 introduction by a year.
Maybe we'll se a double feature, 997 and 987 at the same time. Would make sense.

According to my sources, the first 997 to be introduced will be the 997 C2. Spring 2005 should be the time of the 997 Cab and maybe C4. C4 could be delayed until autumn 2005. There is also a strong rumor of a 997 C2 S which has slightly more power. AMS claims the same power figure for the 997 as for the 996. I highly doubt that, I guess 340 HP should be accurate for the 997 base model and maybe 360-370 for the "S" version. I don't have any info on the 997 C4 S but I heard that there might not be a 997 Targa anymore. The 997 Turbo is rumored to be introduced around 2006, not earlier. A new GT3 should be available by 2005 already.

To give you a short description on how the 997 will look alike: form is simplified, especially the frontlights. The car looks a little bit more masculine in the front and especially in the rear, for the first time 19'' wheels will be available too. The rear lights are looking similar to the 996 but are a little bit longer on the side. Overall don't expect a 993 replica but a highly refined 996. The interior won't be changed too much, have a look at the Carrera GT and you have an idea of the speedo cluster.
Engine will still be the current M96 in a completely overworked version, it won't be an engine derived from the 993/GT1 as the current GT3/GT2 and 996 Turbo engines are.
No V8 engine will be available as some earlier rumors indicated!
Also some probably bad news for german 997 customers: there is a strong rumor that there won't be a sport exhaust available anymore for the 997. Good news regarding the C2: a limited slip differential is rumored to be a standard option. A new DVD based PCM system is also rumored to be available for the 997.

 

Sounds like an article I have read, 340hp, optional engine to approx 380hp on S, Cab could be realeased same time as coupe though, lets remember the 996 was built as a cab first then the coupe was made off of the cab, Turbo probably to follow the next year or two, a GT3 I havent read anything about yet.

 

I was in my OP dealership on Friday and my contact HAS seen the 997 only a few weeks prior. He stated it's like a major facelift, the shape has been around the 911 successfully for 40 years. So very similar to 996, but with round lights at the front with intergated indicator side lights. No big stake-ups.

The statement you mentioned about the rear lights fits in with the recent crash photos, which show a longer cluster.

I did see the order books and they are stacked out with 997 and 997 TT bookings, for a couple of years. I was told to get my name on da list ASAP. Hmmm