The front looks better than the 996, but not as nice as the 997.2/997.

 

Fire the artist and the editor! The chances of this being fact about zero or lower. The magazine is smoking recreational chemicals and getting people like us to pay for them. Enjoy. Now exhale slowly and you will feel MUCH better.

 

I agree with most of your points. However keep in mind that the 911 is a performance car first. Most modifications to the body are for that very reason. Performance. Also Porsche is very secretive about their updates, so consider the picture nothing more than rumors. We won't know much about the front or rear end cosmetics until they want us to know. That's why they are covered up. Here are pics and the link to the article from Road and Track.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=7383

 

I take the wait and see stance for things to come. But I hope they keep things functional not purely just for cosmetic items. However, I will admit that I'm getting rather bored of the same lines over and over year after year.

 

IMO the 997 design is a much better representation of the purist 911 design philosophy than the 996. With that said, I think the 997 looks A LOT like the 993 - which is a good thing. BUT, it's basically keeping us in a loop in terms of design. Kind of weird that I'm stoked that my car looks like the model from 1995. Right? I love it though and could look at it all day long. If people are looking for modern design, go elsewhere. 45+ years of the same shape should be enough for everyone to stop banging their heads against the wall and realize that 911 drivers don't want something different. Good design never goes out of style, and that's why I dreamed about owning one since I was 12 years old.

I think part of what we're seeing with design sketches like the one at the beginning of this post has to do with the new safety regulations. The front end on that thing is just gross. If you want something modern, buy something that has "flame surfacing" .

 

The whole front end ruins it.

 

Before the 997 came out there were a lot of theoretical images which do not look like the current car.

I imagined that if Porsche broke from the current traditional front design that they might opt more for a successful and leaner look like the Carrera Gt but not anything like the photos shown in the original post.

It's too soon to even guess though . Not even all the facelifted models are out. IE -We have yet to see a 997tt facelift in dealerships etc.

I think the current car has at least two more model years .
The 996 facelift ran for model years 02 , 03 . 04 .

If that trend continues then this facelift will run 09. 10. 11 and the launch would come in late 10 as an 11 model . Thats a long time .. but it comes around fast.

The 997 is a very successful model so it might even run longer than the 996 did . The magazines usually are off on the timeline but eventually as the arrival nears they get to drive the car we get a liitle idea of what to expect.

Gotta just wait and see.

 

I guess you better buy a 997.2 GT3 when they come out!

 

I will waitand see the final Porsche released photos to pass judgementn on the next generation.

 

regardless of what they do the current 997 is a great design and in my opinion a orange GT3RS is the best looking Porsche ever made, not to mention one of the best "drives" of all time (although maybe not the fastest compared to the current crop of supercars)..

I'm just worried about all the talk of a boxer-4 engine going into a 911, I guess it would be lighter but just not what a 911 should be powered by, sort of like when mustangs had inline 4 turbos 20 years back...

 

It's highly unlikely the 911 will have a flat-4. More likely the next generation engine will be a flat-6 but with clever new technologies to improve performance, emissions, and economy over today's models:-

Cylinder/fuel cut-off while running at low load or stationary in traffic.

Low pressure twin turbo's allied to a smaller displacement flat-6, possibly to 3 liter, but developing more torque and hp than today's models.

KERS - hybrid energy recycling braking system.

All of these would make the 911 more viable in the future while retaining the signature flat-6.

 

Unlikely or not Porsche has recently stated that they are considering it (boxer 4) and that it may happen. It's not that they want to, it's simply because of the new emissions and fuel economy standards being imposed on the auto industry (particularly in Europe) that they may not have a choice. I think that they are going to court with the EU to get an exception if I not mistaken.

 

They "MAY" consider a flat-4 for a model below the Coxster, was what the engineer originally said. This has been taken out of context by everyone on the net. With ownership of VW they will not have to worry quite so much about emissions.

 

Ouch.. the headlights are killing it.

 

I'll get a new Porsche when they get rid off the bug eye headlights.