Here's my theory: The 998 (or whatever the successor to the 997 will be called) will be out sooner rather than later, perhaps sooner than currently expected.

With sales lagging from last years levels (although not as bad as Detriot), Porsche (and likewise BMW, etc) will be feeling the need to get new exciting products into the hands of purchasers as soon as possible.

The name of the game? Release a product that your customers just have to have. In Porsche-land, that's the 998. Maybe we'll see it 6 mos early, as a mid-year model change over? That's been done before.

The longer any model runs on, the slower the sales. As the 998 gets closer, sales of new 997s will tank. Combine that with a weakened economy, and Porsche could see its flagship car taking on water.

The cure is the 998 and no reason to delay!

What y'all think of that?

 

I think if you look at the thread about sales last month , it appears that the 911 except for the Turbo is doing not bad. In fact alot of the 911's sales are ahead of last year. Often companies in slow times after a new launch don't spend a lot on R&D until the market picks up. They seem to want to get some mileage out of their last change before they redo things. IMHO I think the slow economy might even delay the launch of the 998.......but who can predict anything anymore

 

The counter argument is that Porsche invested quite a bit of money into R&D for the 997.2 not to mention the money required for their advertisement campaign. I would highly doubt that Porsche would abandon the current model in favor of rushing a newer model into production and yet another advertisement campaign. I would wager that Porsche would rather wait for a more stable economic environment to unveil an entirely new generation in the 911 line....

Jason

 

Porsche will wait at least two years . The entire auto industry is evolving as this economy crumbles and the traditional root of the Porsche 911 combined with modern techology and sophistication is placed in this new car .

It's possible that if despair makes way into the Porsche line cost cutting will lead to immediate future cars with mediocre quality .

As other auto manufacturers scramble people will cling to a benchark . Maybe a ferrari owner or a Turbo owner will gravitate to a 997S . It will survive the storm.

 

porsche has lots of cash on hand and good margins. They can weather the storm. I think they have a good but controversial plan to float the production and development of their sports cars; witness the birth of Cayenne and Panamerica. They make tons of cash selling a modded toureg, and I believe that this is their #1 selling vehicle. Many purist gasp at this, but I think it is fine. They continue to use those resources to develop their more esoteric vehicles. And besides, the Cayanne turned out to be a pretty hot SUV, as best as an SUV can be!

 

Agree with JohnM.

997.2 will be produced for about 3 years, then next 911.

Porsche is busy launching Panamera this and early next year, then it will come the all new Cayenne. I predict no new 911 until 2012.

 

Intresting topic, I feel that Porsche has the goods with a facelifted 997 and Cayman and the "exciting" new Panamera.
I could see a small sports vehicule to "celebrate" their mariage with Volkswagen, help CO2 "balance", and maybe to catch some of those that are forced to downgrade.

 

You must be new to Porsche. They don't do anything without a great deal of thought. The 991 will be introduced as scheduled, and not before. There is considerable effort to launching a new model and they won't undercut the engineering necessary beforehand to launch it early.

 

Agree with Dan.

The change-over to a new model is much more complex than you think. Suppliers/partners have to develop their contributions to the new car far in advance, and can't just make things faster. 991 will be here Fall 2011.

However 991 might not be with us for too long. It was developed before the acquisition of VAG, so while the R&D costs may have been paid for, savings that could be made from greater sharing of components with say Audi or Lamborghini are not there.

I suspect that 991 will be the equivalent of 964: a very short lived (4 year in total?) model with a lot of new technology in it that can quickly be more economically productionized through component set sharing with other companies in the group. Taking a modular approach and sharing with Audi's next A8, R8, R5, etc as the base for Cayenne 3, Panamera 2, Panamera 928, and 982/992 might be a very smart way to give flexibility and save money.

 

Hi Le Chef,

so the model that comes after the 992 will be 993?

 

The next generation 911 in terms of engineering project number sequencing is probably well over 1000, so I wouldn't worry about what it might get called internally. For all we know they might have gone back to zero...

 

It's more likely as a 2011 model (possibly being introduced in the Fall of 2010). BMW, Audi, and a few other German marques are also releasing their updates to their flagship products as 2011 models.

 

How can they improve on the existing model? It has a new engine, suspension, gearbox, etc......

 

More HP and torque of course. Also LEDs... somewhere.

 

The new 911, internal name 991 is reported to be launched autumn 2011. The new car will be wider and get a 100 mm longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs. It will also get active aerodynamik devices to boost downforce and stability. They will introduce PAAB, for Porsche active aero balance to reduce the bobbing in front.

Rumour says also that they will skip the Carrera name, by calling the Carrera only S and Carrera for RS, GT3/GT3RS/GT2/Turbo will continue. The engine will stay more or less the same as today, but the weigth will decrease to improve preformance. 20" wheels will be a option for the first time.

The 991 will share a lot of components with the 981, the next generation Boxtster expected out 2012.