OFFICIAL: 2012 Porsche 911 (991) revealed

Following last week’s leaked images Porsche has lifted the veil on its all-new 911. While many wags will joke that nothing has changed, Porsche appears to have done a great job in managing the balance between heritage and progress (see our 991 v 997 comparison for more).

Aside from minor gripes about the wheel design and front LED styling we think the 991 is a great looking 911. The shapes around the rear wheel arch are unmistakably 911 and the side profile leaves nothing to chance.

Porsche generally take a less is more approach to their official material and as a result only basic details and just 13 images have been revealed to date. That’s not much when you consider this is just the third genuinely ‘all-new’ 911 since the original model in 1963 and the 996 in 1998.

Of course, the 991 will make its public debut in Frankfurt Motor Show (15–25 September). But the order book opens before then on 1 September and deliveries will start in early December. We’re not sure how much longer Australian buyers will need to wait, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see new 911s in local dealerships before the end of Q1 2012.

The new 911 features a few firsts, including a 7-speed manual transmission and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) which, in theory, reduces body roll through corners. Of more concern to 911 purists, however, is the introduction of a new electro-mechanical power steering system. The 911 is known for its razor sharp responses and tactility, lets hope nothing has been lost in translation from hydraulic to electric.

Perhaps the benefits offered by a 45kg weight reduction, stronger chassis rigidity, increased front track and 100mm wheelbase extension will offset any losses in the steering. If there are any.

Inside, we’ve been describing the interior as being based on the Panamera. Porsche tell us it’s been inspired by the Carrera GT. The central console is the obvious example here. There’s also a new high res multifunction screen among the familiar looking instrument cluster.

In short, we love what we’re seeing with the new 911. How about you?

Here’s a summary of the key stats:

Porsche 911 Carrera

• Engine: 3.4 litre boxer engine
• Peak power: 257kW (350hp)
• 0–100km/h: 4.6s* (4.4s* with optional Sport Plus)
• Fuel consumption: 8.2l/100km (NEDC)*
• CO2 emissions: 194g/km*

Porsche 911 Carrera S

• Engine: 3.8 litre boxer engine
• Peak power: 294kW (400hp)
• 0–100km/h: 4.3s* (4.1s* with optional Sport Plus)
• Fuel consumption: 8.7l/100km (NEDC)*
• CO2 emissions: 205g/km*

*PDK

World premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

The new Porsche 911 Carrera: Tradition meets modernity

Stuttgart. At 48, the Porsche 911 Carrera is younger than ever: The completely redesigned generation of the sports car icon is stepping into the limelight with its flat, stretched silhouette, exciting contours and precisely designed details, yet from the very first glance it remains unmistakably a 911. True to the 911 tradition, the distinctive Porsche design language with its tendons and muscles exudes power and elegance.

The 100 millimetre (~ 3.9 inches) longer wheelbase and reduced height combined with the up to 20-inch wheels underpin the athletic appearance. At the same time, the typical sports car compact exterior dimensions were retained. Seen from the front, the eye is drawn to the 911’s trademark wide-arched wings. They emphasise the wider front track, so that the new 911 Carrera models sit even more solidly on the road. The remodelled exterior mirrors are accommodated on the upper edge of the door and not as before on the mirror triangle. Not only is this aerodynamically advantageous, it also emphasises the new design line and visual impression of width.

The all-new, lightweight body is an intelligent aluminium-steel construction. It is responsible for a significant proportion of the weight reduction of up to 45 kilograms. Combined with significantly greater rigidity. Aerodynamic optimisation – including a wider, variably extending rear spoiler – enabled the new 911 Carrera’s lift to be reduced yet further while retaining a very good Cd value.

To complement the modern exterior design, the Porsche designers created an interior, the architecture of which takes its cue from the Porsche Carrera GT. The driver is now even more closely integrated with the cockpit thanks to the centre console rising up to the front with the high-mounted shift lever or gear selector located especially close to the steering wheel in typical motorsport fashion. Classic Porsche elements are also to be found inside, as they are on the outside: the instrument cluster with five round instruments – one of them a high resolution multifunction screen, the central rev counter and the ignition lock to the left of the steering wheel.

Setting the standard in its class, as it has for generations, the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S raise the performance and efficiency bar yet another notch. All versions get by with significantly less than ten litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (28 mpg imp.). Fuel consumption and emissions are up to 16 per cent lower compared with its predecessor. Among other things, this is achieved by systems and functions such as auto start/stop, thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission and – in conjunction with the Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) – sailing as it is called. The new electro-mechanical power steering offers not only Porsche’s typical precision and feedback but also helps to increase efficiency and reduce fuel-consumption.

For example, the 911 Carrera with the new 350 hp (~ 257 kW) 3.4-litre boxer engine and optional PDK consumes a mere 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres (~ 34 mpg imp.) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) – 1.6 l/100 km (~ 6 mpg imp.) less than its predecessor. Also, at 194 g/km CO2, it is the first Porsche sports car to make it below the 200 g/km mark. With the 911 Carrera S as well, with its 3.8-litre boxer engine and what is now 400 hp (~ 294 kW), fuel consumption when paired with the optional PDK is reduced by 14 per cent or 1.5 l/100 km (~ 5 mpg imp.) to 8.7 l/100 km (~ 32 mpg imp.) despite 15 hp (~ 11 kW) more power. That equates to CO2 emissions of 205 g/km.

At the same time there are performance improvements in both models. The 911 Carrera S with PDK manages to accelerate from nought to 100 km/h (~ 62 mph) in 4.3 seconds. Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono package cuts that to 4.1 seconds. The 911 Carrera with PDK needs only 4.6 seconds (Sport Plus 4.4 seconds) to sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h (~ 62 mph).

The new 911 doesn’t just offer better longitudinal dynamics, however, but top performance at an unprecedented level in terms of transverse dynamics as well. In addition to the longer wheelbase, the greater agility, precision and driving stability are based, among other things, on the wider front track, the new rear axle and new electro-mechanical power steering. Depending on the model, there are other standard or optional active control systems available as well that further enhance the driving dynamics. That is especially true for the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) active roll stabilisation system, available for the first time on the 911 Carrera S. For example, the system reduces lateral inclination when cornering, the tyres always being in the optimal position relative to the road surface and able to transmit higher lateral forces. Maximum cornering speeds are increased; even faster lap times on racing circuits are possible.

It has therefore been possible in the new model to extend yet further the span of apparently contradictory attributes such as performance and efficiency, sportiness and everyday practicality that has always typified the Porsche 911. That makes the 911 Carrera more of a 911 than ever. The new Porsche 911 Carrera celebrates its world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The launch of the new 911 models gets under way on 3 December 2011, the new cars can be orderd from September 1st. Prices in Germany are 88,038 euro for the 911 Carrera and 102,436 euro for the 911 Carrera S, including 19 per cent VAT and market-specific equipment.