The upcoming 992-generation Porsche 911 has been spied running the streets of Germany without any camouflage. It appears to be in its final testing phase before entering serial production.
It looks like Porsche is so sure that nobody would notice the difference between the current and next-generation sports car that it is testing undisguised mules of the latter on public roads. Apart from a few patches of tape concealing some parts of the car, the test 911s are otherwise uncovered. Spy shots of the 992-generation Porsche show two different test models. One of the cars has twin tailpipes, pointing to the possibility of it being the base Carrera trim.
So what's new with the new 911? To start with, the front end is slightly revised with squared-off air dams in each corner of the bumper. The rear bumper gets horizontal slats a la the front air intakes. The next-generation 911 also gets Porsche's now signature unbroken LED strip laid across the width of the car, connecting the two taillamps. Also, we are not sure if this holds true, but the new-gen car seems to have a slightly longer rear overhang than the current generation. Otherwise, the Stuttgart-based automaker has played it smart with the design: Keeping what works, and updating what does not. To that end, the new 911 retains the iconic, instantly recognisable silhouette it has worn since decades.
Powertrain details aren't out yet, but we expect the current 3.0-liter turbocharged flat-six motor to resume duty under the 992-generation 911's hood. Of course, Porsche will offer manual as well as PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) gearboxes with the range of the 911s as and when they come out. Some variants will also get all-wheel-drive in addition to the base rear-wheel-drive layout. Some trims will also get rear-wheel steering.
The other 911 snapped on test, the red one with the quad tailpipes points to a more potent engine inside. Could it be the 911 Turbo? Time will tell. For now, it seems the introduction of the next-generation 911 is close if the undisguised pair of the test mules is any indication. There are no clear images of the interior of the new 911 yet, but we expect more digitalisation of the instrument cluster and perhaps revised interior layout.
While we are eager to see what the new 911 brings to the table, there is no doubt that Porsche has pulled off another perfectly executed generation change for the quintessential German sports car.
Images: Paultan