997 and other news...

Interesting speculation: http://www.autospies.com/article/ind...&categoryId=11 Dear 001, My Porsche sources say the 997(2005-2007) update will only apply to the non-turbo models. The Turbos will remain on the 996 platform. Then after a couple years they will come out on the 998 platform (2007-2008). The lights on the 998 will be almost identical to the Carrera GT lights, while the 997 will have retro look lights. Engine wise, the 997 will have a few more horses, but the 998 will have Cayenne derived v8 engines tunes to 400hp stock and 500hp in turbo form. The interior on the 997 is derived from the cayenne and will continue unchanged on the 998. The double clutch gearbox will be available on the 997 and 998. 19 inch wheels will be available on 997 with 18 inch as standard. Also the 997/998 are going to have more standard features than present. Prices are expected to be almost the same. However the 998 v8 will be significantly more. Also the "big heads� at Porsche have not yet decided whether to only have the flat 6 on the Boxster and have the Carrera only run the V8, or have the Carrera running the V8 and flat 6 stretched to clost to 4.0L. Thats what I know for sure, more to come� 997 Update! Seems like this is the suspected timing: 2004 late: C2 and C2S Coupe 2005: C2S Cab and C4S Coupe 2006: C4S Cab (400hp), GT3 and Turbo 2007: GT2 2008: 998 ======================================= From the latest AutoBild article....and with some try at translation, this is what the scoop is saying: The new design 997 will appear only as Coup�. However there are two different versions starting from Carrera 2 and the Carrera 2S with wider rear flared fenders, 19" wheels and sport chassis. The new C2/S Cabrio and the C4/S Coup� follow in 2005, the C4/S Cabrio with 400 HP strong, GT3 as well as the Turbo with all-wheel drive and 460 HP appears in 2006. Targa and the second edition of the GT2 complete 2007 offerings. The 911 gets more capacity (3.8 instead of 3.6 litres), more power (340 instead of 320 HP) and when desired a Tiptronic transmission with more gears (six instead of five). The cockpit with better readable instruments, better formed seats and a completely better quality is likewise new. But the 997 is only a further evolution stage, not a genuine new development. For that we wait until 2008. Talk to you soon, Tiger Tanaka

I think adding the CGT style lights would be a smart move. I was kind of surprised they didn't do that for the 997.

...998 400hp V8... oh my.

These were my exact wishes, a 400 hp C4S, WOW, I'll certainly buy one of them when my lease runs out on my 03 C4S, but I think the turbo will be more than 500hp though. Anyhow, if porsche is to follow up with these numbers and still maintains the handling charecterestics of a 911, it will be a winner.

Weight distribution would be horrible with more slung out beyond the rear axle line and with a V8 a much higher center of gravity. Seems like a very wrong move to me. It may give you more power, but it's unlikely to give you more performance, which is surely what you're really after. I still think Porsche needs to take a ton of weight out of the 911 and make it more like the Lotus Elise, then you can have the same engine as current but a significantly faster car all round.

I surely hope that future 911s will always have a boxer engine hanging behind the rear wheels - that's what a Porsche 911 is.

I cannot imagine how they would put a V8 and keep the 911 as it is. Sounds strange. It would be a different car.

The way I see it is if they can justify putting a V8 in a Carrera why not just put a Flat 8? I don't consider myself a traditionalist but I think a lot of people would have the same reaction to a V8 in a Carrera as they did when they found out that Porsche was making a SUV. With a Flat-8 they can keep the Porsche drag racer happy and the hardcore traditionalist would accept a flat-8 over a V8. At the end of the day the power figures rumored until 2006 will still be below that of cheaper cars out today, E55, RS6, new M5 and so on. While the Porsche track day people won't care the automotive masses will eventually see Porsche as an underpowered car.

That must be a joke or something. A v-8 in a 911? Have they gone mad? Personally I think they should stick with a flat six, make the car smaller and lighter, tune the engine and maybe slightly up the discplacement. And if they really need to get more power, then I suppose adding in a flat 8 is alright. But a v-8? Man, that just makes me feel dizzy. I think the guy mistook this 'new 928' for the 998... https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hlight=new+928

I agree with Baron here, it's either a joke or a misprint about the v8, a 911 is not going to have a v8, it certainly be a flat 8, unless they can generate significantly more hp from the flat6(like the hp numbers mentioned in this article, which i think is needed to be competetive). I certainly don't agree with V8, heck is there space in there to put a v8 in the first place. Lechef's got the ideal solution to reduce the weight, but frankly i don't know how porsche could do this. To reduce weight like that of an elise, with bonded aluminum in my opinion is not a 911, to reduce weight in otherways (carbon fibre etc.) will be great, but it wouldn't be a $80k car anymore. Hey if porsche can do it, this will be my number one choice with an upgraded flat6 (the 380 rumored for the carreraS will be revolutionary with a few hundrad pound lighter). My gut feeling is the 998 will be heavier, may carry a flat 8 and certainly will be a better performer. If impossible will carry the flat6 through to 998 with the most cost effective weight reductions possible. (c'mon now, we are talking about a porsche here, lechef you needn't worry that 998 is going to be a mere dragster, the only constant thing with 911's is not that it has round lights, aircooled etc, but, from the first 911 todate it's been a constant IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE, i am very confidant that will continue, we can only argue how it is going to be done).

That seem to imply that tradition is irrelevent, which is not my intent, we still want the 911 to behave like one (which we can also argue of what it exactly means, but we can all agree that it be not a pure dragster)