Definitive 997 pictures

These pictures were published yesterday in the German motor mag "Auto Zeitung". They appear to show the unmasked 997 and are identical to the prototypes that can be seen all around Stuttgart these days.

The rear view:

Thanks for sharing. The second pictures seems to much like a generated image to me. I believe it�s not the final look, but very close. Any technical features in the article regarding hp?. J.Seven

If you look at the original you can see that it is hardly doctored with. But well, you never know. However, German papers usually mention when they photoshop a picture. Actually, the exhaust is not a double twin pipe but two flat pipes. The specs for the standard Carrera are given as 3.6 l with 320 hp and 235/40-18 front, 265/40-18 rear. The Carrera S is quoted with 3.8 l, approx. 350 hp and 235/35-19 front, 295/30-19 rear. The article also mentions that the rear window shall be designed like on the current Targa so that it can be opened. IMO the car looks really nice and I would also order the lady driving in those scans...

Well, you aroused my interest. Taking a close look at the brake calipers, I feel they do not quite match on the two photos...

I just talked to the writer of the article. He said that the picture of the front of the car was lightly retouched because there had been red tape where the bumper joins the hood. However, he claims that the rest, including the wheels is untouched. So let us wait and see...

Oooo! If looks could kill...... I am talking about the chick driving it not the car Love the wheels. I dunno. Maybe its just my bias or I have grown to love the 996 shape so much, but if I don't like the front of the 997. It's lost its agressiveness. Especially if you compare against the Turbo front facelift of the 996. It's a bad excuse of trying to be a 993......or a VW Beetle. I guess my take on it is this: if I want a 993 then I would go and buy the real thing. Besides it will probably be way more reliable than the new 997.

If this is the 997.. is it worth it?! Waz

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] http://www.ljgs.org/.ceemee/pcar/997-VW.jpg

Scouser, Indeed, they even managed to stay close to its origins! Isn't it cute? If it had a winding handle at the back, I might buy it for my daughter...

Actually, this photoshop would look like a real cool VW Beetle if it was real. Hey Mr VW." gizajob". I believe it was a Scouser that coined that phrase :-) As to the 997 design. Sorry. not my cup of tea. But I am not saying that like the 993 guys did of the 996, I am saying that it ain't right in my eyes to look at and it aint right that they have not fixed the RMS problem. My next beast will hopefully be an AMV8.

Porsches's evolve. I definitely do not like this edition, though. Very bland, no aggression, front end looks like a blank face staring into nothingness. The oval lights on the sloping hood/fender remind me of a Benz, and the whole front end looks definitely like a beetle. I'll wait for the 998, thank you.

I'm with you there Palting. The front is the bit that puts me off. The back looks almost unchanged. Maybe it too is a bit tame/lame. But I reserve my overall judgement until I see her in the flesh......I mean it in the mettle.......must be that chick......she has that look man, it's killing me

Beautiful Car!! It reminds me of the 993 in my opinion the best looking porsche ever made. It is about time they got rid of those egg headlights and back to the raw aggressive look of the 993. I can't wait until it comes out this may be my next purchase if they work out all the bugs on the 996 engine. I would hate to buy it and have the engine go after 10,000 miles I guess I could always put a Air cooled 993 engine in it. LOL Thanks for posting the picks.

Is it my eyes or are the rear wheels larger than the fronts? Maybe it will be akin to the C6 with 18" fronts and 19" rears???? Also the wheels are cool but I am really hoping for the retro wheels you always see in the other 997 spy pics.

Check out the brake calipers in the 2 pix--they're in different positions, as if they're attached to the wheels!

Scouser, that picture is brilliant J.Seven

Poursha, Yep, that's what caught me too! Not only are they in different positions but the size varies, too. Maybe, they had to remaster the photos more than they were willing to admit...

And to complete my interpretation:

Haha, Scouser. My feelings are that 993's and 964's (especially Anatol's, god that car looks sweet man) are going to really appreciate in price in the years to come. The 997 front is too tame, and the rear is too bulky and high up.

GTR993 - I love the look of the 993 too, but this car doesn't have it The front enitrely lacks the character of the 993 IMHO. Far too bland and uninspired for my taste...

Great pics, Scouser. This will keep the 996 value up for years to come until the 998 comes out. The 996 is still the best 911 yet. Right, Baron?

Having seen a 996 in person I would say it's quite a nice looking car, but personally there is something about the 993 and the 964 that draws me in more. The 964 was brand new when i was a kid, so maybe I developed some sort of childhood attachment. The GT2/Turbo/4S looks definitly rank up there though.

I have to disagree I think it's a cleaned up version of the 993. The large image makes it look "bubblier" but in real life I think it will be more like the 993 Turbo. The 996 is pointier and more straight with less curves. The 997 appears to have a wider rear section. I like the 996 minus the lights I think if they just change the lights it would look a lot better and not so much like a boxster. I can't tell the difference until you see the back of the car between a boxster and a 996. JMO

IMO it looks like a hybrid, not an evolution. I don't like it, the changes look forced - not natural. The 993 had a Design that captured a lot of emotion for 911 owners, I think Porsche should come out with another design that does the same but has it's own identity.

fluid15, I think you have a good point there. The next generation (evolution) 911 should retain the looks (lines) of its contemporary 911 Carerra pedigree but it should make its own statement, have its own idendity as you put it. As I said, I haven't yet seen one face to face but judging on past spy photos the 997 looks boring as hell. As my photoshop pics show, it takes very little to bend it into a VW. Palting, like you I love the female lines of the 996. It sure is sex on wheels. But I have to be honest and say that a 933 Turbo with a whale tail is total jaw dropping exstacy. This months (April) Car magazine (500th special issue) pays a great tribute to what it coins "The best car in the world Porsche 911". Check the pictures of the 993 on age 122 to see what I am talking about. Seriously, I would consider a straight swap for that car only that I would miss the cab too much.

I think the car really needs that front air scoop that all previous 911s (except 996) have. A new hood can always be added aftermarket i guess. I saw a 996 with the hood scoop and it looked sooo much better. As always, im waiting to see this next Porsche up close. They always look better. Actually, they are usually always better once inside of them and rollin' !

Why do you need that side marker light in the front fender?

That front end is plain ugly. Atleast the VW in consistant in design from front to rear. I hope this is not the final version of it. IMO the front end of 964 was the best (round lights and totally vertical). The 993 was no slouch, but second to the sexy 964 (round lights, but sloped a bit). Now the 996 front end was designed to slope back with a pointier nose, and the lights were made oval (not as sexy as the 964 or 993), but the designers knew that the round lights on a sloping nose will look ugly, this 997 proves it. IMO the oval lights was unavoidable as porsche front design evolved from flat to pointy. This 997 is a step backwards. Especially if Anatol is right about the 320hp figure (which i think is not correct, but even the expected 340 hp is not much, now the carreraS with 380hp on the regular carrera and a facelift will make it evolutionary).

Absolutely no reasons, except porsche is trying hard to make the 996 to look more like the 993. Obviously they are failing miserably.

i have to say i like it a lot! If i was in the market i woud buy it no doubt...just as i have enjoyed and would own any 911 before it

I guess there is nothing more controversial than an new 911 - except for the next Ferrari. For a definite opinion we may have to wait approx. 2 years because Porsches use to grow on you. I remember the first 964 brought tears to my eyes with its bulbous bumpers - now I love my own. The 997 prototypes I have seen sofar look quite good in the flesh. On the pictures the front bumper, especially the lower part with air intake, is certainly less than sexy. It looks like an afterthought. However, the overall impression is of a far more powerful car due to the regained Coke bottle waistline. From what I saw, the interior will cause controversy, too. It looks very similar to the Cayenne which, although a nice interior, is not very sporty for my taste.

No, it does look to much like a Beetle. The 996 is with facelift is far better looking. At least 996 owners don't have to worry about the 997 now!

I think the 997 will pull in more buyers because it has a look of the 993. Check this link it has a couple more pictures scaled down so it doesn't have the VW beetle effect. With the increased HP it should definately draw a big response from prior Porsche owners. As far as the interior the 996 already has a modern clean looking interior so improving it by adding a Cayenne type interior isn't going to make much difference in my opinion. The good thing is when the 997 comes out it will have more HP which everyone wants. 993 and 996 owners.

http://www.d1auto.as.ro/news/1460.htm Here is that link

Here are some really good shots from Autoweek. Look at the silver car it appears to be nearly the same as the 996 minus the lights. Increase the Hp and this is my next purchase for sure. The 993 people seem to like it a lot.

Whoops they didn't all come out I'll try again.

Scouser, that is funny as hell! I can't stop laughing!

I think an interesting feature is the look of the front trunk line. It's an homage to the 356, or more accurately to the Gmund Number 1. So we have that, the evolution of the original 901 design brief, the 959 front fenders and headlights, the 993 "coke bottle" shape and the evolved flat-six 996 engine. Talk about automotive DNA... I went in yesterday and put my deposit down. Number three on the wait list in my little town and it won't be released until the Paris Show. I think it will be a big seller for Porsche, with a lot of people currently on the sidelines, causing 996 sales to fall. Just my opinion.

You guys are funny. Damn if you do, damn if you don't. I'm just trying to figure out what exactly Porsche could do to please the internet styling police. Maybe they discount $350K off the C-GT price tag? ;-)

Here's my comments on the 997: http://www.geocities.com/rowhard009/997.html

kkk - belongs in other seat~

I'd rather say, 'same seat along with driver!' kkkkkk! waz