"Auto Spies" exclusive on the 997 (not really)

Auto Spies came out with this article this week which is nothing new except perhaps for the fact that the interior of the 997 will now look like the Cayenne. ARTICLE: Auto Spies exclusive: 2004 Porsche 911 to get major facelift We delve into the details Look for the Porsche 911 to get a major facelift for the 2004 model year. It will be designated the 997... The new cars design looks more 4s'ish and has headlights that resemble older 911 versions...more upright and less sloped than the current version. The body is more sculptured giving it a more aggressive look like the old 911 widebodies. It will have a 3.8 liter, 340HP engine with an optional 375HP version (S-version). Also, the interior will be refreshed (THANK GOD!) and will take many design cues from the Cayenne. [

Well, that definitely means I am waiting for the 997 for my purchase, just for the reason of the updated interior and just a hope of a squential shifter. Don - do you have any reliable information on the squential shifter and a possible time table for C2 and C4S releases? Thanks.

what's a sequential shifter different from a tip? wael *nothing better than a good'old 6sp*

A sequential shifter would resemble tiptronic type activity in that there is no clutch pedal. However the transmission thru a series of internal clutches will shift the car instantaneously when you pull a lever or paddle or push a button. Some Ferraris have them already. I'm no mechanic or engineer but I play one on this forum Formula 1 cars have something like that. Regarding timing, I have no idea about the timing, but Porsche has had experience with this type of transmission for many years. It was used in their 962 race car back in the IMSA days. The website <a href="http://www.autospies.com" target="_blank">www.autospies.com</a> has a free subscription service and they are pretty well up on stuff as is the car connection. <a href="http://www.thecarconnection.com" target="_blank">www.thecarconnection.com</a> The websites usually have the info before the mags do.

[quote]Originally posted by FlyingToaster: <strong>Well, that definitely means I am waiting for the 997 for my purchase, Thanks.</strong><hr></blockquote> You'll be waiting a long time. I believe that the 997 is slated for Summer 2004 as a 2005 model.

Finally! Now with depreciation, economy, and the new 997 I can finally add a 996 to my garage and keep the others <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

It's even simpler than that. A "sequential shifter" is a manual transmission in that it has a (one) clutch just like any other manual tranny. Instead of shifting it with your left foot on the clutch, you tell the computer you'd like to shift (via paddle, usually), and it shifts for you, most of the time. I say "most of the time" because the computer would be smart enough not to allow an overrev or any other shift that wouldn't make sense or break something. Typically it also includes rev-matching (blip) during a downshift. A tiptronic is an automatic transmission, with a torque converter, as far as I know. Ferrari's road cars with F1 transmission (their name for sequential) shift in 150ms. I think BMW's shift in about 120ms. An F1 car shifts in about 80ms if I'm not mistaken. Faster shift = higher line pressure to activate the clutch. Aside from the power and speed gains you get from a manual transmission, it's a much better transmission for the track. Dave Ferrari 360 F1

Squential shifters, as suggested, differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. I am familiar with the BMW version of it. In essence it is a manual transmission, the exact same 6-speed tranny and ratios, but the clutch is operated through a electrohydraulic mechanism rather than foot. BMW's version offers 6 different shift programs that essentially alters the shift timing by shortening it as you choose a higher level program. In S6 mode, it shifts within 80 ms of paddle acctuation. Ferrari is around 150 ms. Both BMW and Ferrari does rev-matching during downshifts, thus heel-and-toe is almost unnecessary (although some claim they still do it and get better response). There are no torque converters in this type of transmission, but can still be driven as an automatic letting the computer do all types of shifts. An F1 squential shifter is significantly faster with around 30 ms. However, an F1 squential shifter does more actually and is closer to automatic operations (ironically). The downshifts are acctuated by the comptuter with maximized shift and throttle adjustments dependent on many factors as yaw,side/forward accelerations and decelarations, etc. The driver can always override the system by just using the paddle at any given time. I am not sure that Porsche's specific racing experience with squential shifters will apply to road cars. One of the major drawbacks to squential shifters are the clunking noises and abrubt gear changes (you are not able smooth out the shifts by modifying how you release the clutch as in a regular manual). Ferrari's transmission is said to be much worse in these areas than BMW's. BMW is in its second generation of squential shifters and third generation will be available with the upcoming M5 and M6 around 2005. I do hope Porsche has good relations with ZF

A good'old saying goes: 'you dont want what you dont know..' Guess that's why i'll say it again.. i'd rather stick to my 6sp manual, it's coz i already have a playstation2... Please no offense to your highly respected dream-machines with F1's and sequentials.. Wael (mere) 996 C2 99 <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />

<img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />