What's Wrong With This Picture: Porsche's Slow Burn Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the next-generation Porsche 911 (991) will have its wheelbase extended by ten centimeters compared to the current model, a concession to US emissions standards which are categorized by footprint. The new elfer will also lose about 88 pounds and gain stop-start technology, in yet another nod to tightening global emissions standards. Oh yes, and the handbrake will become an electrically-controlled switch similar to the unit in the Panamera. Otherwise… has anything changed? These Erlkönig spy shots reveal the biggest non-story in all of automotive-dom: the 911’s styling really won’t change all that much for its newest iteration. Yes, the most consistently-styled car of the modern era will get slightly steeper front headlights, a more tapered rear end, and fewer vestigal cooling vents that survived the switch from air-cooled to water-cooled engines, thanks to the Porsche’s legendarily stubborn styling department. Otherwise, the updates are incredibly subtle (those side vents are taped-on camo, according to AM und S).

Can the Carrera continue like this forever? Will faithfulness to its classical form ever wear thin? A quick comparison of 911 sales to Boxster/Cayman sales (4,751 to 3,036 in the US, year-to-date) suggests that’s not going to be a problem anytime soon…



Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Zykotec Zykotec on Nov 10, 2010

    I don't think it looks too bad at all. It's still one of those designs that are hard to improve on, and therefore it's rearend has not looked properly good since, well, 1977? The comparison to the evolution of a shark is very correct I think. Found an animation (allthough with terrible quality) for you BlueBrat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtvznK2wk6I&feature=player_embedded

  • Morea Morea on Nov 10, 2010

    Is it just me or do the front wheels look like they have a smaller diameter (not width, diameter) than the rear wheels?

    • Morea Morea on Nov 10, 2010

      Looking at the pictures again I think it is just distortion from the long range lens.

  • Theflyersfan My dad had a 1998 C280 that was rock solid reliable until around 80,000 miles and then it wasn't. Corey might develop a slight right eyelid twitch right about now, but it started with a sunroof that leaked. And the water likely damaged some electric components because soon after the leaks developed, the sunroof stopped working. And then the electrical gremlins took hold. Displays that flickered at times, lights that sometimes decided illumination was for wimps so stayed home, and then the single wiper issue. That thing decided to eat motors. He loved that car but knew when to fold the hand. So he bought a lightly used, off lease E-class. Had that for less than two years before he was ready to leave it in South Philly, keys in the ignition, doors unlocked, and a "Take it please" sign on the windshield. He won't touch another Benz now.
  • Detlump A lot of people buy SUVs because they're easier to get in and out of. After decades of longer, lower, wider it was refreshing to have easier ingress/egress offered by an SUV.Ironically, the ease of getting in and out of my Highlander is very similar to my 56 Cadillac.
  • Redapple2 LP Michigan. Long straights. A long sweeper. 2 chicanes. 4 hard turns. Lenghts of each element are different but similar to LeMans.
  • Teddyc73 Doesn't matter, out of control Democrats will still do everything they can to force us to drive them.
  • Teddyc73 Look at that dreary lifeless color scheme. The dull grey and black wheels and trim is infecting the auto world like a disease. Americans are living in grey houses with grey interiors driving look a like boring grey cars with black interiors and working in grey buildings with grey interiors. America is turning into a living black and white movie.
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