It will be codded the 997 and ready in the Porsche showrooms
summer 2004.

· Porsche 997 – the 2004 911
· Caught at Nürburgring by spy photographer
· 997 Coupe will be launched 2004
· 997 Cabriolet will be launched 2005
· Still 6-cyl. boxer engine
· From today’s 3.6-litre to 3.8-litre
· From today’s 320 hp to 340-350 hp
- There will be an S version making around 375 HP

 

damn... I better be ready for this one!! hah

 

A lil 3 wheel motion the hard way :wackit:

 

thx...but ill pass...i dont like the headlights...they kinda look like the lights from a old celica

 

i like it, headlights and all. a little retro style there.

wonder what the gt4 will look like

 

WTF? Did you get poked in the eyes or something?

Please send me yours if you're not interested!!!!!

 

Man, I love Porsches. The main exterior diff is the headlights will be more upright, like the 930 models, the rear will be more shapely. Thanks for the pics!

 

like the retro lights! still looks too much like the current one (and the boxster) tho.

its more of a facelift then a new 911... shit... this years 911 had more changes then this appears too.

 

Actually it is obvious that Porsche tried to go back the 993 style lights. That is what I read before I saw the pics and that is what I see in the pics. And I like it.

Also, notice 2 things:

1. The car is at its limit. Notice the "fully" compressed springs while taking that turn. The spy photographers said that the car was doing at least 150 k/h taking that turn. That is the N-ring by the way (what else ah?).

2. The rear fenders can take larger wheels. Naturally. For the GT3 and who knows what else, iterations.

 

ill take one in black, white, silver and dark blue metallic.

better start saving up.......

 

Oh and a 3rd thing. The car understeers a bit according the the folks that saw it race. Rumor is that Porsche is happy with the currect handling characteristics of the current model and so will keep the same ones with the 997. I can blame them for thinking that way.

 

I guess the rumors for a V8 used in the next 911 are not true. At least up to now. Which means that the 928-like new car that Porsche is reportedly is working on, will take that engine. Makes sense.

I dont know about you, but if the next 911 stays at the same weight levels as the currect one, an enlarged flat 6 will be fine. As long as torque approaches the 300lb-ft mark. Which I am sure it will with the 3.8 liter rumored.

 

The headlights are kind of reminiscent of the 959. I'd take one, though it's pretty tough to justify the price difference between the 911 and the Boxster S!

 

guys, these r just spy shots, i believe the end product won't look like this at all.

 

look:

===================================
The Porsche rumour mill has been in the full swing recently, a story starved journalist spread the story that an 8 cylinder 911 was shortly to enter production. The same journalist suggested that the new model was type number 997 and that production could begin as early as autumn 2003. A blurred photo of a supposed prototype taken on the Zuffenhausen production line was published by some news outlets. But at the Paris Motor show Porsche insiders categorically stated that NO PLANS exist for an eight-cylinder 911, <b>and that the photograph showed nothing more than a regular 911 Carrera 'S'. </b>(Full story in '911 and Porsche World', November 2003)
=========================================

 

i've driven both, and while the boxster S is a cool car, it's by no means a 911.

 

looks very nice..even though i'll never be able to buy one for a long long time

 

I would look SO good driving this thing around! But back to reality ... anyone getting tired of those standard edition rims, yet?! The Turbo wheels have always looked good to me, but the standard issue are so boring. Anyone else like the Ruf wheels?!

 

Loooks about 90% the same as the current one to me....am i missing something?

 

Can you explain what you thought the main differences where in feeling?

 

Porsche is always conservative with the changes to the design of the car. Most German manufacturers are. Plus, this is an "enternal" and legendary design. Nothing wrong with it.

 

Damn, I love that car. Back to the old headlights. Makes sense too because they can leave the other headlights on the Boxster and have more visual differentiation that way.

Big thumbs up and I wish I had $70k for a Carrera =)

 

The boxster S was a fun car to drive, very stiff and good power, but the power didn't compare the the 911. The 911 was faster through turns and felt alot more confident. It was easy to find the limit in the boxster S but I could not find it in the 911. Also, the 911 has the ability to be a good everyday driver, I just don't see this in the boxster, it's to small and cramped. The cars are completely different. The boxster S would be a good weekend top down driver. While the 996 is refined for everyday use. They are both great handling cars, but where the boxster leaves off the 911 picks up. The 996 I drove was also equiped w/ H&R springs, so this played a difference in handling.

 

Too similar to the current one. I always don't like that sunny side up egg headlights.

 

you guys say that it's to similiar to the current one. But that's what porsche does. Take a look at all the past porsches they are nearly identical, the biggest leap forward they made in any year was w/ the current 996