Porsche teases new-gen 911

PORSCHE’s next-generation 911 will likely be the first version of the legendary sportscar to feature electrified powertrains, as well as more significant updates under the metal and evolutionary styling.

Porsche director of the 911 model line August Achleitner said experiencing the performance of electric motor-assisted Porsche models forced him to rethink the possibility of including hybrid technology in the 911.

“Two years ago I’d have said no way. Today I wouldn’t categorically rule it out,” he said.

“I drove the prototype of our coming electric sports car, the Mission E, and it was a very compelling experience.

“And the performance of the Porsche LMP race cars with hybrid drive systems is quite simply sensational.”

Although Mr Achleitner admits his love for a flat six-cylinder sportscar, he said he can envision an electrified 911 so long as it suits the specific driving characteristics of the car.

If purists turn their nose up at the prospect of a hybrid 911, he said that the same thing has happened with 911 advancements such as the water-cooled engine in 1997 and turbocharging of the entire range in 2015.

“Some fans rushed the barricades it was all gloom and doom for many,” he said.

“And then the same thing happened as always: nothing.”

Porsche has said that the exterior styling of the new 911 will not change radically, and camouflaged images of the new version suggest an almost indistinguishable design from the outgoing version with a similar roofline, large alloy wheels and signature rounded headlights.

The car’s interior is set to undergo a more significant change, with Mr Achleitner admitting that elements of the current 911 are beginning to look outdated.

Porsche will aim to redesign the 992-series 911 with a cabin and touchscreen interface that is as timeless as possible, with the brand leaning towards a more reserved aesthetic over extra ‘wow factor’.

New driver assistance technologies such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are expected to be rolled out on the new 911, however Porsche is adamant that driver involvement will always be at the forefront of the 911 driving experience.

Mr Achleitner added that a 911 “will always have a steering wheel”, and that it will be one of the last vehicles to drive autonomously if the trend becomes the norm for the car industry.

Porsche Cars Australia head of public relations Chris Jordan told GoAuto it was still too early to determine when the 992 911 will make it into Australian showrooms.

The 992 will replace the existing 991 Series, which has been on sale since 2012 with an update in February 2016.

In 2017 the 911 finished as the best seller in the $200,000-plus sportscar segment with 431 new registrations, ahead of the Ferrari range (210), Mercedes-AMG GT (149) and Aston Martin coupe/convertibles (134).