2012 Porsche 911 - 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show

Anyone who expects radical change from the newest iteration of the Porsche 911 hasn’t been paying attention for the last, oh, nine presidential administrations. Historically, the improvements have been incremental…a bump in displacement, increased power, tweaks of technology, use of lighter materials, styling detail changes. But the classic 911 silhouette and

Internally dubbed the 991, this latest 911 has a 3.9 in. longer wheelbase, but tighter overhangs limit its overall length increase to 2.2 in. The front end is slightly wider and the windshield is more convex, yet the coefficient of drag (0.29 for the base coupe) remains the same And the wider, variably extending rear wing hints at the greater power within.

How much? Though the base direct-injected flat-6 drops in displacement from 3.6 to 3.4 liters, it now makes 350 bhp (a bump of 5) while retaining peak torque of 288 lb.-ft., although both figures are generated at higher rpm. The S model stays at 3.8 liters, but gains a significant 15 bhp (now 400 bhp) and a peak torque bump of 15 lb.-ft. (now 325). In a world first, the 991 comes standard with a 7-speed manual transmission that shares the gear module with the optional 7-speed PDK gearbox, for greater economies of scale. Ratios 1–6 are closely spaced, with 7th as an economy overdrive. Also, a shift lock is employed where 7th gear can be engaged only after 5th or 6th has been previously selected.

The unit chassis continues with a core of high-tensile-strength steel, but nearly half of the body-in-white is of aluminum, including doors, trunklid, engine cover, roof and rear wing. Overall vehicle weight is as much as 99 lb. lighter. Suspension continues with MacPherson struts up front and multilink rear. Electric-assist steering is used for the first time, and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control allows hydraulic decoupling of both front and rear anti-roll bars for either improved ride or handling, as the situation merits. And there’s also a new rear-wheel torque vectoring system using brake intervention that augments the mechanical differential.

Probably the biggest changes come inside, as the interior’s high-mounted center console and shifter allude to the Carrera GT and even the 928. It’s Panamera-esque, although thankfully with far fewer buttons. The 5-circle instrument cluster remains (tach front and center) with a round 4.8-in. TFT screen situated right of the tach. The manual handbrake goes away, replaced by a button-actuated electromechanical unit. Am I the only one who preferred the satisfyingly tactile clickclickclick to the new robotic whirrrscreeech?

Progress marches on, and no doubt the 991 will handily show its new LED taillights to the 997 around your track of choice. We can hardly wait to get behind the wheel.