2019 Porsche 911 nears production
All-new sports car to be unveiled in full at the Los Angeles motor show, but Porsche wants to show the world how hard it's working in the meantime.
Porsche is getting ready to release the new 911 at the 2018 Los Angeles motor show later this month, putting the rear-engined sports car through its paces in (very) hot, cold, wet and dry environments.
Torture testing new cars is a critical part of the development process undertaken by every brand, not just Porsche. With that said, there's something very cool about the fact the new 911 has racked up more frequent flyer miles in its development phase than the average business traveller.
The air-conditioning and engine cooling systems have been tested in Death Valley in the USA, where the mercury regularly tips 50 degrees celsius, while the car's cold-start, heating, and slippery-road handling have been explored in the -35 degree weather of Finland.
It's also seen the Middle East, China, Germany, and Italy during the testing process. Porsche loves to highlight the lengths to which it goes during testing, so these latest 911 teasers should come as no surprise.
As for the finished product? We've seen countless pre-production cars in various states of undress, ranging from the heavily-camouflaged to the totally uncovered, along with snaps of its interior.
Down back, slimmer lenses with a clear cover appear the main change to the tail-lights, while the diffuser and exhaust have been brought into line with the new Panamera, Macan and Cayenne.
Along with the usual gamut of internal combustion options, the new 911 is expected to be offered with a hybrid powertrain for the first. Speaking earlier this year, August Achleitner, head of the model's development, said the rear-engined sports car needs to evolve... slowly.
“With each innovation, the decisive factor for me is whether it suits the character of the 911,” he said.
“We don’t necessarily have to be the first in this regard with the 911. What’s crucial, rather, is that every innovation be offered in a typical Porsche manifestation... Even where the public might be expecting a bigger ‘wow factor,’ in the long run a certain aesthetic reserve pays dividends.”
We are expecting a great leap forward behind the wheel, though. Spy shots have revealed a far more modern cabin layout than is currently offered, with low-set air vents and touch-sensitive controls on the centre stack.
The large, centrally-mounted rev counter has been carried over, but there are twin screens in the instrument binnacle as well.
We'll have to wait for the Los Angeles motor show for a full reveal. Stay tuned to CarAdvice for our coverage.
2024 Toyota BZ4X FWD review
0
