It seems like just a few months ago that we were seeing the 991 generation of the Porsche 911 being debuted at the Frankfurt auto show, but that was actually over six years ago. The 2019 GT3 RS was just unveiled not long ago, and now the next-generation of the 911 is nearing completion. Porsche even released official photos with the car still wearing its camo to address any rumors.
As the flagship of Porsche’s model range, the 911 is always a challenge to update. It represents the heart of the company, and fans of the 911 are quick to voice their opinions on big changes. There was an uproar back when the 996 made the switch to water-cooled engines from air-cooled, and many Porsche enthusiasts took up arms when it was revealed that the 991 generation would have electrically-assisted steering instead of traditional hydraulic power steering. So when it comes to changing the 911, Porsche takes special care to make sure they get things right.
With the car set to release in 2020, the focus is no longer on going from air-cooled engines to water-cooled, but rather the implementation of hybrid technology, or even full electric. Porsche has stated that the 992 911 will not be an electric sports car, though it may become an option further down the line.
Porsche Model Director August Achleitner has stated that autonomous driving technology is something that will be kept out of the 911 for as long as possible. “Even when it comes to the individual assistance systems, they have to fit with the 911. A 911 will always have a steering wheel, [the] 911 will be one of the last cars to drive autonomously."
From the few photos that have been released, the overall shape is classic 911, with no apparent drastic changes from the 991 generation. Time will tell once more photos are released and more information becomes available.