2004 Porsche 997... Spy pix

THE NEXT 911 GENERATION (the 997) is ready in the Porsche showrooms
summer 2004. But today already test drivers from the German manufacturer are hard testing the car all over the World, including the former German Formula 1 track, the 23 km long Nürburgring, der Nordschleife.

Our spy photographers recently caught one of the 997 prototypes here. Especially it the small of the two characteristic corners, the Carousels, they had the perfect view to the car. Together with test drivers from sportscartesting.com they have studied the pictures from the track.

The black 997 prototype passes the section of Schwalbenschwanz and arrives to the small Carousel from a very fast section of the long Nordschleife. The car is in top speed into 5. gear right/left bender and is hard on the throttle and reaches 150 km/h. Hard on the brakes on the very special left-hander Carousel entering with 110-115 km/h.

Right here is the short series of pictures made.

Note, the car is really pressed to the limit; the springs in the right side of the test car are down. Interesting to notice is, the car is under steering mildly – Porsche wants to continue the current behaviour of the 996; sharp turning in, a easy to control understeer and only oversteer if you switch off the anti spin and really press the car.

The wheels are big, 19 or 20-inch big, but notice, they do not fill out the flares – the 997 wings are from the very beginning ready to fit even bigger wheels from a coming 997 GT3 or similar.

Perhaps the looks of the car are a little disappointing – but it seems like the handling will be just smashing. Exactly what we expect from the German rear-engine wonder.

FACTS:
· 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 350 hp



I hear wispers of a REAL sequential gearbox as well as bringing back the Targa

Nothing really too revolutional here, which is a good thing.

[Kurt Angle]

Looks like the current model, only the wheel look bigger. The suspension looks a little lower too.

That looks amazing.  They didn\'t stray away from the old 911 look while they made it more sleek looking.

Hmmmm I think the wheels look a little TOO big here.  19" or even 20" on a Porcshe??  Remember the bigger the wheel the more rotational mass is needed to move, thus making it slower.  Plus they are more prone to damage if you hit a deep pothole.  18"ers for me are pushing it but 20\'s on a sports car? *gasp*

As for the rest of the car, front looks cool, and no major changes to the back.  I think the back needs a little something extra to show it\'s a newer model.  Sticking to the same ol formula is fine and dandy but there\'s no extra wow factor if you own this Porsche rather than a slightly older one (except the 30 extra horses).

Question- Are Porcshes usually turbo\'ed stock?  350 horses out of an N/A 6-cylinder is a good number.

My guess is those HP numbers are turbo even though there are a few N/A models.

As for the body,yea it seems pretty much unchanged, but alot of these test mules are often painted flat black,( or other dark colors) have tape over certain area\'s and "fake" moldings on them to confuse ppl such as the ones that took the photos.

Looks good.. It\'s hella low though..

Im sure you know everything about going low , eh?


Looks cool. I\'m not a car fan but i like it. BMW\'s i like better though

Sweet 997!!

Those phat wheels are SWEET.