The 2019 Porsche 911 follows the recently facelifted 911. It also has a new chassis and looks something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
In a report by Road and Track, the 911 mules were seen running around Northern Europe could just have been cleverly planted decoys. However, it is likely that they could still be the real test mules. If this is true, the new 911 will have a single LED bar at the rear, similar to the second-generation Panamera.
Currently, a 911 S will return around 450 horsepower. The 2019 model should at least start there but will likely go above. It is promising more downforce and a wide body, according to the report. Moreover, based on the very Star Trek design on the mule, it will be very similar to the 993 generation straight out of the nineties.
In another report by Auto Car, the 2019 Porsche 911 was seen testing at Nürburgring. This is relatively early for its anticipated launch. The distinguishing details that gave the car away were its extended wheel arches that hide wider rear and front axles.
Ordinarily, Porsche's production cycles are eight years long. The current 991 generation of the 911 was first introduced in 2012. It saw a facelift in 2015 and a launch for the next-gen model is expected by the end of 2018. This will be the 2019 model.
The new 911 is a crucial product for Porsche. It will be the very first 911 to come with the option of a hybrid powertrain. The engineers from Porsche confirmed that they were trying to work this out last year. This is also the reason for the wider stance seen in the test mules.
Porsche 911's product line director, Erhard Mössle, said that Porsche was working hard to compete with Tesla and the Model S. The automaker is trying hard to meet the CO2 regulations in 2020. He also stated that the technology they have is not far away from meeting their goals in terms of range and charging speed.
A hybrid powertrain is already available for the Cayenne SUV and the Panamera saloon. Both of these cars use the same supercharged 3.0-liter engine with an electric motor. In addition, the Porsche 918 Spyder also has a hybrid powertrain which has a 4.6-liter V8 engine and two electric motors.
Porsche is also considering an all-electric model similar to the Audi R8 e-tron. However, it is not yet guaranteed because it may not be the right time yet. According to Mössle, they need to assess if there is really a need for it. The technology is expensive and the return of investment is not guaranteed at all.
The new 2019 911 is expected to have a base model similar to the 911 Carrera. It will also use a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat six engine. Mössle also confirmed that the new 911 will have a modified MMB platform. "The 911 is always an evolution, not a revolution," Mössle said.
In addition, a digital dashboard based on Audi's Virtual Cockpit is also in the works. This all-digital dashboard currently appears in the TT, A4, and Q7 model lines.
The 2019 Porsche 911 will be an amazing car. It is one step closer to the Porsche Mission E and shows that Porsche is still on track with the self-driving car race.
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