991 "Factoids"
 

Hot off the PCA presses. some insight into what we can expect from Porsche on the next "New 911" due out in MY12.

From Porsche Panorama, the line will split into a 'base' 911 known as the 911S with a 3.4 liter engine (350PS) and then the upper end model will be the "Carrera RS" with the 3.8 liter engine (400PS) capable of 195 mph while getting 30 mpg. Wheelbase will go up 100mm, track a bit wider, with overhangs a bit shorter. They are also looking to abandon conventional side mirrors with small rear-looking cameras with small swiveling tv screens in the A-pillars. The 7-speed PDK tranny may ultimately do away with the 6-speed manual.

More like "Speculationoids" to me. :)

Silly marketing moves
 

There goes the go-kart dynamics we love in the 911, as its wheelbase will be 1" longer than the current mid-engine Cayman! :banghead:

I suspect they are doing this to mount a mid-engine setup in 911-look-alike racing cars. They are doing that strictly for marketing reasons instead of racing the Cayman which is what they should do. :to_order:

To OCBen: this is more than speculation. The writing has been out there in photos of many 991 mules (see HERE).

But it's less than fact.

It's not pudding until it's pudding.

Pure speculation, and not educated speculation at that. Not possible to reach 195mph with only 400hp. And Porsche will not miss an opportunity to charge $4k+ for the PDK (with SC) option.

I'm having a hard time envisioning the rear view TV screens -- kind of like the simplicity of a mirror. Would suck to only have a PDK option.

It's actually 394.5 hp. That's what that BS, I mean PS metric "horspower", converts to.

Why not?

Top speed of the 997.1 S with 355 HP is 186 mph.

45 more HP should be worth 9 mph, no? Especially since they are constantly working on weight savings.

Weight (mass) is not a factor in top straight-line speed, given a long enough runway. Air drag is.

Air drag and frictional drag.

Terminal velocity is reached when the acceleration force is equaled by the combined drag forces of air and friction (wheel bearings, rolling friction of the tires, etc.).

What he said.

You don't think that an extra 45 HP is good for an extra 9 mph top speed then?

It's only 15HP. The current car has 385HP and top speed is 188MPH.

Taking the mirrors off reduces parasitic drag a bit. I'm at 185 mph with 355hp, so 400hp should be good for another 10 mph.

OK, let's compare apples to apples here.

I mentioned the 997.1 with a top speed of 186 mph and 355 HP. A 400 HP upgrade would require an extra 9 mph (to 195) with 45 extra horses.

A 997.2 with 385 HP and a top speed of 188 would require an increase in top speed of 7 mph with 15 extra HP.

Granted the curve is not looking favorable for an increase to 195 but if they improve the cars Cd (which I assume they are trying to by redesigning the mirrors etc) it's not outside the realm of possibility.