Originally Posted by ADias

Let us try to understand the issues. The WB (wheelbase) is the distance between the front and rear axles measured between wheel hub centers.

The 991 WB will be 4" longer than the 997 WB:

WB(991) = WB(997) + 4 (in inches).

This WB increase is fact, not conjecture.

Thus, relatively to the front wheels, the 991 rear wheels will be 4" behind. Its engine will therefore be 4" behind relatively to the current engine position (relatively to the front wheels).

The engine and transmission will be the same dimensionally and the engine will be further back - 4" back. The space gain occurs entirely in the cockpit behind the front seats.

Any photographic comparison will have to use the 4" WB differential as its basis of comparison (not the overall length). The car length seems to be slightly larger. Perhaps not quite 4" longer due to some overhang savings (more savings up front).

Now... with a longer wheelbase, PAG has now space to flip the positions of the transmission and the engine and make it mid-engine. The 991 wheelbase (96.4") is longer than the Cayman (mid-engine) (95.1"). This may happen on some homologated series for motorsports certification. If it happens, it will be PAG's way to bring a Cayman architecture (albeit with better suspension) in 911 clothes.

P.S. - re the photos above it is quite clear that the rear cabin increased, by noticing the forward repositioning of the apex of the side rear window now slightly forward of the rear wheel hub.

Originally Posted by ADias

Thus, relatively to the front wheels, the 991 rear wheels will be 4" behind.

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Originally Posted by tpenta

I understand that relative to the front wheels it may be so but is that what is relevant or is it the location of the center of gravity compared to the location of the wheels and engine that is most important?

Granted this is all speculation at this point, but it seems to me that the car's overall center of gravity is moving closer to the mid point of the car's length. I believe right now the distribution is 60:40 so I suspect it will be something closer to 55:45 if I had to take a wild guess.

I can only assume that this will create a better handling car -- even if it robs the car's traditional rear weight distribution feel.

Anyway, just 2 cents worth...

-T

Originally Posted by docfink

Isn't it possible that while the while the wheelbase is extended 4" that the engine could be pushed FORWARD 4" making it more balanced in the chassis? It's possible that moving the tranny forward and keeping the engine where it is that a more balanced chassis will be gained, but it's all conjecture for the time being.

Regarding more rear seat room, with that sloping roof/rear window, no one will want to sit back there, unless they lack a head, but an engine could certainly fit right behind the back seats...

Originally Posted by yemenmocha

Sorry to be negative but I don't want bigger & longer Porsches. I already miss the older 911's and their relatively small size. The 997 is already too big, IMO.

Originally Posted by ADias

Look at the geometry... The engine/tranny mass is still in the save relative position to the rear axle. PAG is not going to separate apart the engine and tranny to move weight forward. The gain is all in front of the tranny and mktg will spin the back-seating space gain, which for some of us is a negative, but the masses think otherwise, I'm sure.

The whole WB increase is to take advantage of the ill-conceived EPA footprint reg. A side effect of that is to allow space to develop a '911' mid-engine for racing. This is what I think is going on.

Originally Posted by Fahrer

It looks like the 911 will get more and more expensive ( and bigger and heavier) while the Boxster and Cayman will take over the traditional business. Hmmm.... the 911 becomes the new 928?