dertub

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=00682286

graham_mitchell

The rear bumper stops too far from the ground, the rear spoiler is a little ugly and the indicators are just bizarre (are they really the finished design?)

But these few niggles are all fixable. The turbo should have a better wing, and lowering the car will improve the 'on stilts' appearance especially noticeable at the rear.

Overall it looks just great. Woohoo!

380hp for the 'S' sounds very tempting. What the article doesn't mention is how much it weighs. The RS version should be a real winner though

What is the advantage of a dual clutch gearbox?

Baron009

I like it. The biggest problem I see is the front seems way too tame, but maybe it's still disguised. The rear is pretty good overall. It just might be a bit too bulgy, and egg shaped or something.

You really have to see it in person I guess.

Brett - 1996 C4

The hope is that it will be smoother-shifting than the semi-automatic gearboxes on other makes (e.g., BMW SMG, Ferrari F1). The first car this is appearing on is the Audi TT. Here is some info from Audi on their system:

Audi DSG

From articles I have read, the system preselects the next gear based on driving behavior; when you shift, the clutch for the preselected gear engages and the clutch for the current gear disengages, so you have no power loss on shift. There are dual transmission shafts (a solid one inside a hollow shaft) to enable this bit of wizardry.

I haven't seen any posts here though from anyone who has driven one, yet many people have said the BMW and Ferrari systems leave much to be desired, especially when driven around town. Of course, these aren't dual clutch systems. I'm hoping the dual clutch will prove more tractable.

graham_mitchell

thanks for the link.

Is the change clutchless then? I have seen racing cars which have a gear lever that is either pushed forward or back to change gears up or down sequentially. Is this how the Porsche system will work?

TIS330ci

yes clutchless

Wachuko

Thank you for the link.

The photos do not seem to be of the final car... you can still see the rear end cover up... I say there are a few more changes that we can't see from the photos...

but these are the best I have seen so far.

Baron009

I just noticed the steering wheel mounted controls, and I really hope those are just optional. Maybe I'm crazy but I find them MORE distracting then your classic setup. I don't mind having to reach a bit (I have long arms so it's no problem for me I guess), but I really hate having the steering wheel controls that I sometimes accidently mash when doing heavy cornering and spirited driving. Not that I will be able to afford a 997 anytime soon, but I really hope those are optional, or deletable, or at the very least difficult to mash by accident.

Difference Engine

In looking at those pics, it looks like just the front and rear lights still have cover up on them. The lines of the body appear untouched. Having said that, the car needs a diet. If J Lo were a car, this is it. That last pic, the 3/4 view from the right rear...the back end looks huge! Those are 18" rims and they look tiny. And I still think the round headlights are a step back in the evolutionary process.

The interior looks just like eveything else out there. And the fake aluminum really looks fake. At least the current aluminum-look finish looks nice. The new stuff just looks like silver plastic and therefore, loosk cheap.

Still, I'm excited about this car. Looking forward to product training too.

Doug&Julie

Yep, I see tape lines. Looks like it's the final version, but with silver tape to mask it's true look.

It does look a little plump, but it's so hard to not make a modern car that way.

I'll hold my final opinion until I see one in person, but at this stage I think I like it.

NJ-GT

I think that based on pictures and new equipment, this car is going to be heavier.

50-70 lbs more?

amfp

Does anyone have any "official" details about length and width of the 997. I know there was earlier post it was planned to be larger too. So, yes, makes sense heavier.

ryeske944

I love the return to the round headlights, but I wish the cabin width was a little skinnier, emphasizing the fender flares like the 993 design.

MFC993

Is it true that there will be no clutch pedal at all on the 997 ? How will this work ?

Brett - 1996 C4

Try reading the original article. You'd be amazed what you'll learn from original sources.

But to summarize: The 997 is rumored to appear in 3 variants:

- "revised" 6-speed manual
- 6-speed Tip
- new dual-clutch gearbox (yes, with no clutch pedal). If you want to know how it works, either read the link I posted above or see the Ferrari/BMW/Audi websites on their respective systems. I assume you have read articles on the Ferrari F1 or BMW SMG systems?