I've been trying to learn more about the 997 model compared to the 996 and air cooled generations just to satisfy my engineering curiosity. I understand that Porsche has been steadily and creatively solving the negative handing characteristics of an engine at the wrong end (lift off oversteer, pendulum, etc.) Kinematic toe was something I spoke about at length with a friend in the market for a 993 and was wondering how/if that was employed on the 997 in anyway. A search on the forum doesn't really mention it. Though I do know that rear toe is affected when lowering the car which would indicate that the 997 might have some sort of system like this.

TL;DR Does the 997 have kinematic toe? If not, what newer system was used to mitigate the negative handling characteristics of a rear engine in a sports car?

 

That is an interesting question. I had a Mazda MX6 in 1989 and the brochure discussed the ability of the rear wheels to assume a variable steering alignment, but I'm sure this system was passive (no tie rods, swivel joints in the rear axle).

http://www.gumtree.com.au/mazda-mx6.html

 

No one has any info on the 997? I'll take links.

 

I've never heard kinematic toe associated with a 911 since the 993 series (ending in 1998).

 

Right, I had not either, but the fact the rear toe moves out of spec when lowering the car (which is basically a compressed suspension) tells me that there is something very similar that adjusts the toe dynamically as the suspension travels. I would assume this was like the kinematic toe of the 993 and that it is to prevent snap oversteer and lift off oversteer on the 997.

I've been trying to figure that out with no such luck. A 3D CAD gif would certainly help but haven't found any of those either.

So now it's chalked up to the 'magic' column.