Spy Shots: Facelifted Porsche 911
World Car Fans has some very interesting spy photos up that show type-997 Porsche 911s in coupe and cabriolet body styles sporting updated front and rear fascias.Around back, completely new taillights are the obvious change, while the front end gets 997 turbo-style intakes in the corners of the bumper.
Obviously, it's still too early to know when these changes are coming and if they'll find their way across the entire 911 range right away. As WCF points out, the just-announced Targa coming in November does not wear any of this new bodywork.
Chances are, however, that in due time all 911s will get the new look. History has shown us that even when changes are "exclusive" to some models (think of the 996 Turbo's headlights), they eventually are applied across the board.
Either way, Porsche aficionados have something to look forward to. For a gallery of full-car shots, head over to World Car Fans.
[Source: WorldCarFans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
naggs 6:27PM (7/20/2006)
am i the only one who cant see a difference? the engineers are probably tweaking the front for 1% better brake cooling. everyone knows that porsche has only one designer and his name is Status Quo. i think hes swiss.
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cBennett 7:09PM (7/20/2006)
My guess would be that this may be a facelift for the 4S models. The 996 C4S borrowed the Turbo body kit so maybe this updated look is to differentiate the 4S line. Who knows. Anyways, knowtice that the rear lights are no longer straight on the bottom but are slightly curved. I'm not sure I like it.
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anahit 7:12PM (7/20/2006)
Yawn. The 911 format and machinery may be relatively timeless but the time has come for changing the metallic skin.
It's tired. They keep giving it Botox and it predictably loses expression with each succession. It's not even a 2007 911--it's just another 911. The average person could reasonably mistake a new one for being 15 years old.
No doubt this is heresy to Porschephiles. Guys, I appreciate your dedication. I really do. But the 911 needs an entirely new look. As is, it's just more tweaking of the same grotesquely vain, Bruce Jenner-like visage. If you've seen him recently, you know what I mean.
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Mark R 9:58PM (7/20/2006)
Boy, am I glad I'm not the only one who thinks this porsche look is getting dated. If any other company (Ford, Chevy) kept the same exact look for 30+ years, there would be h-e-double hockey sticks to pay. I know some die-hards think this look is timeless. I say it is just tired.
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Marc James 10:15PM (7/20/2006)
anahit, why change it if it isn't broken? It's one of the few classic, timeless car designs (Range Rover, Jag XJ, a few others also come to mind). I think it's brilliant they've been able to keep the same shape and perfect it over time, always finding a way to keep it fresh and modern. Why does the 911 need a new look, just so it's new? What does that accomplish? The 911 is a legend and should be changed through evolution, not revolution.
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smeliot75 12:46AM (7/21/2006)
anahit, that's exactly why it's great; you can buy a 911 and 10 years later it still looks like a new car. Nothing is worse than buying a new car right before the model changes its look.
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PBCrunch 9:21AM (7/21/2006)
The new tail lights make the rear end look like the rear of the current Mitsubishi Eclipse. I know Mitsu was aping the 911 rear for their car but Porsche has played right into their hands.
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anahit 11:17AM (7/21/2006)
We're talking aethestics so obviously there isn't an objective right/wrong. I'm simply bored of the styling and find the perpetual shape with rhythmic tweaking something only Sisyphus and Porsche shareholders could appreciate.
It's like a good steak. Biting into that tasty and tender flesh, chewing to extract the flavor. It's almost magical. But after a few meals in a row of eating steak it will have lost appeal. You can throw some mushrooms or bleu cheese on it and pretend it's a new meal but it's not. It's old and what was once fantastic you don't want any more.
That said, the omni-shape is good for new owners because it looks new long afterward. But there are limits to that. If there weren't, then the styling of every other car wouldn't change. While Hank Ford might have like that, nobody else would.
I experience zero excitement when a 911 is "re-done" because it's not re-done. It never is. The "new" design is neither fresh nor modern to my eyes. Hell, an Aveo redesign is more interesting than a 911's.
I don't doubt the 911's abilities but I'll never consider one because I swear I can see the staples behind the ears--even if it does come with a Bruce Jenner juice machine.
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MikeW 9:11PM (7/22/2006)
It isn't a facelift until the double clutch transmission and direct injection engine show up.
But maybe it is time for a boxing 8 with an exhaust manifold to compensate for the irregular firing LRLLRLRR.
push it farther into the car to keep the distribution closer to 40/60 than 35/65
Supercar with twin turbo boxing 10 to spice up the line too.
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