The current 997 Porsche 911 is still being updated for its mid-cycle refresh, with the standard Carrera, Carrera 4, Targa, and more recently the GT3 all receiving the update. Still in the works are the new Turbo and the GT2 models, though they too are drawing near to their expected unveiling. Having nearly completed development work on these vehicles, Porsche engineers are already hard at work testing prototypes of the next-generation 998 model.
We have previously seen test vehicles for the standard 998 Coupe and Cabrio models, as well as the high-performance Turbo, and now we have the first images of what appears to be the 911 Targa model caught in the snow.
Clear differences between the 998 and the current 997 model are a pair of more upright headlights, side mirrors positioned at the side of the doors and not at the window, and a slightly longer body. This particular test vehicle has some visible lines around the rear window, suggesting that it is removable. It is not clear yet if Porsche will only have AWD versions of the Targa like the current model, but tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations may see the introduction of a lighter RWD version.
It is also still too early to determine what changes Porsche has in store for the engine lineup, but expect to see the recently revised flat-six engine range carry over with only minimal updates – possibly for emissions and economy standards. The new PDK dual-clutch gearbox will also carry over as will a standard six-speed manual.
The 998 version of Porsche’s iconic supercar isn’t expected to arrive in showrooms until late 2011, but we expect to see much more of the car from spy photographers as it develops.
Check out the full article with pictures on Motor Authority.
