2009 Porsche 911 to get HP Increase and a 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission

No, but it will undoubtedly look like a 911. Changing the style of such an iconic car to please internet hooligans who can't actually buy the car would be stupid of Porsche. Porsche caters directly to its small but highly dedicated fanbase who are adamant about not messing with the general shape and layout of the 911. If Porsche were to change the 911 to dramatically, these hardcore fans (who actually have the means to purchase the cars and support the company) will be up in arms.

It doesn't make sense to piss off your main client base to please random people who can't afford the cars anyways.

"Changing the style of such an iconic car to please internet hooligans who can't actually buy the car would be stupid of Porsche."

LOL

Sweet!

It will be interesting how much the 7 speed dual clutch gearbox affects the 911's performance.

Thank you GT-R.

thats why other sites such as autoblog are not only better in that respect, but the journalism is alot better too.

LOL!

You should check out their HOT test of the PONTIAC VIBE today!

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/in-the-autoblog-garage-2009-pontiac-vibe/

Make sure you use AOL though to access it!

LOLOL!!!!!!

"7-speed Dual-Clutch PDK Transmission"

PDK - i think VW(borg warner) DSG rather .

TurboSpyder:
(http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=96189
"Development of the system for VW was the result of collaboration between engineers throughout BorgWarner's network of technology centers")

You don`t get me right . will PDK be in VW/Audi future cars with high power engines only named DSG ?

The photos show a "shark-fin" antenna on the roof, so maybe some of the hightech stuff will materialize.

I think dual clutch transmission will do substantial progress in acceleration-->track times . when they will put dual clutch to porsche 911 turbo it could do even slightly better time on nurburgring than nissan GT-R 7:38 .

especially 7-speed .

Two thumbs up for Porsche!

heading for extinction. Atleast it'll be a classic.

How stupid can you be?

There will, as far as I can see, always be a market for the Porsche 911. How do you think it's survived for over forty years?

There is no doubt that despite the Nissan GT-R, which by any objective measure hammers a Carrera S into oblivion, the 911 is a winner for Porsche and so many people. It is just a pure driver's car, which by virtue of its low weight, just maanges to connect a driver to the road better than anything else. Indeed, people who crticise it are not the people who buy it, and Porsche does wlel to follow the legion of 911 owners who know what they want. Porsche tried with the 928 many years ago, but that brought in a new crowd: the 911 people ignored it.

The Carrera S most probably will hit 60 mph in less than 4 sec now. And likely the turbo version may be under 3 sec.

The iconic 911 franchise may have taken it on the chin with the release of the incredible GT-R, but with the inevitable power bump and the release of the awesome dual clutch tranny, the reign of Godzilla may be short-lived.

Maybe there really is no substitute.

I'm sure this will make the 911 alot quicker, but I'll still take a clutch anyday.

Oh oh, someone is feeling the pain from the GT-R, they're trying to copy the GT-R's spec.

Nissan are the ones who copied the 997 Turbo specs with the GT-R

GTR's spec? Regarding what? The Dual-clutch transmission? They already were in partnership with VW when the GTR came out, so they had access to the DSG for a long time but only now put it in. I don't think Porsche is in pain becuase of the GTR, they will still have people to buy their cars so i do see your point. There's more to a car then just performance figures.

Designer1 just lives in a one-dimensional world based within his computer screen.

Porsche invented/patented the double clutch transmission - they have used it for years in their racing cars. The reason why DSG (VW/AUDI's version) appeared first is that it was designed and proven reliable for lower hp/torque vehicles. Notice that the R8 doesn't use the VW DSG system but rather the lambo system. Porsche has taken the time to ensure that PDK can reliably handle the hp/torque of its street cars for the extended periods of time that us Porsche lovers enjoy their cars.

Porsche copy the GT-R specs? Seems to me it is the other way around. BTW, it would be really interesting to know what the product cost is on a GT-R - my guess is that Nissan is doing the old Japanese car trick of "dumping cars" (making no profit or even taking a loss on a given vehicle model)to get a foothold in the U.S. highend market. They'll leave it up to their dealers to screw the customers with "market value" pricing. Can't wait to read the boo-hoo stories from all the GT-R purchasers who were promised the car at MSRP.

So they're going back to the original design of the headlights? Interesting.

It's been like that since the 997 came out in 2005.

Anyone remember that Ricardo makes the 7sp DSG in the Veyron.?

I wasn't aware that the R8 has a DSG box. I'm pretty sure it doesn't yet.

Isn't that what I said:

"Notice that the R8 doesn't use the VW DSG system but rather the lambo system."

r8's are offered with either a manual or a manumatic (the R-Tronic system from lambo)

I wouldn't be surprised if an upcoming R8 variant, whether it be the V12 TDI or V10 petrol, uses the new seven-speed BorgWarner DSG. Audi would be stupid not to implement it across the lineup and just kill the six-speed auto.

I am not sure if you guys realize this but so far paddle shifters on the steering column has yet to be seen. All of the prototypes are running on small shifter buttons on the steering wheel very similar to the Tiptronic shifters. As cool as the 7 speed PDK sounds, the system doesn't seem all that well thought out. That alone I would chose the updated manual gearbox.

On top of that the facelift sounds more GT than sports car with the various creature comforts including heated steering wheels.

I am looking more forward to the 997 GT3 MKII more than anything. With the horsepower bumps in the Carrera and Carrera S models, the GT3 should be devastatingly quick and as if the GT3 wasn't already quick enough.

i still choose Manual even 7 speed PDK shift faster.

I think the pdk will become a favorite transmission choice. can't wait

Running scared from the GT-R. LOL
Horrors - it will even have a slushbox like the GT-R.