Porsche 911 (2011) the first official video of the 991

Prototypes of Porsche’s new 991-spec 911 haven’t been snapped out on test by our spies this week, so just in case you’ve been having withdrawal symptoms, Stuttgart’s most famous sports car manufacturer has released its own video of its iconic car.

Shot in South Africa during the 991’s final validation and testing phase, the video is our best look yet at the new 911 on the move. We finally get to hear the flat six engines, and get glimpses under the bonnet and inside its Panamera-inspired interior – look closely and you can spy the seven forward speeds etched onto the gearknob for the manual ‘box. 

Beyond that there’s little more to see, as Porsche won’t reveal the new 911 until the 2011 Frankfurt motor show this September. That’s not to say we haven’t known all about the 991-gen 911 for years. While the 997 911s were updated versions of the 996, this new model really is all new, with a stretched wheelbase that liberates extra cabin room. The current direct injection 3.8-litre flat six from the Carrera S remains, but is upgraded to 394bhp, while the 3.6 shrinks to a 3.4 – but gains 4bhp to produce a 345bhp total.

Aluminium parts help cut the kerbweight, stop/start will be standard on both the seven-speed manual and seven-speed PDK double-clutch transmission, and (somewhat worryingly) there’s electric power steering too. 

Beyond the Carrera and Carrera S models (and their Cabriolet variants) there'll also be four-wheel drive 911s with widended rear bodywork, Targas, and a Turbo with 500bhp-plus. Porsche's Motorsport division will also develop GT3 and GT2 models, but as the famed 911 GT1 engine is no more, the new GT cars will have to use a new engine block. It's a leap into the unknown at that end of the 911 family tree, but it's business as usual for the rest of the range.   

By Ben Pulman