According to a post at Teamspeed forums, venerable buff book Car And Driver recently sent journalist Juergen Zoellter to South Africa to ride along with Porsche's development team as it put the finishing on touches on the next 911 (991 generation), and a few new details have hit the Web as a result.

Perhaps the most notable is that the car will increase 2.2 inches in length and 4.0 inches in wheelbase, in order to accommodate an available hybrid powertrain, which will debut in 2016 as part of a mid-cycle refresh.

The Carrera will share a 350-horsepower 3.4-liter direct-injection horizontally-opposed six-cylinder with the Boxster S, while the Carrera S will have a 3.8-liter direct-injection horizontally-opposed six that makes 400 horsepower. Both engines will be available with either a seven-speed manual transmission or seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic. Both transmissions are manufactured by ZF. Launch control will be available with both transmissions.

Porsche claims a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds for the Carrera S, the same time as the current model, and a top speed of 186 miles per hour. The story notes that those times might be conservative, since the new car shaves 55 pounds in curb weight.

Other highlights include improved fuel efficiency (12-15% on the Euro cycle), an electronic parking brake, a full-length sunroof, 19-inch wheels on the Carrera, and standard 20-inch wheels on the Carrera S (optional on the Carrera).

Porsche says the 991 Carrera ran the Nurburgring in 8:04 and the Carrera S did in 7:50.

The next 911 launches in September.





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