U Spy: 2019 Porsche 911 Caught Completely Undisguised?

The new 911, code-name 992, is probably the automotive world’s worst kept secret, as we’ve seen lots of camouflaged cars, from the plain Carrera to the Turbo, testing in the past few months.

Now, it looks like we have the first image of the 2019 911, courtesy of one of our readers who spotted it on an Instagram account. And by the looks of it, it seems like the real deal.

Although we only have an image of the rear end, it surely looks different than the 991 series series, which has been around since 2011, with a facelift in late 2015. The 991.2, as it was known, also marked the introduction of all-new, turbocharged flat-sixes across the range for the very first time, with a naturally aspirated engine being available only in the GT3 and the limited edition R.

While the new engines sported smaller capacities, they were more powerful, more frugal and faster overall than their predecessors, yet they received lots of flak for losing Porsche’s characteristic flat-six sound and instant throttle response. And that’s despite the fact that even the base Carrera sported 370 PS (365 HP) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque from its 3.0-liter engine.

Nevertheless, Porsche is going to launch a new 911 this year, and this image seems legit as the rear end does have some substantial changes compared to the current model, such as the taillights and the addition of a horizontal strip that connects them, the rear decklid design and the lower end of the bumper, all of which are different compared to the 991.2.

The wide rear fenders lead us to believe that this could be the Carrera S version, though that remains to be seen. Previous reports indicated that the 2019 911 will use an upgraded version of the turbocharged flat-six and will also get a 48V mild hybrid system, which will increase power and further reduce consumption.

Although this is just speculation, the same sources claim that the base Carrera will get 400 HP and the Carrera S will be bumped up to 450 HP. And, like always, we’ll have an onslaught of new versions, starting with the Cabriolet and going on to the Targa, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S and, probably, a plug-in hybrid in 2023.

Of course there’ll be a GT3, too, but hardcore fans need fear not, as Porsche’s execs have recently insisted that it will remain naturally aspirated and will still sport a manual gearbox.

At the time of writing, we had no info of when the 992 will be launched, although the car seems ready and the Geneva Auto Show that opens on the 8th of March is the most likely venue.

Hat tip to Omar!