Porsche Shows What It Takes To Develop A New 911

The arrival of a new Porsche 911 is a momentous occasion for the German automaker and its legions of faithful fans around the world.

Over the model line’s 55 years of history, there have only been seven generations of 911, which is all the more remarkable when you consider that the first of them took up 26 of those years.

So you can bet that Porsche has been working hard to get the forthcoming eighth-gen Elfen just right. And it’s given us a little glimpse into that process (and the product that will emerge there from) in advance of its debut.

To make sure the new 911 lives up to its reputation, Porsche has been running its pre-production prototypes through the streets of Germany and around the Nürburgring, as you might expect. But it’s also taken it to the Arctic Circle in Finland, through Death Valley in the California desert, up the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, around the Nardo test track in Italy, and through the varied roads of China.

“In addition to its outstanding performance, it’s the 911’s suitability for daily use that has always put it in a class of its own,” said project manager Andreas Pröbstle. “That’s why we test the vehicle under all conditions, and in every type of weather and region. The vehicles’ drivetrain must function as flawlessly as its fluids, systems, operating processes and displays – it’s the only way we can be certain that the vehicle is able to travel through all regions of the world without faults.”

In the process, Porsche has enhanced the chassis and engine mechanics to the benefit of both performance and drivability. And it promises an “entirely new operating concept in the cockpit,” as well as new driver assistance and connectivity features.

The new 911 is slated to reach European showrooms at the beginning of the new year ahead. So it won’t be long now, we surmise, before we see the finished product unveiled. But you can take a glimpse at the prototypes undergoing their rigorous testing regime in the images below.