Porsche 911

For some car companies, evolution involves making radical changes at regular intervals to their products in order to maintain their appeal. However, that's not the way it works at Porsche, whose notoriously fast cars get updated at a notoriously glacial pace, at least in terms of style, even while sometimes major advancements occur under the skin.

Even so, the slight changes that will find their way to the iconic Carrera within the next year or so are not so insignificant as to make it past the watchful eye of our European spy photographers, one of whom exasperated a Porsche test driver (who was stupid enough to venture onto Germany's public roads in a future Carrera) by following him about while snapping away.

Specifically, what he got was a pretty, blue, badge-less 2009 Carrera S clearly showing off new quad-element HID headlamps nestled within the Carrera's not-new ovoid surrounds. Beneath the familiar frog eyes are enlarged air intakes into which the turn signals are integrated (thankfully in a horizontal arrangement, as opposed to the fang-like design on the 2008 Cayenne). A subtle lower lip extends from the chin spoiler and continues all the way down the bodysides and into the rear bumper. Said bumper has been revised to accommodate wider-set tailpipes and, unfortunately, droopy Cayenne-style LED taillamps. At least there will be a red bar running between the lights, a curious favorite of Porschephiles.

The most notable mechanical change we expect in the 2009 911 is increased horsepower and torque, thanks to direct injection. Sources indicate the 3.6-liter 911 Carrera stands to get a 20-horsepower and 15 foot-pound bump to 345 horsepower and 288 pound-feet. The 3.8-liter 911 Carrera S could get a 30-horsepower and 15 foot-pound bump to 385 horsepower and 310 pound-feet. Even more interesting is the almost certain availability of the long-awaited “PDK” seven-speed dual-clutch sequential-manual transmission with launch control. A limited-slip differential is purported to be standard on all-wheel-drive 911s and available on rear-drivers.

Rumors indicate an available touch-screen, hard-disk-based navigation system with iPod and Bluetooth interfaces. From a German car company? We’ll believe that when we see it. Our source indicates an on-sale date of late September 2008.