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The new Porshce 911

NOTE: The car in the images contain plastic covering over some of the body to try hide some details, specifically the front and rear bumpers.

Porsche’s next generation 911 has been spied testing, revealing a sexier version of the hero in the sports car specialist’s range.

Porsche’s next generation 911 will be lighter, faster and sexier – and these exclusive new spy shots give the first glimpse of the hero in the German sports car maker’s lineup.

Due in 2011, the new Porsche 911 is expected to focus on lightweight materials in an effort to improve performance, reduce fuel use and improve agility and road holding.

In true 911 fashion the rear mounted six-cylinder engine – updated in 2009 to include more efficient direct injection fuel injection - will remain, albeit with the usual tweaks to improve performance and efficiency.

Porsche’s engineers are believed to have been working hard on improving the performance of the 911, in particular focussing on weight reduction to boost efficiency.

But that doesn’t mean the new 911 will be slow. As with every evolution of one of the world’s most recognisable cars, expect improved performance through more advanced engine technologies including, possibly, low boost turbochargers as a way to improve efficiency and response.

Stylistically, our images show the 911 will continue to tread its careful evolutionary path, utilising the distinctive humpy shape and bold headlights.

Look carefully, though, and it’s clear the so called 998 model will be the sexiest 911 yet.

The characteristic rear wheel arches are bigger and swoopier than ever, being more pronounced than the existing 997 model to give the car a broader, more dynamic look.

The headlights are a dead giveaway that this is a new model, and they look to be standing more upright and appear to be integrated more smoothly into the front guards of the car.

The front bumper also looks to have received a few changes, including what looks to be a wider set of daytime-running lights. The indicators are positioned above the day-time running lights, and are expected to be integrated into a single unit, similar to the current model.

Also noticeable is the covered-over central air-dam under the number-plate, though this may revert back to an open air intake on the production model.

The roofline looks sleeker and more Cayman-esque, with a lower, less bulgy profile than the current 911.

Other changes to the appearance of the new Porsche 911 include the door mirrors, which have shifted onto the side of the door rather than in the traditional side window corner – similar to those of the four-door Panamera.

These spy pictures also offer a look at the tail-lights, though thanks to the disguise worn by this 911 mule, the final design details are hard to determine – we’re predicting that the tail-lights pictured may even be fakes. Expect LED tail-lights to be fitted to the production version.

The high brake light is positioned in an oversized rear spoiler, which is a prop. A retracting rear spoiler (which doubles as an air intake for the rear-mounted engine) is expected to again be a fixture of the new model, although sources suggest it will evolve substantially over today’s car.

Don’t let those turbo air-intakes on the side of the car fool you – they’re actually just stickers, suggesting the car is a regular 911 rather than the higher performance model.