The upcoming, 992-generation Porsche 911 could adopt
some form of electrification, though the extent of the adoption has yet to be
confirmed by the company, according to chief of the 911 model line August
Achleitner. Porsche thinks there will be a next step in terms of drive
technology “if it fits Porsche and the specific character of the 911.”
The 911 chief calls the iconic model ‘the heart of
the company,’ pointing to key factors which distinguish the model from other
cars, adding that “the decisive factor is that the 911 generates a driving
feeling that no other car can impart,” Achleitner said.
That 911 identity required by Achleitner and Porsche
extends to interior design, and with the increasing popularity of digital
panels in modern car interiors, Achleitner feels that it is important for
digital interfaces between people and machines to be as timeless as possible.
“Even where the public might be expecting a bigger ‘wow factor,’ in the long
run a certain aesthetic reserve pays dividends,” he said.
This is reflected by the latest spy images of the
992-generation car, here including an image of its interior. Here we can see
that a new design of steering wheel joins an array of digital displays, the
former drawing inspiration from the Mission E’s helm while the latter is a
development of the units employed on the latest Cayenne and Panamera.
The capabilities enabled by said interfaces also
need to fit with the character of the Porsche 911, the model line director
added. “When it comes to the individual assistance systems, the have to fit
with the 911. Those are convenient and useful things. But the customer has to
make the choice to use them and, above all, be able to switch them off when
they’re not desired,” he said.
There’s hope for fans of the stick-shift
transmission, too, judging from this image of the test mule’s interior showing
a manual transmission lever. This doesn’t mean the product chief is completely
against the development of a 911 with electric drive, however.
Cr : Paultan
