The current 911 is about to have a mid-life refresh and we’ve had a good look inside and out
Launched in 2019, the 992-generation Porsche 911 is one of the very best iterations in Porsche’s illustrious model line. It still sits at the top of the sports car category – whichever of the 911 varieties you choose.
While it remains the car to beat, the 911 will soon gain a facelift designed to cement that position of dominance. We’ve caught the revised model testing in a few different bodystyles and specifications already; convertible, coupe, Turbo and GTS. Now it’s the turn of the performance focused GT3 and GT3 Touring.
Top 10 best sports cars 2023
Top 10 best sports cars 2023We expect the new model to receive the 992.2 designation and that the current crop of 911 variants will be carried over. The GT3 RS version of the pre-facelift 911 was only revealed last year so expect that model’s update to be a few years off.
The changes to the GT3 and GT3 Touring will ape those of the standard car, with new LED daytime running lights. The GT3 models get a bespoke front and rear bumper and while it looks unchanged at the front, the rear has some camouflage on it in our pictures so expect some slight alterations there. The twin-exit central exhaust remains and on the GT3 the swan-neck spoiler looks the same.
The standard 911 will get a new front and rear bumper design – the latter making space for a new style of centre-exit exhaust system – similar to the one on the Cayman GTS model. Above this our spy shots of that car show plastic moulding around the engine grille, indicating that a revised air intake is on the cards. We’re also expecting some different alloy wheel designs and paint options.
Porsche 911 facelift: engines and performance
A new air intake and exhaust system could allow for more power. During the previous generation’s facelift (from 991 to 911.2), Porsche increased the Carrera S’ output from 395bhp to 420bhp and the GTS also received a 20bhp bump. A similar uplift could happen across the standard 911 model range for the updated 992 generation.
The refreshed 911 will also benefit from some chassis tweaks and, perhaps most significantly, a fully digitised cabin that ditches the current model’s analogue rev-counter.
Interior
Inside, the facelifted 911 is expected to retain the same basic layout as the existing car. It’ll also benefit from Porsche's latest PCM 6.0 infotainment system, which has just recently been updated to include Spotify music streaming, wireless Android Auto and an improved voice assistant.
However, the updated sports car will move forward with a new, fully digital instrument panel, like that of the Taycan EV. The current model has an analogue rev-counter flanked by two screens, but this could be replaced with a slender curved screen that can display drive mode information, a map for navigation and a feed from the car's night-vision system. Don’t be fooled by the huge central screen in the latest batch of spy imagery. We expect this screen is just for research and development use only.
The next 911 could also receive an improved suite of sensors for more advanced driving-assist technologies. A raft of chassis and handling improvements is also expected to give the 992.2 sharper responses when the driver takes full control.
Porsche has honed the 911's suspension and steering set-up as part of previous mid-life updates, so a returned electric power steering set-up and revised chassis settings are likely. A snappier calibration for the eight-speed PDK gearbox is also possible, although the 992.2 is unlikely to receive significant powertrain revisions.
It will, however, gain a new hybrid variant. The long-awaited electrified 911 will be part of the 992.2 line-up and will be based on the Turbo model. We spotted it testing back in 2021 so it could be ready for launch alongside the facelifted 911. The electrically assisted 911 could also end up producing more power than the 641bhp 911 Turbo S and become the most potent 911 available.
Now read our in-depth review of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS…
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