Known internally as the 996, the new car is considerably larger than before, to allow for increased crash protection and a more spacious cockpit. The wheelbase has grown by 80mm, the overall length by 185mm and the width by 30mm.The most significant changes have been saved for the engine. It’s still a naturally aspirated flat-six design, mounted longitudinally behind the rear axle to a six-speed manual (or five-speed Tiptronic) gearbox; but there the similarities end. The 911’s beloved air-cooling has been dropped in favour of water-cooling, with twin radiators mounted under the front wings. Suspension and sub-frames are mostly in aluminium alloy, with the same basic geometric layout as before: struts up front, five-link wishbones behind.
