Next-Gen Porsche 911 Eschews Autonomous Tech

Don’t expect any major design changes or autonomous driving technologies in Porsche AG’s eighth-generation 911 sports car due next year.

The first official photo of a camouflaged 2020 model, which is codenamed the 992, shows the car maintains the same basic shape as previous 911s. Leaked images from earlier this month indicate the car will be slightly wider than the current model and sport a thin rear LED strip light bar.

Other design tweaks to the car’s rear include a large black accent piece, raised engine cover and redesigned spoiler. The current 911’s interior layout and sporty driving dynamics will be retained.

New technologies and digital interfaces will be added only when appropriate, and all such systems must “fit” the 911’s character, according to 911 model line chief August Achleitner (pictured). He hints that the new model may include lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, but drivers will be able to turn the systems off if they desire.

As far as autonomous driving is concerned, Achleitner says the 911 will be “one of the last to include the capability.” He asserts that the sports car will “always have a steering wheel.”

Power for the new model is expected to come from an uprated version of the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 engine that debuted in last year’s 911. Achleitner does say an electrified powertrain could eventually be an option. Media reports predict a plug-in hybrid 911 sometime in the next decade.​​​