This is the new Porsche 911... sort of

On the 911 as innovator

“With each innovation, the decisive factor for me is whether it suits the character of the 911. We don’t necessarily have to be the first in this regard. What’s crucial, rather, is that every innovation will be offered in a typical Porsche manifestation. Even where the public might be expecting a bigger ‘wow factor,’ in the long run a certain aesthetic reserve pays dividends.”

On 911 past changes

It was 1997 when the era of air-cooled engines came to an end, and in 2015 the last naturally-aspirated engine in the rear of the Carrera was replaced by a turbo engine. Says Achleitner: “Some fans rushed the barricades; it was all gloom and doom for many. And then the same thing happened as always: nothing. The new models received even more rave reviews than their predecessors. That encourages us to think about fundamental innovations in the future as well.”

On the new 911 and driver-assist systems

“Individual assistance systems have to fit with the 911. After all, adaptive cruise control or a lane-keeping assist function are convenient and useful things but no one buys a sports car because of them. The customer has to make the choice to use them and, above all, be able to switch them off when they’re not desired.”

On an autonomous-driving 911

“A 911 will always have a steering wheel. And if autonomously driving cars break through more quickly than expected? Then the 911 will be one of the last cars to drive autonomously.”

On an electric 911

“Two years ago I’d have said no way. Today I wouldn’t categorically rule it out. Type 992 is not an electric sports car. But it could be an option somewhere down the line.” Achleitner says while he clings to the flat-six engine, he can imagine an electric motor in the 911.

On what the new 992 911 will be like

“The decisive factor is that the 911 generates a driving feeling that no other car can impart. It’s just the nature of things: the specific seat position, the flat-six engine in the rear, its inimitable sound, the astonishing amount of space, the perfect feedback from the brakes, steering, and pedal system together with the striking suspension and dynamic but always easily controllable burst of power. The one-of-a-kind design ties it all together. The new 911 will be the best 911 of all time.”

On the 911’s importance to Porsche

“It is the heart of the company. If one were to strip down everything that bears a Porsche logo, that exemplifies and drives the company, to reveal the core of the brand, it would look like a 911.