(August 24, 2011) ATLANTA (PRNewswire) — At 48, the Porsche 911 Carrera is younger than ever. The completely redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon is stepping into the limelight with a sleek and stretched silhouette, exciting contours and precisely designed features.

Yet from every angle it is unmistakably a 911, holding true to the Porsche 911 Carrera "evolution, not revolution" design philosophy.

The 2012 911 will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

The 3.9 inch longer wheelbase and reduced overall height underpin the new appearance. When viewed from the front, the eye is drawn to the 911's trademark wide-arched fenders, emphasizing the wider front track. The side mirrors are now mounted on the upper edge of the door, which also helps highlight the new design line and gives the visual impression of width.

The new lightweight body is an aluminum-steel composite construction and contributes greatly to the 100 pound weight reduction when compared to the previous 911 body.

To complement the modern exterior design, Porsche designers created an interior reminiscent of the Carrera GT.

A Start Stop function, engine and transmission thermal management, electrical system recuperation, the world's first seven-speed manual transmission and —  in conjunction with the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) — the ability to 'sail' or coast are all part of the new Porsche. The new electro-mechanical power steering offers not only Porsche's typical precision and feedback but also helps increase efficiency and reduce fuel-consumption.

The 911 Carrera gets a new 350-horsepower, 3.4-liter boxer engine. The 911 Carrera S has a 400 horsepower, 3.8-liter boxer engine — 15 horsepower more than before.

At the same time there are performance improvements in both models. The 911 Carrera S with PDK accelerates from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds. Using the Launch Control function of the optional Sport Chrono Package cuts that to 3.9 seconds. The 911 Carrera with PDK needs only 4.4 seconds to sprint from a standing start to 60 mph (4.2 seconds when using the optional Sport Chrono Package's Launch Control function). Top-track speed for the 911 Carrera S and 911 Carrera is 188 mph and 179 mph, respectively.

The first new 911 models will arrive in U.S. dealerships beginning in February. The new 911 Carrera Coupe will have a base MSRP of $82,100, while the 911 Carrera S Coupe's base MSRP will be $96,400 (excluding destination). Both models will include substantial additional equipment when compared to the previous models.