The foundation for the modern 911
In Porsche’s financial situation of the 1990s, the 996 had gone to a bit wrong direction exterior design and engine technology wise. The 997 Carrera now was mostly a cosmetic makeover. The structural bodyshell, the shape of the roof and the 3.6-litre engine of the 996 Carrera were kept.
The financial trick was to offer the new 3.8-litre M97 engine in the model called the 911 Carrera S. So, if you really wanted a NEW 911, you ordered the car with the 3.8-litre engine. As the years went by, the downside of the bored-out engine came out: the larger the displacement of the M96/M97 Carrera engine, the more fragile its 6th cylinder is to the overheating.
Photos by @alex_mititean