Officially official: the new Porsche 911

No more disguises, no more development mules, no more leaks: this, ladies and gentlemen wot read the Internet, is the all-new Porsche 911.

Porsche has confirmed the details of its 48-year old sports coupe today ahead of its very real and very official world premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show; a coupe that's lower, wider at the front and 100mm longer than its predecessor.

See official pics of the new Porsche 911

The base 911 gets a 3.4-litre flat-six with 350bhp that, equipped with Porsche's double-clutch PDK ‘box, sprints from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds. That's precisely 0.1 seconds quicker than before. The Carrera S gets the ‘familiar' 3.8-litre boxer engine with 400bhp, and mated to the PDK gearbox hits 62mph in 4.3 seconds. Both times drop even more with the optional Sport Chrono Pack: 4.4s for the Carrera, 4.1s for the S.

An all-new, lightweight aluminium-steel composite body means the new 911 weighs 45kg less than the outgoing 997 model, while a wider, variably extending rear spoiler has reduced the lift. Porsche has also introduced Dynamic Chassis Control onto the S, which limits body roll through extreme cornering allowing "even faster times on racing circuits". World, you have been warned...

Porsche has taken cues from its Carrera GT to sculpt the inside, with a more cocooned-cockpit thanks to a rising centre console, as well as a high-res multi-function screen to the right. The rev counter is, naturally, slap bang in the middle.

As we found out when we rode shotgun in a test model in South Africa, the new 911 gets an electro-mechanical power steering system that promises the "typical precision and feedback expected of a Porsche", but helps reduce consumption. In fact, Porsche claims 32.4mpg with the 3.8-litre S, and 34.4mpg for the Carrera. That car is also the first ever Porsche to dip below the 200g/km of CO2 mark, with emissions of 194g/km. We'll reserve judgement on the steering until we drive it, of course...

Prices start from £71,449 for the Carrera and £81,242 for the Carrera S, and both will hit UK Porsche centres from 17 December this year. Check out the officially official pictures and then let us know what you think, below.