Official 2012 Porsche 911 images spill onto the internet

Aside from some new LED running lamps and revised air intakes up front and some thinner taillights out back, the 2012 model is extremely similar to the 997 911 currently out on the road.

The big changes, though, are more than skin-deep. The car is about two inches longer than the current 911, and features revised six-cylinder engines. The base Carrera now uses a 3.4-liter direct-injected flat-six, producing 350 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, while the Carrera S will use a direct-injected 3.8-liter unit, delivering 400 hp. Both engines will be mated to a seven-speed manual (yes, we said it) or PDK dual-clutch transmission, either of which can be had with launch control.

Inside, the 911's cabin uses a design borrowed from the Panamera, with a more pronounced, downward-sloping center console. Like the exterior, nothing radical has been done to the car's innards, and that's just fine with us.

We'll have the official details in the coming weeks in anticipation of the new 911's official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.