SPY PICS: Soft-top 911 under wraps

We spotted Porsche's next 911 -- coded 998 -- under testing in Europe towards the end of last year.

Now, these shots just snapped by the Carparazzi team show a convertible version using identical disguise to the coupe but braving arctic temperatures during the European deep freeze.

Like the prototype coupe last featured, the convertible 998 shows few discernible differences from the current 911 apart from the more bulbous headlights, door-mounted rear-view mirrors and different front and rear bumpers.

With its new direct injection engines and the insertion into the range of the new dual-clutch PDK auto transmission, speculation is that the focus on the next 911 may be on environmental issues.

The thought is that these may take the form of weight reductions giving fuel economy and emissions benefits, as well as improving the overall weight balance of the rear-biased 911. There has been some talk about stop-start technology too, giving the 911 a potential edge in busy city traffic.

The next Porsche 911 is expected to be unveiled in 2011 -- hopefully when the economic outlook is somewhat less bleak than it is today.