SPY PICS: SUV treatment for Porsche 911

Porsche looks like it could be taking the SUV-coupe craze to a new level, following the emergence of this higher-riding crossover version of its most famous model.

Snapped by our spy photographers testing on public roads, the uncamouflaged Porsche 911 in question appears to be a standard 992-series coupe in almost all respects.

That is, apart from extra ground clearance courtesy of a raised ride height, as you can see via the extra gap between the tyres and wheel-arches, which is partially obscured by white plastic cladding.

This could be in place of wheel-arch extensions that are yet to be manufactured and/or to hide newly developed suspension components. Some versions of the current 911 are available with nose-lift systems but none have yet been fitted with air suspension, for example.

This has led to speculation that Porsche could be plotting yet another variant of the latest 992-generation 911 – this time the first crossover variant – that could be a limited-edition called the ‘Safari’ or ‘Rallye’.

Porsche is currently in the middle of rolling out its latest 992-generation 911 coupe and cabriolet range, with the range-topping Turbo S next to join the local line-up late this month.

Next cab off the rank, by the end of this year, will be the standard 911 Turbo, followed by the new 911 GTS and GT3 (2021) and GT3 RS (2022), before the next-gen GT2 RS completes the range – but not before the 992.2 midlife makeover.

But Porsche has long expressed its desire to expand the 911 line-up even further, with both additional full-time models (perhaps including the long-promised hybrid version) and limited-run special variants like the previous 911 R.

The famous German sports car brand also has form when it comes to producing high-riding 911s for various motorsport events including rallies and special activities dating back to the 1970s, including in Australia.

The ‘Safari’ name became a nickname for aftermarket-modified 911s used in rallying and while Porsche has never offered one of its own to customers, the vehicle pictured here could be an early development mule for just such a production model, which would likely be expensive and exclusive.

In 2018, Porsche’s global sales and marketing chief Detlev von Platen hinted at a 911 on stilts by telling Autocar India: “The 911 is the centre point for all design at Porsche and you will see its influence in other vehicles.

"But taking the 911 and making an SUV out of it? Taking it higher? That could be a good idea, and of course it won't be a model range but it will be a limited, a very niche product.”

Porsche Cars Australia said it could not comment on the mystery 911 spotted testing in these shots, but a rally-inspired Porsche 911 ‘Safari’ crossover variant would likely be a smash-hit in SUV-made Australia.