Porsche’s design studio has been labeled as one of the laziest in the world, but when you have a strong performer like the 911, why change a good thing? Because of that mentality, the 2011 911 won’t likely stray too far from its design roots, but there is no question that Porsche has some serious upgrades planned for the next-gen car.

These are some of the first crystal-clear shots of the next-generation Porsche 911 – internally called the 998 – that will replace the current model in 2011.

Earlier stories in some media reported that this was the 911 Turbo, but these pictures clearly show that the side air-intakes in front of the rear wheels are fakes – and so is the huge rear wing, which hides the shape of the smaller spoiler of the standard 911s. Compared to the current model, the front lights are standing more upright and the side mirrors have moved from the side window corner to the side of the door. Don’t get confused by the taillamps, as these are just temporary.

The next-generation 911 will feature the same flat-six engines, but we’re expecting it to get a power boost and a new PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Stay tuned.