English to Japanese Tech/Engineering Automotive / Cars & Trucks

So how long did it take for Porsche to design the 997 series right up to production? Provisional prototypes were first tested in 2001; in 2002, so-called "construction stage" 911s with near-production parts were developed; and in 2003, a quick succession of "test series" 911s was followed by pre-production cars and, finally, the zero series. This last stage incorporates exhaustive testing that had the 997 subjected to a Canadian winter. These same vehicles are now in South Africa to be tested in the relentless heat of the summer sun.