Question

is it possible to assign the $this object to a new instance of a class that extends the $this base class?? ( in php of course )

class base {

    function a() {

        // do some stuff here
        $extended = new extending();
        $this = $extended;
        $this->extended_functionality();
    }
}

class extending {

    function extended_functionality() {

        // do some more! stuff here
    }
}

Answer 1

In Short… No.

$this is a read-only keyword that represents the current instantiated object.

Just create the object you mean to in the first place.