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Porsche Closing In on Limited Edition 911 R, Model Expected at 2016 Geneva Motor Show

Porsche is expected to bring its new 911 R at the Geneva Motor Show this March.
Porsche 911 R prototype spy shots 1 photo
Photo: CarPix
The new version of the 911 is a model destined for the purists who felt the current GT3 was not so hardcore anymore. The car will have a limited production of only 600 units, and will be fitted with a manual gearbox.

The Australians at Motoring.com spoke to August Achleitner, Porsche’s 911 product line chief, who was one step away from confirming the imminent launch of the new version of the iconic German sports car. The 911 product line chief invited the journalists to come to the Geneva Motor Show to find out more about the 911 R, so there’s bound to be something about this car at the event usually held at the beginning of March at the Palexpo Event Center, Switzerland.

The R version of the 911 is expected to be powered by the 3.8-liter, flat-six, naturally aspirated unit from the GT3. There’s no word on whether Porsche engineers have modified the engine in any way, but we do know from our spy photographers that the prototype of this car, seen in the article’s top photo, has a manual gearbox.

The launch of the R version of the 911 comes both as an answer to the calling of purists who were somewhat disappointed with the latest 911 GT3 and as a historical homage to the first ever 911 R, launched back in 1973.

The new Porsche 911 R is expected to be lighter than the GT3, and the car is meant for those who buy their 911s for track days. However, the vehicle will be street legal, so it would be okay to drive the lighter and stiffer 911 on public roads. Porsche is expected to launch this car by the end of the current year, as an MY 2017 vehicle. There’s no word on pricing or performance information, but we expect to find out more once the car is showcased at an auto show.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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