It's been a few weeks or maybe more since we last saw the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 prototype at the Nurburgring and the rear-engined animal is now back under the Nordschleife spotlights.
While you can check out the sinister-looking test car in the piece of footage below, we need to discuss the confusion regarding this tester before moving on.
You see, when it comes to the now-testing Neunelfer range-topper, the Internet is split into two main camps. There are those who, like us, believe the car we have here will get the GT2 badge, while there are also aficionados who expect this prototype to grow into the 911 GT2 RS.
We don't see why Zuffenhausen would release the GT2 RS directly, skipping the "standard" GT2 in the process (no, Dieselgate consequences shouldn't confine the GT2 to the history book). Traditionally, the Rennsport incarnation of the GT2 arrives towards the end of a Neunelfer generation's lifecycle, so we'd expect the 991.2 GT2 RS to land in 2018 or 2019.
As for the prototype we have here, German engineers have been testing the GT2 for quite a while now, with the supercar having gone through various aero stages (remember when the test cars had GT3 RS-borrowed front wing air extractors?). Thus, we should meet the new 911 GT2 next year, as a 2018 model.
The rear end of the GT2 will follow the well-known recipe, being occupied by an upgraded version of the twin-turbo 3.8-liter in the Turbo/Turbo S. While the hp number is expected to jump from the latter's 580 hp to 650 hp, the 2018 Turbo/Turbo S facelift's civilian anti-lag system should also make it into the GT2.
The rumor mill even talks about the GT2 becoming one of the first GT division machines to offer a six-speed manual as an option after the PDK-only GT3 and GT3 RS. Then again, if we are to listen to rumors, this rear-wheel-drive special is already sold out.
P.S.: Ignore the wastegate comment in the video (lens tip to BridgeToGantry for the clip), as the soundtrack indicates this isn't relevant.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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