Photo: Porsche
Coming straight from the darkest corners of the industry is a rumor that tells us the next Porsche 911 GT3 RS could go down the turbocharging route. We all know Porsche is currently testing new turbocharged engines for the upcoming facelift of the 911, but, if we are to believe the latest report, the company is considering turbocharging for the upcoming GT3 RS. Please prepare your grain of salt for this report.
The problem here is that the GT3’s 3.8-liter flat six already makes 475 hp, so extracting some more muscle is anything but an easy task. In fact, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is being tested as part of its final development phase as you are reading this. While the rumor, coming from autocar, states the engineers are considering switching to turbo, we don’t buy it. Perhaps for the next generation of the 911...
The GT3 RS would only require a moderate power boost, which could very well be obtained by increasing displacement to 4.0 liters like Porsche did for the previous-gen 911 GT3 RS 4.0.
Still, the next generation would require a more serious upgrade, so turbocharging could be the way, even though this path doesn’t seem all that likely for a car like the GT3, which is naturally-aspirated by definition.
Instead, Porsche could do what Lamborghini did a few years ago, announcing its intention to only marginally increase the power for its future cars, concentrating the performance boost on reducing weight.
Ask any Porsche works driver about his favorite model from the current lineup and the title will go to the GT3. They all love how controllable this thing is at the limit and part of that credit goes to the linear power delivery, an asset of natural aspiration.
Sure, when you’re out there on the track the Sport Plus mode keeps the car high in the revs all the time, so there’s no turbo lag, but you do feel the difference in the Normal driving mode.
The report also states Porsche is considering spreading the ZF-sourced rear-wheel steering of the GT3 (and Turbo) to other models, such as the Cayman. The mid-engined coupe will be the first Porsche to receive the carmaker’s upcoming four-cylinder turbo, which should deliver around 400 horses. Not only is this a better piece of news, but it also seems more reasonable as unofficial information.
What can we say, enjoy your naturally-aspirated Porsches while you can!
The GT3 RS would only require a moderate power boost, which could very well be obtained by increasing displacement to 4.0 liters like Porsche did for the previous-gen 911 GT3 RS 4.0.
Still, the next generation would require a more serious upgrade, so turbocharging could be the way, even though this path doesn’t seem all that likely for a car like the GT3, which is naturally-aspirated by definition.
Instead, Porsche could do what Lamborghini did a few years ago, announcing its intention to only marginally increase the power for its future cars, concentrating the performance boost on reducing weight.
Ask any Porsche works driver about his favorite model from the current lineup and the title will go to the GT3. They all love how controllable this thing is at the limit and part of that credit goes to the linear power delivery, an asset of natural aspiration.
Sure, when you’re out there on the track the Sport Plus mode keeps the car high in the revs all the time, so there’s no turbo lag, but you do feel the difference in the Normal driving mode.
The report also states Porsche is considering spreading the ZF-sourced rear-wheel steering of the GT3 (and Turbo) to other models, such as the Cayman. The mid-engined coupe will be the first Porsche to receive the carmaker’s upcoming four-cylinder turbo, which should deliver around 400 horses. Not only is this a better piece of news, but it also seems more reasonable as unofficial information.
What can we say, enjoy your naturally-aspirated Porsches while you can!
Google News