Photo: SB-Medien
In today's more-boost-more-power performance vehicle world, Porsche has devised a plan to keep its most special models true to the spirit of the brand. The concept is simple - rather than pursue a Power War, Zuffenhausen's GT division will focus on reducing weight.
The man leading the carmaker's GT offensive, Andreas Preuninger, explained how their engineers aim to keep the Porsche concentration high in a recent talk with Car Magazine.
Preuninger made it clear that 500 HP are enough for a car to keep you on your toes if the rest of the melange is focused enough. Sure, it might be tempting to jump to 700 HP and beyond, but that requires the rest of the technical package to be reinforced, which obviously brings its toll when the car is put on a scale.
As you might remember, Lamborghini made a similar statement a few years ago, when Sant'Agata Bolognese released a "Performance Manifesto".
The hint here is that future Porsche GT and RS models might keep their current power level, or show marginal increases of below 50 HP. Nonetheless, the power-to-weight ratio will be constantly improved from one generation to another.
"If I were a customer and the next RS had 20bhp less, I would say, 'hey, come on, what’s that?" the track wizard told the aforementioned source. "But we have to be more concentrated on the overall package, not just horsepower. This is not a dragster, it’s a track car."
Nevertheless, the all-advertised lap times bring a trap of their own that needs to be avoided. As a car gets quicker and quicker around a track, the driving skills required to extract the performance increase and this is where Porsche plans to play the balance game.
"For me it’s important that everyone has fun with the car, can drive fast for his own capabilities, and get better with it. Maybe we could make a 7min 15sec car – it would be relatively easy – but then it would be a dog on the street. It’s about compromise," Preuninger explained.
The obvious hint here is the 2016 911 GT3 RS. While the official lap time hasn't been released yet, a time of 7 minutes and 20 seconds is expected. Fret not bragging rights aficionados, Porsche still has such bases covered. We'll remind you how the Cayenne Turbo S is the only SUV in the world that can lap the 'Ring in under 8 minutes.
In fact, Preuninger even highlighted the fact that future models will offer both manual and PDK transmissions. He even offered the Cayman GT4 as an example of the direction change.
So you'd better start saving since it seems Porsche has plenty of track candy in the making. Oh and, by the way, they're also cooking special in the turbo department.
Preuninger made it clear that 500 HP are enough for a car to keep you on your toes if the rest of the melange is focused enough. Sure, it might be tempting to jump to 700 HP and beyond, but that requires the rest of the technical package to be reinforced, which obviously brings its toll when the car is put on a scale.
As you might remember, Lamborghini made a similar statement a few years ago, when Sant'Agata Bolognese released a "Performance Manifesto".
The hint here is that future Porsche GT and RS models might keep their current power level, or show marginal increases of below 50 HP. Nonetheless, the power-to-weight ratio will be constantly improved from one generation to another.
"If I were a customer and the next RS had 20bhp less, I would say, 'hey, come on, what’s that?" the track wizard told the aforementioned source. "But we have to be more concentrated on the overall package, not just horsepower. This is not a dragster, it’s a track car."
Nevertheless, the all-advertised lap times bring a trap of their own that needs to be avoided. As a car gets quicker and quicker around a track, the driving skills required to extract the performance increase and this is where Porsche plans to play the balance game.
"For me it’s important that everyone has fun with the car, can drive fast for his own capabilities, and get better with it. Maybe we could make a 7min 15sec car – it would be relatively easy – but then it would be a dog on the street. It’s about compromise," Preuninger explained.
The obvious hint here is the 2016 911 GT3 RS. While the official lap time hasn't been released yet, a time of 7 minutes and 20 seconds is expected. Fret not bragging rights aficionados, Porsche still has such bases covered. We'll remind you how the Cayenne Turbo S is the only SUV in the world that can lap the 'Ring in under 8 minutes.
Manuals will be brought back into the spotlight
Porsche removed the manual, even as an option, for the GT3, explaining that it would take away some of the performance. Well, the reasoning above is enough to sustain the idea that the stick shift will get more attention for future RS and GT.In fact, Preuninger even highlighted the fact that future models will offer both manual and PDK transmissions. He even offered the Cayman GT4 as an example of the direction change.
So you'd better start saving since it seems Porsche has plenty of track candy in the making. Oh and, by the way, they're also cooking special in the turbo department.
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