Words by the extended Motordiction Team
As a heads up, Motordiction will have other articles from other writers other than Marcus and Dionysis in the coming weeks. This article is designed to tease the waters in terms of how everyone will react to other writers. Anyway, enjoy the article.
Porsche’s GT3 models have been loved for 20 years thanks to its crisp handling, lightness, and a punchy engine. With the recent models being equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.0L flat-six that revs up to 9,000rpm and an optional manual transmission, the GT3 was deemed the purest Porsche 911 currently offered for sale. However, at a recent interview with Motordiction, Porsche implied that the 992.2 GT3 would not be having the current naturally aspirated 4.0L powerplant.
Relax… Before you start throwing rocks at Porsche headquarters, the 992.1 generation of the GT3 will be equipped with the current 4.0L powerplant according to our interview. The output of the 992.1 GT3 will be around 550hp, which is a significant leap compared to the current 494hp unit. Furthermore, it has already officially acknowledged by Porsche that the 6-speed GT manual gearbox will be offered as an option for the GT3 Touring as well.
In the interview with Motordiction, the project manager of the GT lineup, Hans Lange, stated, “The 992 GT3 will be better and faster than any of the past GT3 models without a doubt. The GT lineup is all about performance and driving fun, which we will never compromise.” However, when we asked about potential issues about hybridization or turbocharging on the GT3, his response was not what we had expected.
Lange says, “It is highly likely that the GT3 will go through a major change during the facelift[992.2]. However, we can assure you that we listen very keenly to what our customers say, and engineers build these cars for their[customers’] dreams.” When we explicitly asked whether the GT3 will be turbocharged or even a hybrid, he only told us that “The GT lineup will be built as a straightforward driver’s car regardless of the technical changes. We will continue to adopt turbocharging and hybrid technology that we had gathered through years of experience on our roadgoing cars and the GT3 is no exception.”
Fears have arisen in the past that Porsche will go hybrid or turbocharge their GT3s someday, but this is the first time an insider has explicitly implied that ‘technical changes’ will happen and the cars ‘will continue to adopt turbocharging and hybrid technology’. This means only one thing; we don’t have much time left until the 4.0L flat-six in the GT3 will disappear into history. Still, there is some good news as well.
“Of course, our priority is to build puristic cars that deliver the driving sensation. Therefore, we will still continue to offer manual gearboxes as long as we can, not only in the GT lineup models but also in the Carrera models as well.” This means that although the 992.2 might have a turbocharged engine, you can still keep your left foot busy while thrashing it around the corners.
You can see the upcoming 911 GT3 in this picture
On the subject of the race models, not much has been told by Lange. When considering the GT3 models serve as the homologation basis for the 911 GT3 R and the 911 GTE RSR, the effect of these ‘technical changes’ will not be limited to the Porsches we see on the road. Therefore, it is highly likely that these 911 based race cars along with the GT3 will follow the trend of turbocharging(most of the GT3/GTE cars are turbocharged) instead of the rather risky hybrid powertrain.
Lange once again highlighted the fact that the GT lineup cars will continue to be driver-focused models instead of the more ‘relaxed’ supercars that are offered from other marques. He states, “If you sit on the latest GT3RS, you get the feeling that this is no ordinary car. The bucket seat holds you tight, and the engine snarls like a beast wanting to be let free. That is the whole point of the Porsche GT lineup.
So, at the end of the day, it is pretty much evident that not much time is left to enjoy the 4.0L flat-six in the GT3. Personally, the GT3 Touring, along with its hardcore track variant, the GT3RS, has been one of our favourite modern Porsches. They not only sound wonderful, but the driving sensation it offers is inimitable by any other marques. Although the 992.2 GT3 might lose its lovely voice, we hope and we know Porsche will continue to surprise us? Why? Because there is no substitute.