kosmo

would love to see something like an RS America.

bigkraig

deleted

Ronan

I just cannot see this. One of the problems is that marketing a car as an involving fun ride is a brilliant strategy for the new Mazda MX5 and makes all kinds of sense for that segment, where it is of course, true.

Now, move to Porsche. Has to price above the Cayman,and somewhere in the 911 range. Stripped out and simplified. This made lots of sense when Porsche was a little company and they could hand build a few dozen or a few hundred cars,but now I cannot see this as a volume product. You have to move from the non-representative people on Rennlist who are the serious enthusiasts and look at the general population and I cannot see the appeal out there.

For the people here, some will want the more involving but less performing car, but how many will cancel their GT or RS?….speaking for myself, would not do it.

FastLaneTurbo

Seems to me Porsche has a great GT car already in the 991 Turbo and, for those who want N/A power,
in the Carrera GTS.
IMHO,The present GT3, and from the Road Reviews, the GT3RS, can be, will be, and is used as an everyday car now by many owners. I use my GT3 more than I use all of my other cars combined.
It is simply more fun to drive.

If power is not important, plenty of choices abound already in the base Carrera Models with a stick.
Want smaller and more nimble with your stick? Cayman and Boxster fill that bill.

A Neutered GT3 with “skinnier less grippy tires” and a softer, more compliant narrower body and chassis
doesn’t sound like anything either the performance buyers, the comfort buyers or the status buyers would rush to buy. Why would anyone waste that Jewel of a GT3 Race Engine in a Chassis that can't possibly make use of its performance?
IMHO, it seems like a highly compromised clunker that would do nothing very well.
It fills a market niche that I just don't see existing and answers the question no one is asking.

nlpamg

It said similar or the same. I doubt they would use the same engine and if they used the normal 3.8 from the Carrera S, then it would just be another GTS but with a narrow body.

I don't see the point of making something above the GTS as the GTS is already close in price (optioned out) to a GT3.

the-missile

We love big wing
We love wide rubber
We love wide body
We love technology
We love light car
We love the stick, OK, but make it faster than actual GT3 or shut it up!!

GrantG

I read that to mean it would be the GT3 motor with a possibility of reducing power by ~10hp (via software like the Boxster vs Cayman) if that was necessary to avoid undercutting the GT3's price with a car of the same power.

Or maybe it will use the current GT3 475hp motor and be sold alongside the 991.2 GT3 with ~500hp?

Macca

What Lane says summarises it very well from a product placement and marketing perspective IMO.

I have been told off record it could be some time before PAG release another GT production engine with a 9000 rpm limiter!

GrantG

My personal biases cause me to disagree. I think there is a market for such a car that places involvement and fun over outright pace. As for the marketing angle, making a modern 911R (50th Anniversary in Model Year 2017) or Carrera RS would appeal to a pretty large segment of the Porsche faithful. I'm thinking something like a narrow Sport Classic with lighter weight, GT3 motor, sportier tuning, and reasonable price point could be very interesting. The Sport Classic was under equipped and grossly overpriced.

If the GT4 was truly the inspiration, I think something like it with an extra 90hp (and with an iconic 911R/RS body/interior with rear seats and rear engine) could sell very well.

Alan Smithee

Exactly what I have been waiting for. Porsche will sell at least one, that I guarantee. Glimmers of hope like this are one of the reasons I stick around here...

There is room for this car above the GT4 and below the GT3, especially if Porsche continues to push the current GT3 and RS upmarket. But it is also the space people on the 981 board think will be filled by a GT4RS...

fbroen

I love the idea of a narrow body GT car. I hope this is a possibility.

Just in time

Take a narrow body, add less grippy tires, stuff a 9a1 GT3 engine with a MT and IMHO will most likely result in a whole bunch of lawsuits as the widows of new to the make owners find themselves on the short end of the stick. I have a hard time visualizing this particular car. If it is not made for performance then what is it for? A cruiser? A backroad carver? Imagine a less than proficient driver on less grippy tires backroad carving sitting on top of 475 hp on tap, while at the same time shifting gears. I am sure there are plenty of RLs who are up to the task, but I am also certain there will be new to the make less than trained "enthusiasts" sitting on the steering wheell of these things? Uffff!

Nizer

I think a lot of people underestimate the power of demographics on the discretionary car market. Fact is most of the wealthy developed world is aging rapidly and nostalgia is a favorite pastime. They want play cars that remind them and take them to a time when they were young. So they buy an M3 (insert whatever floated your boat) expecting a light, high-revving car of their youth that danced over back roads only to be disappointed when they get a 3,800lb torque monster loaded with electronics that pummels the road into submission. Doesn't really fit the bill. Nor do most want the leaks, musty carpet, lack of warranty, and tired mechanicals that go with actually owning an old car. This is why guys like Tom Dickinson and Henry Pearman can charge $400k-$850k plus for "reimagined" Porsches and Jags. It's what's driven the explosion off the resto-mod industry over the past decade plus.

Trust me, if Porsche brought out a smaller, lighter decontented 911 aimed at this enthusiast - not the guy that reads a magazine and thinks he's gonna go turn a 7:20 at The Ring - they'd be even more shocked at the demand than they were with the GT4.

Not saying it can or will happen. Just saying the demand is there and it's big.

ipse dixit

Yup.

This supposed "new" 911 GT variant is already in existence.

If Porsche makes it, it'll be an exercise in changing nameplates on the *** of the 911.

FORENN

Agree.

Agree.

I'm a long-time MT guy, but have to agree.

Porsche Elusive. That's clever. Wish I'd thought of it.

Oh wait.

Seems that way.

GTS+ maybe. Honestly, not that exciting to me. More watering down of the GT moniker.

Correct.