So here is a Car and Driver spy shot of the upcoming GTS. Nothing new here other than they say it will be out by the end of the year.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/201...py-photos-news

I love the idea of the GTS, because it will now be the ultimate manual transmission 911. MT haters, please save your comments about that to the other threads.
So the benefits of the GTS are 15-25hp, stiffer suspension, and wider body with RWD. All good, but the question becomes at what price. You can get a lightly optioned GT3 in the US for less than $140k. Will the GTS be encroaching on that? GT3 usually represent a "bargain" given the power and suspension upgrade. We've also seen with the recent 991 50th review that even 30hp doesn't necessarily lead to faster times.
Also, for those who bought the 997 GTS, was there a discount? Do you expect a discount?

 

I couldn't give a damn if that thing came with a MT or not. All I know is that they ugli-fied the 991. The spyshots of these have been floating around the web as the 991.2 also. There is a reason the 991 and 991S won the red dot design award when they were introduced. All design elements are in perfect harmony on it. Elongating and angling the side intakes and moving the running lights is akin to putting a mustache on a pretty girl. The 991 went from being a pretty girl to a drag queen. With the labor laws being what they are in Europe, and not being able to fire idiots, VW just sent all their industrial design department rejects to work for Porsche.

 

Can't really tell what it's going to look like from spy shots. I remember how awful some of the early 991TT spy shots looked, but the real thing looks a lot better.

 

^^^ Hillarious!

 

yeesh...let it come out first and then tee off!!

 

That's the Targa.

 

They can't increase horsepower without extremely modifying the chassis. At least not for the French model.

Although to be fair the French model makes about as much sense as the drivel from Car and Driver.

 

Quotes from Car and Driver's article:

"The GTS’s sudden appearance just two years into the 991’s life cycle, combined with Porsche’s recent glut of 911 variant debuts, indicates the brand is abandoning patience and spitting out 911 models as they’re developed...The GTS should arrive in showrooms toward the end of this year, following an auto-show debut in the fall."

My comments on what is said above:

a) The 991 started to be produced in Europe in the fall of 2011. Even if it would get here (as C & D claims) at the end of 2014, that would be three years into the 991's life cycle, not two!

b) Personally, I don't think the 991 'gts' will be appearing before the .2 facelift which is scheduled to be introduced as an early MY2016 in the Spring of 2015. Anything can happen, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to introduce this new 991 'gts' model by the end of 2014 when just a few months later (in the Spring of 2015) PAG will start building the 'improved & face lifted' MY2016 991 models! It would be not wise or prudent from a marketing point of view! But this is just my opinion and nothing else.

c) The biggest question for me re: the 991 'gts' is if it will be equipped with 'rear axle steering' and the improved 'sport PDK' (besides a Manual option). Both of these technologies are featured in the current 991 'gt3' and are reported to be quite phenomenal. If indeed all of these technological promises are fulfilled in this new 991 'gts' model, it might prove to be one of the most significant 911's built in recent times...especially since the days of a powerful naturally aspirated 911 are (unfortunately) counted! Again, this is speculation on my part.

For other interesting discussion on .2 991 face lift features, see this thread link:

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/8007...-facelift.html

Saludos,
Eduardo
R Gruppe Treffen
Cambria, CA

PS Check the active aero vanes in the front - closed on photo 1/ open on photo 2! I don't think we will see this in any 991 until the .2 face lift in the MY2016 in Spring of 2015!

.

 

I'm not much of a "reader". Never have been.

What's the purpose of the functional vanes in the front bumper?

 

My WAG:

1) high speed active aero?
2) thermal management?
3) new way for Porsche owners to "wave"?

 

Your posting days are over soon... so enjoy the couple hours you have left. #reported

 

According to the guys at BMW:
Its purpose is to reduce Drag if cooling is not needed.
Normally, drag is important above 60kph. Cooling is not always necessary, so it is possible to reduce drag, save fuel...

The spy shots show the 991.2 not the GTS though...

 

The GTS may be just the ticket for me. I have been waiting trying to get excited about something from Porsche. I'm wondering if they are really going to use the wide body 2wd. That would seemlike kind of a kick in the groin for the 911 50 guys.
J

 

Maybe they use the Turbo body??

 

You are referencing the M&T article regarding the 50th anniversary model. Surely you understand that ALL THINGS being equal a car with a 30 HP advantage will accelerate quicker and have a superior top end?