aussie jimmy

this car is superb. it's so, on the money, i'm not sure if they could realistically better it for quite some time.

Larry Cable

i dont think they can or will ... you are looking at the pinnacle of GT3 technology ...

im predicting the 991 GT3 with 9A1 will not exceed 997 power profiles...

Tacet-Conundrum

Ok ok, you want to put a gentlemen's wager on that? Say one dollar US?

Let's wager that the first 991 GT3 will have more BHP than the current model GT3; non RS/4.0? So atleast 436 BHP!

Nizer

Enjoy

Carrera GT

If you look at the engine design, I'd say the 9A1 is designed to go to 4.0 litres without changes. More interesting is that it's designed to exist as both four pot screamer and as a flat 8, with the option of turbos. There was a conspicuous "space" in front of the 997 engine layout that had us suspecting or even expecting more cylinders since 2005. I have no objection to a flyweight four pot or a GT flat eight. I dare not think about the price points that VW might be contemplating to position their Porsche brand line-up.

I expect they've screwed the pooch as far as the feel and handling of the six cylinder 911 goes. And yes, I subscribe to the religious belief that the 912 was a four cylinder and the 911, nee 901, was a six cylinder, so any imagined forthcoming eight cylinder machine will not be a 911. But if they build this new 991 thing into a flat 8 machine, it could be an interesting new car in its own right. The engine could well go from four litres to something like five or six pints of displacement with 8 cylinder balance to match and outdo Ferrari for rpm and enough strength and cooling to best Mack-Larr-Anne for forced induction variants.

It took me ten years to "get over" the 993. I'm not sure I'll still be on the sunny side of the daisies by the time I get over the 4.0 RS, so what Porsche does next could well be of academic interest only.

Here's hoping Porsche brings ***** and engines to Le Mans, not just brains and electricity. : )

FFaust

So to state the obvious, the 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 is the end of the line, the ultimate evolution of the platform.

With the 991, a new GT "branch" begins, possibly with a whole new philosophy. Only similarities to 997 will be aesthetic.

Larry Cable

I'm willing to bet $100 to a charity of your choosing that the 991 GT3 9A1 engine (if it is a 3.8 6 NA) it will not exceed the 997 engines peak bhp by more than 10% ...

If its flat 8 or turboed or 4.0 bet is off

Carrera GT

I'll take that bet!

I nominate my preferred charity of "The Royal and Ancient Trappist Society of Anchor Steam Swigging."

Larry Cable

503c registered ... preferably dog related since i am a sucker for the woofers.

always prepared to contribute to the appropriate liver destruction fund!

how about that habanero burger and a few soon?

i am concerned that despite APs leadership, that they will have a hard time building a car to beat the 3.8 and 4.0 ... on the 1st gen of a new engine... where they have to find in excess of 10% incremental bhp over the current model ...

either way someone deserving gets $100 ...

Larry Cable

and the font in which GT3 is rendered ...

Carrera GT

I'll check the paperwork, I think RATS *** is a 504 Pug registered establishment.

As for the next gen, I don't think Porsche will be gunning to best the 4.0 RS any time soon, but I imagine they will want to reach a favorable comparison against the 997.1 GT2 and 997.2 GT3 RS 3.8 -- assuming they've decided they need both a naturally aspirated and forced induction offering in the 2WD GT class. They clearly need to rethink the Turbo S PDK (a car that i've tried to like, but the few folks I've encountered who've bought it has gone on to other cars with no regret in parting with it.) If anything I think, as someone on Rennlist noted in a roundabout way, the high water mark nows is the 997.2 GTS 3.8 with PDK -- Porsche simply isn't going to build a better car (in 2WD or 4WD) based on what we see in these specs as due for September. I think Porsche could look at that comparison for some second thoughts on this 991 thing.

Of course, eventually, say 2015 or sooner, we have to see a naturally aspirated Porsche far north of 500 horses. With Ferrari at 560hp+ today, surely we'll be seeing a future "911" (cough) north of 600hp, but presumably with extra cylinders or at least displacement greater than four litres. I think Porsche has lost the plot, but surely they still see that an enjoyable car requires a singing engine, not a burbling low revving lump. So what to hope for? I'd like to see an eight cylinder, flat, flat crank, say 5.0 litres, 600hp, 10,000 rpm (no, seriously, not kidding) and that PDK box (forget the manual shifter, well, it will be interesting to see how a PDK box shifts with a manual shifter, but I think it's finally high time to relegate the third pedal to the archives and the "retro" enthusiasts.)

Given all the extra drive train space in the new tub, the mind runs riot with possibilities -- imagine a push-to-pass flywheel sandwiched in there, surrounded by a blast shield that's part of the chassis ... all mounted low and centrally within four inches of the ground. It could save the brakes, it could serve the purpose of making for a very tall 1st gear by augmenting torque from a standstill. The technological fruits are plentiful. But I'm afraid we first have to drop a handful of dirt on the coffin of the 911, lay flower at the headstone and wear a black armband. Maybe just for a decade or so. No use being overly sentimental about it. : )

TRAKCAR

If we can make this a sticky and we can pick woofers charity I'm in.