Next-Gen 911 GT3 Will Remain the Enthusiast's Choice

Staying True

The Turbo might be quicker and more powerful, but for quite some time now, enthusiasts have known that the 911 GT3 is the Porsche 911 to get. But with each passing generation, it seems like we have to deal with rumors of the GT3's demise, or rather, the addition of turbos to its naturally-aspirated powerplant or a complete disappearing act for the manual transmission. But it appears that when the next GT3 arrives, that won't be the case.

Photos: Porsche

Just the Start

The new GT3 has been spied testing all over the place, as is often the case. But Australian news source Which Car claims to have the scoop on all of its tantalizing details. For starters, it says that the 992 GT3 will be powered by a 4.0-liter flat-six that produces over 500 horsepower, but that's just the start.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about next-gen 911 GT3 right in the Rennlist Forum!

More Hardcore

Porsche sports car boss Frank-Steffen Walliser is apparently determined to make the next GT3 faster, rawer, and more hardcore than ever. That means not just adding power, but rather, making everything else about the car better.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about next-gen 911 GT3 right in the Rennlist Forum!

Variety of Solutions

That means cutting weight as much as possible, tinkering with the suspension, and tweaking the aerodynamics of the car. Lots of people have been pouring over the GT3 Touring car for clues as to what to expect from a production version, and it appears that Porsche is indeed considering a variety of aero treatments for a production version.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about next-gen 911 GT3 right in the Rennlist Forum!

Swan Neck

That includes the wild swan neck wing present on the GT3 prototype, which would be the first time such a piece has appeared on a production Porsche of any kind. Unlike a conventional wing, a swan neck is top-mounted using posts that attach to its underside. This design was born from ATO rule changes back in 2009 that limited the size of wings, which prompted automakers to come up with a solution for recouping downforce.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about next-gen 911 GT3 right in the Rennlist Forum!

Expanding the Family

The giant wing won't fit everyone's tastes, of course, so Porsche is also apparently going to expand its wingless GT3 Touring line by adding a PDK option as well. According to Which Car, Porsche was surprised at the interest it received in the last Touring model, which obviously bodes well for its future.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about next-gen 911 GT3 right in the Rennlist Forum!

Stay Pure

All of this is great news for fans of pure sports cars, and the GT3 has long been one of the very best. And even in this day of high tech electronics and heavy curb weights, it's just nice to be able to enjoy some of the simpler things in life.

Photos: Porsche

>>Join the conversation about next-gen 911 GT3 right in the Rennlist Forum!

For help with maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section this forum.