Wednesday 28th March 2012

New 991 GT3 and Turbo busy at the 'ring

Our man at the Nordschleife spies Porsche working hard to ready the next round of 911 fun

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After a largely successful launch of the new 991-shape Carrera and Carrera S, Porsche's engineers are busy buttoning down the set-up of the new Turbo and GT3 models.

Both of these more aggressive 991s are testing this week on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. And both cars are expected to build on the S model's 400bhp significantly.

If you listen closely to the GT3 mule in the first clip (identified by its larger, disguised, rear arches) you will hear the unmistakable sound of PDK in operation as it changes up a gear almost instantly right in front of the camera. Rumours are starting to firm up here in the village of Nurburg that the next GT3's 4.0-litre motor will come attached only to a PDK gearbox.

The Turbo also benefits from PDK, as well as a LOT of power and torque. The much-quoted figure of 550hp as a minimum level (and 600hp by some) doesn't seem that far-fetched if you listen to the overtake below.

 

 

[Dr Imran T]

Is it default now for all new 'sports' cars to test at the ring?

Lots of tyre squeal in that video, sounds like it is coming from the BMW.

[hesnotthemessiah]

Drove the 991 Carrera S at Silverstone with the PDK box. I thought it was excellent.

[wackojacko]

If they choose to offer PDK only on the GT3 I think would be a mistake as I believe Porsches are meant a more mechanical and driver integrating car, by all means make a turbo with PDK as they are meant to be comfortable and devastatingly quick. I hope a manual option is available for the GT3.


Those PDK box's are excellent though but not any good for GT3 IMO.

[Charlie Michael]

If Porsche make a move away from manuals for their GT cars, will this be another "final nail" in the coffin of manual transmissions?

I've never driven an automatic and would love to try a double-clutcher but I still harbour a love for blipping and heel and toeing at every opportunity which obviously, no auto will let me do.

[Krikkit]

In before 10 pages.

Seriously though, no manual box would be a real turnoff if I were in the market for something like this.

[red_slr]

Turbo is such a quick car, but the sound.... its like a hair dryer... GT3 is much better though.

[Vilhelm]

Porsche developed a 7-speed manual just for the 991. Why wouldn't they fit it to other models in the range?

[AyBee]

wackojacko said:

If they choose to offer PDK only on the GT3 I think would be a mistake as I believe Porsches are meant a more mechanical and driver integrating car, by all means make a turbo with PDK as they are meant to be comfortable and devastatingly quick. I hope a manual option is available for the GT3.


Those PDK box's are excellent though but not any good for GT3 IMO.

Couldn't agree with this more although I hope they don't wave goodbye to the manual Turbo either

[AndrewIC]

Can't wait to see the mad figures the new Turbo will put out.

A GT3 with PDK would be a seriously quick piece of kit, although I understand why a manual is what people hanker after.

[Some Gump]

me gusta

[mig25_foxbat2003]

Front wheel off the ground? Looks photoshopped to me

[b14]

If I have to read the phrase "our man" on PH again I'm going to have a mental breakdown.

[drpep]

Dull as granny's bread knife. GT3 sounds good but mated to a PDK gearbox? really? Then again, it's not even a Mezger engine... I'll be disappointed unless the redline is north of 9k rpm.

[kambites]

Oh well. If the rumours about there only being one gearbox available are true, there vanishes all of my interest in the GT3.

[Oddball RS]

drpep said:

Dull as granny's bread knife. GT3 sounds good but mated to a PDK gearbox? really? Then again, it's not even a Mezger engine... I'll be disappointed unless the redline is north of 9k rpm.

Really? why the hang up on an engines designer and the label attached to it ever since? Weslake designed the head on the A series, doesn't mean it didn't need updating / changing.

And North of 9k? really? your lucky its not an 1800cc triple turbo, its the way it will all go to please the marketing men.

[Lightningman]

They won't drop the manual; however, the addition of the PDK as an option is an excellent addition.

The PDK cannot be compared to BMWs SMG, it is far better than any other automated clutch system I've tried, including what was offered on the F430 (I haven't driven a 458 but I would imagine they have upped the game).

I'd order a manual 991 GT3 but if someone handed me the keys to a PDK GT3, I certainly wouldn't be disappointed.

[kambites]

Lightningman said:

They won't drop the manual; however, the addition of the PDK as an option is an excellent addition.

Porsche have been quoted as saying there will only be one gearbox available in the 991 GT3. The option of a PDK would be great, but the complete loss of the manual would be a tragedy, IMO. At least they still offer a manual in the lower end cars, though.

[HokumPokum]

i predict a no-cost manual option but standard PDK...........

what would you choose if you knew PDK was standard?

[needham]

Does anyone have a photo of this new 991.
The photos shown seem to be of a previous 911.

[drpep]



Oddball RS said:

Really? why the hang up on an engines designer and the label attached to it ever since? Weslake designed the head on the A series, doesn't mean it didn't need updating / changing.

And North of 9k? really? your lucky its not an 1800cc triple turbo, its the way it will all go to please the marketing men.

Yeah fair point I guess. It's such a brilliant piece of work. Doesn't mean there can't be a superior successor; just given the pressures on the industry at present (emissions, noise ...) I doubt there'll be anything coming close to the specialness of the Mezger.