Porsche 992 GT3 - first look!
We've ridden in the new Carrera; now a chance to see the nearly finished GT3 on the public road
The Porsche 911 GT3 will always be a hot topic on PH (no fire pun intended). Whether it's the availability of upcoming cars, the seemingly endless group test victories of the current iterations, or the values of previous heroes, the debate is always impassioned and involved. It's a car so much of us all have an interest in, so it stands to reason really.
We're back in the familiar realm of GT3 replacement angst at present - surely the next car can't match the thrills of what preceded it; no doubt it'll be too big, too heavy, too complex. This time, however, there are grave concerns, as big if not bigger than when the 991.1 was initially launched as PDK only. Because at this stage the rumour mill (based on reliable sources but unconfirmed by Porsche) says that the 992 generation will by turbo only. Erk. For a car with so much appeal in its powertrain, that would be a huge and not uncontroversial move.
Still, it's yet to be corroborated by anyone in an official capacity yet so let's look on the bright side for now. Or, more specifically, let's look at the latest spy pics because clearly they provide us with the comprehensive idea of what the next GT3 will look like.
Certainly even in this form there's no mistaking it for an ordinary Carrera, that incredible rear wing being the most obvious differentiator. The supports surely wouldn't have been out of place on a Cup car of not long ago, the spoiler itself as wide as that full-width rear light bar. Then a second kicked up spoiler beneath it, to be sure. The centre third brake light is more prominent than the regular Carrera, the tracks predictably wider and the twin-exhaust arrangement similar to today's GT3.
Elsewhere there's a cage just about visible through the glass, chunkier brakes, Cup 2 tyres, centre-lock wheels and more prominent front intakes. Everything you would expect see, basically, so make your own comments now about 911s always looking the same.
Given the 992 Carrera will be shown at the LA Motor Show, we'd expect the GT3 to follow pretty soon behind - although it's been suggested that the model won't actually go on sale till 2020. Turbos or not, history teaches us it'll probably be worth the wait.
[Images: S.Baldauf/S.B.Medien]
Apart from the standard carrera I don't think Porsche make a single thing of interest right now. The GT3 takes up the same amount of space as an XC60 for goodness sake. The plot has been entirely lost.
911 Turbos have generally had intakes in the wing behind the doors.
Air induction isn’t what I was meaning rather air extraction.
When you look at the difference between any N/A and Turbo since the 997 all turbo motors (including the bog standard Carrera in turbo guise) has a huge amount of air extraction ducting especially around the rear bumper.
This car doesn’t appear to have it.
There appears to be two large vents either side of the 3rd brake light, which would indicate a turbocharged engine.. Of course Porsche could just be f*cking with us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmRNQpusmIQ
Problem for Porsche is that every new car has to be more powerful and faster than the previous version. Ability to extract more from the NA engine probably limited so turbo seems obvious solution. However, the last GT3 was many times too powerful to be able to use anything but a fraction of the power on the road and even on track if you want pure speed there are faster alternatives. Still I am sure they will sell everyone they make - which is not surprising as the demand outstrips supply (strangely I think a lot of the demand is driven by the expectation of making money on resale...which sort of becomes a self-fullfilling prophecy).
Problem for Porsche is that every new car has to be more powerful and faster than the previous version. Ability to extract more from the NA engine probably limited so turbo seems obvious solution. However, the last GT3 was many times too powerful to be able to use anything but a fraction of the power on the road and even on track if you want pure speed there are faster alternatives. Still I am sure they will sell everyone they make - which is not surprising as the demand outstrips supply (strangely I think a lot of the demand is driven by the expectation of making money on resale...which sort of becomes a self-fullfilling prophecy).
A turbocharged GT3 is a GT2, so if you turbocharge the GT3 what do you do with the GT2 model? And what do you then do to fill the inevitable huge gap between the Carrera and GT3 Turbo?
Also, isn't the GT3 road car supposed to reflect the GT3/GTE racing car, which is currently still NA?
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