Thursday 13th April 2017

Porsche 911 GT2 RS spy pics

Biggest wing ever fitted to a road going 911? It's in with a shout...

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If your response to these pictures is to go running down to your local Official Porsche Centre with a freshly handwritten letter of intent and box of chocolates for the dealer principal, then you're probably already too late. But, yes, with the new second-gen 911 GT3 now out there it seems the GT department has finally got round to the long-rumoured GT2.

Want some tough guy?

In Porsche myth and legend the GT2 versions are, of course, the sole custodians of the 911's hairy-chested 'widow maker' reputation. Based on RS/GT bodywork but with a wildly overboosted turbocharged engine in place of the motorsport naturally aspirated screamer, they typically junk the regular Turbo's four-wheel drive and stick with RWD only. And a minimum of driver aids. The spy snappers are calling this car as a GT2 RS, suggesting Porsche has skipped the 'regular' GT2 (if such a thing exists) and gone straight for the full loon version.

The disguise is minimal enough to make some educated guesses though, if not on the really crucial stuff like exactly how much power (take a punt on 'a bit too much' and work from there) it'll actually have. Let's consider 600hp an absolute minimum and extrapolate from there. Manual or PDK? Given the hardcore cred that will be an interesting one; with the RS intended as the race car experience and suited to PDK and the GT2 more an 'enthusiast' car like the R, maybe it'll be manual only. It would fit the profile, certainly.

For now we can see it's based on the GT3 RS, which means a Turbo widebody with the distinctive indent on the carbon front lid and magnesium roof, wider front track and vented wings and a really big wing. Really, really big in this instance. There are also aero flics on the front bumper; whether these are in place for testing or intended for production will remain to be seen but Porsche has previous from other GT models. NACA ducts on the front deck that have been added since the last spy shots mark this out from the previous RS, the big-bore exhausts are now either side of the centre valance rather than paired in the middle and the camo panels on the rear bumper suggest some manner of additional cooling ventilation here, similar to that on the 997 GT2 RS. We're working on the basis there will be a fair bit of heat to extract from that engine bay and exhaust system...

More when we have it, but given how light the disguise is at this point we'll reckon on an official unveiling in the not too distant future.

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[GroundEffect]

I doubt Porsche have a manual that is torque capable - the manual for the 991 S and 991 R/.2 GT3 is ~500Nm capable and a 991 GT2 RS is going to be at least 700Nm. I expect PDK only.

To give an idea, to turn a manual from 500Nm to 700Nm capable will be in the region of $(20)M investment. They won't do that for a single low-volume variant.

[thegreenhell]

Why couldn't they use the manual 'box from the 997 GT2? That was rated for 700Nm.

[Cold]

"Light disguise". Difficult to tell really.

[robemcdonald]

At this point Porsche could put a GT RS badge on a dog turd and it would be sold out before it went on sale.
An absolutely pointless endeavour.

[Dave Hedgehog]

congrats to those who made arrangements (wink wink) to get these a couple of years ago

big profits incoming for a lot of car flippers

[MrBarry123]

Dave Hedgehog said:

congrats to those who made arrangements (wink wink) to get these a couple of years ago

big profits incoming for a lot of car flippers

I bet they're grinning with glee.

[GroundEffect]

thegreenhell said:

Why couldn't they use the manual 'box from the 997 GT2? That was rated for 700Nm.

Forgot about that. There's your solution.

[E65Ross]

robemcdonald said:

At this point Porsche could put a GT RS badge on a dog turd and it would be sold out before it went on sale.
An absolutely pointless endeavour.

Wait, what?

[seefarr]

I'm going to really enjoy watching Chris Harris slide the piss out of one of these whilst giggling like a loon. And then never seeing another one ever again.

[FWDRacer]

Anyone else care to admit they'd feel a bit of self conscious Bell-End driving on the public road in a car with a pic-nic table on the back?

[sc0tt]

FWDRacer said:

Anyone else care to admit they'd feel a bit of self conscious Bell-End driving on the public road in a car with a pic-nic table on the back?

No

[anniesdad]

If Darth Vader were to buy a car...

[hondansx]

seefarr said:

I'm going to really enjoy watching Chris Harris slide the piss out of one of these whilst giggling like a loon. And then never seeing another one ever again.

True story!

[MissChief]

seefarr said:

I'm going to really enjoy watching Chris Harris slide the piss out of one of these whilst giggling like a loon. And then never seeing another one ever again.

I'll never own one, and most likely never see one either so it barely registers on my interest-meter. I must be getting old. I used to love reading about the latest Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche but these days I'm far more interested in cars I may actually stand a chance at owning at some point.

[mylesmcd]

Air scoops into the front bonnet......for smelly squash kit perhaps?

[Schermerhorn]

This is a speculator's dream!

[MDL111]

FWDRacer said:

Anyone else care to admit they'd feel a bit of self conscious Bell-End driving on the public road in a car with a pic-nic table on the back?

Nope
although I do prefer how the 997.2 RS looks without the wing and just the ducktail in place

[DPSFleet]

The Motorsport cars go from strength to strength. Why doesn't Porsche sell them for the "market" price and halt the profiteers damaging the halo effect?

[Green1man]

I think the rear wing looks crap. Some of the larger wings on the likes of the GT3 look fine, but that one just doesn't suit IMO.

[Adz The Rat]

robemcdonald said:

At this point Porsche could put a GT RS badge on a dog turd and it would be sold out before it went on sale.
An absolutely pointless endeavour.

Exactly how is it pointless?

They are making a car which will no doubt be a joy to drive. If you can't afford one or didn't get your name down early enough doesn't make it pointless.