Next-gen Porsche 911 GT3 to go turbo

2020 Porsche 911 GT3 spotted testing front right A spotted test mule has hinted at design cues for the extreme end of Porsche's next 911, which is due in 2020

The next-generation Porsche 911 could resign an illustrious line of race-bred naturally aspirated performance engines to the history books, according to sources close to the German car maker who suggest the successor to today’s GT3 is in line to adopt a twin-turbocharged powerplant.

The move, not yet officially confirmed by Porsche, would bring the 2020 911 GT3 and its more heavily focused 911 GT3 RS sibling into line with other models in the new 992-series 911 line-up, which are already confirmed to received updated versions of today’s turbocharged 3.0-litre and 3.8-litre units.

The Stuttgart-based source, with direct links to Porsche Motorsport, contends plans are for the GT3 to adopt a heavily reworked version of the existing 911 Turbo’s twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine.

In the new 911 Turbo, due to be revealed during the latter half of next year, the revised engine is expected to kick out 572bhp, giving it the same output as the outgoing 911 Turbo S. However, suggestions are it could be tuned to deliver somewhere in the region of 513bhp for the new 911 GT3.

With the naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat six engine used by today’s 911 GT3 rated at 493bhp, the twin-turbocharged engine would undoubtedly have to the potential to not only lift the power output of its successor but also bring a wholesale increase in torque.

In today’s 911 Turbo, the twin-charged 3.8-litre unit delivers 524lb ft between 2200 and 4000rpm compared to the 339lb ft between 6000 and 9000rpm for the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre in the current 911 GT3.

As well as considering big changes to the 911 GT3, Porsche boss Oliver Blume has reportedly also provided a definitive greenlight to a new hybrid-powered 911 model within the new 992 series due to be revealed at the upcoming Paris motor show.

Details remain scarce, though the new petrol-electric powered 911 is expected to feature the upcoming Carrera’s turbocharged 3.0-litre horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine in combination with a 94bhp electric motor for a combined output of around 478bhp. Energy for the electric motor is rumoured to come from a 11kWh lithium-ion battery.

READ MORE

2019 Porsche 911: New video shows 992 Carrera 4S at Nurburgring

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018: The best of Porsche

Power and glory: 70 years of Porsche

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BTCC 2018: Neal wins Diamond Double at Snetterton

Top 10 Autocar galleries of 2017