Last month, worrying news about the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 surfaced. At the time, it was claimed by an unnamed source close to Porsche Motorsport that the vehicle would ditch its naturally-aspirated engine in favor of a more-powerful twin-turbo flat-six.
However, a prototype of the 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 has just been spied testing at Monza and it sounds very much like it’s running a naturally-aspirated flat-six, just like the current model.
It’s impossible to know if this prototype is indeed for the next-generation GT3, the next GT3 RS, or potentially some other GT model. What we do know for sure is that it is a 992-generation tester and it doesn’t have a turbocharged engine. That alone should get enthusiasts very excited.
Now this makes us very excited.
The prototype filmed testing is easy to pick from other 992-gen cars not only be its engine note, but also by its new aerodynamic parts, including a curiously-shaped rear wing. Also visible are the two central tailpipes characteristic of a GT3 model.
Beyond this vehicle’s use of a naturally-aspirated engine, it’s also obviously been outfitted with a new-and-improved PDK transmission. Considering the up-roar caused by Porsche ditching a manual option for the 991 GT3 and re-introducing it for the 991.2, we fully expect a stick-shift to be offered with the 992 GT3.
If the new Porsche 911 GT3 does indeed use an all-motor flat-six for production, power will only rise incrementally from the 493 hp delivered by the current car.
It’s also worth noting that this video isn’t confirmation that the finished car will use the same engine as this prototype. Porsche may still be undecided between a naturally-aspirated mill and a turbo’d one and could be testing both.