The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six motor that powers the Porsche 911 GT3 most likely isn’t very lengthy for this world in its present kind. Talking with Autocar, Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger mentioned that in simply two yr’s time, the 502-horsepower motor that has powered the GT3 and different Porsche sports activities automobiles since 2018 would wish to both acquire turbochargers or some kind of hybrid element to fulfill emissions requirements.
Proper now, it’s one in all solely two motors constructed by Porsche that doesn’t have a turbocharger or a hybrid component. Because it seems, the opposite motor is the 4.0-liter flat-six that’s discovered within the Cayman and Boxster GTS 4.0 fashions. Preuninger says the NA 4.0 goes away as a result of, in a number of years, it’s not going to have the ability to adjust to Euro 7 emission requirements that take impact in 2026. Possibly which means the motor will reside on in its present kind within the land of the free, nevertheless it’ll be a while earlier than we all know for certain.
Right here’s extra of what Preuninger instructed Autocar, and why he’s not anxious about the GT3 shedding its naturally aspirated signature:
“It may reside ceaselessly with out the legal guidelines coming,” he instructed Autocar, referring to new Euro 7 requirements, efficient from 2026. “I don’t assume we will deal with Euro 7 with out electrification or with out turbos. [As it stands] we will promote this automobile for one more two years, nevertheless it will depend on the markets.”
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One resolution could be to change the GT3 to a variation of the brand new hybrid system utilized by the 911 GTS. This attracts energy from a 3.6-litre turbocharged engine paired with a gearbox-mounted electrical motor to make 473bhp. Rivals from Lamborghini and Ferrari all now use turbocharged engines or hybrid set-ups.
Nonetheless, Preuninger advised the 2 automobiles have totally different use circumstances that require totally different powertrains. He mentioned: “For the GTS, it is a nice [set-up]. In straight-line efficiency, it’s as quick as a GT3 and perhaps even faster off the road.
“However I couldn’t care much less: for a GT3, a straight is the connection between two curves. “The system itself is the suitable method to place electrification in a sports activities automobile, however there’s a purpose we don’t use that on a GT3. We might have had to make use of the PDK II – the gearbox we’ve got in the usual Carrera, which is greater than 20kg heavier than our ‘Sport’ PDK.”
It was apparently even a wrestle to maintain the present motor in compliance with Euro 6 rules. Preuninger talked about what engineers needed to do to make that motor work with at present’s legal guidelines and nonetheless produce over 500 horsepower. From Autocar:
“The brand new automobile is Euro 6 ‘AP’ [compliant, so with] a 3rd much less nitrous oxides, 40% much less particulate emissions – this was the most important problem, to maintain 9000rpm and the [same] energy, and to avoid turbocharging and electrification, as a result of we all know that’s not what the client desires – and it provides weight to the automobile on the unsuitable finish of the automobile, on the again.
“So we’d reasonably lower the ultimate drive ratio to make the automobile a bit of extra vigorous, as a substitute of constructing the automobile heavier and never puristic.”
He additionally hinted on the return of the 911 GT2 however mentioned the prototype that has been seen operating across the Nürburgring was only a idea automobile. He did say his “absolute interior want” is to construct a brand new GT2 RS, nevertheless it isn’t going to be round “within the subsequent couple of months,” Autocar experiences.
As at all times, there’s rather a lot to stay up for at Porsche, and whereas some of us will bemoan the very fact the GT3 will lose its pure naturally aspirated goodness, a few turbos or a 48-volt hybrid system isn’t going to spell doom for the automobile.
