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 12 months’s time, the 502-horsepower motor that has powered the GT3 and different Porsche sports activities vehicles since 2018 would want to both achieve turbochargers or some type of hybrid part to satisfy emissions requirements.
Proper now, it’s one among solely two motors constructed by Porsche that doesn’t have a turbocharger or a hybrid aspect. 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. Perhaps 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 frightened about the GT3 dropping its naturally aspirated signature:
“It might reside without end with out the legal guidelines coming,” he instructed Autocar, referring to new Euro 7 requirements, efficient from 2026. “I don’t suppose we are able to deal with Euro 7 with out electrification or with out turbos. [As it stands] we are able to promote this automotive for one more two years, nevertheless it depends upon the markets.”
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One resolution can be to modify 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.
Nevertheless, Preuninger steered the 2 vehicles have totally different use circumstances that require totally different powertrains. He mentioned: “For the GTS, this can be a nice [set-up]. In straight-line efficiency, it’s as quick as a GT3 and possibly 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 best method to place electrification in a sports activities automotive, 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 right this moment’s legal guidelines and nonetheless produce over 500 horsepower. From Autocar:
“The brand new automotive 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 keep away from turbocharging and electrification, as a result of we all know that’s not what the shopper needs – and it provides weight to the automotive on the unsuitable finish of the automotive, on the again.
“So we’d relatively reduce the ultimate drive ratio to make the automotive somewhat extra energetic, as an alternative of creating the automotive 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 automotive. 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 studies.
As all the time, there’s quite a bit to sit up for at Porsche, and whereas some people 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 automotive.
