The Next Porsche 911 GT3 Might Not Be Turbocharged After All

The head of Porsche's motorsport programmes has flat-out denied that the next 911 GT3 will have turbochargers, and so the saga continues...
The Next Porsche 911 GT3 Might Not Be Turbocharged After All

Remember the sad day two weeks ago when we brought you news that the next Porsche 911 GT3 will be turbocharged and automatic only? Things might not be as clear-cut as they seemed.

In an interview with Australia’s Drive website, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Porsche’s head of motorsport, said that the original Automobile report wasn’t true. The plot thickens.

The Next Porsche 911 GT3 Might Not Be Turbocharged After All

He denied the claim that the engine would be turbocharged. It doesn’t mean it won’t be, of course, but even if it is, Porsche doesn’t want us to know about it yet. A separate report in Road & Track said that the 911 will move to the chassis used by the R8, but Dr Walliser denied that, too. It seems unlikely – that platform puts the engine in the middle, after all, and squeezing rear seats in would be less likely than Kermit the Frog entering this year’s Le Mans.

The good doctor is quoted as saying that he’d “like to continue with [the naturally-aspirated flat-six] as long as we can do it.” He’s clearly a fan of boost, having led the engineering development for the latest GT2 and the 918 Spyder, but he understands the unique appeal of the GT3 – especially as a manual.

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It remains to be seen whether Porsche can gradually lower the emissions across enough of its range to let the last high-revving, non-turbo 911s sneak through the overall programme. We know it’ll be dead in the water in many countries by 2040 at the latest, but for now let’s hope there’s more life in the iconic GT3 recipe yet.

This news is said not to affect the plans to shoe-horn the current GT3’s 4.0-litre glory-fest into the upcoming Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder. Those, we’re really looking forward to.

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Comments

₩!Ź@ŔĐ Transit supervan

The 918 is naturally aspirated without any ‘boost’ though (unless you consider the electric motors as ‘boost’) .

02/19/2018 - 15:28 |
42 | 1

You do realise that the 918’s engine does have turbochargers strapped to it?

02/19/2018 - 15:36 |
4 | 14

I renember jay leno saying in his video about the 918 that a lot a people seem to think the 918’s turbo when it’s not , guess he’s right .

02/19/2018 - 15:52 |
11 | 1

Woah it’s N/A, genuinely thought it was a twin turbo

02/19/2018 - 15:57 |
1 | 0

Many people don’t even know how many cylinders it has 😂😂 and yea they think all fast cars have turbo and nitrous 😂😂
oooh non car people 😂😂

02/19/2018 - 16:44 |
12 | 0
Nishant Dash

@porsche Can this please stay…
Please? puppy eyes

02/19/2018 - 15:29 |
112 | 122

I’d personally buy the PDK anyways, it’s one of the best double-clutch systems to date! (Prepares for downvotes…)

02/19/2018 - 15:38 |
7 | 4

[DELETED]

02/20/2018 - 04:26 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Some magazine claims the next GT3 will be Turbo and Auto Only
Literally Every Kid Without A Licence : “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

02/19/2018 - 15:34 |
49 | 25
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Lmao

02/19/2018 - 15:55 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

02/19/2018 - 15:58 |
20 | 0
Nishant Dash

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Uhh…ok

02/19/2018 - 16:16 |
5 | 3
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It is what’s happening to me right now

02/19/2018 - 23:02 |
1 | 0
Tomislav Celić

[DELETED]

02/19/2018 - 15:34 |
0 | 0
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

Praise the lord!!! I’m not really too fussed about the gearbox, but they just need to kept that unique sound to them. I also like to call it the sound of the Nürburgring (along with BMW NA I6’s but they’re dead already anyway)

02/19/2018 - 15:35 |
8 | 1
Aaron 15

Awesome!! That’s what enthusiasts like to hear 😎

02/19/2018 - 15:36 |
1 | 1
RWB Dude

THANK THE STUTTGART GODS!!!

02/19/2018 - 15:48 |
3 | 1
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

Lol what?

02/19/2018 - 15:49 |
0 | 0
CS55

[DELETED]

02/19/2018 - 16:10 |
1 | 1
Monty4248

And the universe has been set back in order once more

02/19/2018 - 16:29 |
2 | 0