The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six motor that powers the Porsche 911 GT3 in all probability isn’t very lengthy for this world in its present type. Talking with Autocar, Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger stated 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 kind of hybrid part to satisfy emissions requirements.
Proper now, it’s one in every of 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 dwell on in its present type within the land of the free, nevertheless it’ll be a while earlier than we all know for positive.
Right here’s extra of what Preuninger informed Autocar, and why he’s not nervous about the GT3 dropping its naturally aspirated signature:
“It might dwell without end with out the legal guidelines coming,” he informed Autocar, referring to new Euro 7 requirements, efficient from 2026. “I don’t suppose we will deal with Euro 7 with out electrification or with out turbos. [As it stands] we will promote this automobile for an additional two years, nevertheless it depends upon the markets.”
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One resolution could 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 instructed the 2 vehicles have completely different use instances that require completely different powertrains. He stated: “For the GTS, it is 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 suitable strategy to place electrification in a sports activities automobile, however there’s a motive we don’t use that on a GT3. We might have had to make use of the PDK II – the gearbox we’ve in the usual Carrera, which is greater than 20kg heavier than our ‘Sport’ PDK.”
It was apparently even a battle 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 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 keep away from turbocharging and electrification, as a result of we all know that’s not what the client needs – and it provides weight to the automobile on the incorrect finish of the automobile, on the again.
“So we’d fairly reduce the ultimate drive ratio to make the automobile slightly extra full of life, as an alternative of constructing the automobile heavier and never puristic.”
He additionally hinted on the return of the 911 GT2 however stated the prototype that has been seen working across the Nürburgring was only a idea automobile. He did say his “absolute inside 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 lots 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.
