Porsche has unveiled its new 992-generation 911 GT3. Well, sort of. The company let a select few drive a prototype version of the track-honed sports car, which is almost identical to the car we’ll see in showrooms next year.
The good news is the new GT3 will be powered by the same 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine as the 991-based 911 Speedster. While we don’t have an official performance figure just yet, the Speedster outputs 503bhp, which is around 10bhp more than the old, facelifted 991-gen GT3.
And it gets better; we know Porsche will offer the new GT3 with a manual gearbox, alongside a PDK. But you won’t necessarily be missing out if you go for the PDK, as Porsche has fitted an old-school shifter in the centre console. Like a GT racing car from the early 2000s, the shifter lets you go up a gear by pulling it backwards, while changing down is done by pushing the lever forwards.
We also know that the new GT3 will be the first 911 to get double-wishbone suspension, which is derived from the GT3 Cup car and the mad 911 RSR. The benefits of a double-wishbone system is that is helps keep the tyre in contact with the road, both improving stability and grip in the corners.
While Porsche has yet to unveil the car in full production guise, a video posted by Top Gear’s Chris Harris gives us a sneak peak at what the final car will look like. The company is debuting a new shade of blue on the 992 GT3, and the swan neck wing looks far cleaner on the production car compared to the prototype.
So, when do we get to see the new GT3 in the metal? With time running out on 2020, the new GT3 is expected to arrive early in 2021.
Keyword: Porsche 911 GT3 (992): track-focused sports car previewed ahead of 2021 debut