A new report finds Porsche is in the very early stages of designing a back-to-the-basics 911 that will put a bigger focus on handling and driver involvement than on going around a track as quickly as possible.
The rumored 911 doesn’t have a name yet but British magazine Autocar reports it will be part of the GT range. However, it will forgo all of the aerodynamic add-ons seen on more extreme models like the GT3 RS (pictured) that was introduced in Geneva last March, and it will use the same narrow body as base-model, rear-wheel drive 911s.
“Back-to-the-basics” doesn’t mean Porsche will take on the Mazda MX-5. The 911 lineup will go almost all-turbo in the next few months, but the driver-focused model will reportedly use the same naturally-aspirated 3.8-liter flat-six engine that powers the standard GT3. Tuned to make about 475 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 324 lb-ft. of torque at 6,300 rpm, the six-cylinder will spin the rear wheels via a manual transmission, though it’s too early to tell if it will be a six- or a seven-speed unit.
Porsche has not commented on the report. If the rumor turns out to be true, the driver-focused 911 GT could be introduced as early as next year, meaning it will arrive in time for the 2017 model year.
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