2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet on 2040-cars

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Porsche considering turbo for new GT3 RS [w/poll]

Some automakers make one hardcore version of a sports car and are done with it. Or at least they make one at a time. Think Ferrari 458 Speciale, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (or Super Trofeo Stradale or Squadra Corse) or Maserati GranTurismo MC. But not Porsche. It transforms the 911 into the hard-core GT3, the even harder-core GT3 RS, the you've-got-to-be-psychotic GT2 and the do-you-have-a-death-wish GT2 RS. The RS models take things to a further extreme, but what separates GT3 from GT2 models has traditionally been the use of foced induction: GT3s are naturally aspirated, while GT2s go turbo. But that could all be about to change.
According to the rumors making their round of the webosphere, Porsche is considering using a turbocharged engine for the next GT3 RS. The reason is that, as we all know, Porsche has already pushed the 3.8-liter flat-six in the existing GT3 about as far as it can go, and then some. And buyers expect not only a more bare-bones package with the GT3 RS, but also a bit of extra power.
Given that everything seems to be going turbo these days, the move might make some measure of sense, especially if Porsche wants to avoid with the GT3 RS the spontaneous combustion issues it faced with the GT3. But we can't help but wonder why, at that point, it wouldn't just skip the GT3 RS and go straight for the GT2.

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #344 LIVE!

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #344 tonight, joined by Doug DeMuro, author of Plays With Cars, formerly of Porsche Cars North America, and all-around swell guy. You can drop us your questions and comments via our Q&A module below, and we'll give them extra-diligent attention. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #344
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Porsche 918 Spyder to birth stretched 2+2 version?

Porsche is known for its ability to spin off a litter of variants from a single model, and according to a report in Automobile the 918 Spyder (pictured here) might not be spared the house trick. Having taken too many brains and too much money for too much time, company chiefs are said to be examining ways to get more for their development euro out of the supercar, and Plan A is apparently otherwise known as Plan 984. That would be a four-seater, rear-wheel drive supercar that uses a stretched mold of the 918's carbon fiber tub, keeping the V8 in the same mid-mounted place and costing around 350,000 euro.
That would be less than half the MSRP of its inspiration, but the details don't sketch out a car that's just half as good. Automobile speculates it would get something like 700 horsepower in order to best the coming 911 GT2, and about 440 pound-feet of torque. The 984 is quite a ways short of being confirmed; even though a full-size study is said to exist, it's like the 918 would need to become a bigger sales hit for the 984 to happen.
The 984's fortunes don't change those of the 960, the supercoupe Porsche is building to challenge Ferrari. Its potential specs haven't changed since the last report in January, power coming from a 5.0-liter, twin-turbo, eight-cylinder boxer engine with something like 650 hp pushing a curb weight of roughly 3,100 pounds. The means a suspected 0-to-60 mile-per-hour time of 2.5 seconds.