Porsche undecided on new 911 GT2 [w/poll]

Thu, 23 Jan 2014

Fans of hardcore 911s had it pretty good with the last 997 generation. There was the GT3, GT3 RS, GT3 RS 4.0, GT2 and GT2 RS (pictured above). Each one was faster, more powerful and more expensive than the one below it, but what they all shared was what Porsche purists love most: rear engine, rear drive, a manual transmission and little else.

So far with the new 991, Porsche has only released a GT3 version. Sure, there have been other models, but they're all decidedly more luxurious and less performance-focused. And as impressive a machine as the new GT3 is, it has run the risk of alienating some of its most ardent fanatics with technological interference in the form of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and four-wheel steering. So what those purists have really been looking forward to is a more hardcore GT3 RS or new GT2. But those may not be coming so quickly.

Speaking with 911 project chief August Achleitner, Car and Driver reports that a new GT2 is anything but a foregone conclusion. The reasons may be partially political, but could be technical in nature as well: with 560 horsepower driving all four wheels, the new 911 Turbo S runs the 0-60 in less than three seconds. Give it more power but less traction, as Porsche has done with past GT2s, and you may not end up seeing an actual improvement in performance. A GT2 that's slower than the Turbo S would be difficult to explain.

Achleitner did suggest that there may be some substance to "rumors about a GT3 RS or something like this," but that "to write today that there will be a GT2 in the future would not be correct." So while there might be a more hardcore 911 on the horizon, it remains to be seen what form it will take: turbo or naturally aspirated, manual or dual-clutch, all-wheel drive or rear. All we can say at this point is that we're looking forward to finding out.

Should Porsche make a new 911 GT2?
Of course they should!	3222 (43.9%)
Only if they can make it faster than the Turbo S.	1295 (17.7%)
I'd rather have a hard-core, naturally aspirated 911 GT3 RS.	1296 (17.7%)
It's enough with all the 911s already.	1063 (14.5%)
Beats the heck out of me.	460 (6.3%)

By Noah Joseph