Track-Only Porsche 911 GT2 RS Could Fight The Ferrari FXX K

This might be the most extreme 911 ever.

Having set the fastest lap at the Nurburgring ever recorded by a production car, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS is well established as a highly capable sports car. However, a hardcore, track-only version could be on the horizon. Porsche was recently spotted testing several protoype models at the Monza race circuit in Italy, including a new 718 Cayman GT4 race car, an updated 911 GT3 R for races such as the Bathurst 12 Hour, and the latest 911 RSR which will battle against Ford, Ferrari and Aston Martin at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

One of the cars, captured by YouTube channel 19Bozzy92, appears to be a modified GT2 RS sporting additional air vents, a more aggressive rear wing from the 911 GT3 Cup car, and center-mounted exhausts instead of the edges like the standard road car. It’s possible then, Porsche is preparing a new race car based on the GT2 RS.

Alternatively, it could be a more hardcore, track-only version of the GT2 RS to take on the likes of the McLaren Senna GTR and Ferrari FXX K. The engine note certainly sounds like the road car’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo unit, and the bodywork doesn’t look extreme enough to be a thoroughbred racer. Plus, Porsche already has a plethora of 911 race cars. Hopefully we'll learn more about Porsche’s new track toy at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is celebrating the German automaker’s 70th anniversary. A hardcore, track-only version of the most powerful 911 ever made would be the ultimate swan song to the 991 generation, before the new 992-generation model is unleashed next year.

View the original article here

Porsche Cayenne Coupe Coming To Fight The BMW X6 And Audi Q8

It was only a matter of time.

The coupe-SUV trend is proving to be contagious. It all started with the BMW X6 nearly a decade ago, a sportier alternative to the X5 featuring a coupe-style sloping roofline. Its success paved the way for the Mercedes GLE Coupe, and more recently the Audi Q8. And now Porsche is joining the coupe-SUV bandwagon. Rumors suggested Porsche has been considering building a coupe version of the new third-generation Cayenne to broaden the model’s lineup, but now it’s been given the green light according to Autocar.

Porsche boss Oliver Blume told the publication the Cayenne coupe will arrive in the UK in Q4 2019 to rival the BMW X6, Mercedes GLE Coupe, and Audi Q8. Unsurprisingly, the coupe will be based on the more practical third-generation Cayenne and will be built alongside the SUV at Porsche’s factory in Leipzig, Germany. According to Autocar, the Cayenne coupe will feature the same front-end styling as its SUV sibling but will have a more unique front bumper design to set it apart. It will also adopt a newly styled liftback-style tailgate, altered rear side windows and sleek new taillights that will give the Cayenne coupe a sporty profile similar to the second-generation Panamera.

Unsurprisingly, a diesel engine isn’t being considered. Instead, the Cayenne coupe will be positioned as a performance model with a choice of gasoline engine options including a 440-hp version of Porsche’s twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 and a 550 hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, according to the report. We suspect it will also adopt the new Cayenne’s hybrid powertrain eventually.

(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MJCGS3N');var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: "2", c2: "28140907" });(function() {var s = document.createElement("script"), el = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();

View the original article here

Next-Gen Porsche 911 Turbo S Could Get 630-HP To Fight Ferrari

Looks like the rivalry between Ferrari and Porsche is about to heat up.

Porsche is currently preparing the next-generation 911 to be unleashed in 2019, and perhaps unsurprisingly it looks a lot like the current model judging from recent spy photos and videos, albeit with some subtle changes. What matters, of course, is what’s under the hood. According to a report by Autocar, the 3.8-liter flat six engine in the new range-topping 911 Turbo S will be getting a significant power increase to 630 hp compared to the 580 hp you get in the current model.

It will also utilize hardware from the Nurburgring record-holding GT2 RS to increase the output, bringing it closer to the Ferrari 488 GTB. The standard Turbo model that sits below the S could also come packing 592 hp, which is 61 hp more than the current model. Both the Turbo and Turbo S will be capable of more than 200 mph. In theory, the new 911 has been built to accommodate a hybrid powertrain, but the all-wheel drive Turbo range will continue to only offer combustion engines to save weight and maximize performance. Should these specs be correct, the new Turbo S will be by far the quickest Turbo Porsche has ever made.

Expect the new Turbo S to beat the current model’s already impressive 2.9-second 0-62 mph time and the standard Turbo to dip below the three second mark for the first time. Set to debut in 2019, the new 911 will be built around an evolved MMB structure and feature a new chassis and improved suspension. While the length of the car will be unchanged, spy photos have shown that it will be wider, thus improving high speed stability and improving space for rear passengers. Its taillights are also inspired by the Mission E Concept. Incidentally, Ferrari is already working on a hardcore 488 GTO to fight the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. Looks like the rivalry between Ferrari and Porsche is about to heat up.

View the original article here