Porsche 991 GT3 and GT2 may have Eight-Cylinder Boxer Engine...
(18 February 2012)
Porsche will release the GT3 version of the new 991 within a year - and now the rumour is that boxer six engine is replaced with an eight cylinder boxer engine that may allow cylinder shutdown. According to the sources of Auto Motor & Sport should also reduce the manual transmission is replaced with PDK or a robotised gearbox...
Rumour for the next Porsche 911 GT3 and GT2 is huge. Triple Turbo GT2 or not? Manual, PDK or robotised gearbox? Eight cylinder boxer engine or boxer six? And also electric steering from 991 Carrera?
After the launch of the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S are of course more versions. The GT3 model will be launched in 2013 and Porsche are currently considering whether to get a manual or an automatic gearbox. Project Manager for the Porsche 911, August Achleitner, tells "Inside Line" that only one transmission will be offered. Only 30 percent of the 911 buyers choose manual transmission.
"When we launched the 911 Turbo S, we offered no manual transmission, but we have not received a single complaint," he tells Inside Line.
While claiming one of our reliable sources that the decision on PDK gearbox in the GT3, GT2 and GT2 RS is really not at all. Porsche has a strong focus on reducing weight, and not only increase the peak. The PDK gearbox increases the weight by over 50 pounds. The 7-speed manual box from the 991 Carrera, or a robotised gearbox is much easier -- Lamborghini chose such robot box at the development of the Aventador.
Here are thinking Porsche to install an eight-cylinder boxer engine in the new GT3 model. And it fits, according to our source. To provide four liters, six cylinders require very large piston diameter. The move to eight cylinders with smaller piston diameter means that the length need not increase as much.
There is more news for Porsche enthusiasts to react to...
A reliable source reported to Auto Motor & Sport that Porsche developed an eight-cylinder prototype engine with four cylinders in the middle that can be turned off to save fuel and, in particular reducing emissions. Cylinder shutdown process will work much like the V8 engines sitting in the Audi S6 / S7 / S8 and Mercedes AMG models.
The current, "old" GT2 engine must have a large fan that blows out fresh air in the exhaust pipe to get the right issues. Without the system, the engine would not pass environmental certification. With eight cylinders and cylinder shut-off increases the chances of getting a cleaner engine that meets the EU requirements. The decision whether there will be eight or six cylinders in the boxer engine is not time yet.
Previously, we reported also that the upcoming Porsche 911 Turbo can get triple turbo to increase power. However, this is contrary to Porsche objective to reduce the weight instead of increasing the peak power. Clearly, the Turbo model gets two turbos, as in 997-model, but soon, the aggregates are placed in front of the drive shafts - that is usually under the rear seat.
It is not yet known whether the system of turbochargers in front of the drive shaft end up on the Turbo model only, or the monster model GT2. The location would provide better weight distribution and thus a balance approaching a mid-engine, but the question is whether the typical rear-engined 911-balance would be lost?
Electromechanical steering from 991 Carrera to end up probably in GT3 model.
Project manager defends the system to the "just remove the steering feel you do not need."
To further improve the balance Porsche working on a gearbox using the gear to extend the distance between the center of the ring gear (differential) and the socket for the axle shafts. Then the motor can move further towards the center and the car gets a better weight distribution.
And it does not stop there: August Achleitner confirms that even the GT3 and GT2 versions, the new electromechanical steering of the 991 Carrera, which received some criticism because the feeling is not quite match the steering feel of its predecessor, 997 model.
"The new system only removes feedback that you do not need. All of our racers prefer electromechanical," he says.
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