I don't agree about weight. The GT3 just launched weighs a lot less than the 4wd cars even though it has external oil tank, thrid radiator, gearbox radiator, bigger brakes uprated suspension components PASM, wings and the heavier 4wd body structure.
So I don't agree. If the guys who put the GT3 (and Turbo) on a diet to get the weight down had even more input up front on a clean sheet I think we'd see the sort of spec I put forward. Let's face it the 997 is a beefed up structure of a 996-a 10+ year old basic design. I'm sure that they can do better.
You are right. The 911 is lighter than some cars. But if the power route is not feasible due to the limitations discussed then reduced weight (like racing cars) is the way to go. The great thing about losing weight would be that the justification for even bigger wheels, brakes, suspension components stops. Less weight means that many serious engineering components can be reduced in weight too.
The reason I say this (and I suppose the marketing arguements about 500+hp are another story) is that in a world of vanishing resources, 600hp AMG's doing single figure mpg, there is more than one way to add performance and the intelligent way is efficiency. That means yes have fast efficent engines by all means (but flat 6
) but use modern materials and design to lose 30% of the weight.
Example: Look at any component in your 911 and imagine how you could achieve the same function, durability and relability, but make it weigh one third less. Now think about how you can buy that part in you just thought about cheaply. Materials play a vital role but so does design.
Porsche is treading a diffcult path trying to compete with the numbers of the competitors whilst retaining its sports car appeal. Adding more and more power can always be done and electronics get better and better at trying to defy the laws of physics. So putting 600hp in an E class merc will always make it fast in a straight line. But the more intelligent way is to deliver a car that has interesting numbers but is much more efficient at delivering them.
I believe Porsche knows this and gives us good cars. But the time has come to open the gap and deliver really great cars rather than cars that are as good as or just better than the opposition.