- A Nürburgring test car hints at Porsche’s next extreme 911 variant.
- Prototype bodywork closely mirrors the current GT3 RS design.
- Hidden exhaust outlets suggest changes beyond a simple facelift.
Porsche is believed to be testing both a facelifted 911 GT3 RS and a new GT2 RS, each positioned at the very top of the sports car lineup as the most track-focused 911. That context makes clips like this one from the Nürburgring especially intriguing. It’s hard to say with certainty which model we’re seeing here, but whatever it is, it looks intensely focused and seriously quick.
This prototype looks the same as the one we spotted winter testing in January, adorned with many of the same panels as the current GT3 RS. That includes the familiar DRS-equipped rear wing, the aerodynamic fins along the sides, and the same hood.
Read: New Porsche 911 GT2 RS Flaunts Its Huge Fenders Because A GT3 RS Is Just Too Skinny
One of the more interesting details sits at the rear. Like the current GT3 RS, it features two centrally mounted tailpipes and a large diffuser. Look closer, though, and there appear to be two additional exhaust outlets tucked within the diffuser, something the existing model does not have. Paired with the distinctive front bumper, this detail suggests it may not be a revised GT3 RS after all, but rather an early GT2 RS prototype.
A Turbo Six?
The biggest clue in the video from CarSpyMedia is the sound. It clearly lacks the sharp note of the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder that defines the GT3 and GT3 RS. Instead, the tone is more subdued, which has led to speculation that this car is running a turbocharged flat-six. That setup would align more closely with a GT2 RS than a GT3 RS.
If that is the case, it’s possible Porsche is testing the new engine under the skin of the GT3 RS, with no intention of actually selling it in the GT3. It also seems unlikely that the facelifted GT3 RS would make a radical shift to a new turbocharged engine, particularly given that the 992.2-generation GT3 retains the 4.0-liter N/A flat-six and has undergone very few alterations.
