Porsche 911 GT3 (2009) spied

Published: 05 September 2008 Updated: 26 January 2015

For Porsche fans fed up with Carrera 4 cabriolets and Targa-top posing pouches, this brace of GT3s is a sight for sore eyes. Snapped in Spain, these four cars – including the new GT3 and an old-shape silver and orange GT3 RS – were taking a break from mountain pass blasting.

What’s new on the Porsche 911 GT3?

The track-biased tweaks are obvious, with a big rear wing and a new rear bumper with twin central pipes. The updated nose features a big front splitter and an air vent ahead of the bonnet. Of course the new GT3 features the facelifted 997’s revised headlamps and LED rear lights, plus the higher quality interior.

What about the engine?

It had been expected that the new car would inherit the current GT3’s 3600cc that was developed from a GT1 Le Mans engine. But with 133.6bhp per litre the glorious flat-six is pretty close to its limits, so the latest reports from Germany indicate the new GT3 may get the latest direct-injection 3.8. It can easily be tweaked to over 400bhp, and Porsche has already solved the issue of mating it to the company’s new seven-speed twin-clutch PDK gearbox. Expect the car to be unveiled in 2009, at the Geneva or Frankfurt motor show, with UK prices starting at £85k.

Excited by a 911 iteration that will actually improve the breed or put off by Porsches completely? Click ‘Add your comment’ below and have your say.

By Ben Pulman

Ex-CAR editor-at-large

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