SPIED: Porsche 911 GT3 RS facelift – bigger engine?

Our European spy photographers have managed to capture a few photos of a prototype Porsche undergoing testing. Looking very much like a Porsche 911 GT3 RS facelift, the test mule seen here does sport a few distinct cues that indicate that this is more than just a refresher.

At the front, there doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of changes aside from what should be a slightly tweaked bumper design. Similarly, as we progress down the car’s sides, everything appears very much like a standard GT3 RS, including the fender vents and size of the side air intakes.

Things do get a little busier as we move toward the rear of the test mule. The large, fixed rear wing is still prominent here along with the small lip spoiler. However, the vents located near the rear window appear to be taped off, indicating possible changes.

Moving downwards, a faux bumper replaces the one on the standard GT3 RS, with the exhaust pipes now pushed to the corners instead of being in the middle. A diffuser element similar to that on the 911 R, is also fitted here. Drilled holes on the edges of the bumper also hint that a larger engine might be in play here, where extra cooling may be necessary.

Should that be the case, we may be looking at a prototype of a new model. For a bit of history, the 997-series GT3 RS was introduced with a 3.6 litre flat-six engine, before being upgraded to a larger 3.8 litre unit later on. In its final evolution Porsche introduced the GT3 RS 4.0 that featured a 4.0 litre flat-six engine.

The current 991-series GT3 RS also features a 4.0 litre powerplant. Therefore, should this prototype adopt a larger engine, this could very well be a new 911 GT3 RS 4.2. However, nothing is set in stone until Porsche officially announces the actual existence of such a model. Facelift or new model, what say you?

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