While the unveiling of the new 911 GT3 RS is being pushed back due to the faulty 3.8-liter engines that set a couple of regular GT3s ablaze earlier this year, a rumor coming all the way from Britain claims the next GT3 RS may get a turbocharged powerplant. According to Autocar, quoting an unnamed source familiar with the matter, the 911 GT3 fire debacle is the No. 1 reason for the turbocharging idea. According to the report, Porsche->ke1 engineers are concerned about extracting more power from the naturally aspirated, 3.8-liter inline-six without compromising the unit's reliability.

The problem with the GT3 RS is that it needs at least 500 horsepower to make it count alongside the regular GT3. Although some 25 to 30 ponies added to the GT3's substantial 475-horsepower output don't sound like much in theory, the 3.8-liter all-motor plant will have to cope with an immense amount of pressure. By contrast, a turbocharged engine deals more comfortably with moderate power increases.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Why It Matters

Recent events in the automotive industry have taught us that anything is possible. BMW building front-wheel-drive cars and Saleen tuning the Tesla Model S are just a couple of examples taken from a very long list and that's exactly why we won't throw the turbocharged 911 GT3 scenario to the dumpster. However, this is a report you should be serving with more than just a pinch of salt, as Porsche is a very determined company when it comes to staying true to its heritage.

Both the GT3 and the GT3 RS are naturally aspirated by definition. Changing that will not only ruin the way this sports car->ke506 feels on the road and track (read no turbo lag), but anger the vehicle's solid fan base too. Sure, a turbocharged GT3 RS is likely to gain approval from a lot of enthusiasts, but it will poke more holes into GT3 sales than new, potential customers are able to cover.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Spy Shot