The Porsche 911 GT3, currently the only 911 fitted with a naturally aspirated engine, will become turbocharged for the next generation. That's the word from Autocar, quoting a "Stuttgart-based source with direct links to Porsche Motorsport."

Sharing with the 911 Turbo

Rumored since the early 2010s, Porsche's turbocharged offensive began in 2016, when the base 911 and the S model went on sale with turbocharged, 3.0-liter mills. With the entire regular lineup moved into turbo territory, the 911 GT3 and the 911 GT3 RS remained the only naturally aspirated models. And, while enthusiasts hoped that the GT3 series would remain naturally aspirated, several voices now claimed that they will also take the turbo path.

Granted, the move is not yet officially confirmed by Porsche, but the number of reports that speak of a turbocharged GT3 keep growing. This latest report seems more credible though, as it offers advanced technical information.

Similar Output, More Torque

The report also claims that the Germans will detune the engine's output for the track-prepped coupe. The 3.8-liter flat-six cranks out 540 horsepower in the Turbo and 580 horses in the Turbo S. According to Autocar, power will drop to around 520 horsepower in the 911 GT3. If this proves to be true, the next-gen 911 GT3 will boast an extra 20 horses compared to the old model. It will also be as powerful as the previous GT3 RS model.

While the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated mill generates up to 347 pound-feet in the GT3 RS, the twin-turbo 3.0-liter packs 487 pound-feet in the Turbo and 516 pound-feet in the Turbo S. It's safe to assume that the rumored 520-horsepower rating will be backed by around 480 pound-feet, a solid 130-pound-foot increase over the outgoing GT3 RS.

Should Porsche also develop a more powerful GT3 RS, the engine's output could increase to at least 550 horsepower for this model. With the 3.8-liter unit developing as much as 700 horsepower in the GT2 RS, Porsche will no longer have to worry about reliability issues for models like the GT3 RS.

PDK Only, Quicker Sprints

On top of ditching its naturally aspirated heritage, the next-generation 911 GT3 is also likely to arrive without a manual transmission. The GT3 RS is already a PDK-only model, and it appears that the normal GT3 will feature a dual-clutch automatic only.

The outgoing model needs 3.4 seconds to hit 62 mph with the PDK. The benchmark could drop to three seconds flat. Likewise, the GT3 RS could achieve the sprint in 2.9 seconds, only a tenth-second slower than the GT2 RS. For the first time ever, the 911 GT3 will hit a top speed of at least 200 mph. The old model reaches 199 mph with the manual and 198 mph with the automatic.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Porsche 911 GT3.

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche 911 GT3.

Read our full review on the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3.

Read our full review on the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3.

Read more Porsche news.