The exodus away from naturally aspirated engines appears to have claimed another soul. We’ve already lost our fair share of sports cars and supercars that have crossed over to the land of turbos, and now, according to Motor Australia, we may lose another titan in the form of the next-generation Porsche 911 GT3. While there hasn’t been any confirmation from Stuttgart, the report claims that the “992” 911 GT3 — that’s the next-generation model — will ditch its current 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine in favor of a turbocharged flat-six. If that’s not bad enough, the same report says that the next-gen 911 GT3 will use an eight-speed PDK transmission. As for a manual box? Well, we might be lighting a candle for that one, too.

We all know that this time was coming. We just didn’t know when it’s going to happen. To be fair, a turbocharged Porsche 911 GT3 has its share of benefits. According to Motor, the new 911 GT3 will have 550 horsepower at its disposal. That’s an increase of around 50 ponies compared to the current version. The benefits of turbocharged engines are clear when you compare it to naturally aspirated engines. Turbos produce more power than NA engines, hence the expected 50-horsepower increase for the 911 GT3 when it goes the route of forced induction. They also offer better fuel consumption, which has become a big point of concern among car owners these days.

The report also says that the next-gen 911 GT3 will also get an eight-speed PDK transmission. Just like turbos, PDK boxes also have several advantages over manual gearboxes, including the fact that dual-clutch PDKs are far easier to use compared to manual gearboxes. They also return better fuel economy and have lower maintenance costs. It also opens the 911 GT3 to get launch control, even though that’s contingent on the model getting the optional Sports Chrono package. Most importantly, a PDK unlocks faster times for the 911 GT3 compared to a manual 911 GT3 that’s going to rely a lot on a driver’s skill level.

2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Specs

Engine

4.0-liter six-cylinder horizontal

Horsepower

500 HP @ 8,250 RPM

Torque

339 LB-FT

0 to 60 mph

3.8 seconds with manual (3.2 seconds with PDK)

Top Speed

198 mph manual (197 mph PDK)

Driveline layout

Rear-wheel drive

Transmission

6-speed manual/PDK

Curb Weight

3,116 Lbs


But arguing for turbo engines and PDK transmissions over naturally aspirated engines and manual gearboxes is like arguing that LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan. You can come up with facts to back up your argument. You can even throw some advanced stats to support your cause. They’ll all be true, but they’re still don’t represent the roots of a sports car. Turbos and PDKs will never be OGs because they came after naturally aspirated engines and manual transmissions.

Generations of Porsche fans swear by the “experience” of driving a Porsche. That’s something you only get to experience on a big, gas-guzzling naturally aspirated engine and a manual transmission that performs according to your skills as a driver. That’s one of the reasons why sports car owners prefer driving engagement over performance times. It’s not enough being fast; it’s all about being one with the car and experiencing it with the driver in full control.

To be fair, naturally aspirated engines are not going extinct on Porsche models. The engine will live on in the 718 twins. But the days of the 911 GT3, once considered the last bastion among Porsche purists, using a naturally aspirated engine and a manual transmission are reportedly coming to an end.

Light a candle for the end of an era.

References

Porsche GT3

Read our full review on the 2018 Porsche 911 GT3.

Read more Porsche news.