GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: New 4.0-litre flat six for Porsche 911 GT3

Porsche is preparing to up the ante for its legendary 911 GT3 in 2017 while staying true to the star model’s naturally-aspirated roots.

At least, that’s the word from English publication Autocar, which claims the German manufacturer will offer the updated GT3 with an evolution of the existing 368kW 4.0-litre atmo flat six used in the GT3 RS and 911R.

Citing a “well-informed source” close to Porsche’s factory, the report claims the improved flat-six will produce “at least” 370kW.

Naturally, that will make the facelifted 911 GT3 more powerful than the 350kW output of the current 3.8-litre GT3, as well as the 272kW and 309kW outputs of the standard 911's twin-turbo 3.0-litre flat six, and not far short of the 397kW and 427kW outputs of the twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat six in the 991-series 911 Turbo, which is yet to be upgraded.

The facelifted GT3 is due to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March, when Porsche is also expected to reveal its first Panamera wagon.

“The main focus of the development work has been to improve further the durability of the engine,” the publication claims, quoting the un-named source as saying the motor "has done thousands of kilometres, absolutely flat out, with no problems at all".

The enriched 4.0-litre engine is expected to be teamed with another revelation for Porsche: a re-introduced six-speed manual gearbox that will be offered alongside a seven-speed PDK automatic.

It means the updated model will diverge from the current GT3, which is available only in two-pedal form.

Furthermore, Porsche will reportedly honour traditional GT3 thinking with a user-friendly yet clinical suspension set-up in the updated model.

Renderings for what's believed to be the updated GT3 were leaked last year, as you can see from these images.

In addition, Autocar claims Porsche’s supercar arsenal will be broadened later in the year with the anticipated unveiling of a 485kW GT2 RS along with a new Cayman GT4 RS, complete with a 4.0-litre engine boasting circa 320kW outputs.

There’s little doubting that competition improves the breed over at the busy German manufacturer.