LA MOTOR SHOW: Porsche 911 RSR goes mid-engine

Porsche has altered the course of its history today by announcing a mid-engine 911 RSR race car.

The 375kW rear-drive apex predator has shifted the position of its engine from behind the rear axle to in front of it, which the company says provides balance and weight distribution for the 1243kg racer.

Ignoring the 911 GT1 of the mid 1990s, which didn't have much in common with the traditional 911 shape (but did have a road car built after it) this could be seen as the first time since the car's inception in 1963 that a mid-engine layout has been used in a 911.

Another benefit of pushing the engine to the mid-ship position is that Porsche engineers and aerodynamicists were able to integrate a much larger rear diffuser, increasing the car's high speed stability – a must on the race track.

Two important factors that have made the Porsche 911 an automotive icon are its flowing design that has remained fundamentally unchanged in decades, and its unique rear-mounted engine.

"While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model," stated Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, the boss Porsche Motorsport.

With this major change that brings the Porsche's GT racecar in line with its race car rivals from Ferrari and the like, it has the potential to influence the company's decision making when it comes to road cars in the future.

An engine is heart and soul of any vehicle, racer car or road car, with the rest of the vehicle developed around it, meaning that the 911 RSR was virtually built from scratch.

It's unlikely Porsche will throw away decades of development to do the same for its road cars but limited edition vehicles would be possible. And very, very collectible.

Indeed, if the all-new 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine powering the Porsche 911 RSR dominates on the race track, Zuffenhausen may discuss how to celebrate and a road-going version wouldn't be unprecedented.

The Porsche 911 RSR's 375kW 4.0-litre boxer engine features direct fuel injection, a single mass flywheel and is hooked up to a six-speed sequential constant-mesh gearbox with a triple disc carbon race clutch and a battle-ready multi-disc locking differential. Together with its improved weight distribution, the rear-driven machine will be super rapid.

All-new suspension and carbon-fibre bodywork were also required to accommodate the repositioning of the flat six engine.

Huge six-piston brake calipers are in evidence, chomping on 390mm front rotors, while giant 31cm wide rear tyres will provide traction for the ballistic RSR. Racing seats with harnesses and a full roll cage are fitted too.

The 911 RSR even borrows a bit of road car technology to help it in endurance racing, taking advantage of a radar-based collision avoidance system, not unlike active cruise control, that detects other cars and warns the driver.

Porsche says the car will be fielded in around 19 races in 2017 but the German sports car maker has its eye on the pinnacle of sports car racing, the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours race, which takes place in mid-June.

As Porsche turns its back on tradition to get a leg up on the competition and perhaps make history in 2017, it's a calculated move that could be pivotal for the car maker on the track, and possibly also the road.