World News – UK – Porsche 992 GT3 breaks cover with a wing that means business

The 992 GT3 is just around the corner. In anticipation, Porsche released a handful of pictures of a pre-production version of the next 911, and would you take a look at that rear wing?

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the new GT3’s most iconic aerodynamic device, but it is our clearest look at the bare final design yet. Such « hanging » wings are still not as common on road vehicles, but the awkward shape has a purpose. Since the pylons support the wing from above, the air flowing under the wing is not disturbed as much as it would normally be. This leads to a lower air resistance than the conventional approach and an overall more efficient downforce production.

The other visual differences of the 992 GT3 can mainly be seen at the front, where you’ll find a new bumper design with a wide central air intake flanked on either side by louvers that direct air behind the wheels. There are also those deep vents near the top of the hood – certainly harder to miss than the narrow passages that earlier GT3s had.

According to Andreas Preuninger, the GT vehicle director at Porsche, who passed the profits on to Edmunds, the downforce is to be increased by 50 percent compared to the outgoing 991 GT3.

While not much has been done on the power front – Preuninger said it was hard enough keeping the 992 GT3 on suction – another major update was reserved for the front suspension, the MacPherson struts for double wishbones from the 911 RSR. It’s the first time a setup like this has been built into a 911, and it should keep the tires planted even more in the corners.

It won’t be long before the new GT3 bows in a series-ready version, but this sneak peek offers little to complain about in terms of style. And driving as a 911 GT3 will probably also be a dream. I don’t expect any surprises there.

The discovery that a wing works better when mounted on top than on a pedestal is the worst that can happen to supercar design since NACA channels. Just as we have accepted the aesthetic flaws of NACA ducts due to their function, the hanging wing also becomes a shortcut to performance as it slips down on cars that do not take advantage of the marginally increased efficiency.

I can appreciate function over form, but I can also appreciate what is sacrificed through form in commerce.

Porsche 911 GT3, GT 3