Rendered: Porsche 911 R

Porsche 911 R rendering (Credit: TopSpeed)

We reported not too long ago that Porsche is working on a purist’s dream: the 911 R. Gone will be the electronic “aids” that get in the way of the driver being one with machine and road/track. That, and the fact that it promises a real genuine manual transmission, not this PDK garbage that so many are upset about on the GT3, has generated considerable interest in the car.

Oh yeah, and it won’t be turbocharged, unlike the rest of the 911 lineup.

Thanks to TopSpeed, we have a nice rendering of what the Porsche 911 R might look like. It’s not based on pure speculation, but has been formulated in part by carefully studying spy photography of the upcoming model. Unlike the GT3, the car won’t have a huge rear wing, which will make it more challenging to wrestle at high speeds on a track.

Observant fans will immediately recognize that the 911 R really looks like a GT3 without the wing. The engine cover is also different, hearkening back to the 991 before it was redesigned. Other than the decals, the exterior isn’t too flashy, making it a real enthusiast machine.

Expect the interior to be fairly Spartan, shedding many of the modern conveniences and luxury items. Lightweight materials like Alcantara and carbon fiber are likely to be featured throughout. To help shed some extra weight, the backseat will also most likely be deleted.

Porschephiles will remember that the 911 R name was first used back in 1967. It was similar to the 911S, but was significantly lighter thanks to innovations such as a magnesium crankcase, a fiberglass body and even aluminum doors. It can easily be picked out for the characteristic plastic exterior door handles, trimmed-down bumpers and unique taillights/front turn signal lights. Today, the car is highly sought after by collectors, thanks to limited production numbers. The new 911 R reportedly will have a production pool that will make the 918 look common, and supposedly that car is already sold out.