The forthcoming mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette may face some stiff competition from its old foe the Porsche 911. Speaking with Car and Driver at the Geneva auto show, Porsche’s GT model line director, Andreas Preuninger, revealed that a mid-engined variant of Porsche’s classic sports coupe is “absolutely” a possibility. Nevertheless, Preuninger was quick to note that such a vehicle is “not something that’s in the making at the moment.”

More concrete is the return of the hard-hitting GT3 RS. Although Preuninger wouldn’t confirm the model to us, he acknowledged that “There has always been an RS version to [the] GT3, so . . . something like that could be in the making.”

Don’t expect the next GT3 RS to adopt the 2018 GT3’s six-speed manual transmission option, though. Because of the RS’s singular focus as a track car, Preuninger said he doesn’t believe a stick shift is necessary for Porsche models bearing the RS badge. The brand’s quick-shifting PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission is the preferred tool for those looking to shave every millisecond from a lap time.

Finally, Preuninger indicated that the updated 911 will not spawn an R limited-edition model, as its predecessor did. No surprise, really; the 911 R was really just created in reaction to customer resistance to the previous GT3’s PDK-only powertrain approach. With the manual transmission available in the new high-performance, big-winged 911 GT3, those customers can have a clutch pedal to scratch that particular itch.

(source: caranddriver.com)