Purists Rejoice: Next-Gen Porsche 911 GT3 to Feature Manual Gearbox

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2015 Bold Ride LLC.

 

Posted by Jeff Perez 

                               

 

It was kind of a shock to many hardcore enthusiasts when Porsche announced it would be building the current-generation 911 GT3 without a manual gearbox. Though some would argue that the dual clutch PDK is advanced well beyond its segment, it just doesn’t have the same affect as a good ol’ fashion manual shifter.

 

Thankfully, Porsche understands the sentiment. In an interview with Car and Driver, head of Porsche’s GT program, Andreas Preuninger, said that a manual gearbox would return for the next generation. Hallelujah!

“The GT3 is full of systems that make sense on the track,” said Preuninger. “But for the purist, there may be something lost. It is our long-term goal to have the customer decide between the two approaches.”

 

Obviously, the current PDK will still be available, but giving buyers the option to choose, Porsche feels, is the best way to go about it moving forward. We can’t disagree with that logic. No word on when we’ll see the new 911 GT3 on the market, but we’ll be sure to expect the same hardcore performance that it’s known for.