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Porsche 911 GT spied streaking at the Nurburgring

At any given moment, you can bet that Porsche is testing some new version of the 911. When we see those prototypes undergoing testing, they're typically camouflaged, at least in part, to keep us from seeing what Zuffenhausen (or Weissach) is up to. But this particular example is completely undisguised. So what are we looking at, exactly? Well, for starters, it's likely the upcoming facelifted version of the current 911. The current 991 generation has been on the market now for four years, so the 991.2 (or 991.5, perhaps?) will likely be tasked with keeping Porsche's iconic sports car current for several more years to come. This version can be seen with front air intakes similar to those on the Cayman GT4, along with updated headlights, LED strips, new door handles, ventilated rear engine cover, reprofiled rear bumper, fresh taillights, and a new exhaust. The far bigger development is that the updated 911 is expected to ditch natural aspiration in favor of downsized turbocharged engines across almost the entire range – not just in the 911 Turbo. This particular version we see here, however, could be one of the few hold-outs for atmospheric pressure. That's because what we're looking at could be the upcoming back-to-basics version being prepared by the GT division – the same outfit responsible for the 911 GT3, GT3 RS, and Cayman GT4. Possibly adopting the name GT5, this new version of the 911 is anticipated to be the purist's choice: naturally aspirated flat-six, three-pedal manual transmission, skinny tires, no frills. This undisguised prototype appears to be packing a production roll cage and thin, leather-clad bucket seats – splitting the difference between racing buckets and the usual, thicker thrones. We'll have to wait a bit longer until Porsche is ready to release all the details of the refreshed 911, hopefully to include that GT version. But for an unadulterated taste of what's to come, look no further than the spy shots in the image gallery above. Related Video:

'We're not a hedge fund': Porsche plans to curtail speculators and flippers

A sizable number of speculators view cars as an investment. Rare or unusual models are quickly snapped up and either parked for years or flipped for a profit. Cars from automakers like Porsche and Ferrari are more prone than others, and at least some people behind these models are getting a bit tired of it. While it's difficult to police what goes on after you sell a car, Porsche has some plans that might curtail the problem before it starts. Andreas Preuninger, the head of GT road-car development and the man behind the new 911 GT3, spoke to Car and Driver at a recent event. "I personally like to see my cars being used," he said. "That's what we build them for. They are just too good to be left to stand and collect dust." One recent example of this rampant speculation is the 911 R. While the special manual-only model sold for $185,950 when new, used versions were selling for nearly $1.3 million just months after it went on sale. While the car is a masterpiece and an instant classic, a good number will be parked and simply used as art and not the rolling testaments to the man/machine interface they were intended to be. The concern over valuations has become so fierce that some owners are upset that Porsche is offering the new 911 GT3 with a manual transmission, fearing that it may hurt the value of the 911 R. "When I said we're not a hedge fund, I'm talking to those people who are yelling at us for offering the manual transmission similar to the R," Preuninger said. "But if there are people wanting to buy cars like that, then as a company we should try to fulfill that, to meet that demand." It seems Porsche is keeping a close eye on who is flipping cars. Since there is often far more demand than supply with certain models, the German automaker has a name for every car before it's built. Buyers with bad reputations might not even make the wait list. Related Video:

Porsche 911 R might be manual-only with a GT3 engine

Two of Porsche's best cars only come with two pedals and a PDK transmission. That automatic is inarguably one of the very best on the planet, but it's still not the same. The debut of the latest Porsche 911 GT3 was met with much moaning and groaning when it was revealed it would be PDK-only. A rumor from our friends at Car and Driver could signal that three-pedal fans may finally get the Porsche they really want. C/D is claiming that Porsche might resurrect the 911 R badge for a limited-edition Carrera. Such a vehicle would feature not only a nearly 500-horsepower, naturally aspirated flat-six derived from the GT3's engine, but also a do-it-yourself manual transmission. We're betting it'd be the Carrera's well-regarded seven-speed manual, provided it could handle the output. As for how this car will look, that is perhaps the most exciting angle. According to C/D, Porsche insiders called the 911 R "a wolf in sheep's clothing," describing subdued sheetmetal that won't trumpet this car's high-performance nature. Yes, there's could be a sleeper 911. We'll keep our eyes open for anything that corroborates Car and Driver's rumor, but until then, take this news with a grain of salt. If the 911 R does see the light of day, it will likely be in March at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. News Source: Car and Driver Rumormill Geneva Motor Show Porsche Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance rumor porsche 911 r