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Porsche 911 GT3 RS looks wicked, this way comes

Those who didn't think Porsche went extreme enough with the latest 911 GT3 likely won't be disappointed when the more focused GT3 RS arrives. And as you can see from these latest spy shots, it looks like it's speeding right around the corner. Tipped to debut at the Geneva Motor Show this coming March, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS is shaping up to be an enthusiast's dream - and with the prospect of a GT2 in doubt, could be the most hardcore Elfen in the range. Instead of the 3.8-liter flat-six in the current GT3, the new RS will pick up where the previous limited-edition GT3 RS 4.0 left off, with four naturally aspirated liters of unadulterated boxer power channeling a good 520 horses to the rear wheels. That will be a significant increase over the existing 475-hp GT3 and will match the 911 Turbo for output (if not the 560-hp Turbo S) and without any turbo lag to slow down the action, either. Whether it will keep the GT3's dual-clutch gearbox and four-wheel steering system, or ditch one or both for a more analog approach, remains to be seen, but we're holding out hope. Either way, the modifications to the bodywork ought to make the GT3 RS stand out even further and stay glued to the race track it will call home. Notice the deep front splitter scooping up snowflakes like a shovel, a massive rear wing (which may or may not be the final production version), the Turbo-spec rear end with air intakes ahead of the rear wheels, and a set of awesome-looking gills over the front wheels – all of which you can scope out in the gallery full of spy shots above.

What hardcore 911 is Porsche working on now?

Porsche has been spotted testing a new hardcore version of the latest 911. The prototype appears to blend the best elements from the recently facelifted 991.2 with those of the outgoing GT3 RS, which both follows logically and bodes well for the German automaker's latest track-focused performance machine. That means new lighting and other touches, but also more ventilation than a toxic chemicals facility. The bigger question, however, is what engine Porsche is hanging off the back. If history teaches us anything, we could be looking at one of several possibilities. For one, this could be a prototype for the updated 911 GT3 RS, carrying a modified version of the existing model's 4.0-liter flat-six, still naturally aspirated, but maybe with a few extra horses kicked in over the outgoing version's 500 hp. For another, it could follow in the footsteps of the previous limited-edition GT3 RS 4.0, but since the existing model already boasts that displacement, this one could go a step further at 4.2 liters. But then it might not be a GT3 at all: we could be looking at the rebirth of the GT2, the primary difference between the two being the absence or presence of turbochargers. Porsche hasn't done a forced-induction GT model since the GT2 RS of 2010, and that was essentially a 911 Turbo sans the all-wheel drive and any shred of sanity. Whatever is lurking under all that aggressive bodywork, we're looking forward to finding out. And we get the distinct feeling that it won't disappoint. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Porsche 911 GT2/GT3 RS: Spy Shots View 14 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos Porsche Coupe Performance porsche 911 gt3 porsche 911 gt2 rs

Popular Science magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars

Popular Science has named the winners in its Best of What's New awards, the victors coming in the categories of aerospace, automotive, engineering, entertainment, gadgets, green, hardware, health, home, recreation, security and software. The automotive category did not go wanting for lauded advancements:
Tesla Model S: the Grand Award winner for being "the standard by which all future electric vehicles will be measured."
BMW 328i: it's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets called out for being more powerful and frugal than the six-cylinder it replaces.