2010 Porsche 911 GT3 spy shots

If you were holding out for a next-gen 911 GT3 that was radically different than its predecessor, you may be out of luck. We've just received photos of the new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3, and from what we can glean, it's certainly evolutionary.

Perhaps most evolutionary is the GT3's exterior. While our spies report the front fascia differs little from the current GT3, changes at the aft end are equally miniscule. Most visible are the new upswept taillights (introduced on the 2009 Porsche 911), as well as a smooth rear bumper, now devoid of scoops or flared surfaces. These prototypes also wear a smaller rear spoiler, which resembles the single-plane wing of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Those changes are hardly earth-shattering, but those beneath the surface may be. We're expecting to see direct fuel injection, introduced with the 2009 Porsche 911, added to the next GT3. Although early reports suggested the new fuel delivery system would be fitted to the current GT3's 3.6-liter flat-six, rumor has it Porsche's looking at a high-horsepower version of the larger 3.8-liter flat-six out of the new 911. Either way, look for the new GT3 to produce significantly more power, perhaps in the neighborhood of 440 hp.

Speculation still surrounds the implementation of PDK, Porsche's dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. Although early speculation suggested mating the PDK transaxle with the GT3's 3.6-liter engine posed numerous headaches, new reports suggest those issues were solved by switching to the 3.8-liter engine.

While the 2009 Porsche 911 will slowly make its way to dealers this fall, look for the 2010 Porsche GT3 to be unveiled at either the 2009 Geneva or Frankfurt motor show, and reach dealers by early 2010.