• Porsche uses individual throttle bodies to produce crazy power
• The 2022 911 GT3’s engine gets it around the Nurburgring faster than a 720s
• Technological wizardry makes the GT3’s engine as efficient as a twin-turbo V12

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 does a lot with its “meager” 500 hp, naturally aspirated flat 6 engine. It lapped the Nurburgring faster than a Mclaren 720s, a car that makes nearly 200 more horses. So, how exactly does Porsche best McLaren with a “weaker” motor? Turns out, racecar stuff is the answer. Now, it’s time to take an in-depth look at the new GT3’s incredible motor.

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 has a naturally aspirated engine

Happily, Jason of Engineering Explained has done a lot of leg work for us here (read: math). He does so by not only doing a lot of complicated math but by comparing the 911 GT3’s engine to the twin-turbo V12 found in the Rolls Royce Ghost. For reference, the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3’s engine makes 503 hp and 346 lb-ft. The Ghost? 563 hp and 575 lb-ft. Obviously, all that extra torque is almost exclusively provided by more cylinders and more turbos.

The real magic of the GT3’s engine is the power per liter of displacement. If we’re talking displacement as compared to the Ghost, the GT3’s 4.0L engine might as well be a thimble with spark plugs. However, it produces 86.6 lb-ft of torque per liter to the Ghost’s 87.2 lb-ft. Jason says he knows of only one other NA engine that produces numbers similar to the 2022 GT3’s. It’s the Ferrari 458.

Racecar technology makes the GT3 faster than the Turbo S

So, how the hell does such a small motor produce such efficient power, given that the Rolls needs double the cylinders and turbos? The first key element is pure racecar tech. Individual throttle bodies are commonplace in Porsche race cars like the 911 RSR. They help boost throttle response while feeding more air into the engine in less time. Put simply, more air and fuel minus seconds equals a very efficient engine. That, in conjunction with highly effective aerodynamics, makes the 911 GT3 faster around the ‘Ring than the 720s and the 911 Turbo S.

But there’s much more. The second secret behind the GT3’s incredible motor lies in pressure waves. Jason explains that high-pressure waves form on the intake side of an engine when it’s running. By timing these pressure waves with the opening of the intake valve, you can effectively “boost” the engine by feeding it pressurized air. This works even better in boxer-type engines like the GT3’s flat 6. Plus, a wide bore with a short stroke gives that killer 9,000 rpm redline we all love.

How much will the new 911 GT3 cost?

Unfortunately, all that crazy racecar witchcraft costs money, and lots of it. The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 starts at $161,100. Lots of money for lots of speed. Rest assured, things will only get crazier from here. Andreas Proeninger and the GT team are already hard at work on the new GT3RS, which we’ll start to hear about very soon.