After many spy pictures and the first official photos of 2012 Porsche 911 (991), a new Porsche supercar to rival Ferrari and McLaren’s finest is edging ever closer considering that today we have the first photos of Porsche 961, a car that could carry a price tag of around £350,000.
As we previously reported, Porsche has plans to build a new mid-engine supercar between 911 and 918. In an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt, Porsche CEO Matthias Müller has confirmed that the company indeed has plans to build a new supercar to be placed between the 911 and the 918. He said that “there would be room for a mid-engine sports car above the 911.” Such a model “in a price segment of 400,000 euros” has good chances of being built, he adds. It’s obvious that would make it a direct replacement for the Carrera GT supercar, which cost £320,000 in 2004.
Now, thanks to AutoExpress, we can show you the first images that show how the model could look. This new model, which would sit below the £678,000 limited-run 918 Spyder, it’s set to be called 961, reviving a badge last used on a 959-based racer, designed to compete in Group B sportscar racing in the Eighties.
At this time, there are no details on its engine or chassis, but the 961 will have to boast about 600bhp, most likely from a turbocharged version of the high-revving 3.4-litre V8 in the RS Spyder racer. Considering that it would make extensive use of carbon fibre and aluminium, the car should do 0-60mph in three seconds and go beyond 220mph.
However, it won’t have hybrid technology – that’s being reserved for the top-spec 918 Spyder. The 961 should arrive in around 2014.
Source: AutoExpress
