Accordingly, it’s no surprise that the RS uses a heavily amended engine. The 3.8-liter flat-six has been stroked to 4.0 liters and has a new intake system. Its crank is cast using metallurgy techniques honed with the 919 Le Mans race car. Peak figures are eye-popping for a naturally aspirated 911: 493 hp at 8250 rpm and 388 lb-ft at 6250 rpm.

The development team is mighty pleased with the Turbo-body side intakes: They allowed a much more accurate and concentrated airflow for the revised intake system and, perhaps most important, led everyone to suggest from spy shots that this car would be turbocharged. The Porsche types do enjoy a snigger at our ignorance.