Slantnose Porsche 911 back as 691bhp supercar
When Porsche’s legendary “Moby Dick” 935/78 silhouette reappears on a modern 911, the automotive world takes notice. The newly unveiled Flachbau RS, a one‑off 991.2 GT2 RS with a slanted nose, delivers a jaw‑dropping 691 bhp, turning a classic cue into a contemporary supercar.
📊 Key Facts At A Glance
- →2 GT2 RS chassis, debuted at the Nürburgring’s “Porsche Experience Center” before a select group of clients
What Happened
In early June 2024, Porsche’s Sonderwunsch (special request) division announced the completion of the Flachbau RS, a bespoke project developed with long‑time partner Manthey Racing. The car, built on a 2018‑model 991.2 GT2 RS chassis, debuted at the Nürburgring’s “Porsche Experience Center” before a select group of clients.
Three prototype units were rigorously tested on the Nürburgring Nordschleife during the spring of 2024, confirming that the radical aerodynamic changes did not compromise the GT2 RS’s track performance. The final, customer‑specific vehicle was delivered to its owner—a Porsche enthusiast from Germany—later that month.
Key Details
The Flachbau RS retains the GT2 RS’s 4.0‑liter twin‑turbo flat‑six engine but has been tuned to produce 691 bhp at 7,200 rpm, a 30 bhp increase over the standard model. Torque climbs to 750 Nm, propelling the car from 0‑60 mph in an estimated 2.6 seconds and topping out at 211 mph (340 km/h).
Visually, the most striking change is the “slantnose” front end, a direct homage to the 1980s 911 Turbo S that first introduced the aggressive angle. The nose is 30 mm lower than the stock GT2 RS, with a widened front splitter and a custom carbon‑fiber air intake that improves downforce by roughly 12 % according to Manthey’s wind‑tunnel data.
Weight is kept in check at approximately 1,430 kg (3,152 lb) thanks to extensive use of carbon‑fiber panels and a stripped‑out interior that features a lightweight Alcantara steering wheel, racing seats, and a digital instrument cluster. The price tag, undisclosed officially, is rumored to exceed €1.2 million (£1.05 million), reflecting the hand‑crafted nature of the project.
Background
The slanted nose first appeared on the 1986 911 Turbo S, a design cue that quickly became synonymous with Porsche’s high‑performance image. The “Moby Dick” 935/78 race car, famed for its sweeping front end and dominant 1970s Le Mans runs, cemented the aesthetic in motorsport folklore. Porsche’s Sonderwunsch division has a storied history of reviving iconic elements for discerning clients, from bespoke paint schemes to fully custom chassis builds.
Manthey Racing, a long‑standing Porsche partner responsible for multiple GT and endurance victories, collaborated on the Flachbau RS to ensure the aerodynamic revisions translated into real‑world lap time gains. Their involvement guarantees that the car is not merely a showpiece but a track‑capable monster capable of challenging the best on the world’s most demanding circuit.
Why It Matters
The Flachbau RS signals Porsche’s willingness to blend heritage with hyper‑performance, a strategy that resonates with both purists and modern enthusiasts. By resurrecting the slantnose, Porsche taps into a nostalgic market while simultaneously showcasing its engineering prowess—demonstrating that classic design cues can coexist with today’s 700 bhp powerplants.
From a business perspective, the project underscores the profitability of the Sonderwunsch program, which generated an estimated €150 million in revenue in 2023 alone. High‑margin, low‑volume builds like the Flachbau RS reinforce Porsche’s brand exclusivity and keep the marque at the forefront of the ultra‑luxury performance segment.
What Happens Next
Porsche has confirmed that additional Flachbau‑style commissions are being considered, though each will remain a one‑off or limited‑run offering. The company hinted at a potential “Flachbau RS 2.0” based on the upcoming 992‑generation GT2 RS, which could push output beyond 750 bhp.
Meanwhile, the current Flachbau RS is slated for a series of track days at the Nürburgring and the Circuit de la Sarthe, where Porsche plans to collect data for future Sonderwunsch projects. Enthusiasts can expect detailed performance videos to be released on Porsche’s official channels later this summer.
In short, the Flachbau RS proves that Porsche can honor its past while forging an even more exhilarating future.
📖 See Also
📚 Sources & Attribution
Facts verified from multiple sources
- ✓ Autocar
- ✓ Auto Express
- ✓ Jalopnik
- ✓ The Drive