Porsche has filed a trio of aero-related patents across Europe and the US, all on a single day. As always, a patent doesn’t necessarily mean that an idea is production-bound, but the specificity of certain elements and the timing of the filing, as the current Porsche 911 reaches its mid-cycle pinnacle, could suggest that we’re looking at a preview of the 992.2 swansong: the next GT2 RS.
The basic principles of each patent are relatively common knowledge, but what matters is that they look detailed enough to form the basis of production parts.
Movable Rear Air Guide At The Touch Of A Button
The first patent looks very similar to one discovered prior to the reveal of the 992.1 GT3 RS. In the new patent, there is still the creation of an airflow path in an air curtain style behind the rear wheel. But instead of simply directing the air in a certain direction at all times, the new design shows a movable air guide device that can help move the air more toward the center of the rear fascia. Naturally, this means that differing levels of downforce pressure can be created on the rear axle, which would allow a car to have a high-downforce configuration or a setup that enables higher top speeds. Of course, it would also help to improve fuel efficiency in other scenarios. Much like the adaptive rear wing on the current GT3 RS, this could be done at the touch of a button.
Gear-Driven Side Skirt
The second patent is also not particularly revolutionary. It describes a system where a lateral air deflector (in this case, a side skirt) is moved from one position to another using a toothed/gear-driven system. This could help to generate ground effect under the car, again increasing downforce and reducing the flow of turbulent air that can negatively impact performance and fuel economy. The patent specifically notes that such a setup could direct flow in a longitudinal direction or in an outward direction, which could suggest an F1 keel-style underfloor shape. It’s difficult to tell in isolation where exactly this would be fitted, but it could also be at the front of the car, since the stalling of air is mentioned. This is typically advantageous near the front of a vehicle, so multiple potential locations are possible.
Quick-Change Aero Solutions
The third and final patent we want to discuss here is, again, very straightforward. It describes an adjustable rear wing, not dissimilar from existing designs, but it includes a special quick-release system where a single bolt could be used to fasten a wing plate to the upright support arms. The patent doesn’t go into enough detail about the potential applications, but it is very specific about the design of the mechanism. To our eyes, this could be evidence that Porsche wants customers to be able to quickly attach a larger rear wing, or perhaps one with an altogether different design. For example, the Manthey Racing prototypes of the GT3 currently testing in Germany are equipped with a vertical fin from the roof of the car to the rear wing. Perhaps a GT2 RS could be equipped with a more traditional look on the street and a totally track-focused aero package on the circuit, just by swapping a few aero pieces.
Why These Patents Matter
There’s a good chance that the last patent could have a motorsport application, and there’s no guarantee that the designs of the second pattern are sturdy enough for sustained track abuse, although they appear so and are described as cost-effective to produce. The first patent also adds a certain degree of complexity that may seem excessive, but the fact that all three were filed on the same day suggests that they’re part of a broader package, and such advanced adaptive aero systems are often illegal in motorsports. Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger recently said that his department tries to hold nothing back from every model, challenging itself to innovate in order to make future models better. With that in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised to see these systems reach production.
