It was announced in Germany. Porsche said there was no sense in builiding two entirely different engines inhouse (9A1 va. GT1).

 

the 4.0 liter engine already exists in the RSR (!!)

 

No sense in building two engines in house for the next generation models, that is.

 

i'm sorry i don't get you... i'm guessing they are using the same existing block from the RSR, correct?

 

As of right now, the GT3, GT3 RS, GT3 RSR, GT3 R, GT3 Cup, and GT2 RS are the only cars that use the GT1 block. In a release, Porsche said that they were retiring the GT1 block. Here is a quote from Dürheimer himself:

"... change is coming, even to the cars built by Porsche Motorsport, often seen as a brand within a brand. Ever since the first GT3 was built over a decade ago, these cars hve been using the old racing engine, the indirect injection motor that can trace its origins back to the 911 GT1 Le Mans winner of 1998. But now that Porsche has an all-new direct injection flat-six in every other 911, Boxster and Cayman, the time has come for the old engine to take its final bow. 'We don't need to replace it,' concedes Durheimer, 'but we are business people and it doesn't make sense to have two entirely different generations of flat-six being built in house.' He confirms the GT2 RS will be the last new Porsche to be fitted with the old engine. And while that will bring tears to the eyes of the purists, I think we should at least wait to see what its replacement is like before lamenting its passing too much."

I think he meant the GT2 RS will be the last production car with the GT1 engine.

Porsche might have just said that to end speculation on the GT3 RS LE, so GT2 RS buyers won't feel betrayed.

Every next generation model will receive the 9A1 direct injection engine.

I hope Porsche can still keep the sound of the GT1 engine alive in the GT3s!

 

Interesting.
"He confirms the GT2 RS will be the last new Porsche to be fitted with the old engine. "

I am curious if any collector/investor/ordinary customer has sued a manufacturer for a claim/breach like this? Seems like false advertising and there's surely evidence to conjure up showing the effect of such actions on value.

 

Maybe the LE is TOO special and not considered a "production car"

 

You bring up a good point. But my quote (which is NOT his quote) does not say production car. It says 'new Porsche.' Which is different. So now I wonder if my quote was a quote of his, or a paraphrase with "minor" word change.

 

Porsche stated also that this LE will be the last RS model, this info would support what Carrara mentioned about the "final blow" of the GT1 Engine Block.

Considering Porsche's stanrdard I am sure they will fit the LE with a well tested 4.0L engine.
What better choice than the power plant coming from the RSR which has been racing for few years?
Despite what said about the GT2 RS I really think the LE will be fitted with the "old" GT1 block too.

 

The GT1 Block, afaik ends its service life with the 997.