Every expensive sports car and supercar claims track cred. It’s part and parcel, even though many of their owners rarely, if ever, take them on an actual race track. Some do, though, and for them, track use is a big part of the purchase. One company that doesn’t use “track-ready” lightly is Porsche. So when they say that the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS is equipped with motorsport technology and ready for racing, they aren’t foolin’.
This is a Porsche 911 with GT3 components that’s been extensively modified for aerodynamics, lightweight, and performance. Still street legal, the car is still capable of a 7:20 Nurburgring lap, beating the fastest roadworthy Porsche, a Carrera GT (7:29).
The 911 GT3 RS is powered by a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 500 hp (368 kW) of power and 460 Newton meters of torque, combined with a specially developed PDK transmission. The engine, which has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally-aspirated power unit with direct fuel injection in the 911 family, accelerates the high-performance sports car from 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and on to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 10.9 seconds. Combined NEDC fuel consumption is 22.2 mpg.
For the first time on a 911, the roof panel is made of magnesium; carbon fiber is used for the engine and luggage compartment lids, and other lightweight components are made of alternative materials. This makes the RS model around 10 kg lighter than the 911 GT3. In addition, the lightweight roof lowers the sports car’s center of gravity which improves its excellent lateral dynamic responses.
The interior design of the 911 GT3 RS with Alcantara elements is based on the current 911 GT3. Sports seats are based on the carbon fiber bucket seats of the 918 Spyder super sports car. Other standard features are the Club Sport Package with a bolted-in roll cage behind the front seats, preparation for a battery master switch, and a separately provided six-point safety harness for the driver and fire extinguisher with mounting bracket.
The new 911 GT3 RS is available to order now from Porsche Centers in the UK and Ireland priced from £131,296. First cars arrive in showrooms during May. No U.S. pricing or availability has been announced as yet.
