Published ·
Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 with expertise
from motorsport
Stuttgart. Porsche breaks free from constraints with the new 911 GT3. The fifth generation of this high-performance sports car was developed in close cooperation with Porsche Motorsport. It transfers unadulterated racing technology to a production model with even greater consistency than before: the front axle with double wishbones and the advanced aerodynamic features, the swan-neck rear wing and the striking diffuser all come from the 911 RSR, the successful GT racing model. At the same time, the six-cylinder boxer engine is based on the engine of the 911 GT3 R and has been tested in endurance races. The high-revving engine with its impressive sound is also used in the new 911 GT3 Cup, with virtually no modification. The result is a great driving machine that is efficient and stirs the emotions, is precise and delivers high performance, ideal for the track and outstanding in everyday use.
The advantage that makes the 911 GT3 stand out is the combination of its characteristics. With a top speed of 320 km/h (318 km/h with the PDK gearbox), it is faster even than the previous 911 GT3 RS. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Porsche also offers the new model with a six-speed manual gearbox, for a particularly unadulterated driving experience. The advanced aerodynamic features are the result of experience gained in motorsport and create significantly greater downforce without noticeably affecting the drag coefficient. In the high-performance position, the manually adjustable wing and the diffuser significantly increase aerodynamic pressure, for high speeds in corners. This position, however, is used exclusively on the racetrack, since that is where the 911 GT3 unfolds all its virtues. At the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, the reference track for all Porsche sports cars, it achieved an impressive record: during the final tuning, the 911 GT3 became the first production model with a naturally aspirated engine to break the seven-minute barrier. Test driver Lars Kern completed a full 20.8 km lap in just 6:59.927. On the shorter 20.6 km track, which was formerly the reference track, the 911 GT3 completed the lap in 6:55.2. Fitted with the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres and with Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel, the new model consistently maintained its performance over several laps. It is “by far the best production car” he has ever driven in the “Green Hell”, said the experienced professional driver.
Despite the wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is comparable to that of its predecessor. With the manual gearbox it weighs 1,148 kg, while with the PDK gearbox it reaches 1,435 kg. The carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) front bonnet, the lightweight window glass, the optimised brake discs and the forged lightweight alloy wheels all help to limit weight, as does the cover for the rear-seat area. The weight reduction achieved with the lightweight sports exhaust reaches ten kilograms. Thanks to the continuously electrically controlled exhaust flaps, the highly imposing sound remains within the limits of the Euro 6d ISC FCM (EU6 AP) emissions standard. The combined fuel consumption of the 911 GT3 is 13.3 litres/100 km (PDK: 12.4).
The racing genes of the new 911 GT3 are evident in almost every detail, while the cockpit follows the design of the current generation of models. A new feature is the track screen: at the touch of a button, it reduces the digital displays to the left and right of the central rev counter (which reaches 10,000 rpm) and shows only readings such as tyre pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel level and water temperature, which are essential for driving on the track. It also includes visual shift indicators to the left and right of the rev counter, as well as a shift light derived from motorsport.
Particularly for Porsche’s GT models, customers are increasingly interested in customised equipment features. For this reason, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur product range is also available for the new 911 GT3, and is complemented by optional equipment specifically for the GT3, such as a lightweight roof in exposed carbon fibre. Other standout features include the carbon-fibre upper section of the exterior mirrors, the tinted LED matrix headlights and the corresponding Exclusive Design rear lights with an illuminated arc without red elements. Wheel rims in Guards Red or Shark Blue highlight the black alloy wheels. In the interior, equipment details such as the hands of the rev counter and the Sport Chrono stopwatch, the seat belts and various trim strips provide elegant touches in the body colour or in another colour.
As distinctive as the 911 GT3 itself is the unique chronograph that Porsche Design offers exclusively to customers of this high-performance sports car. Like the authentic mechanical chronograph, it features dynamic design, consistent performance and high build quality. Its case reflects its racing genes. Like the connecting rods of the GT3 engine, it is made of durable, lightweight titanium. The watch is driven by a distinctive rotor, which recalls the wheels of the 911 GT3. The coloured ring of the dial can be matched to the exterior colours of the 911 GT3.
The first 911 GT3 was presented in 1999. It was based on the 996 model series and produced 360 PS from a displacement of 3.6 litres. With Walter Röhrl at the wheel, this carefully tuned car was the first road-going sports car to complete a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 8 minutes. The second generation of the GT3 followed in 2006. It was based on the 911 Type 997 and produced 415 PS. In 2013, its successor was initially presented with a 3.8-litre engine producing 475 PS. Two years later, the displacement increased to 4.0 litres and the power to 500 PS.