Spy Shots: Porsche GT3 RS
by Jonathon Ramsey on Oct 23rd 2008 at 8:29AM 
Coming to the meaty part of the 911 model line revamp, the 2010 GT3 RS has been spotted after some time in wardrobe wearing slightly different clothes. These are subtle alterations, with LED daytime running lights, bigger intakes, a new air dam lip up front and revised taillights out back. The bigger news is that the GT3 RS will get more power with the addition of direct injection, and even faster gear changes when equipped with the PDK gearbox. And that means even faster acceleration, because you can never get enough of that. The car should start making its rounds around the auto show circuit next year.[Source: Global Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
carsteve 8:45AM (10/23/2008)
The new GT3 and GT3 RS will be phenomenal cars. I can't wait.
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Serge 8:49AM (10/23/2008)
I would personally get the manual gearbox... but I cant wait to see the numbers of the PDK equipped GT3-RS :) Just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside... I would get the PDK if I was serious about any sort of racing though.
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Mobius_1 8:50AM (10/23/2008)
Another evolution of one of the world's best sports cars, would love to get some time in one. Maybe I should start playing the lottery or become an Auto journalist :P
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Sid 8:53AM (10/23/2008)
Love Porsche! But I wonder if only they would update the look a bit tho...
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Andrew T 11:36AM (10/23/2008)
Porsches philosophy is based on evolution, not revolution .Their designs due slighly change. (Remeber the droopy eyed 996's and boxsters?). Plus, why do you need to change the design radically when the current design has proven effective.
Sharone 9:04AM (10/23/2008)
Engine is still in the wrong place, and entire car is built to cope with that fundamental defect. I'd rather have Corvette ZR1, but of course that car does not have the snob value...
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IOMTT 9:46AM (10/23/2008)
@ Sharone, if you think a Vette has no snob value, attend a Corvette show once. I have had 3 Corvettes in the past and my 67 convertible was mercilessly ridiculed at a show because it was a small block car with an all aluminum V8 crate motor, but looked like a stock big block car. Talk about snobs.
IOMTT 9:16AM (10/23/2008)
Engine in wrong place? Same could be said for a front engine car. From a pure physics standpoint, the mid engine layout is the best. I would love the GT3 if I were a track day warrior. However, I do wonder what a Cayman with the GT3 treatment could do. I can't wait for ALMS next year when the Corvette will move to the GT2 class with Ferrari and Porsche. We will have front engine v. rear engine v. mid engine. I think Corvette will bring the most professional outfit though with Pratt and Miller. Game on!
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Brent 9:21AM (10/23/2008)
The 911 is not a mid-engine layout - it is a rear engine layout with the bulk of the engine behind the rear axle. The Cayman is a true mid-engine layout, which is why with the same power would destroy a 911 around a track.
Mobius_1 9:27AM (10/23/2008)
That is pretty much exactly what IOMTT said, Brent.
Anyhow, I, too, agree the mid-engined Cayman is a superior platform and if Porsche history doesn't mandate the 911 be the highest performer of the stable, the Cayman would mostly likely get enough (Turbo and/or DI) power (+ LSD, PDK, and AWD?) to be one of the best sports cars anywhere.
Brent 9:32AM (10/23/2008)
To clarify - most "front-engined" sports cars motors are placed well behind the front axle, in turn making them much more like a mid-engine car than the 911, which has the weight hanging off the back of the car. Standing weight distribution tells that story.
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Josiah 9:51AM (10/23/2008)
I don't care if they put the engine on the roof.
Want.
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Serge 10:00AM (10/23/2008)
wow, you guys are serious about the whole front-mid-rear engine thing :S
like with any design, there are advantages and disadventages:
Front:
- heavy nose (even in a ZR1, not in a Z06 though) that creates understeer.
- less steering feedback due to weight and packaging of steering system
- wide front tires necessary to make good grip
- rear transaxle design with a relatively light engine makes for a perfect 50/50 weight destribution ( like in a Z06 )
- simpler and proven design :)
Mid:
- high efficiency due to lack of long driveshaft
- slightly rearward weight balance ( around 45-55 for most cars)
- more weight on rear tires improves grip when accelerating
- improved steering feel and front grip due to less weight on front tires
- "snap oversteer" when extra weight transfers to front tires mid-corner and they suddenly aquire more grip
- looks cool :)
- expensive and unique architecture required to manufacture the chassis
Rear:
- very light front-end with a good steering system provides extremely good feeback from road
- unique design :)
- extremely efficient because drive wheels are between engine and transaxle
- lots of grip when accelerating
- extreme "snap oversteer" requires complicated suspention geometries
- seems to be working for Porsche :)
Just my thoughts on the different architectures... I'm glad there amazing cars made with all of the above, just more fun drive, race and watch :)
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jcar302 10:13AM (10/23/2008)
Lets just hope they test this car vs the gtr.
Should make for some interesting reading after the whole porsche/gtr debacle.
We will see who's king of those 2.
(personally i'm a fan of neither, but i'd certainly like to see them duke it out on the ring)
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BMWdownshift 10:37AM (10/23/2008)
The PDK gear box is a marvelous innovation but I hope they also give the option for manual slush boxes.
It may not be as fast but damn fun.
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Andrew T 11:09AM (10/23/2008)
huh? Manual Slushboxes. Are you saying that you would rather have an automatic transmission w/ that tiptronic stuff over the PDK? Or did you just mean a Manual transmission?
PDK = MT > AT IMHO...
JZeke 11:51AM (10/23/2008)
There is no "slush" in anything other than a true automatic. The term relates to the function of a (non-locking) torque converter, which smooths the flow of power from the engine to the planetary gears.
Every other type of gear box uses some form of a clutch(es) and helical (or straight) gearsets.
Peter 1:48PM (10/23/2008)
I'm not sure you have any idea what you're talking about, but indeed there used to be Porsches with
a manual slushbox - the Sportomatic...
Andrew T 3:05PM (10/23/2008)
But they only produced those from late 60's to late 70's. I dont think he is referring to those. I could be wrong tho...
GeoSB8K 4:18PM (10/23/2008)
The 911 GT3 is my fav of all the 911 models. It is def on my short list of cars I want next. My only wish is Porsche reduce the size of the car. I have a 996 C4S and when parked next to a 997 it looks noticeable smaller. When the 996 widebody came out I thought it was big but now a base 997 is larger. I hope this trend reverses in the next iteration of the 911.
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